Preparing for a beard transplant, and the first 10 days after

What is done 7 days before?

The purpose of the seven-day preparation is to reduce the tendency to bleed and to improve tissue perfusion. The items below are typical instructions; for any medicine you take, the decision belongs to the doctor who prescribed it — which for most patients means their GP at home, so allow time for that conversation.

• Anticoagulant medicines — stopped only with the approval of the prescribing doctor and for the period they specify; never stopped on your own.
• Aspirin and anti-inflammatory painkillers — generally stopped 7 days before.
• Vitamin E, fish oil, ginkgo biloba, ginseng and similar supplements — stopped 7 days before.
• Alcohol — stopped at least 3 days before.
• Smoking — stopped at least 7 days before; it impairs tissue perfusion and directly affects graft survival.
• Green tea and high-dose vitamin C — reduced 3 days before.

Which blood tests are required?

Pre-operative blood tests are taken no later than 1 day before the operation and the results are reviewed before the day itself. If you have had these done recently where you live, send them in advance — results within the last month are usually accepted and save a day.

• Full blood count
• Coagulation screen (PT, aPTT, INR)
• Fasting blood glucose
• HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV
• Where there is a chronic condition, sign-off from the relevant specialty

How should I shave, and should I do it myself?

Facial hair is left unshaved for the 3 days before the procedure. Even short stubble shows the exit angle and direction of the existing hair, which makes the design work directly easier.

The donor area — the nape — is shaved at the clinic on the day. Do not shave the donor area yourself; the borders of the area to be harvested and the trim length are set by the plan.

On the morning of the procedure, wash your hair and face with soap; no gel, spray, beard oil or wax. Products left on the skin make sterilisation harder while channels are being opened.

What happens on the day, and how long does it take?

A beard transplant is done under local anaesthetic and typically takes 4–7 hours depending on the graft count. You are awake throughout.

The day starts with drawing the donor and recipient areas. Nothing begins until you have approved the jaw line, cheek border and moustache line in front of a mirror. Your consent form is signed in English before the drawing, not after.

You feel a brief sting while the anaesthetic is injected; the area is numb once that is complete. There are breaks during the procedure, with a meal and time to move around.

What are the first 10 days like?

The first 10 days are when the grafts take and the crusts come away. The timeline below is typical; the written instructions you are given take precedence.

• Days 0–1 — no water on the area. Do not sleep face down or let the pillow touch it. Mild redness and pinpoint bumps are expected.
• Day 2 — the first wash is done at the clinic and taught to you. Lotion is applied and warm water poured from a cupped hand.
• Days 3–5 — daily washing continues at home. Swelling usually settles in these days. Itching may start in the beard area; do not scratch.
• Days 6–10 — the crusts soften and come away. No razor, clipper, comb or exfoliation.
• After day 10 — no crusts should remain. Tidying with scissors is allowed; clippers wait until the end of month 1.
• For the whole first 10 days: no sauna, steam room, swimming pool, sea or exercise that makes you sweat.

When is the procedure postponed?

In the situations below the procedure is postponed or not planned at all. Postponement protects graft survival and healing — and we would rather tell you before you book a flight than on the morning.

• Active acne, folliculitis or inflamed lesions in the beard area — no transplant until they are treated.
• Isotretinoin use — generally 6 months are left after the last dose.
• Uncontrolled diabetes or uncontrolled hypertension — no operation until values are stabilised.
• Uncontrolled bleeding disorder — not performed without a haematology assessment.
• Active skin infection or febrile illness — postponed until it resolves.
• A tendency to keloid — assessed separately for healing in the donor area.