FUE and FUT share most of the same post-operative medications, but FUT requires stronger pain management and sometimes additional drugs for wound-related discomfort. This guide covers every medication you can expect after each procedure, from day-of-surgery drugs through long-term maintenance.
Post-Op Medication Comparison
| Medication Category | FUE | FUT |
|---|---|---|
| Antibiotics | 5-7 days | 5-7 days |
| Pain relief (OTC) | 1-3 days | 7-14 days |
| Pain relief (prescription) | Rarely needed | 3-5 days |
| Anti-swelling steroid | 3-5 days | 3-5 days |
| Saline spray | 7-14 days | 7-14 days |
| Muscle relaxant | Not needed | Sometimes (3-7 days) |
| Sleep aid | Optional | Often helpful (3-5 nights) |
| Finasteride (long-term) | Recommended | Recommended |
| Minoxidil (long-term) | Often recommended | Often recommended |
Medications During the First Week
Antibiotics
Both FUE and FUT carry a small risk of infection at the extraction and implantation sites. Prophylactic antibiotics reduce this risk to under 1%.
Common prescriptions:
- Cephalexin (Keflex): 500mg, 3 times daily for 5-7 days. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic for hair transplant patients.
- Amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin): 875mg, twice daily for 5-7 days. Used for patients with higher infection risk or penicillin-tolerant allergies to cephalosporins.
- Azithromycin (Z-pack): 250mg daily for 5 days. Alternative for patients allergic to penicillin and cephalosporins.
The antibiotic course is identical for FUE and FUT. Start timing from the day of surgery. Complete the full course even if the surgical sites look clean.
Pain Management
This is where FUE and FUT diverge most significantly.
FUE pain protocol:
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol): 500-1,000mg every 6-8 hours as needed for 1-3 days. This is sufficient for most FUE patients.
- Ibuprofen (Advil): Some surgeons allow 400-600mg every 6-8 hours starting day 2. Others avoid NSAIDs in the first 48 hours due to theoretical bleeding concerns, though research shows the risk is minimal with FUE's small wounds.
FUT pain protocol:
- Prescription opioid: Hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Norco) 5/325mg or tramadol 50mg, every 4-6 hours as needed for the first 3-5 days. Most FUT patients need prescription pain relief due to the linear incision and suture tension.
- Acetaminophen: Used after transitioning off prescription medication, days 5-14.
- Muscle relaxant (optional): Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) 5-10mg at bedtime for 3-7 days. Prescribed when patients experience significant scalp tightness and difficulty sleeping.
Anti-Swelling Medication
Forehead and periorbital (around the eyes) swelling is common after both FUE and FUT, peaking on days 3-5. Swelling occurs because fluids used during anesthesia and the inflammatory response migrate downward under gravity.
Standard protocol (both techniques):
- Methylprednisolone (Medrol dose pack): A 6-day tapered steroid course starting on surgery day. Significantly reduces swelling in 80%+ of patients.
- Dexamethasone: Some surgeons give a single intra-operative injection instead of an oral course.
If swelling does occur despite steroids, it resolves on its own within 5-7 days. Sleeping at a 45-degree angle and applying cold compresses to the forehead (never on the grafts) accelerates resolution.
Saline Spray
Both FUE and FUT patients receive a saline spray bottle for keeping the recipient area moist during the first 7-14 days. Misting the grafts every 30-60 minutes while awake prevents scab desiccation that can pull grafts loose or impair healing.
Some clinics provide a specialized spray containing growth factors or biotin in addition to saline. The evidence for these enhanced sprays is limited, but they do not cause harm.
Medications During Weeks 2-4
Topical Treatments
Starting around week 2 (after scabs have fully resolved), many surgeons introduce or resume topical treatments:
- Minoxidil 5% (Rogaine): Applied twice daily to the recipient area. Minoxidil promotes blood flow to the transplanted follicles and may accelerate the onset of new growth. Most surgeons recommend starting at week 2-4 post-op.
- Antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin/Polysporin): Applied to the FUT donor scar only, once or twice daily until the scar is fully healed (usually 3-4 weeks). Not needed for FUE donor sites.
When to Resume Pre-Op Medications
If you were taking finasteride (Propecia) or dutasteride (Avodart) before surgery, most surgeons advise resuming immediately after the procedure or within the first week. These medications protect your existing native hair from ongoing DHT-mediated thinning, which is essential for maintaining the overall visual result of the transplant.
Long-Term Medications
Finasteride
Finasteride 1mg daily is the most commonly recommended long-term medication after hair transplantation. It blocks the conversion of testosterone to DHT, the hormone responsible for androgenetic alopecia.
Why it matters post-transplant: Transplanted hair is DHT-resistant and does not need finasteride to survive. However, your remaining native hair is still susceptible to thinning. Without finasteride, continued native hair loss can create a visible contrast between thick transplanted hair and thinning surrounding hair within 2-5 years.
| Finasteride Consideration | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dose | 1mg daily (oral) |
| Onset of effect | 3-6 months |
| Full effect | 12-24 months |
| Common side effects | 1-2% of patients report decreased libido (usually reversible on discontinuation) |
| Recommended duration | Ongoing, as long as you want to preserve native hair |
Minoxidil
Minoxidil 5% (topical, foam or liquid) applied twice daily supports both transplanted and native hair. It is a vasodilator that increases blood flow to hair follicles.
Post-transplant, minoxidil serves two purposes:
- Accelerates new growth from transplanted follicles (may reduce the "ugly duckling" phase by 2-4 weeks)
- Maintains native hair that would otherwise continue to thin
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma)
Some clinics recommend PRP injections at 1, 3, and 6 months post-transplant. PRP involves drawing a small amount of the patient's blood, concentrating the platelets, and injecting the platelet-rich solution into the scalp.
The evidence for PRP accelerating transplant growth is mixed. Some studies show modest improvement in growth speed, while others show no significant benefit. PRP is not a standard part of post-op care at most evidence-based clinics. If offered, it is an optional add-on rather than a necessity.
Medication Timeline Summary
| Timeframe | FUE Medications | FUT Medications |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 (surgery day) | Antibiotics, steroid, saline spray | Antibiotics, steroid, saline spray, prescription pain med |
| Days 1-3 | Antibiotics, OTC pain relief, saline spray | Antibiotics, prescription pain med, saline spray, optional muscle relaxant |
| Days 4-7 | Antibiotics (complete course), saline spray | Antibiotics, tapering pain meds, saline spray |
| Weeks 2-4 | Resume/start minoxidil | Resume/start minoxidil, scar ointment |
| Month 1+ | Finasteride, minoxidil | Finasteride, minoxidil |
| Ongoing | Finasteride, minoxidil (recommended) | Finasteride, minoxidil (recommended) |
What to Ask Your Surgeon
Before your procedure, confirm the following with your surgical team:
- Which specific medications will be prescribed and whether they are included in your procedure fee or billed separately
- When to resume blood thinners if you take aspirin or anticoagulants for a medical condition
- Whether NSAIDs are allowed in the first 48 hours (surgeon preferences vary)
- When to start or resume finasteride and minoxidil
- What to do if you suspect infection (signs include increasing redness, warmth, pus, or fever after day 3)
For a full breakdown of FUE and FUT recovery differences, see our FUE vs FUT comparison. To understand which procedure matches your hair loss stage, consult the Norwood scale guide.
Start with an assessment. Upload a photo at myhairline.ai/analyze to get your Norwood classification and learn which approach is right for your hair loss pattern.