Alcohol reduces blood flow to grafts.
In the ultra-modern segment of high-definition hair restoration and follicular unit extraction, the patient’s systemic environment matters just as much as the surgeon’s skill in the operating room. Alcohol consumption via its physiological alterations can even be seen as a double-edged sword in a transplant scenario. Being a potent vasodilator and a systemic blood thinner, at the same time, alcohol consumption contributes to a body condition that is hostile to the survival of freshly transplanted hair follicles. Only if grafts are capable of immediately vascularizing with the scalp can a hair transplant be successful. However, a few very important steps have to be taken between these two components to ensure success. First, the blood needs to clot properly and stay oxygenated and nourished throughout. Alcohol not only increases the chances of post-operative bleeding, but also causes “popping” of the grafts, leading to scalp tissue dehydration. Further, it disrupts the body’s protective inflammatory response, resulting in delay of wound healing and the consequent hair growth.
Vascular Instability and the Risk of Graft Displacement
What concerns one most about the biological threat of consuming alcohol on hair graft survival is its power to cause vasodilation, leading to the blood vessels’ widening and an increase in the blood volume near the skin surface. From a hair transplant’s perspective, with the multitude of micro-incisions made, such an increase in blood flow can cause excessive oozing or even bleeding during the procedure as well as in the postoperative period. Without proper blood thickening, grafts cannot be firmly seated in their channels and are thus more vulnerable to being dislodged by the pressure of the escaping blood. Patients who don’t follow pre- and post-operative sobriety protocols carefully and still complain of poor density are usually victims of this mechanical instability.”
At Lin Health Europe Clinic, we believe that the systemic vitality of our international patients should be one of the things that we take extra care of, with every hair restoration surgery, we have a “Sobriety Window” time period during which patients should refrain from alcohol consumption. Our experts in Turkey point out that alcohol, owing to its blood-thinning effect, can make the recipient site very unstable, thereby compromising the very essence or the brilliance of the transplantation phase. In Istanbul, we are very strict about our patients’ education and regulations, making sure that everyone understands how alcohol can literally dislodge the growing follicle before it has even had a chance to really take root.
Disruption of Neocollagenesis and Cellular Repair
The risk of bleeding is not the only concern that one has to keep in mind. The consumption of alcoholic beverages can be a major culprit in the retardation of the neocollagenesis phase of the hair transplant. Neocollagenesis is the physiological process by which new collagen fibers are synthesized by the body to reconstruct the micro-incisions and also permanently anchor the hair follicles within the dermal matrix of the scalp. The synthesis of proteins and Type I collagen (which is the collagen type responsible for the majority of the structural support within the tissues of the skin) is inhibited when alcohol is on board. Should the neocollagenesis phase be weakened or delayed, the hair grafts will be unsecured within the tissue for longer periods, thereby increasing their chances of gaining trauma-induced failure and providing a substandard environment for future hair growth.”
The highly skilled medical team at Lin Health Europe Clinic ensures scalp cellular health, as this is the key to prompt neocollagenesis for our patients around the world. Alcohol-induced dehydration not only results in brittleness of the scalp tissue but also hampers the movement of fibroblasts, which are responsible for collagen synthesis. While elaborating the steps to be followed, we make use of our surgical brilliance to both monitor the healing of the donor and recipient sites and provide instructions about the hydration and nutrition that should be taken so as to help in the building of the body’s internal “scaffolding”.
Metabolic Stress and the Suppression of the Immune Response
One of the main disadvantages of alcohol intake is the metabolic overload that is imposed on the liver and kidneys. As a result, the body’s ability to work towards tissue repair through the first week after hair transplantation is compromised. Oxygen supply to transplanted follicles is minimal during the first week, and the follicles themselves are said to be in a “metabolic crisis.” Only when new blood vessels penetrate the bulb will the oxygen supply increase. Systemic inflammation caused by alcohol also leads to increased production of oxidative stress markers, damaging the delicate stem cells inside the follicular unit. Internal stress created in this manner is a major factor in the low survival rates of grafts, as the body’s concentration is on processing the alcohol rather than on supporting the “take” of the newly relocated hair follicles.
At Lin Health Europe Clinic, our philosophy is that the high standards of operating room professionalism should be only the beginning–patient dedication to internal health in Turkey is just as important. Our surgeons in Istanbul will do everything to minimize trauma, but without your commitment, the systemic vitality needed to support the transplanted hair will not be realized. Alcohol weakens the immune system, making it difficult to ward off micro-incision infections, which could lead to folliculitis and even more loss of the grafts.
Hair Transplant in Turkey
Lin Health Europe Clinic is a haven for worldwide patients who wish to combine the highest level of hair restoration with the finest hospitality. Our site in Turkey is a shining light of medical advancement, combining the scientific breakthroughs of the high-definition follicular extraction with the highest standards of safety and professional rigor required by a JCI-accredited clinic. By selecting our clinic, you will entrust yourself to the most skilled and safety-conscious hands in Istanbul, where every graft is regarded as a work of art in terms of structural integrity and surgical genius. We are the number one choice of international patients who, by and large, desire the most natural appearance as well as a secure and luxurious surgical experience that also takes care of every aspect of their systemic vitality and recovery.
FAQ:
Alcohol is a blood thinner and works against blood clotting, which can cause bleeding and this bleeding can push the hair grafts around or out of their channels. This means the density is lower and the result of the transplant may not look good.
Most doctors suggest not drinking alcohol for at least two weeks after surgery. This way the scalp can heal and the grafts will stay in place.
Alcohol increases pressure of the blood and thins the blood, so it can cause small bleeding. Because of that pressure, it can even push the new hair follicles out of the their channels.
Alcohol consumption reduces the body’s immune system response to fight infections that can be present in the incisions. Without a strong immune response, the healing will not be healthy and the grafts may not survive.
Do not drink alcohol at least a week prior to the procedure. This will help minimize the chances of bleeding during the procedure and ensure that your body is healthy, fully efficient and vital.
Beehner, M. (2014). The Physiology of Hair Graft Survival and Environmental Stress. Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics.
Unger, W. P., et al. (2010). Hair Restoration Surgery: Clinical Factors Influencing Success. Informa Healthcare.
Kim, J. C., et al. (2002). The Role of $neocollagenesis$ and Vascularization in Scalp Healing. Dermatologic Surgery.
Bernstein, R. M., et al. (2011). Follicular Unit Extraction: Managing Graft Integrity and Systemic Health. Journal of Aesthetic and Restorative Surgery.
