Shamila Gupta Rawal, MD, a board-certified otolaryngologist/head and neck surgeon, specializes in the management of hair loss and rejuvenation of the face and neck at The Rawal Institute for Hair Restoration and Aesthetic Medicine. Dr. Rawal the only hair restoration surgeon providing comprehensive surgical and non-surgical treatment for all types of hair loss in Madison, Wisconsin, with an expansive patient base that travels in from coast-to-coast. 

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Hair transplants are often thought of as one and done procedures with permanent results. The reality is that hair transplants require upkeep to maximize one’s investment and longevity of the transplant. After the immediate wound care steps for the first 1-2 weeks after transplant, maintenance steps are very similar to those for a general treatment of hair loss. Because most transplants are performed on patients who continue to have a significant amount of hair that is susceptible to hormonally driven thinning, it is paramount that these maintenance steps continue post-transplant.

Haute Beauty sits down with Haute Beauty expert Dr. Shamila Rawal to discuss the ways in which one can promote continuous hair growth following a hair transplant. Here’s what she had to say: 

In my practice, I prescribe low-level laser light therapy and medications both before and after transplant, to help optimize the scalp growth environment, support native and transplanted hair metabolism, and promote healing of low levels of inflammation present in the scalp.

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I perform PRP injections during transplant and then again at 6-months post-transplant, to help boost the building of a strong collagen matrix and hair follicle infrastructure. The patient is tasked with the continuation of medications and practice of good health habits in regards to nutrition.

Since hair loss is progressive, one will always be net losing hair, but we can slow down the rate of this loss with medical and nutritional support. Medications such as Minoxidil (often prescribed to help improve the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the scalp) and Finasteride, spironolactone, and saw palmetto (which can reduce hormonally (DHT)-induced hair loss) synergize with the effects of the procedures and good health habits to provide a robust restoration and slowing of further hair loss, and are prescribed together with surgery to extend the longevity of the transplant’s success.

Nutritional status has a major influence on hair growth; hair follicles require energy sources and building blocks, just as any other cell in the body. When nutritional reserves are poor, the quality and quantity of hair can be negatively affected. Therefore, positive lifestyle changes such as consumption of a well-balanced, non-restrictive diet, stress reduction, and adequate sleep are the cornerstones to repair tissue damage and promote growth.