Medical experts have warned people undergoing hair transplant procedures that smoking can seriously threaten the success of the surgery by damaging newly transplanted hair follicles and slowing the healing process.
The warning was issued during a public awareness press conference organized by hair restoration surgeons at the National Press Club in Islamabad.
Speaking at the event, hair transplant surgeon Dr. Rana Irfan said smoking weakens the roots of newly transplanted hair and severely affects the supply of blood and oxygen needed for healthy hair growth.
He said nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict, disrupting the process of new hair growth and increasing the risk that transplanted hair may either fail to grow or grow very weakly.
Dr. Rana Irfan said smoking also raises the likelihood of infections, early complications and skin deterioration in some patients following the procedure.
He emphasized that hair transplantation is not merely the removal and placement of grafts, but a carefully planned process that also focuses on preserving the patient’s permanent and valuable donor area for the future.
“If grafts are lost due to smoking, the damage can be irreparable,” he said.
The surgeon advised people planning to undergo hair transplant surgery to completely stop using nicotine products at least two to four weeks before the procedure. He added that complete abstinence for at least 12 to 16 weeks after surgery was extremely important for successful results.
Dr. Rana Irfan clarified that not only cigarettes, but also vaping, shisha, nicotine gums and all other nicotine products can negatively affect the outcome of hair transplant procedures.