Planning on having a hair transplant procedure? Why not make it a hair transplant mini- or full vacation?  Fact is, there just aren’t a lot of hair transplant experts or specialists out there. Fortunately, many of them are located right here in the U.S., which is plenty good reason to travel in from another country or another state to have the procedure done by an expert. Having excellent results is definitely something to write home about.

A Growing Trend

Because hair restoration surgery is a minimally invasive procedure, it can be done in a few hours and the patient is then ready to go back to the hotel room to relax, recuperate, and prepare for the trip home the next day. But perhaps you’re a patient who flew in from the snowy Midwest to have your procedure done at The Choe Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Why let a potential mini vacation go to waste and why not take in some of the wonderful sites Virginia Beach has to offer?

For example, there’s the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, which boasts 700,000 gallons of aquariums and exotic marine animal life. The Cape Henry Lighthouse, the first government constructed lighthouse built in 1792, is a perfect venue for maritime history buffs. There are also many local historic homes, not to mention False Cape State Park and its six miles of pristine landscape.

Each year, thousands of men and women globe-hop in search of the perfect vacation spot that just so happens to have excellent medical services including hair restoration clinics and practices. It’s as simple as booking a round-trip flight, checking into a hotel, having the procedure done, and returning home in a day or two… or not. Because there are soft beaches to walk on, spectacular sites, and perhaps a new romance to be found in a quiet cafe. Quality time in a rich, historic setting.

Why Travel for Your Hair Transplant?

Hair restoration specialists in the U.S. are world renowned for their expertise and skill at performing hair replacement procedures, whether it’s Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) or Follicular Unit Grafting (FUG). Many patients are willing to travel across the country to have the procedure done by the surgeon of their choice and at a price they can afford.

Turn Your Downtime into Prime Time

The minimally invasive nature of most hair restoration procedures means out-of-state patients have a perfect opportunity to turn their post-operative downtime into prime vacation time – perhaps an impromptu few days or even a week filled with local folklore and cultural attractions. There is nothing about the procedure that can stop you from enjoying yourself. Just be sure to take some basic precautions after you’ve had surgery.

  • Give yourself a few hours to rest and relax after the procedure, especially if you’ve had anesthesia.
  • Doctors say it’s OK to drive or fly after a hair transplant procedure because there is no medical reason why you should not. However, there may be swelling and tenderness in the scalp, so it’s not a good idea to expose your new hair grafts to direct sunlight.
  • Dress comfortably – no pullover blouses – and wear a loose-fitting hat or cap to protect your scalp when you travel or spend time outdoors.

Most procedures are done within several hours and an over-night hotel stay is all that’s usually recommended for out-of-town patients just in case of an immediate, though rare, complication. Many patients are on their way home within 48 hours.

Whether the surgeon’s office is out of state or just a few miles away from your house, choose your hair restoration specialist carefully so that you, your surgeon, and your procedure are properly matched.

Dr. Kyle S. Choe is a board certified facial plastic surgeon and hair restoration specialist with offices located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Contact The Choe Center for Facial Plastic Surgery at 757.389.5850 for a private consultation. Or view the excellent results Dr. Choe has achieved for his patients in the before and after gallery.