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Does Smoking Affect Hair Transplant Results? Here’s the Truth

  • drharorrswellnesss
  • 42 minutes ago
  • 3 min read

So, you recently had your hair transplant, but are now wondering if smoking can affect your hair transplant results.


A hair transplant is a significant emotional and financial decision. People struggle with hair loss for many years, put in so much effort and research in finding the right solution, then a ray of hope comes in the form of hair transplant surgery. But many people assume that once they have a hair transplant, the hair will just grow back. They don't realize that how you take care of your transplanted hair is even more important than getting a hair transplant.


Many people who have undergone a hair transplant have a common question for their hair transplant surgeon: Does smoking affect hair transplant results?  


The simple and straightforward answer will be - yes. Smoking has a profound impact on hair transplant results. It affects not only the results but also the healing and recovery.


In this article, we will understand in detail how and why smoking affects hair transplant results.

Before we move ahead and understand the effect of smoking on hair transplant results and recovery, it is important to understand how a hair transplant works inside the scalp.



How Does a Hair Transplant Work? 

Hair transplant is a surgical procedure in which hair follicles are moved from one area of ​​the scalp to another where there is little or no hair. But this procedure is not just the relocation of follicles. Transplanted hair grows through a biological process. After implantation, hair follicles behave like tiny grafts whose growth depends on the blood supply to the scalp. They need oxygen and nutrients to grow like other vital organs of the body. If the internal environment of the scalp is disturbed, the survival of the grafts will become difficult and they may even be damaged, no matter how good or successful the surgery was. And this is where smoking becomes a major problem.



How Does Smoking Affect the Scalp and Hair Transplant Results?


Smoking affects hair transplant results in multiple ways. Here are some:


  • Inadequate Blood Supply to Implanted Hair Grafts

Nicotine is found in smoking materials, which constricts blood vessels, resulting in reduced oxygen supply to the scalp, less nutrients, and slowed healing. Transplanted hair follicles are very weak and fragile in the first few weeks, and if they don't receive proper oxygen and nutrients, the grafts may not survive.


  • Reduced Oxygen Level in Blood 

The carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke binds to hemoglobin even more tightly than oxygen. This reduces the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, preventing adequate oxygen from reaching body tissues. This condition causes a low-oxygen, or hypoxic, environment to develop within the body. Hair follicles are among the most oxygen-sensitive parts of our bodies, so when oxygen supply is reduced, they are directly and negatively affected, which can lead to issues like hair thinning and hair loss.


  • Delayed Healing and Recovery

Healing after transplant depends on three main processes – new blood vessel formation, controlled inflammation, and collagen production. These three together provide proper oxygen, nutrition, and strength to the graft, leading to better final outcomes. Smoking disturbs these processes, reducing blood flow and slowing healing. This can reduce graft survival and negatively impact overall hair transplant results.


  • High Risk of Infection and Scarring

Smoking after a hair transplant procedure can increase the risk of infection and scarring in the scalp. Patients who smoke after the procedure are more likely to experience poor scab healing, prolonged redeness & swelling, and visible scarring in the donor and recipient area, which ultimately affect grafts survival rate.



Conclusion

We all know that smoking in any form is injurious to health, particularly for a surgical procedure like a hair transplant. From a hair transplant surgeon’s point of view, smoking can affect both recovery post-procedure and hair transplant results. Therefore, they often advise patients not to indulge in any type of smoking for at least 15 days after the procedure. Dr. Navnit Haror, Gold medalist dermatologist and international hair transplant surgeon at Dr. Haror’s Wellness, the best hair transplant clinic in Delhi, says the newly transplanted hair follicles take 3-4 days to settle in the scalp, so at least avoid smoking during this period. It would be best if you could completely stop smoking, as this will not only boost your hair health but also your overall health and wellness.  








 
 
 

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