What are the risks of a hair replacement procedure?

Hair replacement procedures are increasingly becoming more common. Instead of spending the time and effort to grow hair back, people now have the option of a reliable FUE procedure that will replace those lost or thinning locks. These procedures are relatively safe, but there are still some risks to consider before getting one done yourself.

Whatever your particular reason, many people have found that a hair replacement procedure is a great option to reduce the appearance of hair loss, balding, or thinning. However, to keep things in perspective, here’s a list of the most common risks associated with the procedure.

Bleeding

Bleeding risk is most pronounced both during and immediately after hair transplant procedures. FUE procedures involve removing skin tissue and hair follicles and moving them around your scalp, which means you’re going to exhibit some bleeding. However, the risk of this bleeding is highest on the morning of the transplant procedure itself. The good news is that you’re going to be with us for 3 to 4 hours after your procedure, and we’ll be able to monitor it to make sure the immediate results are within acceptable thresholds.

Infections

After you’ve completed your procedure, the subsequent risk you’ll need to ensure you’re paying particular attention to is infections. Luckily the scalp of your head enjoys an excellent supply of blood that allows it to ward off most infections. In addition, we use an antibiotic treatment after your procedure to decrease that risk further and avoid any undesirable surprises.

In-Grown Hairs

After your hair transplant procedures, the chances of ingrown hairs generally become most pronounced at around the 1-month mark. Sometimes — although rarely — as we’re collecting hairs, we could clip off a follicle. That will mean you’ve got a hair follicle without a good shaft to come out of your skin. When that happens (you can expect to have four or five of these), such follicles curl up and become ingrown hairs. It’s improbable for ingrown hairs from your procedure to progress to anything of significance to cause you serious concern. Still, in the rare case that it does, that hair can become infected and develop an abscess that needs to be drained by your hair physician. This process will, at best, occur in 1 in 500 patients, so there’s very little chance that you may have to deal with situations such as this with your hair replacement procedure.

Your Result

The quality of your hair replacement procedure is, to a large extent, the most critical risk factor of all the ones we’ve looked at so far. The first is that hair replacements are permanent, so you want them done correctly. The professionals you work with and the technology you use for your procedure will directly impact how your hair will look for the rest of your life. This consideration is why it’s crucial to pay special attention to your choice of hair transplant specialists and the technology they’re using to ensure they can positively influence how you’re going to look well after the procedure.

Final Thoughts

Despite these potential complications, hair restoration is still worthwhile for the many men and women that suffer from hair loss issues. In fact, only about 1% of all patients will experience complications. However, if you’re considering a hair replacement procedure for yourself, research the procedure beforehand to know all possible risks involved.

Schedule Your Consultation

For your hair transplant procedure, call us at our practice today. Our experienced hair restoration specialist from Northwestern Hair, Dr. Rawlani, will be happy to meet with you and enlighten you about your hair transplant options and when you can resume with your physical fitness routine. With us, you are certain to get excellent and compassionate hair transplant services.