FFS Care Instructions

If you did not have a hair transplant, you can shower 24 hours after surgery. If you did have a hair transplant, please follow the specific hair transplant care instructions provided to you.

For the first few nights, most people find it most comfortable to sleep on their back with a slight incline, but you can sleep in any position as long as it doesn’t cause pain.

If you had a hair transplant, avoid putting pressure on the grafts. To protect your pillow from any minor bleeding or drainage, wrap it in a plastic bag and place a towel over it.

You can eat whatever you like after surgery, but it’s best to start with clear liquids and gradually reintroduce solid foods as you feel comfortable.

Some drainage from your incisions after surgery is normal. This drainage may be clear, yellow, or pinkish. You may also notice increased drainage after lymphatic drainage therapy, this is expected.

We will guide you on any dressings you need to keep on, but here’s a general overview by procedure:

• Forehead: After day 2, you can leave your incision open to the air. However, you may still have some leakage or drainage for about a week.
• Nose: Keep your nasal dressing on for the first week. We will remove it for you. It’s safe to shower with the dressing in place.
• Chin/Jaw: No formal dressing is needed since the incisions are inside your mouth, but please wear your chin strap as much as possible.
• Adam’s Apple: You can remove the outer dressing after day 1, but leave the inner steri-strips on until your 1-week follow-up. You can shower with them in place.

Do not drive for at least 48 hours after surgery. Take your pain medication as directed:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  • For the first 24-48 hours, take acetaminophen regularly, even if you don’t feel pain—but don’t wake up just to take it.
  • Take 2 regular-strength acetaminophen (325 mg each, for a total of 650 mg) every 4 hours.
  • Do not exceed 4000 mg in 24 hours from all sources.

• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
  • Take 2 regular-strength ibuprofen (200 mg each, for a total of 400 mg) every 4-6 hours.
  • If needed for better pain control, you can take up to 600 mg at a time, as long as your stomach tolerates it.
• Tramadol (if needed)
  • If additional pain relief is required, take 1 Tramadol (50 mg) every 4-6 hours.
• Managing Constipation
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Try prune juice or a fibre supplement like Metamucil.
  • If needed, a gentle laxative like Senokot-S or a similar product can help.

Your follow-up schedule should have already been provided. If you haven’t received it, please let us know.

Your follow-up visits are scheduled for:

• One day after surgery
• Two days after surgery
• One week after surgery

Please bring your caregiver or helper to these appointments so we can also answer any questions they may have.

Light walking is encouraged starting the day after surgery if you feel well. However, you should avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting for the first month. If you had lower face surgery wear your compression chin wrap as much as possible for about a month.

Watch for signs of infection, such as increasing redness, pain, or swelling that doesn’t improve with rest, fever, or milky white drainage from your incision. Pain is usually near the incision and often one-sided, but not always.

Signs of a hematoma include swelling that grows larger every hour, feels tense or hard, and may be very painful. In some cases, there may be increased bruising—however, bruising should not worsen significantly after the first couple of days.

If you experience any concerns after surgery, please call the office during the day. You can call between 8:30 AM and 3:00 PM on weekdays. You can also find our contact information in your post-surgical instructions.