Many of the clients we consult with at KSL Clinic have tried countless hair growth creams, treatments, and sprays with limited success before considering a hair transplant. However, that doesn’t mean that selected prescription-strength medications can’t help boost your post-procedure recovery time or stimulate faster regrowth.
There is no mandatory need to take medications after a hair transplant if you would prefer not to, have other prescriptions that cannot be combined with another medication, or are unsuited to some often-used post-transplant medications.
During your initial hair transplant consultation, and as part of our comprehensive approach to aftercare, we’ll discuss the medications that may be beneficial, including popular options such as finasteride and minoxidil. We’ll ensure you are 100% comfortable with the dosages of each medication and that they are safe for you to use.
Please note that high-strength medications should only be taken under the supervision of an appropriately qualified and trained professional. We advise against ordering any medication online or buying a non-prescribed medication over the counter, as they may have minimal or even adverse effects.
Key Takeaways
- KSL Clinic’s experienced hair transplant surgeons often recommend medications to support recovery, pain relief, and hair restoration after a transplant, although there are some scenarios where specific medications may be unsuitable.
- Prescription-strength medications should only be taken after a thorough consultation with a qualified professional, ensuring you augment your recovery and hair growth after a transplant by taking the most appropriate medications at the correct dosages.
- Common post-hair transplant medications include finasteride and minoxidil, but their effectiveness will depend on the underlying causes of hair loss or thinning.
Medications That May Be Recommended Post-Hair Transplant
Some post-hair transplant medications are recommended to the majority of clients, depending on the outcomes of their consultation and any contraindications or health factors that mean one medication or another may be unsuitable.
For example, a broad-spectrum antibiotic and painkiller are often suggested since these medications prevent any infection from occurring and causing damage to the newly implanted grafts, improve comfort, and reduce any residual pain after your hair transplant procedure.
However, clients with a sensitivity or previous adverse reactions to some antibiotics or who have an allergy to paracetamol may require alternative medications.
Some of the possible medications the KSL Clinic hair transplant surgeons may suggest, and their functions are as follows.
Post-Hair Transplant Antibiotics
Antibiotics are widely used medications that fight infections. Although proper aftercare adherence should prevent any contaminants from causing an infection, we may suggest you use antibiotics as a precautionary measure and to proactively tackle any potential infection.
Minoxidil to Stimulate Healthier, Faster Hair Growth
Often sold in the UK under the brand name Regaine, Minoxidil is known to help reduce natural initial shedding after your hair transplant – although this is part of the recovery process and does not impact the long-term growth of the newly transplanted follicles. [3]
This medication is known to assist with recovery following a transplant to treat androgenetic alopecia or pattern hair loss [4] by improving the blood flow to the follicles, stimulating follicular activity, and extending the time each follicle spends in the growth phase.
Finasteride for Hair Transplants Linked to Male Pattern Baldness
Finasteride is a hair growth-stimulating medication and is used to decrease the amount of dihydrotestosterone in the body (DHT). [5] It is only available via private prescription in the UK and is recommended only for use in male clients.
Clinical studies have shown that finasteride treatments improve recovery and increase hair growth post-transplant in 94% of participants, with dosages carefully adjusted depending on the extent of hair loss in the individual. [6]
Antihistamines to Combat Skin Irritation
Antihistamines are not always required, but along with general pain relief, they can be an option if a client experiences intensive itching or irritation around the site of the newly implanted follicles.
Hair Transplant Results With vs Without Hair Restoration Medications
Deciding against a post-hair transplant medication or identifying that a widely prescribed medication will be unsuitable for you does not mean the results of your hair transplant will be less impactful, nor does it indicate that your newly implanted follicles will be less likely to regrow.
Medications are an added-value way to optimise and boost the speed at which your hair grows, the pace of scalp and skin recovery, and to help prevent further hair loss, particularly for clients with female or male pattern baldness.
Although KSL Clinic often suggests hair transplant medications, if you are uncomfortable taking a prescribed medicine for any reason or fall into one of the criteria we’ve looked at below, which make a medication inappropriate, the results our sector-leading transplant surgeons achieve should still fully meet your expectations.
‘If, for any reason, you cannot take a hair restoration medication or treatment to speed up recovery, it may be more important than ever to follow all the post-transplant aftercare guidance carefully. For example, protecting follicles from contaminants and sunlight exposure is paramount if you are not taking an antibiotic as a precaution to prevent infections.
We might also suggest alternative medications or discuss post-transplant therapies such as plasma-rich platelet therapy, which can work incredibly well at speeding up new hair growth and recovery times without requiring any additional medications.’
Circumstances Where Medications May Be Unsuitable After a Hair Transplant
Every medication has potential side effects and contraindications. It is vital we discuss any aspect of your medical history, allergies, intolerances or previous reactions since this will influence the medications we prescribe or the best solutions to help support your recovery after a hair transplant.
There are some obvious cases where any medicine is highly inadvisable – if you have any of the following, be sure to inform your hair transplant surgeon at your consultation:
- A diagnosed allergy or intolerance
- Past reactions or bad experiences taking a medication
- Any chronic or acute health condition
- Other prescription medications unrelated to your hair transplant
- Diagnosed mental health conditions or disorders
In addition, there may be other factors that make one medication more suitable than another or indicate that a prescription medication would be ineffective or even potentially harmful.
