Most people spend months researching which clinic to choose and relatively little time thinking about what to do before the procedure itself. That preparation window matters. What you do in the weeks before surgery can meaningfully affect how well the grafts take, how quickly you heal, and how smoothly the day itself goes.
This is a practical checklist — not exhaustive medical guidance, but the key things worth knowing and doing before you sit in the chair.
Four to six weeks before surgery
Stop smoking. Smoking reduces blood flow to the scalp and significantly impairs healing. Most surgeons recommend stopping at least 4 weeks before surgery, and ideally longer. This is one of the most impactful things you can do.
Review your medications and supplements. Certain medications and supplements increase bleeding risk. These include aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, vitamin E, and several herbal supplements. Speak to your clinic about everything you are currently taking. They will advise what to stop and when.
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol thins the blood and can affect healing. Most clinics recommend avoiding it for at least a week before surgery — longer is better.
Check your Minoxidil situation. If you are currently using Minoxidil, your clinic will advise whether to continue or pause in the lead-up to surgery. Do not make changes without checking first.
One to two weeks before surgery
Arrange your recovery setup at home. You will need a comfortable place to rest with your head elevated, access to easy meals, and ideally someone who can help you for the first couple of days. Sort this before the day — you will not want to be arranging it after.
Prepare what you will wear. You will need to wear loose, button-front or zip-up clothing on the day of surgery. Nothing that pulls over your head. Bring it with you.
Ask your questions. Write them down and send them to your clinic, or keep them for a pre-operative consultation. There is no such thing as a question that is too small when it comes to understanding what is about to happen to your scalp.
If you have concerns, book a pre-surgery consultation. A 1:1 strategy session can be useful at this stage — not to replace your clinic's guidance, but to talk through what you are walking into from the perspective of someone who has been through it.
The night before surgery
Wash your hair thoroughly. Use your regular shampoo. You will not be able to wash your hair normally for several days after surgery, so this is your last normal wash for a while.
Get a full night of sleep. This is not always easy when you are anxious, but rest genuinely matters. Avoid screens late into the evening if possible.
Prepare your bag. Comfortable clothes for the day, your ID, any medications your clinic has asked you to bring, a button-front or zip-up top for the journey home, a bottle of water, and something to keep you occupied — the procedure can take several hours.
Avoid caffeine. Some clinics advise limiting caffeine the night before and morning of surgery. Check with yours.
The morning of surgery
Eat a proper breakfast. You will be sitting for a long time. Do not go in hungry.
Wear the right clothes. Your button-front or zip-up top. Nothing that goes over your head.
Do not style your hair. No products, no gel, no hairspray. Arrive with clean, dry hair.
Arrive on time. You may need to sign consent forms, take pre-operative photographs, and have a final discussion with your surgeon before the procedure begins. Give yourself time for all of this.
What to bring
A comfortable front-opening top, water, snacks for a long session, something to listen to or watch (the procedure is conducted under local anaesthetic and you will be awake throughout), and any medications or supplements your clinic has asked you to bring.
After the procedure
Your clinic will give you specific post-operative instructions. Follow them. Graft care in the first 72 hours is critical — the grafts are not yet anchored and physical disturbance can dislodge them.
If you would like a clearer picture of what to expect day by day through your recovery, the Post-Op Recovery Guide covers the first 12 months in detail. The Pre-Op Guide also covers preparation in more depth than this article — worth reading before your procedure date.
This article is for informational purposes only. Always follow the specific pre-operative instructions provided by your surgeon and clinic. Individual guidance will vary based on your health history and procedure type.