A hair transplant is a fantastic cosmetic treatment for balding or thinning hair. Thinner hair or bald patches may be permanently resolved with a hair transplant. However, a hair transplant has some chance of failure, like any other cosmetic procedure.
If you've been considering getting the best hair transplant but are hesitant about the possibility of unfavourable outcomes, continue reading to learn the potential causes of failure and how to avoid a failed hair transplant.
Candidates for Hair Transplant
Most pattern hair loss patients will qualify for transplantation at some time during their hair loss issue. Anyone with enough hair loss, good donor area hair, a healthy scalp, good overall health, and reasonable expectations is qualified for a permanent hair transplant. Results from a hair transplant performed by a knowledgeable, experienced, and trained surgeon are safe, long-lasting, and natural-looking.
Complications During Hair Transplant
Hair transplantation is a highly safe outpatient surgery with few potential hazards or side effects. A mild anaesthesia is administered when the scalp is perforated. In your appointment with one of our skilled hair transplant surgeons, you will always receive a thorough explanation of the hair transplant risks associated.
Like any other medical procedure, it is crucial to be in good physical condition before beginning the procedure to ensure overall safety and working efficacy. Your body's capacity to handle stress and operating tension is influenced by your diet and exercise routine. Most hair transplant side effects are minimal and frequently go away after a few weeks of the hair treatment.
General Complications With Hair Transplant
- Associated with Anaesthesia
It is a concern over the procedure. We constantly test patients for allergies or hypersensitivity before our AHS hair transplant clinic procedures. Some adverse consequences are toxicity-related. Our facility determines the dose based on the patient's weight and other relevant data.
- Problems that occur During Surgery
Tachycardia may happen if tumescent fluid containing adrenaline is administered. However, this can be dangerous for people who have heart-related issues. Therefore, all patients, especially those over 40, should have an electrocardiogram and a medical evaluation to determine whether they are suitable for anaesthesia. Therefore, we always keep an eye on your heart rate and blood pressure throughout the Surgery, especially when you're under anaesthesia.
- Infection
Infection is one of the issues with any surgery. AHS hair clinic adheres to stringent sterilisation processes and uses disposable sterile tools whenever practical to achieve the highest level of cleanliness and sterility. All of our patients are advised to utilise the medication mentioned in the post-operative instructions and to wash their heads with a light shampoo as per our prescription after Surgery.
- Oedema or Temporary Swelling
It is a result of the operation, not a complication. After the Surgery, some patients may endure 3-5 days of transient swelling of the forehead and eyes. The swelling begins in 2-4 days, gently moving from the forehead to the eyes and nose. It might result from using a tumescent solution, which sinks because of gravity. For three to four days, the patient can sleep with their head slightly elevated to prevent or lessen swelling. Some surgeons achieve this goal by massaging the forehead or using ice packs.
- Itching
This common issue can develop in donor and recipient areas. The development of crust on the scalp may be the cause of this. The transplant can be moved by scratching or rubbing, potentially leading to infection.
FUE Hair Transplant Complications
Less invasion throughout the procedure ensures fewer difficulties following FUE hair transplant surgery. However, the following issues could arise:
- Site Depletion of Donors
The risk of donor site depletion exists whether the assessment is performed manually, mechanically, or by a robot. It is because follicles are gathered aggressively and unevenly.
- Scarring
Small, rounded, dot-like scars are left after each follicle is removed in the FUE hair transplant. They may resemble little white specks that disappear with time. When long hair regrowth occurs back in the donor area, they hide.
- Overharvesting
It may result in permanent thinning, hair loss, and harm to the donor area. The safe donor area must be designated before the extraction procedure is begun, and overharvesting must be avoided. Therefore, it is best to refrain from extracting more follicular units than 1:4.
- Post-Surgical Effluvium
After Surgery, post-operative donor hair odour may develop. It might appear a few days to weeks after Surgery. Transient, transient, and vanish within three to four months. The main causes are excessive harvesting or an interruption in the blood flow.
- Necrosis
After FUE, skin necrosis is uncommon. After FUE hair restoration, necrosis at the donor site has been reported, which results in cicatricial alopecia.
- Cysts
If a blunt punch is performed and the follicle is buried in the dermis, this can happen in the donor location. Remove the punched graft with extreme caution to ensure no grafts are left behind.
- Keloids
A thorough literature search revealed instances of hypertrophic or keloidal scarring at the donor site following FUE hair transplant.
- In-ground Grafts
Usually, there are two causes for this. One incorrectly aligns dull punches, while the other partially splits follicles further into the skin, resulting in a buried graft.
FUT Hair Transplant Complications
- Injury Necrosis
It is a rare occurrence that indicates delayed or incomplete recovery. Ischemia is the root cause of wound necrosis. Local microcirculation can collapse due to closure mistakes that provide excessive stress along the cut line, which results in necrosis. The soft tissue is destroyed, and the nearby follicles are irreparably harmed, making this a significant problem. Before scalp reduction or prior scrapes, diabetes, smoking, scarring at the donor location, and surgical mistakes like thoughtless occipital artery cutting are predisposing factors.
- Effluvium from Donor Hair
It occurs above and below the incision and is frequently referred to as donor shock loss. Causes of vascular suture line abnormalities and changes in the natural follicle population on the scalp following Surgery include oedema and inflammation-like conditions. FUT can accidentally damage large blood arteries, resulting in dramatic hair loss. Make sure you take care of the wound with daily cleaning and topical antibiotics.
- Scarring
For transplant patients, a visible scar is one of their main worries. In FUT, a strip from the donor area is removed and separated into distinct follicular units, leaving linear scars on the scalp. It is typically brought on by a large collection of strips and the following tension-sealing of the incision or misplacing the harvested strip. The donor site may develop keloids, stretched or hypertrophic scars, or both in some patients predisposed to keloids. These patients must first disclose their condition to the surgeon so that they can perform appropriate safety measures.
- Pain
Most people who have hair transplants experience post-operative pain. This pain is often associated with FUT hair transplantation because a careless deep incision can transect the peripheral nerves while removing the strip. A deformed nerve that has been repaired may result in chronic scalp pain or local discomfort.
How Advanced Hair Studio Compiles with Hair Transplant Complications?
The Advanced Hair Studio ensures patients a safe and effective hair transplant. The AHS hair clinic takes safety measures very seriously and only works with experienced surgeons and staff. Our cutting-edge technology, reasonable hair transplant cost, and the experience and knowledge of our best hair doctors and surgeons guarantee 100% of desired hair transplant results without minimum to no side effects. Please book an appointment today with your nearest AHS hair transplant clinic, where your safety is our priority.
Article by
Dr. Garg
Dr B K Garg MBBS,MS,MCh is plastic , aesthetic and hair restoration surgeon of repute and brings with him enormous experience of hair restoration and aesthetic procedures. Dr Garg is alumni of PGIMER , most coveted Plastic Surgery program in India . He is considered pioneer of scarless and stitchless hair restoration in India and has to his credit thousands of successful procedures performed for clients from India and abroad including leading sportsmen, politicians, businessmen. Apart from hair restoration his interest lies in body contouring , nonsurgical facelifts, facial contouring and anti ageing. Dr Garg excels in modifying facial expressions through judicious use of toxins and fillers . He is esteemed member of peer approved organisations like ISAPS, APSI and IAAPS.