A hair transplant is a safe surgical procedure. However, like any other invasive surgeries, there are always potential risks to it.

A hair transplant would involve the removal of a graft of tissue from the head and implanting that on a bald spot. 

This surgical cosmetic procedure is under general or local anaesthesia. 

Hair Transplant – Surgery Types

There are two types of hair transplant procedures we recommend – Direct Hair Implantation(DHI) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE).

• Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) – With this type of procedure, the surgeon shaves the donor site and transfers hair follicles to the recipient site.
• Direct Hair Implantation (DHI) – This procedure is a robotic or micro-FUE which uses a Choii pen. This is minimally invasive and surgeons are able to fully control the angle, depth, and direction of the grafts. This also provides the highest rate of hair survival. The risks involved are very minimal but would still need extra precaution.

The two types have exactly the same grafting procedure but have different surgical processes.

This would normally run from 4 to 8 hours or depending on the number of grafts.  A second surgery would follow if the patient has further hair loss from another part..

What are the Risks?

There are always risks involved in any form of surgical procedure. However, during a hair transplant procedure, the risks are very minimal.

Inflammation

The recipient or donor site could experience inflammation especially when the hair begins to grow. This is normal with any kind of surgery. 

Apply a cold compress to the area. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics normally to avoid infection such as folliculitis.

Minimal Hair Loss

Normally, the patient would experience slight hair loss after surgery. But, this is nothing to worry about because the hair follicles are just in an adjustment phase and are temporary.

Tenderness

Some patients would often feel tenderness or some discomfort in the surgical site. This is normal. 

Underharvesting or Overharvesting

There are amateur surgeons who would make that mistake of either harvesting too much or too little for a hair transplant procedure. 

These extremes could lead to either an unsuccessful hair growth or too little coverage for bald spots as well as an unnatural and wide bald spot on the donor site which would need extra coverage or hair transplant.

Hair Transplant Safety in Focus

A hair transplant procedure is generally safe for everyone. However, knowing a person’s past medical history would help surgeons to decide whether one is a good candidate for a hair transplant.

It is also wise to communicate your fears with your surgeon so you would know the normal reactions or potential risks in the procedure.

Will this be a permanent solution to hair loss? Yes, it is. 

A hair transplant procedure is very safe and effective as compared to temporary fixes or shampoos that would only bring a band-aid solution. 

Also, seeking certified and trusted surgeons would help you be confident in hair transplant procedures.