Hair transplant are a procedure that can be used to add additional hair to an area of your head that may be balding or thinning. The procedure involves removing hair from denser areas of the scalp or from other regions of the body. Then grafting it onto areas of the scalp that are thinning or balding. Around the world, around fifty percent of women and sixty percent of men have some kind of hair loss. People frequently resort to over-the-counter remedies for this issue, including topically applied medications like minoxidil (Rogaine).
However, people from all around the world are turning to hair restoration operations in order to regain their self-esteem and feel more confident in their appearance and in their daily lives. When everything is said and done, hair restoration or hair transplantation is a medical treatment. And as with any medical surgery, there is always the possibility of certain adverse effects or difficulties. It is therefore in your best interest to consult with your physician prior to actually undergoing the transplant procedure in order to acquire an accurate image of the potential adverse effects that may be brought on by the treatment.
How does a hair transplant work?
A hair transplant, in its most basic form, involves moving existing hair to a region of the head that does not naturally support hair growth. It is commonly extracted from the area at the back of your skull, but it can also be extracted from other areas of your body. The region of the scalp that will be shaved clean and numbed with a local anesthetic by the surgeon before the transplant procedure can begin. In addition, you have the option of requesting sedation in order to remain unconscious throughout the surgery.
Hair transplant side effects
There are different side effects that might occur when carrying out hair transplantation. Some of the likely side effects may include the following:
Bleeding Scalp
One of the most common negative consequences of getting a hair transplant is bleeding. During the hair transplantation operation, it is possible that you can have bleeding as a side effect. No matter whether you are undergoing a follicular unit transplant or a follicular unit extraction. There is a possibility that you will sustain some cuts and nicks, and there is also a possibility that you will lose some blood. Even while the majority of experienced doctors will take measures to ensure that the amount of blood loss is kept to an absolute minimum, there may still be some oozing in the post-operative period.
This ooze can be controlled by pressing a piece of gauze. Therefore, it is essential that the patient disclose whether or not they are currently taking any medications that thin the blood or are experiencing any issues that are related to bleeding. Although it is possible that some bleeding will occur, this condition can be readily managed by taking a few straightforward precautions. However, further stitching might be necessary if the bleeding does not stop.
Hair Shedding
You would anticipate that after a hair transplant, your hair will continue to grow and develop thicker. However, many individuals will actually have to deal with fall first, which is the fact. After transplantation, this procedure is known as shedding and is typical. This occurs as a result of the hair shaft falling out and the root becoming intact. The newly implanted hairs fall off in two to three weeks. And the new growth shows up three to four months later. The procedure can occasionally, in a small number of cases, produce a shock loss of the existing hair. It will grow back after a few months and is unusual.
Scalp Infections
Infection of the scalp is another potential risk associated with hair transplants. Even though the risk of getting an infection from a hair transplant is extremely low, there is still a possibility. On the other hand, the illness only manifests itself in one out of every thousands of cases.
Thinning Of Hair Girth
The loss of hair is another one of the relatively regular adverse effects that might occur after having a hair transplant. In the aftermath of a successful operation, this phenomena, in conjunction with the loss of hair, may take place. Even the region that is not currently being affected could be negatively impacted by this phenomena. In most cases, however, this state of economic contraction is just temporary.
Pain
FUE or FUT hair restoration procedures are surgical procedures, thus pain is to be expected, especially with FUT. While the doctor will typically offer sedatives and anesthetic. There are rare instances where pain persists long after the treatment is over. In order to prevent this in the post-operative time, the doctor will prescribe you some medications. In FUT situations, patients may occasionally experience a stretching feeling. When such a case arises, we only ever prescribe paracetamol to our patients.
Itching
An average of three patients out of every ten will typically have an itchy scalp. So, one of the most frequent side effects of hair transplants is itching. While the degree of itching may vary, the best course of action is to have it evaluated before it worsens. Scabs are a frequent cause of itchy scalp and are readily treated by using shampoo on a regular basis. If the discomfort doesn’t go away or gets worse beyond what can be tolerated. One must choose to visit a medical professional. Special moisturizing oils are available to aid with this problem.
Scarring
Scarring is one of the potential outcomes of a hair transplant procedure that patients should be aware of. There are very few instances of persons receiving transplants who are more prone to scarring than others. If you have had a FUE procedure, you will have very small scars, which are referred to as micro scars, and they will fade away after a few weeks. Additionally, as new hair grows, these dot-like traces will get obscured and disappear. However, if you have had a FUT procedure done, you will undoubtedly be left with a linear scar. If you take care of your hair and choose your style carefully, however, you won’t have to worry about the scar at all.
Cysts
This occurs when there are buried grafts that have not been removed in the appropriate manner. There are very few instances in which these cysts take on a more severe shape; the vast majority of the time, they take the form of a cluster of pimples. However, there are a very select few instances in which they manifest themselves in a more severe manner. In most cases, the cysts will vanish on their own after a few weeks; however, if this does not occur, you should schedule another appointment with your primary care physician.
Hiccups
Five out of every one hundred people who get a hair transplant report having the experience of hiccups as a side effect of having the procedure done. It is unknown why or how hiccups and hair transplant side effects are related, but once they begin, hiccups can linger for several days at a time once they have begun.
Numbness
One of the adverse effects that cannot be avoided after having a hair transplant is numbness. It takes about 18 weeks, on average, for the numbness to go away completely after treatment. However, those who continue to experience this numbness even after the allotted time period of 18 weeks ought to consult a doctor about their condition.
Itching
Most patients who receive a hair transplant report experiencing this, making it the most widespread side effect. Scabs developing at the transplant site are the cause of the itching. Keeping the solution sprayed over the grafts and washing the scalp with a moderate or medication-containing shampoo after the first week of surgery are the simplest ways to handle this condition. In the same way that other side effects do, the itching will also go away after a few days. Sometimes it is brought on by the use of minoxidil, which needs to quit.
Swelling
This is another adverse effect that is highly widespread and is experienced by the majority of those who have had the procedure. However, from person to person, the locations of swelling may differ. The swelling may therefore be around the eyes for some persons while it may be on their forehead for others. There could even be what you might term a “black eye” in some circumstances. It usually takes a few days for the swelling to go down, but it would be preferable to see a doctor if this doesn’t happen.
Conclusion
Before you decide to undertake either hair transplant operation, you should discuss your options with a transplant surgeon or your primary care physician. Be aware that neither treatment comes with a guarantee of success nor that scarring is a possibility with any option. It’s also possible that you won’t qualify for either operation because of the quantity or quality of your hair.
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