Dr. Shapiro's Hair Institute • 1-561-414-4509

Hair Transplantation Surgery &
Avoiding Infection

Antibiotics - Yes or No?

There is some dispute among doctors as to whether antibiotics should be used after hair transplantation surgery to prevent infection. Most doctors do prescribe 'preventative' antiobiotics but some believe that no antibiotic is needed all; their belief stems from the fact that there is an over-use of antibiotics, in general, and so that they should be given only after an infection occurs.

We, however, do feel that in this particular case, prevention is a good idea. Therefore we give you a mild dose of Keflex to be taken for 10 days after your transplantation surgery to avoid possible infection.

Avoiding Infection

Occasionally a patient doesn't want to use anything. We feel they are taking an unneeded risk because we do not want to see any infections occur. The most important factor in avoiding infection is to keep the patient from touching his head while the new grafts are healing. It is so tempting, but the fingers, with their naturally exceptionally dirty fingernails, need to be kept away from the head. The patient's hands should only touch the his/her head when in the shower or bath and only after they have used soap and thoroughly washed them. Picking at the scabs before they've finished healing could possibly start an infection.

However, with hygienic care, and with the oral antibiotics and the topical antibiotic, the patient has a good regime that has been working for over twenty years successfully.

After a week if there are any scabs left, the patient can sit in a bath tub with warm water and a little baby oil mixed in. After about 45 minutes (enjoying your good book) what's left of the scabs will slough off in the water. This can be repeated for several days.

Allergies

If a person is allergic to penicillin then keflex is not a good choice due to the cross reactivity of penicillin with cephalosporins and we give you erythromycin instead. Always make sure you tell your doctor what medications you are allergic to and make sure that if you have any swelling or redness or trouble breathing that you contact your doctor or emergency immediately since you may be allergic to the antibiotic and not know you have an allergy.

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