Hypertension is one of the most common medical conditions in the age group most likely to seek hair transplant surgery. Understanding how blood pressure affects surgical safety and what pre-operative management looks like helps patients prepare appropriately.
Well-controlled hypertension — blood pressure below 140/90 on stable medication — does not significantly increase the risk of a hair transplant procedure. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, the stress involved is limited, and the duration (six to nine hours) is within the safe range for well-controlled hypertensive patients.
Uncontrolled hypertension — blood pressure consistently above 160/100 — increases surgical risk in several specific ways: elevated blood pressure impairs haemostasis during extraction and implantation, increasing bleeding in the operative field; it raises the risk of hypertensive episodes during the procedure (which, while rarely dangerous under local anaesthetic, complicate the operative experience); and it slows healing post-operatively.
The pre-operative recommendation for hypertensive patients is: confirm with your GP that your blood pressure is well controlled on your current medication. Have it measured in the two weeks before the procedure — not just at the clinic on the day, when white coat hypertension often gives falsely elevated readings. If your blood pressure is not well controlled, address this before booking a procedure date.
Patients on antihypertensive medications should continue their medication on the morning of the procedure with a small sip of water. Do not stop antihypertensives before surgery — the rebound hypertension from abrupt cessation is more dangerous than continuing the medication.
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