Most common side effects of Hair Transplant Surgery

Worried about the most common side effects of hair transplant surgery? There are some that are common, while some are uncommon; some are temporary and some last for a longer period of time. We’ve enumerated below most common side effects are discussed here:

1. Hair Shedding

When you get a hair transplant, you would think that your hair would only grow and become thicker. However, the truth is that a lot of people will actually have to deal with fall first. This process is actually known as shedding and is a normal process after transplantation. This happens because the root gets intact and the hair shaft falls down a growth starts from root again. The transplanted hairs fall out in 2-3 weeks and the new growth becomes visible by 3-4 months.
Sometimes in a few cases there can be shock loss of the existing hair because of the surgery. This is rare and will regrow back within a few months. We at Navdeep Hospital, routinely explain this to our patients in our pre-op counseling. This is the most common side effect of hair transplant surgery in any clinic after FUE or FUT.

2. Bleeding is a common side effect of hair transplant surgery.

Whether you are getting a follicular unit transplant or follicular unit extraction, there are bound to be some cuts and nicks, and there is bound to be some blood loss. While most experienced doctors will ensure that the blood loss is minimized to the minimum possible still there might be some ooze in the post-op period that can be controlled by pressing a gauze piece. So it is important that the patient should share if they are taking any blood-thinning medicines or suffering from any bleeding related problem. We hardly ever encounter this problem.

3. Infections

If you have chosen a good doctor, you can be sure that you will not have to face any infections, but even with the best of facilities there might be some infection for which a short course of antibiotics is required. We’ve actually very rarely seen such a problem in patients at Navdeep Hospital.

4. Pain

A hair restoration procedure, FUE or FUT is a surgical process and there is bound to be some amount of pain, especially in FUT. While in most cases, the doctor will administer sedatives and anesthesia, however, there are rare cases, where there is pain even after the procedure has completed. The doctor will prescribe you some painkillers to avoid this in the post-op period. Sometimes patients might have stretching sensation in FUT cases. In our patients, we just prescribe paracetamol for such a situation ever faced.

5. Itching

This is perhaps the most common side effect of hair transplant surgery. It is something that is experienced that a majority of people who undergo a hair transplant. The itching takes place because of the formation of scabs at the transplant site. The easiest method of handling this situation is to keep spraying the solution given over the grafts and wash the scalp with a mild or medicated shampoo after the initial week of surgery. The itching too, as is the case with other side effects, will vanish over the period of a few days. Sometimes, it is caused by the use of minoxidil as well which has to be stopped.

6. Swelling

This is yet another side effect that is very common after hair transplant surgery. It is seen in a majority of people who have undergone the process. However, the sites of swelling might vary from person to person. So while some people might have swelling on their forehead, for others it might be around their eyes. In certain cases, there might be even what you would call a black eye. Normally, the swelling tends to subside in a few days, however, if the same does not happen in a few days, it would be best to meet a doctor.

7. Numbness

The numbness is often attributed to the cutting of nerves in the FUT procedure. However, at our clinic, we remain in the superficial plane avoiding any nerve damage and hence numbness.

8. Scarring

If you have undergone an FUE, then you will have tiny micro scars, which will disappear in a few weeks. In addition, when new hair grows, these dot-like marks will get hidden. However, if you have undergone a FUT, then you are bound to have a linear scar, but with proper hair growth and an intelligently decided style, you will have nothing to worry about. In FUE, at Navdeep Hospital, we take out one graft and leave the other to avoid the formation of a linear scar.

9. Cysts

This happens when there are buried grafts that are not taken out properly. While most of the time, these cysts appear in the form of a cluster of pimples, there are only rare few cases, wherein they take on a more aggravated form. Generally, these cysts disappear in a few weeks, but if they do not, then you might have to make another trip to your doctor. We, at Navdeep Hospital, take care while extraction of grafts that we do not leave back any buried hair.

10. Hiccups

While it might sound odd, hiccups are yet another side effect that might plague certain patients of hair restoration. This is a very rare side effect and normally lasts only a few days.

What can you do to ensure that you do not face these common side effects of hair transplant surgery?

• Ensure that the clinic or facility you’re choosing should be hygienic and have all modern facilities for the same.
• Ensure that the clinic follows ISHRS regulations like extraction & slit making (incisions) should solely be done by the physician himself not technicians
• Ensure that there are some standardized protocols followed by the clinic.
• Ensure that the physician has a lot of experience of the procedure you plan to undergo.

So, plan your surgery wisely, WhatsApp US today for online counseling.