Hair Transplant Procedure Risk

Hair transplant surgery is one of the best, natural-looking treatments for hair loss.  However there are also hair transplant procedure risks and the possibility of side effects.

Hair transplant risks and side effects depend on a number of factors including the surgeon you choose, your general level of health, chance, etc.

Your surgeon should inform you of the risks associated with your procedure.  And they will also usually give tips to lessen your risk of side effects before your surgery. 

Here are some of the most common hair transplant side effects or risks:

Infection - This is a risk with any surgery and your doctor should give you an antibiotic to help with the risk of infection.

Swelling - Yes, swelling is a risk that most hair transplant patients go through.  Swelling is mostly seen in the forehead.  The good news is that swelling usually goes down after a week or two and doesn't cause any serious health risks.

Bleeding - Chances are you will bleed if you have hair transpant surgery. Again, your doctor should give you some tips prior to surgery that will help reduce bleeding, however it will still occur.  The blood dries into scabs and these usually will fall off in 2 - 3 weeks. The FUE procedure usually causes less bleeding than the FUSS procedure however there will mostly likely still be some bleeding.

Numbness - Numbness may occur in your scalp in or around donor and target areas.  This is usually temporary and the feeling often returns as your body recovers. In general numbness subsides in a few months.

Scarring - This is most common with the FUSS technique. Scarring usually occurs in the donor area (where the hair is taken from). However choosing an excellent surgeon and reducing your level of physical activity for several months after surgery can help reduce the size of the scar and keep it small.

Dizziness or Fainting - This is actually more common when the patient is anxious or fearful.  This is helped by sitting down and taking it easy while healing.

Again, if you choose to have a hair transplant, your doctor should go over the risks with you and/or give you a list explaining the risks involved.

A good surgeon will also give you some tips on how to reduce the hair transplant side effects (For example, reduce your activity for up to 6 months after a hair transplant to avoid scar widening, etc.) Also, keeping yourself in good health both before and after the surgery can also help make your recovery a more pleasant experience.

A final risk for hair transplant patients is that they won't get the results they want.  You can minimize this risk by interviewing several different surgeons before making your final decision and then being very clear about what you expect from the surgery.