Gravity Position to Prevent Facial Edema in Hair Transplantation

In a study conducted from January 2004 to October 2008, 1,200 patients undergoing hair transplantation were instructed to maintain a supine, lateral decubitus posture or lean their heads backwards for 1.5 days post-surgery to prevent facial edema. All patients took steroid supplements for 4 days, Tylenol® for pain relief for 4 days, and prophylactic antibiotics for 7 days. The severity of swelling was evaluated daily from the day following surgery to day 7. The results showed that 94.5% of patients experienced no swelling or swelling extending to 1cm under the anterior hairline (Grade 0). The compliance of patients during the 1.5-day period was evaluated as follows: 80.7% of patients had good compliance, 15.8% had average compliance, and 3.5% had poor compliance. The study concluded that the position of the head during the 1.5 days after surgery is very important to the prevention of facial swelling.