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| Illustration: FUT Hair Transplant (Image Source: hairrestorationnetwork.com) |
Minor and temporary complications with hair transplant surgery includes, temporary thinning of pre-existing hair, bleeding, pain, swelling, numbness, itching hiccups, infection, scarring and cysts.
Temporary thinning of re-existing hair
This side effect is rare with some of the
hair becoming thin. However, this will be resolved within a few months’ time,
and your hair will be back in its optimum condition months after hair
transplant surgery.
Bleeding
It is normal to experience some bleeding
during and after surgery. This can be stopped with the use of simple pressure
which is provided by pressure dressing. There are rare cases where persistent
bleeding can occur, and it is here where additional stitching may be required.
Pain
The pain that can be experienced afterwards
is minimal and can easily be relieved by pain medications. If in the rare
occasion that pain increases in intensity, this should be immediately reported
to your doctor.
Swelling
You can expect some swelling on and around
the surgical site. This is a normal response of the body due to the trauma
created to the area. One can often observe swelling on the forehead and the
area around the eyes which can last about a day or two. In rare cases some
patients even develop a black eye. To lessen the amount of swelling a cold
compress may be applied. To lessen the length of time swelling, it is advised
that you sleep on a stack of pillows to elevate the head.
Numbness
It is also inevitable to experience
numbness over the surgical site. Usually it is the donor site that is most
affected by this, especially if one gets an FUT. This usually lasts 3-18 weeks,
and it is rarely troublesome.
Hiccups
This rather annoying side effect can last
several hours to days. The main cause is rather unknown, but it is more common
in hair transplant procedures compared to scalp reduction.
Infection
This complication is rarely seen in hair
transplant patients. Aside from the doctor’s responsibility to ensure sterility
during the procedure, the patient should also see to it that he maintains a
good aftercare regimen to prevent infection. This problem can easily be treated
with antibiotics, which the surgeon often prescribes after surgery as
prophylactic treatment.
Scarring
This only becomes a very big problem if the
patient is a keloid former. If this occurs, it can create a ridging effect at
the back of the patient’s head.
Cysts
In rare occasions some patients develop
cysts usually in recipient areas where a number of grafts have been inserted.
It usually measure not more than 2 or 3 mm in diameter and they just disappear
on their own in a few weeks’ time even without treatment.
If you have more questions about hair transplant risks or to find out more about what can be done for thinning hair, please don't hesitate to contact us at 1300 378 336 or visit our official website: www.esteemstudio.com.au.
We would be happy to answer all your questions and worries about hair transplant.
