Knowing about the benefits of a hair transplant, namely a fuller head of hair and its confidence, is always good. However, it’s also wise to be aware of the side effects you will experience.
What is a Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant is a surgical method where a dermatological surgeon will move hair from one area of your body to a bald spot on your head. The most common practice is for the surgeon to move hair from the head’s back to the front or top.
Surgeons perform hair transplants in a medical office using local anesthesia and use one of two methods to complete the procedure: slit grafts (4 to 10 hairs per graft) or micrografts (1 to 2 hairs per graft).
The surgeon will obtain follicles for transplant using follicular unit transplantation (FUT) or follicular unit extraction (FUE).
FUT – The doctor cuts strips of the scalp from the head’s back using an incision several inches long. They will then stitch the wound shut. The doctor then separates the strip into smaller sections small enough to be implanted and achieve natural-looking growth.
FUE – The surgeon uses a tiny needle to create holes in the treated area. They then place a hair follicle in each of the holes. Each surgical session will place hundreds of hairs at a time.
Read More: Hair restoration in Turkey all that you need to know
Hair Transplant Side Effects That Can Occur.
1- Infections
Fortunately, infections because of hair transplants are rare. Still, the antibiotics you take before and after the surgery go a long way to ensuring an infection won’t be a problem.
How to avoid infections
- The patient should avoid touching the donor area and the transplanted area.
- It does not remove or mess with the scales that appear on the donor area.
- Maintaining the health and cleanliness of the scalp by following the instructions we provide you after the operation.
- Avoid cigarettes, shisha tobacco products, and alcoholic beverages during recovery.
2- Cysts
Cysts, or small pimple-like sacs, could form in the area receiving treatment. If they appear, they will only last for a few weeks before disappearing.
3- Scarring
Keloids are raised scar that develops after an injury and can grow into ridges larger than the original injury. They are exceedingly rare, but it’s probably because of genetics if you get them.
if a scar occurs after a hair transplant procedure, we can treat it with some treatment such as
- Scalp micropigmentation (SMP)
- Tricopigmentation (TMP)
- Laser treatment
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4- Itchiness
The area of your head will go through a healing process, and like all healing, you may feel itchy in the location your surgeon has treated. It generally lasts only a few days, but treating the area with baby oil can relieve the symptoms. Scratching is prevented, as it can lead to further complications.
How to deal with itching after a hair transplant
- Never scratch the itchy area.
- Spray medicinal salt water (usually bought at the pharmacy).
- Take antihistamines.
- Use a medical shampoo to wash hair
- Steroid scalp lotion.
5- Swelling
Almost all hair transplant surgeries will create at least some swelling around the forehead and eyes, and some patients may notice the eyes blackening. The worst swelling will occur on days 2 to 5, but you should be cleared up within seven days.
Advice to avoid swelling after a hair transplant
- Avoid exercising after hair transplantation.
- Keep your head up while walking.
- Sleeping on the back and placing a pillow under the neck keeps the head at a 45-degree angle.
- Drink a lot of water.
- Using ice compresses.
6- Pain
Pain after a hair transplant is minimal. Most patients won’t need pain medication, while a few may need readily available pain medication like Tylenol for a few days afterward.
how t manage pain after a hair transplant
- using a painkiller.
- Apply ice.
- Massage.
7- Bleeding
A few hair transplant patients may experience bleeding around the treated location. Usually, you can use a gauze pad to pressure the area. The bleeding should subside after about 15 minutes. It would be best to hold the gauze in place for 15 minutes without lifting it periodically to check. Be firm but gentle because you don’t want to upset the surrounding grafts.
Hair transplants are long and involve surgeries that require some recovery time. However, complications are rare, and you will quickly recover from the most common Hair Transplant Side Effects.
Read Also: Best Beard Transplant Clinic in Turkey
Hair transplant Side Effects Comparison Table
The table shows the hair transplant side effects for each using methods DHI, FUE, and Sapphire.
| FUE | DHI | Sapphire | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgical scar on the donor site | NO | NO | NO |
| Surgical scar on the recipient area | Low | unnoticeable | unnoticeable |
| Recovery of the recipient area | Avg.7 days | Avg.2 days | Avg.2 days |
| Recovery of the donor site | Avg.7 days | Avg.7 days | Avg.7 days |
| Bleeding | Medium | Very Low | Very Low |
| Implantation of follicle to the haired region | Not applicable | Applicable | Applicable |
How to avoid the risks associated with hair transplant
It is difficult to accurately predict the risks of a hair transplant because it varies from case to case. However, in the end, these risks can be avoided, or rather, the risks can be reduced by choosing the right hair surgeon and going to one of the trusted and accredited hair transplant centers.
In addition, the need to adhere to taking preventive measures and following the recommended medical instructions to ensure satisfactory results and to fully comply with the instructions given by the medical staff after the operation; There are many instructions to follow, and here are some of them:
- Refrain from taking any drinks or medications that cause blood thinning after hair transplantation
- Abstain from smoking, hookah, and alcoholic beverages
- Avoid exposure to the sun during the first week of the operation
- Protect the donor area and cover it well using appropriate bandages
- Sleeping in a suitable position with the head elevated at an angle of 45 degrees
- Avoid strenuous exercises such as exercising for 21 days after the operation
- Full commitment to taking the recommended medications at the specified times, especially antibiotics
Hair transplant surgery reviews
94% of those who experienced a hair transplant said on the realself website that it was worth it and that they were satisfied with the results.
A young man shared on his YouTube channel his experience with hair transplantation after a year and a half, saying:
“The result I got is very satisfactory, 4000 grafts were transplanted, and I saw the full results after a year; I did it in Turkey, and the service was great.
The Price of a hair transplant in Turkey ranges from $1,000 to $2,000, depending on the required sessions, the technique, and the patient’s condition.
Contact us today
Lastly, we offer a free consultation for all hair transplant side effects information. At HayatMed, we offer high-quality, specialized, and affordable Medical Care services. Contact us today.
