Hair Transplant Risks And Side Effects
As with any other type of surgical procedure, there are potential risks and side effects associated with hair transplant surgery. This is why it is important to follow your surgeon's pre-op (before surgery) as well as post-op (after surgery) instructions.
Some of the most common risks and side effects of this procedure include:
- Wide scarring
- Excessive bleeding
- Infection
- Hair thinning, known as "shock loss," usually temporary
- Swelling of the scalp and forehead
- Getting a "patchy" look (This may result if newly placed hair is next to patches of hair that continue to thin out. If this happens, additional surgery may be required.)
Should the grafts not "take" to the new location, the hair transplant surgery must be repeated in order to correct the issue. In addition, patients must be careful if the scalp starts to itch, because scratching will make it worse and cause scabs to form. A moisturizer or massage shampoo may be used in order to relieve the itching.
While you may be left with a hair transplant scar, most are small and are covered by growing hair. Antibiotics may also be prescribed prior to surgery in case of infection.
Contact a qualified hair transplant surgeon to learn more about the procedure and his/her qualifications. You can do so by using PlasticSurgery.com's Google ™ Maps surgeon finder!