What Are the Downsides of Hair Transplant Surgery?

As with any type of surgery, hair transplants come with risks such as bleeding, infections, scarring, and unnatural-looking hair growth. Learn more about the potential side effects of hair transplant surgery.

What Are the Downsides of Hair Transplant Surgery?
As with any type of surgery, hair transplants come with risks. Bleeding, infections, scarring, and unnatural-looking hair growth are all potential side effects. Folliculitis, an inflammation or infection of the hair follicles, can occur around the time new locks start to grow. It's important to take the recovery period seriously to avoid these complications and return to your daily activities in 10 days to three weeks.

Pain relievers are prescribed after the procedure is complete, and it's during this recovery phase that most people experience side effects. Itching is one of the most common side effects, and it can be treated with regular shampoo application. Hiccups are also a side effect in 5 out of 100 cases, and they can last for several days. Numbness is another side effect that usually subsides after 18 weeks, but if it persists, you should see a doctor.

Bleeding is a possibility during and after surgery, but it should stop once pressure is applied. Infection is rare if you go to a reputable clinic with an experienced physician, but antibiotics may be prescribed if it occurs. Pain is common if you have had a FUT transplant, and pain relievers should help. In some cases, the transplanted hair follicles can curl underneath and cause ingrown hair or an unnatural appearance.

Hair loss and thinning are normal parts of aging, but they can also be caused by medical conditions or trauma to the scalp. Hair transplantation involves relocating a small portion of hair follicles from the donor area to the bald area of the scalp. A study found that most people who underwent FUE with body or beard hair combined with scalp hair were satisfied with the results in an average follow-up of 3 years.

Ernie Summitt
Ernie Summitt

Incurable coffee maven. Devoted communicator. Typical tv scholar. Wannabe social media junkie. Avid hair loss researcher.