What Are the Best Supplements/Vitamins to Take After a Hair Transplant?

We’re often asked ‘what are the best supplements to take after a hair transplant?’ Adding vitamins and supplements to your diet may be beneficial if you have potential deficiencies. However, you might also choose to increase your intake of foods containing vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and zinc if you prefer not to take supplements.

Aftercare and recovery following a hair transplant are essential – ensuring your newly implanted follicles have the right protection, care and nutrients to grow, supported by a healthy scalp and skin.

While our advice is always customised to you, and there are scenarios where we might recommend caution when taking some supplements if there are potential risks or side effects, such as reactions with other medications, most vitamins and natural supplements are safe for almost everyone.

Also, remember that the information contained in this article is guidance and the opinion of KSL clinic and should not be used as dietician advice. Please seek guidance from your GP should you wish to start taking supplements of any kind. 

The Impacts of Nutrition on Hair Transplant Results

Several lifestyle factors can impact hair growth and health, both before and after a hair transplant, and nutritional deficiencies can affect the speed and thickness of hair growth.

Using vitamins and supplements to boost your levels of essential nutrients is not obligatory. Still, it may augment the growth of your new follicles, ensuring your hair has the right nutrition to grow quickly and strongly without finer, weaker strands.

After a hair transplant, a little residual swelling and tightness are normal. Some clients experience soreness, although we can suggest pain relief and other medications to relieve tightness and inflammation where necessary.

Your surgeon will apply gentle bandaging, which can usually be removed within a day or two. The recommended rest period is at least two to five full days, ideally up to two weeks, to ensure you aren’t putting yourself or your scalp under unnecessary strain.

During your consultation, we’ll advise you on what to expect during recovery, the medications and supplements that may prove helpful, and how to ensure your hair transplant is fully supported. We’ll also inform you about using vitamins and supplements as part of that initial discussion.

What are the best Vitamins and Supplements to Consider After a Hair Transplant?

You may not need to take supplements if you already have a healthy, balanced, and nutritious diet. However, they might help enhance or expedite growth and improve your hair’s shine, strength and thickness.

Next, we’ll examine a few of the vitamins you might like to take and explain their role in healthy hair growth—and some of the foods you’ll find each within if you prefer not to take supplements.

B-Complex Supplements

B-complexes contain all B vitamins, from B1 to B12, which are useful in healing, recovery, energy levels, and metabolism. Biotin is a specific type of supplement containing higher levels of B7, which is thought to prevent or control hair loss and help the growth of skin and nails.

B12 is also important and assists in the natural processes where our bodies deliver oxygen and nutrition to damaged tissue recovering from an injury or a procedure like a hair transplant.

Eggs, avocados, leafy greens, dairy, seafood, brown rice, some meats, and nutritional yeast are natural sources of B-complex vitamins.

Taking Zinc Following a Hair Transplant

Zinc is a mineral rather than a vitamin and is used in the production of cells and proteins. It is essential to the immune system’s work to protect us from illnesses and infections.

Low zinc levels can potentially contribute to hair loss and counteract the regulation of the DHT hormone, elevated levels of which can be associated with pattern hair loss in men.

Some supplements for hair, skin and nails contain zinc alongside B vitamins, vitamin C and iron, and you’ll also find zinc in seafood, oysters, nuts and seeds, dairy, eggs, legumes, red meat, poultry, whole grains and dark chocolate.

The Use of Vitamin C in Hair Transplant Recovery

Vitamin C is a health-promoting vitamin that helps reduce oxidative stress, prevents cellular damage, and reduces the risks of certain illnesses and diseases. It is also relevant to healing and stimulates collagen production, the protein we need for tissue regeneration.

It’s important to ensure that you stick to the recommended daily dose of a vitamin C supplement or eat plenty of citrus fruits, other fruits like kiwis, dark green vegetables, red and green peppers, and cauliflower.

Taking Vitamin A After a Hair Transplant 

Vitamin A is important to the way our scalps produce sebum—a natural oil that prevents hair from becoming overly brittle and dry, which can lead to breakage and snapping. Vitamin A is also key to tissue growth, bone health, and hair strength.

Like vitamin C, you should be cautious about taking more than the daily recommended vitamin A dosage since excessive levels can be detrimental. Vitamin A is also found in salmon and herring, dairy, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, eggs, and some fortified cereals.

Vitamin E as a Hair Transplant Supplement

Vitamin E is another antioxidant that lowers oxidative stress, which affects the speed and strength of new hair. The vitamin is thought to help with moisture levels in the skin, which protects your scalp from irritation and helps with a healthy blood supply.

Alongside multivitamins and vitamin E supplements, you can check you’re eating enough of the vitamin by adding egg yolks, vegetable oil, nuts and seeds, green leafy veg, mangoes, kiwis and avocados and red peppers to your diet. 

Some cereals, margarine spreads, and fruit juices also contain added vitamin E.

The Benefits of Vitamin D

Finally, vitamin D deficiencies are a known factor in hair loss or slow hair growth because the vitamin helps activate follicles and prompt new hair development. Most people know that sunlight can help with natural vitamin D production, although vitamins can help during the winter or if you have little opportunity to spend time outdoors.

Egg yolks, oily fish, cheese, and some mushrooms also contain vitamin D and can be added to your diet. However, avoid spending prolonged periods in the sun, which can be harmful.

Professional Advice on Post-Hair Transplant Supplements and Vitamins

This guide highlights some of the many vitamins and supplements you may take after a hair transplant to assist in the recovery process. However, following the aftercare instructions properly and looking after your scalp and hair after a hair transplant is essential—regardless of the vitamins you take.

You can also optimise recovery after a hair transplant and help create the best possible environment for your hair to continue growing by using good hair and scalp hygiene, avoiding caffeine, smoking and alcohol, and generally living as healthy a lifestyle as you can.

However, there is no one solution for every client, and our advice will depend on a thorough clinical evaluation of your scalp and hair, a discussion about your medical history and experience of hair loss, and any other contributing factors, such as high-stress levels, which might dictate a slightly different approach.

You are welcome to book a free consultation with our sector-leading hair transplant specialists to learn more about vitamin deficiencies that might be contributing to hair loss or to discuss your hair loss concerns.