Side Effects of Hair Transplantation

At the Pure Line Clinic ®, we have a wide range of modern hair restoration techniques. Androgenetic alopecia, best known as genetic hair loss, affects a significant population of males and females. When you're concerned about your thinning hair, take some consolation in the reality that you're not alone. Although a solution for genetic hair loss is yet to be explored, new hair regeneration techniques will produce genuinely revolutionary results and offer patients a complete, healthy head of natural hair.

For individuals with an alarming amount of hair loss who want to explore all their solutions, a hair transplantation surgery is usually the most successful course of action. If you're interested in hair transplant or have recently experienced it, make sure you're adequately informed and knowledgeable about the side effects of hair transplant surgery.

Like with any medical operation, a hair transplant can come with various risks. Although a hair transplant is usually deemed healthy, the process involved may give you some discomfort, swelling, and scalp irritation in the minutes, hours, and days just after surgery. Here, we take a closer look at the side effects of a hair transplant:

Short-Term Complications

Usually, any side effects that accompany a hair transplant will be mild and will often clear away after a few weeks just after the operation. These short-term side effects may include:

Bleeding & Swelling Of The Scalp

Amongst the most common side effects that patients may encounter are bleeding and inflammation of the scalp. The nature of the hair transfer indicates that the follicles must be separated from the regions of the head that have good hair development and transplanted to the recipient areas by incisions. Although the FUE approach is much less aggressive than the conventional FUT process, which requires strips to be removed from the scalp, there is still a possibility of some mild bleeding and swelling when the transplants heal.

Crusting

Although it is reported to be among the side effects of hair transplantation, mainly, crusting is a part of the healing cycle. Shells are formulated by the dryness of blood leaking out of the hair follicles. As the skin is dehumidified by the shells and inhibits the safe growth of freshly grown hair, the scalp will be cleaned from these shells. Wash is also essential to get rid of scabs. As a wrong movement may destroy the planting field, the shells formed must not be ripped off.

Itching

Itching is a common symptom of any surgery when parts of the body are trying to recover. Consequently, it is a normal, predictable phenomenon following a hair transplant. However, it is necessary not to pinch the scalp to alleviate scratching because this may contribute to the relocation of freshly transplanted hair follicles. It could also lead the dirt to migrate through the wounds, eventually contributing to infection and risk. Suppose itching is persistent during the hair transplantation procedure. In that case, it may result from the product you are using, so you should contact one of our aftercare experts for more guidance about avoiding scratching your scalp.

Infection

Infection or inflammation of the hair follicles is defined as folliculitis and can arise as a result of a hair transplant. Infections of this type may also be handled with moderate antibacterial ointments, lotion, or sprays. If the inflammation becomes more serious, it is advised to contact our aftercare professionals to obtain additional medical assistance or advice.

Shock Loss

Shock loss refers to a situation in which the freshly transplanted hair unexpectedly dropped out of the post-process. It is a reasonably frequent condition, but it does not concern patients. In reality, patients who undergo shock loss should note that their freshly transplanted hair can grow again after a few months while the follicles transplanted into their scalp stay intact.

Long-Term Complications

Although there are various short-term problems, these are mostly fixed within the first few weeks of the treatment, and the hair starts to grow again. However, there are several long-term side effects too that may also need to be taken into consideration:

Scalp Laxity

The laxity of the scalp may be impaired after a hair transplant operation owing to the damage that the head has undergone through surgery. It is particularly common after the FUT method. Usually, the scalp will recover much of its laxity during the first six-eight months after the operation but will begin to relax. When the patient has a relaxed scalp, to start with, it is more probable that the scalp would return to maximum laxity, whereas a more vital scalp before surgery would bring a more visible improvement.

Grafts That Fail To Take

Although our success rate here at Pure Line Clinic ® is high, there are situations under which the patient's grafts may not be taken to the scalp, and thus the recurrence of surgery is needed. All of the doctors we deal with are professionally compensated, giving peace of mind and assistance to our patients if this is the case. If your hair transplantation operation has not taken effect, the medical doctor may monitor the quality of your development and take any necessary action according to the situation.

Hair Curl

A long-term risk following a hair transplant could be a 'hair curl.' This means that the hair follicle that has been grafted into the scalp has curled underneath, which can lead to ingrown hair. This can be particularly stressful to the patient and can lead to infection. When a significant amount of curly hair is present on the scalp, the effects of a hair transplant may appear to be unnatural.

How to Avoid Hair Transplant Side Effects?

Thanks to technological advancement, the side effects of hair transplantation are reduced as far as possible. Techniques such as Sapphire tips, FUE procedures, and needle-free anaesthesia also raised trust in hair transplantation. When competent physicians and well-approved planting centres are chosen, the complications of hair transplantation may be largely reduced.

Though the side effects after a hair transplant are preventable and curable, the patient must be informed of any risks before hair transplant surgery. In the same way, the patient should discuss the drugs and diseases they had in the past with their doctor. This should always be held in mind that the side effects of a hair transplant will not be the same in any person and that more than one side effect may appear in one person. The use of medications and shampoos prescribed by the doctor in the curing phase is also necessary.

Please feel free to contact us via phone or message for more details and consultation.