I'm now 3 weeks post op. Wondering what others might recommend for helping to treat both donor and recipient areas. Most interested in advice regarding lotions, vitamins, or medications that will speed up scar healing and the dreaded 'pink zone' on top. What has worked? I'm trying to minimize HT visibility - and quick!
Thanks in advance...

Vitamin C helps with healing. I would recommend capsules (dissolve in your stomach easier than tablets). 500 mg caps seem good, take them with food, not on an empty stomach. 500 mg = a half gram, I would say take about 1 or 2 grams a day during your healing.

I would even suggest that guys take Vit.C the days leading up to surgery, to have it already in your system. (It's not on the list of things to avoid, at clinics I know of).

Vitamin C helps with collagen formation, which is part of wound healing.

Mont-

I know you want it clear by Monday. It might happen, might not. I'm about 5 weeks out of my 2nd HT. My donor scar was very pink and wide (I should say the area around the scar - cause the scar itself is nearly nil). Anyhow, it was quite pink and visible cause I didn't let my hair grow long enough the second time. But, almost overnight about week 3 1/2, the pink faded about 80%. I don't know why, but it did. And if it's like last time, I won't even be able to find the scar after about 4 months.

The point being - you're looking for Monday. That's not a healing thing in my opinion, but a 'suck it up' one. Go "Cosmetic on your ass" for now.

We all did the HT for cosmetic reasons. Don't be afraid to get the concealers we talked about - they'll work great. Plus, if your Dermamatch doesn't arrive in time, don't be afraid to drop by the drug store and pick up some women's cosmetic powder that matches your scalp color. Experiment with it until you're cool on it covering the red stuff for the week or two you might need it. (I didn't do this myself, since I just tossed out my hairpiece -- I figured if anyone didn't notice my elvis wig gone, they wouldn't give a crap about a little pink in my scalp).

Click for - My Pix, and Mentor page with advice on Choosing a Doc, anti-swelling, and healing.
http://www.hairtransplantnetwork.com/mentor/mentor_profile.asp?Mentor=Joecifus

i seem to have had alot of success with Emu Oil on the recepient area.

I am about 6 weeks post op ive been applying it for the past few days, and the light pinkness in my scalp is being relieved in just a few days.

so you might want to try it i think it works, it seems to be very effective on me. i even think its kick starting new growth.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=emu+oil+healing

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=emu+oil+hair

http://www.e-oilproducts.com/html/article3.html

some guys use it for in conjunction with hair growth too... its available online and at some health food/vitamin stores.

it can be a little greasy though, so its probably best to apply it at night then rinse it off in the morning.