After an ARTAS robotic hair transplant, your surgeon prescribes a specific medication regimen that typically includes antibiotics to prevent infection, anti-inflammatories to control swelling, pain relievers for the first few days, and a timeline for restarting or beginning hair loss maintenance medications like finasteride and minoxidil.
Following this medication schedule precisely is one of the most impactful things you can do to protect your graft investment and optimize your results. This guide covers every medication category, dosing expectations, and timing.
Immediate Post-Op Medications (Days 1-7)
Antibiotics
Infection after an ARTAS procedure is rare (under 1 percent of cases), but surgeons prescribe preventive antibiotics as standard practice. The tiny extraction and recipient sites are open wounds that bacteria could enter.
Commonly prescribed:
| Antibiotic | Typical Dose | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cephalexin (Keflex) | 500mg twice daily | 5-7 days | Most commonly prescribed |
| Amoxicillin/Clavulanate (Augmentin) | 875mg twice daily | 5-7 days | Alternative option |
| Doxycycline | 100mg twice daily | 5-7 days | For penicillin-allergic patients |
Important: Complete the entire antibiotic course even if you feel fine. Stopping early can allow resistant bacteria to develop.
Take antibiotics with food to minimize stomach upset. If you experience severe diarrhea, rash, or difficulty breathing, contact your surgeon immediately as these may indicate an allergic reaction.
Anti-Inflammatory Medications
Swelling is the most common post-operative side effect, typically peaking on days 2 to 4. Swelling starts at the forehead and can travel down to the eye area. Anti-inflammatory medication significantly reduces this.
Commonly prescribed:
- Methylprednisolone (Medrol Dose Pack): A tapered steroid course over 5 to 6 days. Starts with a higher dose that decreases daily. This is the most effective option for preventing post-operative swelling.
- Prednisone: An alternative steroid, typically 20 to 40mg daily for 3 to 5 days then tapered.
- Dexamethasone: Sometimes given as an injection during the procedure and supplemented with oral doses for 2 to 3 days.
Steroids should be taken with food and are typically prescribed for a short enough duration that significant side effects are uncommon. However, patients with diabetes should discuss steroid use with their surgeon as steroids temporarily elevate blood sugar.
Pain Management
Most patients find the pain after ARTAS to be milder than expected. The primary discomfort is donor area soreness and forehead tightness from swelling.
Recommended pain management approach:
- First line: Acetaminophen (Tylenol): 500 to 1000mg every 6 to 8 hours as needed. Maximum 3000mg per day. This is preferred because it does not increase bleeding risk.
- Second line: Prescription pain medication: Some surgeons prescribe hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Norco) or tramadol for the first 1 to 2 days. Most patients use only 1 to 3 doses total before switching to acetaminophen alone.
- Avoid NSAIDs: Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin should be avoided for the first 7 to 10 days because they thin the blood and can increase bleeding and bruising.
Proactive dosing tip: Take your first dose of acetaminophen before the local anesthesia wears off (about 4 hours after the procedure ends). Staying ahead of the pain is more effective than trying to catch up once discomfort begins.
Hair Loss Maintenance Medications
Finasteride (Propecia/Generic)
Finasteride 1mg daily is the gold standard for preventing further hair loss after a transplant. It blocks the conversion of testosterone to DHT, the hormone responsible for androgenetic alopecia.
Post-transplant finasteride timeline:
- If already taking finasteride: Most surgeons have you continue without interruption or pause for just 24 to 48 hours around surgery day
- If starting finasteride for the first time: Most surgeons recommend starting within the first week after the procedure
- Ongoing: Continue indefinitely to protect native (non-transplanted) hair from continued thinning
Why finasteride matters after a transplant: Transplanted hair is DHT-resistant and will survive regardless. But the native hair surrounding and behind your transplanted grafts is still vulnerable to miniaturization. Without finasteride, these native hairs may thin over time, creating a visible gap between your transplanted zone and your thinning native hair.
Minoxidil (Rogaine/Generic)
Minoxidil 5% (applied twice daily to the scalp) improves blood flow to hair follicles and can accelerate regrowth from transplanted grafts while helping maintain native hair density.
