Pacific Hair Institute advises each patient that it is illegal to drive a car or operate a vehicle under the influence of narcotic pain medication. For the first hour after your hair transplant, the injectable medication given during your procedure generally eliminates all pain. In the event that you need to drive longer than half an hour after you leave our office, you are advised to have someone else transport you to your destination. If this is not possible, we recommend that you obtain lodging near our office and avoid driving until such time as you can do so without the effects of the pain medication on your system. Note: Remember, you will usually need to return to the office in 1-3 days for a clean-up and an adjustment. If you have traveled from out of town, please make arrangements to stay overnight somewhere near the office so that it is convenient for you to return the morning after your procedure. A ride can be provided for you, if you call to arrange this in advance with our office. A full hotel list is available by fax from our staff.

Do not drive, ride a vehicle, or otherwise put yourself in any position where alertness and balance are essential while you are taking your pain, muscle relaxant and/or sleeping medications, such as Valium (Diazepam), Ambien, Tylenol with Codeine, and Vicodin. All medications need to be taken after eating to avoid nausea and/or upset stomach.
Medications after surgery:

1. After surgery you will receive a prescription for antibiotic capsules or tablets. These are usually Duricef, Cipro, Ery-C or Biaxin. Take them as instructed, usually for 2 days.
2. After surgery you will also receive prescription for an antibiotic ointment. This is usually Bactroban. Apply a thin coat to the graft & suture areas daily after shampooing, starting on day 4 through day 5 & 6. This is the same ointment applied by our staff after surgery.
3. You were given a prescription to control discomfort before you left the office. This is usually Tylenol with Codeine, Vicodin, or Percocet. Use it as instructed on the label.
4. ITCHING: Take Atarax at bedtime for itching.
5. Zofran is for nausea.

Note: DO NOT put ice on your grafts. Staff will review meds at discharge.
Typical Post Op Medications
Trade Name | Generic Name Instructions

Tylenol………………….Acetaminophen or APAP
Valium………………….Diazepam
Vicodin………………….Acetaminophen with Hydrocodone
Tylenol No. 3………….Acetaminophen with Codeine
Toradol…………………Ketoralac Tromethamine
Talwin…………………..Pentazocine
Ambien…………………Zolpidem
Atarax………………….Hydroxyzine
Zofran ODT……………Ondansetron
Percocet……………….Acetaminophen with Oxycodone

PAIN MEDICATION: PERCOCET or VICODIN doses: One or two every four to six hours is usually enough. If you are 220 lbs or more, you may take a third if two do not control discomfort in one to two hours.

ICE: Use a bag of frozen peas, alternating between forehead and donor site at halfhour intervals. Have three (3) to four (4) bags on hand so you can keep them frozen

POSITION: You will need to sleep with your head and body propped up at least 15 to 30 degrees for the first five nights. This can be accomplished by using a reclining chair or a stack of two or three pillows, or the arm chair pillow which is shown in a photograph on your blue instruction page (#A1). Also, you should obtain an air pillow for around your neck. Use the air pillow for at least the first two or three days. This will keep the grafts from rubbing on the pillow case.

OOZING: Slight oozing of the grafts is normal. This would appear as either red, clear, or amber translucent bubbles. These should be blotted with the 4×4 gauze which you were given the first night. By blotting these gently, you will prevent larger crusts. Should you have an area of continuous oozing, apply gentle pressure for thirty (30) minutes using damp gauze. Put a clean, old towel over your pillowcase each night for the first two nights.

1ST THROUGH 3RD DAY AFTER SURGERY

1. Shower from ears down leaving ointment on grafts and stitches

4TH THROUGH 6TH DAY AFTER SURGERY

1. Shower, letting water run full force on top of head; shampoo sides. GENTLY blot dry with towel.
2. Apply ointment to grafts and stitches.

7th – 14th DAY AFTER SURGERY

1. Resume shampooing in a full strength shower. Let water flow on head for about 10 minutes to soften crusts. Apply shampoo and use FINGERTIPS (or SPONGE) in gentle circular motion on BOTH grafts and stitches, then ointment after shower.
2. Resume normal exercise routine. Do not hit your head.
3. You may begin to use cosmetic cover-ups such as Dermatch or Couvre.
4. Freshly-washed pillowcase daily.
5. DO NOT PICK OR FORCE CRUSTS OFF. Crusts will generally be gone in 10-14 days.
6. Sutures are removed from your donor site after 10-14 days. You have an appointment for this. We will remove any crusts that remain at this visit.
7. Hypoallergenic skin tone cosmetics can be used to hide pinkness.
8. You may resume Rogaine, starting on the 14th day, if you have used it before your procedure.
9. You may return to the office for help in getting the crusts off. Call for appointments.

FOLLOWUP: Your first followup visit is 1-3 days after surgery. Suture removal is 10-16 days after surgery. The doctor will want to see you every 6 months in the year following your procedure, then annually. Call for appointments.

ACTIVITY: Avoid any activity that may result in hitting your head, such as contact sports, piggy-back rides for kids, etc. Be careful getting into and out of cars.

WEIGHTLIFTING: After first 5 days, weight lifting can be resumed. Cut back 25% and work back to normal weights after stitches are removed.

EXERCISE: Jogging, running, golfing, tennis, etc. is OK – AFTER 5 days.

SWIMMING: In private pool after 7 days or ocean/lake after 14 days. Always shower/ shampoo after swimming.

AVOID SUNBURN: Use hat or sun block outdoors for 30 days. Wear a freshly washed hat when outside for 2-3 weeks.