Follow the alcohol stop interval provided for your confirmed procedure. Alcohol may affect bleeding, hydration and perioperative medication considerations, so a universal online rule should not replace that instruction.
Alcohol GuidancePre-Procedure Patient Guide
How to Prepare for a Hair Transplant
Preparing for a hair transplant typically means reviewing your medical history and medications with the clinical team, following the alcohol and nicotine instructions provided for your case, arriving with a clean scalp, and preparing the clothing, travel and procedure-day details confirmed for your treatment. Your written Henesis instructions take priority over general online advice.
Direct answers
Before Hair Transplant — Quick Answers
Tell the clinical team about current tobacco or nicotine use and follow the abstinence period they recommend. Smoking and nicotine can affect blood flow and wound healing.
Smoking GuidanceDo not stop prescribed medicines on your own. Provide a complete medication, supplement and herbal-product list so the physician can decide whether anything needs adjustment.
Medication ReviewUsually yes, but follow your clinic’s exact procedure-day instructions and avoid styling products unless told otherwise.
Scalp PreparationYour central preparation plan
Your Hair Transplant Preparation Timeline
Before a hair transplant, disclose your medical history, review medications with the clinical team, and follow the alcohol and nicotine instructions given for your case. Keep the scalp clean, avoid unapproved medication changes, prepare front-opening clothing, and confirm food, drink, travel and procedure-day instructions. Your written Henesis instructions take priority when they differ from a general timeline.
- 1–2 Weeks Before
- Disclose medical conditions and recent health changes
- Review prescriptions, supplements and herbal products
- Discuss aspirin, NSAIDs, anticoagulants and antiplatelet medicines
- Disclose nicotine, smoking and alcohol use
- Arrange travel, accommodation and transfers
- Confirm whether haircut or shaving is required
- Several Days Before
- Follow clinic-specific alcohol and nicotine instructions
- Confirm the medication plan
- Avoid unapproved medication changes
- Report scalp irritation, rash or infection
- Prepare clothing and travel logistics
- Day Before
- Confirm appointment and transfer times
- Follow scalp-washing instructions
- Avoid styling products
- Aim for normal sleep
- Prepare button-up or zip-front clothing
- Procedure Morning
- Follow the confirmed food and drink instructions
- Take medications according to the confirmed pre-procedure medication plan
- Arrive with a clean scalp and no gel, wax or spray
- Bring identification and requested medical information
- Follow transport instructions when sedation is planned
Medication safety
Which Medications Should I Mention Before a Hair Transplant?
Never stop a prescribed medication solely because a website or generic pre-op checklist tells you to. Some medicines and supplements can affect bleeding or interact with perioperative treatment; the decision to continue, adjust or pause them should follow the physician’s review and, when relevant, the prescribing clinician. People living with HIV should also review the HIV-specific eligibility and medication guidance before changing antiretroviral therapy.
Prescription medicinesAspirinNSAIDsAnticoagulants / antiplateletsBlood-pressure / cardiac medicationMinoxidilFinasterideVitamins / supplementsHerbal productsRecreational substances
Bleeding-risk decisions need context
What About Aspirin, Ibuprofen or Blood-Thinning Medication?
Some medications can increase perioperative bleeding risk, but whether they should be stopped depends on why they are being taken and the individual medical plan.
Henesis will tell you what applies to your case after reviewing your medication history. When relevant, the clinician who prescribed the medicine may need to be involved before any change is made.
Alcohol
Can I Drink Alcohol Before a Hair Transplant?
Alcohol should be avoided for the pre-procedure period specified by your clinical team. Alcohol can affect bleeding and can complicate perioperative medication and hydration considerations. Henesis will provide the interval that applies to the confirmed procedure plan.
Smoking and nicotine
Should I Stop Smoking Before a Hair Transplant?
Tell the team about cigarettes, vaping and other nicotine use. Nicotine and smoking can affect tissue blood flow and healing, so a pre- and post-procedure abstinence period may be recommended.
Coffee and caffeine
Can I Drink Coffee Before a Hair Transplant?
Follow the clinic’s procedure-day caffeine instruction. Some hair-transplant protocols limit caffeine before surgery, while exact timing varies by clinic and anaesthetic or sedation plan.
Existing hair-loss treatment
Should I Stop Minoxidil or Finasteride?
Do not stop either treatment automatically. Whether topical or oral minoxidil or finasteride should be continued or adjusted around surgery depends on the prescription, treatment plan and physician instructions.
Include both prescribed and non-prescribed hair-loss products on the medication list supplied before treatment.
Do not self-shave by default
Should I Cut or Shave My Hair Before the Procedure?
Not unless Henesis specifically asks you to. Shaving strategy can change according to donor visibility, treatment area, FUE extraction needs, DHI placement and selected limited-shave planning. The clinic can trim the required area when appropriate. In selected patients with limited scalp donor, the assessment may also include beard or body donor areas.
Body Hair TransplantClean scalp, case-specific instructions
Should I Wash My Hair Before a Hair Transplant?
In most cases, patients are asked to arrive with a clean scalp and without styling products, but follow the instructions supplied for your procedure.