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Contraindications for Common Post-Hair Transplant Medications
While this list is not exhaustive, below we have summarised some of the frequent contraindications that may mean a medication is not appropriate for you or that an alternative will be more effective:
- Antibiotics are often low risk, although some female hair transplant clients may require a different antibiotic since some medications can impact the effectiveness of birth control. [7]
- Conditions such as high blood pressure, asthma, heart disease and thyroid problems can mean that antihistamines are unadvisable. [8]
- Minoxidil is usually not recommended for any individual with eczema, kidney or liver disease, or cardiac diagnoses, even if these are well-controlled. [9]
- Liquid and oral steroids like prednisolone are inadvisable for people due to receive a vaccination in the near future, who have mental health conditions or a family history of mental health disorders, have high blood pressure, diabetes, epilepsy, osteoporosis, liver problems or have ever been diagnosed with a stomach ulcer. [10]
- Finally, finasteride is a medication that reduces or blocks the production of male hormones, which turn testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a major factor in male hair loss, but this medication is never suitable for female clients. [11]
Medications can interact together negatively, or the side effects of an existing medication could mean a hair restoration medication is inappropriate due to increased strain on your kidneys, for example.
Therefore, the suitability of a particular medication may depend on other prescriptions you have, diagnosed health conditions, your own medical history, or that of your family members.
The Importance of Personalised Advice Around Post-Hair Transplant Medications
Medications are often a routine part of aftercare following a hair transplant, but they should equally be taken with caution and only when recommended by a qualified, GMC-registered hair transplant surgeon following a private, in-depth consultation.
If you are interested in learning more about hair restoration therapies, medications and treatments or would like to discuss the medications we may recommend after a hair transplant, you are welcome to book a consultation with KSL Clinic at your convenience.
Medications After a Hair Transplant – Frequently Asked Questions
Is it Important to Take Medications Following a Hair Transplant?
The medications discussed in this guide may be a significant part of your hair transplant recovery and help to augment and optimise your hair growth results – but they are not mandatory and not always advisable.
Our hair transplant surgeons always begin with a discreet, free consultation where we’ll discuss your hair loss concerns, the outcomes you’d like to achieve, and your medical history since the right aftercare strategy will depend on several variables and must be adapted to you.
For example, a female client undergoing an eyebrow transplant to resolve patchy growth due to over-plucking in the past may require a very different post-transplant medication plan than a male client scheduling a temple hair transplant to reverse a receding hairline.
It is vital that you speak with your surgeon before taking any medication, especially an over-the-counter medicine or topical or tablet-based medication purchased online, since these may have severe side effects or be incompatible with other prescription medications you are taking.
Will My Hair Transplant Be Less Successful if I Do Not Take Post-Procedure Medications?
No – we deliver exceptional hair transplant outcomes for all our clients and take great care to customise your transplant, post-procedure therapies, treatments and medication recommendations to you.
While several medications and vitamins are proven to have a positive impact during recovery or to help boost the strength of your hair, it is also important to retain full oversight and to avoid taking any medication you are uncomfortable with.
Following aftercare guidance, such as staying hydrated, protecting your new follicles, eating a balanced, nutritious diet, and getting plenty of sleep, can also be powerful ways to aid in the recovery process. They can be just as effective if you cannot or do not want to take medication.
Can I Safely Take Painkillers After Hair Transplant Surgery?
In most cases, yes, painkillers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin are perfectly safe to take – although that could depend on any allergies or intolerances you have and whether you have other medications that mean you should avoid one type of pain relief or another.
The best advice is to check with your surgeon for the most suitable pain relief. We’ll be happy to provide recommendations or prescribe anti-inflammatories and pain relief to aid in a comfortable, pain-free recovery.
Will I Need to Take Medications Long-Term After a Hair Transplant?
Usually, no, you won’t need to take medication forever, and most of the widely used medications are topical or short-term treatments to help with a comfortable recovery process, helping with swelling, soreness, itching and redness.
However, some medicines, such as minoxidil, are designed for longer-term use, although this may not be necessary if you are undergoing a high-quality personalised transplant that is intended to provide permanent results.
Importantly, post-transplant medication is intended as an additional, optional way to speed up hair growth after a transplant or reduce shedding. It can also be used over the long term to combat ongoing pattern hair loss—meaning the duration of usage will always depend on the type of hair loss you are experiencing and whether this is expected to continue.
References and Sources:
- NHS: About Prednisolone Tablets and Liquid
- National Library of Medicine: Hair Transplantation: Preventing Post-Operative Oedema
- NHS Foundation Trust: Minoxidil for Hair Loss
- National Library of Medicine: Minoxidil and its Use in Hair Disorders: A Review
- NHS: About Finasteride
- National Library of Medicine: Effects of Finasteride (1 mg) on Hair Transplant
- NHS: Antibiotics: Interactions
- Family Doctor: Antihistamines: Understanding Your OTC Options
- WebMD: Minoxidil Solution, Non-Uses, Side-Effects and More
- NHS: Who Can and Cannot Take Prednisolone Tablets and Liquid
- Mayo Clinic: Finasteride (Oral Route)