Question:

I am going on a vacation to Hawaii in a month. Do you recommend I have my hair transplant procedure done now, or should I wait until after I get back?

Answer:

This is a difficult question to answer, as there are pros and cons with both choices. Obviously, the sooner you get the hair transplant, the sooner your new hair will be growing. The main drawback to having your procedure performed prior to your vacation is that you need to make sure the top of your head does not get a sun burn. While it is never a good idea to get a sun burn on any part of your body, evidence suggests that a sun burn on the newly grafted scalp region can lead to diminished graft survival. I usually recommend taking extra precautions, such as hats and suntan lotion, for a minimum of 3 months after surgery to avoid a sun burn in the grafted area.

Waiting until after your vacation causes you to wait that much longer for your hair to grow. However, it’s not as if all of your hair loss happened over the last few months- you’ve waited this long, so you can probably wait a month or two more. If you are afraid you may have trouble avoiding sun exposure during your vacation, I would recommend delaying the procedure until after you return.

-Brandon Ross, MD
http://www.rmhri.com
IAHRS Recommended Hair Transplant Surgeon