- Use the shampoo or washing approach instructed
- Do not apply gel, wax or hairspray
- Tell the clinic about a new rash, infection, open lesion or marked irritation
- Do not aggressively scrub or irritate the scalp
Procedure-day eating
Should I Eat Before a Hair Transplant?
Do not fast unless Henesis specifically instructs you to. Procedure-day eating and drinking instructions depend on the planned medicines and any sedation or anaesthesia considerations. Follow the written instruction for your confirmed plan rather than a generic online fasting rule.
Practical procedure-day clothing
What Should I Wear on Procedure Day?
Choose clean, comfortable clothing that will not need to be pulled across the treated scalp.
Front-Opening Shirt
Choose a button-up or zip-front top.
Comfortable Trousers
Plan for a long clinical day.
No Tight Overhead Clothing
Avoid garments that must be pulled over the head.
Minimal Valuables
Bring only what is necessary.
Compact clinic checklist
What Should I Bring to the Clinic?
- ID or passport
- Current medication list
- Requested medical or laboratory documents
- Companion or contact details where applicable
- Glasses or contact-lens case if relevant
- Phone and charger
International-patient logistics
Arriving in Istanbul Before Your Hair Transplant
Follow the confirmed arrival and treatment schedule rather than assuming same-day treatment after your flight. Stay hydrated, confirm transfers, communicate delays and do not change medication simply because of travel.
Hair Transplant in Turkey GuideUpdate the team before attendance
When Should You Contact the Clinic Before Treatment?
Contact the clinic when a relevant health or treatment detail changes. The clinical team can decide whether treatment should proceed, be modified or be rescheduled.
Fever or acute illnessActive scalp infection or rashNew medicationRecent major medical eventBleeding concernSignificant health changeUnable to follow pre-op instructionsNew allergy or suspected medication reaction
Final readiness check
Before You Leave for the Clinic
Use this as a final prompt alongside—not instead of—your written clinical instructions.
- Medical history disclosed
- Medication list reviewed
- Alcohol and smoking instructions followed
- Scalp clean
- No styling products
- Correct clothing ready
- Meal or fasting instructions followed
- Documents ready
- Transport confirmed
- Questions answered
Medically reviewed by Dr. Timur Aksu, MDLead Hair Restoration Physician · Published 24 August 2026 · Last reviewed 24 August 2026
Medical sources
Sources Supporting This Preparation Guide
These sources support the general medication, smoking, alcohol and surgical-risk context. Exact Henesis stop intervals and procedure-day instructions remain case-specific.
- ISHRS — Hair Restoration Surgery Risk FactorsPatient risk factors, bleeding, healing, tobacco, alcohol and relevant medicines
- ISHRS — Smoking, Drinking, Medications and Herbal ProductsPre-operative disclosure and individualized risk reduction
- ISHRS — Medical Treatment HistoryComplete disclosure of recent and current medical treatment
- ISHRS — Over-the-Counter Medication RisksAspirin, supplements, vitamins and medication inventory
Before Hair Transplant FAQs
Direct answers about preparation, medications, alcohol, smoking, coffee, hair washing, clothing and procedure-day readiness.
How should I prepare for a hair transplant?
Disclose your medical history and medications, follow the alcohol and nicotine instructions given for your case, keep the scalp clean, prepare front-opening clothing, and confirm food, drink, travel and procedure-day instructions.
What should I avoid before a hair transplant?
Avoid unapproved medication changes, drinking alcohol outside the stop interval given by your clinical team, undisclosed nicotine or substance use, self-shaving without instruction, styling products on the clean scalp, and ignoring a new illness or scalp problem.
Can I drink alcohol before a hair transplant?
Follow the clinic’s specific stop interval. Alcohol can affect bleeding and perioperative medication and hydration considerations, so no universal online timing should replace your written instruction.
Can I smoke before a hair transplant?
Disclose cigarettes, vaping and other nicotine use. Smoking and nicotine can affect tissue blood flow and healing, and the team may recommend a pre- and post-procedure abstinence period.
Can I drink coffee before surgery?
Follow the confirmed procedure-day caffeine instruction. Timing may vary according to clinic protocol and the planned anaesthetic or sedation pathway.
Should I stop aspirin or ibuprofen?
Do not stop them automatically. The decision depends on why the medicine is taken, bleeding considerations and the individual plan, sometimes with input from the prescribing clinician.
Should I stop minoxidil?
Not automatically. Topical or oral minoxidil should be continued or adjusted only according to the physician’s instructions for the confirmed procedure.
Should I stop finasteride?
Do not stop finasteride solely because of a generic checklist. Include it on your medication list and follow the physician-owned plan.
Should I cut my hair before a transplant?
Not unless Henesis asks you to. Shaving and trimming depend on donor access, treatment area and the planned workflow.
Should I wash my hair before surgery?
In most cases patients are asked to arrive with a clean scalp and no styling products, but the washing instruction supplied for your procedure takes priority.
Should I eat before the procedure?
Do not fast unless instructed. Eating and drinking guidance depends on the planned medicines, anaesthesia or sedation pathway.
What should I wear and bring?
Wear a clean button-up or zip-front top and comfortable trousers. Bring identification, your medication list, requested medical documents, contact details and any clinic-requested items.
