Perhaps everyone knows about the dangers of smoking. Moreover, even the most inveterate smokers know about it. However, many patients have little idea of the specific impact of smoking after hair transplant. There are several important points to consider both before and after surgery.
Impact of smoking after hair transplant
First of all, it should be noted that smoking after hair transplant is not a matter of time (when you can start smoking after surgery), but a matter of health and final results. It is clear that a heavy smoker is unlikely to give up a cigarette on the same evening after surgery or, in extreme cases, on the next day. However, in this case, the patient must know and accept the possible risks and complications that may follow as a result of this bad habit. The harm from smoking not only affects overall health, but can also significantly affect the final result of hair transplant.
How does smoking affect the final results of hair transplant?
What does smoking lead to after hair transplant? Here are some facts smokers should know about:
- The nicotine inhaled by a smoker along with cigarette smoke causes the blood vessels to constrict. This significantly slows down the metabolism, which means that it slows down the healing process.
- Carbon monoxide, also found in cigarette smoke, reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. Thus, the body is in permanent oxygen starvation. This significantly reduces the survival rate of the transplanted hair.
- Slow skin healing due to poor blood supply increases the likelihood of scarring and inflammation at the transplant area.
- Patients with extensive smoking experience have increased bleeding during surgery.
- Smoking after hair transplant has a negative effect on the immune system, which, together with the slow healing of micro punctures, increase the risk of inflammation.