Post-transplant minoxidil timeline:
| Timeframe | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Days 0-10 | Do not apply minoxidil to the transplanted area |
| Days 10-14 | Some surgeons allow restart with gentle application |
| Weeks 2-4 | Most patients resume minoxidil per surgeon guidance |
| Ongoing | Continue twice daily application to maintain results |
Why the waiting period: Minoxidil contains alcohol (in the liquid formulation) that can irritate healing skin. The foam formulation is gentler but still should not be applied to open wounds. Applying it too early can cause stinging, redness, and potentially disturb grafts that have not fully anchored.
Topical Medications and Sprays
Saline Spray
Your surgeon will provide or recommend a sterile saline spray to keep the grafts hydrated during the first 3 to 5 days. Most clinics advise spraying the recipient area every 30 to 60 minutes while awake.
How to apply: Hold the bottle 4 to 6 inches from the scalp and mist gently. Do not spray forcefully or directly at individual grafts. The goal is light, even moisture.
Antibiotic Ointment
Some surgeons recommend applying a thin layer of antibiotic ointment (such as bacitracin) to the donor area extraction sites for the first 2 to 3 days. This is typically not applied to the recipient area because it can smother grafts.
Topical Steroid (If Prescribed)
In cases where swelling or inflammation is more pronounced, the surgeon may prescribe a topical corticosteroid to apply to the forehead above the hairline. This helps reduce localized swelling that can migrate toward the eye area.
Supplements That Support Healing
While not prescription medications, many surgeons recommend supplements during the recovery period:
- Arnica montana: An herbal supplement some patients take for 3 to 5 days to reduce bruising and swelling. Available in pill or topical form.
- Biotin: 2500 to 5000mcg daily to support hair growth (though evidence is limited in patients without biotin deficiency)
- Zinc: 30mg daily to support wound healing
- Vitamin C: 1000mg daily to support collagen production and healing
Always confirm supplement use with your surgeon before starting anything new, as some supplements interact with prescribed medications or affect bleeding.
Medication Schedule Summary
Here is a consolidated view of the typical post-ARTAS medication timeline:
| Medication | Start | Stop | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antibiotics | Day 0 | Day 5-7 | Infection prevention |
| Anti-inflammatory (steroid) | Day 0 | Day 3-6 | Swelling reduction |
| Acetaminophen | Day 0 | As needed | Pain management |
| Saline spray | Day 0 | Day 3-5 | Graft hydration |
| Finasteride | Day 1-3 | Ongoing | Protect native hair |
| Minoxidil | Day 10-28 | Ongoing | Boost growth, maintain density |
Track Your Recovery
Upload a photo at myhairline.ai to get an AI assessment of your hair loss stage and learn what to expect from your ARTAS recovery timeline. Understanding your starting point helps you and your surgeon build a medication plan tailored to your specific needs and track progress toward your final results.
FAQ
What medications do I take after ARTAS hair transplant?
After an ARTAS procedure, most surgeons prescribe antibiotics for 5 to 7 days to prevent infection, an anti-inflammatory like methylprednisolone for 3 to 5 days to reduce swelling, and acetaminophen for pain management. Some surgeons also prescribe a short course of prescription pain medication for the first 1 to 2 days. You will also resume or start finasteride (1mg daily) and minoxidil (5% twice daily) according to your surgeon's timeline.
When can I restart finasteride after hair transplant?
Most surgeons recommend restarting finasteride 1mg daily within 1 to 3 days after the ARTAS procedure. Some surgeons have patients continue finasteride without interruption, while others pause it for 24 to 48 hours around the surgery day. Finasteride does not interfere with graft healing and is important for protecting your existing native hair from continued miniaturization.
When can I use minoxidil after ARTAS?
Most surgeons recommend waiting 10 to 14 days before resuming minoxidil (5% solution or foam applied twice daily). The waiting period allows the recipient area incisions to close and the grafts to anchor securely. Applying minoxidil too early can irritate the healing skin and potentially dislodge grafts. Some surgeons wait up to 4 weeks depending on the patient's healing progress.