How long if you are possibly going to have a procedure done does one need to not drink or smoke before and after the procedure?

thanks

Bowl,

To my knowledge there is no requisite of drinking or smoking after surgery though physicians have different timelines on these prior to surgery.

I hope that other members will contribute their thoughts on this.

Falc

I was planning on drinking n smoking
DURING
my surgery...

Lots of literature discuss the increased risk of infection and skin slough(loss) in smokers undergoing surgery. Although this is much more risky in facial surgery (in which I require patients to stop smoking for 10 days prior to ((more important than after actually)) surgery; wound infection is more likely in any surgery in smokers. I advise all hair patients of this and strongly suggest they quit prior to surgery. The issue is that smoking decreases the oxygen delivery in small blood vessel areas; and although the scalp is EXTREMELY vascular, I am concerned about the local blood supply to the DENSE PACKED individual follicles being compromised by smoking and decreasing graft survival.

As to alcohol; the main concern is anticoagulation: turning a dry surgical field in which DENSE PACKING is do-able into a bloody field with popping and prolonged surgical time; and decreased yield.

So, we recommend strongly, no smoking or drinking for 10 days before surgery.

Dr. Lindsey, RESTON VA

thanks... Dr. Lindsey

Nice information there Dr Linsey.10 days isn`t that bad to stay off the drink.

"DO NOT DRINK ALCOCHOL AT A MINIMUM OF 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE SURGERY".

This is taken straight from the pre-operative instructions given to me by my doc. So, I guess 10-14 days of laying of the moonshine it is..

Thanks for the details Dr. Lindsey!

Also men, make sure you ask your doctor his/her thoughts on supplements/vitamins too. Many herbs and things of this nature can thin the blood, again turning what should be a clean relatively bloodless surgical field into a floodplain. Even green-tea, in many newer sports drinks, can be trouble.

Dr. Lindsey RESTON VA

Hi Dr Linsey
Here in the UK it states on the drink drive campaigns that alcahol takes 48 hours to be out of your system.

Do you know if there any studies on this as 10 to 14 days seems a long time for something to be processed by your body.

I am a non drinker and I have to say that is probobley one of the reason my ht area came out nicely without deep redness. My ht area was a little pink but not really noticeable. Guys dont drink to get a clean recovery

I am considered that who do not like the drink. Every person is affected differently by alcohol. Females have less body water than males. With less water, alcohol reaches a girl's organs faster than a guy's. Other factors that affect how fast you process alcohol are your weight, how much you've eaten, and how fast you drink. Your hormones also affect alcohol absorption. During the month, your hormones go up and down, which changes how much alcohol stays in your blood. Do not use Alcohol for minimum 3 weeks during the surgery preceding.

Perhaps use your Ht as a stepping stone for a whole new look AND lifestyle. Wouldn't you rather be healthy and alive to enjoy all that new hair?

Alcohol can alter the coagulation of your blood even in modest drinkers who don't have liver impairment from excessive alcohol intake. I am not sure how long this effect lasts. Our reason for 10-14 days is so that all of the things we tell patients not to do is for the same time period. For example, nsaids like motrin and aspirin alter the platelets and the turnover time to reverse this is about 10 days. Same with many herbs. Same for smoking. So its easiest for patients to remember 10 - 14 days for all these things rather than telling them no motrin for 10 days, no green tea for 5, no alcohol for 6 etc.

We use very small and densely packed 0.7mm slits. If someone is oozing from 3000 holes, it makes the entire case longer and harder.

Finally, about 4% of the population has a mild bleeding disorder. Although a thorough history reveals alot of these folks, it is good to eliminate all preventable causes of blood thinning prior to surgery.

Dr. Lindsey www.lindseymedical.com