Should You Take After Hair Transplant?

So now that you have done your hair transplant procedure, you might be wondering what you need to do in order to get marvelous results. Well, aside from following the after-care instructions that are explained by your surgeons, you must make sure your hair gets the nutrition it needs. Believe it or not, diet plays a very important role in the final results of your hair transplant procedure.

You are what you eat. It shouldn’t be a surprise that your newly implanted hair follicles will be affected by what you consume. A diet that isn’t well balanced can actually hold back the growth of the implanted hair that your surgeon spent hours working on to give you a better hairline.

Researchers found that a diet lacking in the essentials (minerals, vitamins, proteins and fatty acids) can cause the cells in the malfunction which leads to further permanent or temporary hair loss because of the interruption of normal hair cycling, inability of follicles to produce new hair.

Also, as you might know, after the hair transplant there is a “Shock Hair Loss” phase that occur in the first two months. A nutritious diet is known to decrease (sometimes prevent) this “surgical shock”. Specially a diet that has iron and zinc which are essential for the production of healthy hair follicles.
Now, let’s get in all the details about the diet that you need to be following in order to get the optimal results that you are intended to have from your hair transplant surgery.

The most important part of your diet is water. You may already know it, but water is the essence of life. So, make sure you consume at least 8 glasses of water daily to keep your hair healthy, blood pressure regulated and your life in balance and to decrease and eliminate the hair loss due to dry scalp.
Below is the list of the other essentials that you need in your diet:

1) B-complex vitamins

Such as B7 (Biotin) and B12. B-Complex vitamins plays an elemental role in the hair structure and its growth. Also, it ensures optimal protein and fat metabolism and assist clotting during the wound-healing process. After hair transplant, doctors believe that a patient should consume B-complex vitamin supplements to get to the levels that are needed.
Some foods that are rich in B-complex vitamins are : chicken, meat, bananas, avocados, brown rice, nuts and eggs.

2) Zinc

Zinc deficiency can lead to serious hair loss thus, it is important to have zinc in your diet after your hair transplant surgery. It plays a big role in tissue repair as it helps in the production of collagen, cell multiplication, maintenance of hormone levels, protein synthesis and absorption of vitamins and other minerals.
Some foods that are rich in zinc are: Oysters, Beef, Cashews, Spinach, and pumpkin seeds.

3) Iron

Iron deficiency just like zinc deficiency can cause hair loss. It boost the hair texture, boost the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the roots and scalp of the hair to allow greater results. Also, iron enhance immunity which is necessary in the healing phase after the hair transplant surgery. Some foods that are rich in iron are: spinach, beef, beans, clams, and beef liver.

4) Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant by nature. It helps to accelerates the healing of damaged skin and prevents scars from becoming permanentheal. It is recommended to use Vitamin E oil on your donor and recipient area once your wound has healed to soften and improve the tissue quality also it repairs damaged hair follicles.
Some foods that are rich in Vitamin E are: almonds, spinach, avocado, sunflower seeds, and olive oil.

5) Vitamin C

It speeds healing by working as an antioxidant, also it helps in the production of collagen and elastin. Vitamin C also fights oxidative stress that are responsible to hair graying and hair loss.

Some foods that are rich in Vitamin-C are: peppers, kale, kiwi, broccoli, berries, and citrus fruits.

6) Vitamin A

All cells need vitamin A for growth. Including cells of hair follicles. Also, it assists in the production of sebum which is the oily substance which moisturizes the scalp and keeps hair healthy. Deficeincy in Vitamin A leads to hair loss and dry and itchy scalp (itchy scalp is a side effect that you may experince after hair transplant).
Some foods that are rich in Vitamin A are: carrots, sweet potato, beef liver, kale, spinach, and winter squash.

Two more point you must be careful about are cholesterol level and the blood supply to the hair.

You should cut down the oil in your diet which decrease the LDT and increase HDT cholesterol. With balanced cholesterol levels, healing would become faster and better also makes sure you get good hair growth after the hair transplant surgery.

If you are a smoker, try to decrease it as much as you can. blood supply is utterly lowered in a smoker’s body, hair and scalp as compared to a non-smoker. Also the healing period is extended after hair transplant for the patients that smoke.

Overall, stay positive and live a healthy life by making healthy choices. These nutrition tips are not only for better hair, but for generally better health.