Side effects
Does it hurt and what could go wrong?
Owing to the use of local anaesthetic, there tends to be no pain during the actual procedure. Whilst there are risks with any form of surgery, hair transplantation is not a major procedure. Complications are minor and usually only involve mild swelling. This may occur 2 - 3 days after the procedure, along with some mild discomfort. In some cases where extensive areas are transplanted, swelling may be more severe, causing puffiness around the eyes. Small scabs may develop over each graft. These may last for 7 - 14 days following the procedure before they fall off. Rarely, an infection may develop at the site where any cuts have been made, but any scarring tends to be very slight. Transplanted results vary according to every individual. It is not common for patients to see new hair growth from day one. Most people lose some hair immediately after the transplant, but then this stops for a while. The new hair follicles will not then grow for a few months, but they should grow normally after this period. Occasionally there may be some grafts that fail to grow.What should you do after this procedure?
It is important that you follow the advice of your practitioner carefully after a hair transplant to help to make the treatment successful and reduce the risk of complications. Post-treatment advice may include:- using mild painkillers as recommended by your practitioner;
- gently shampooing the scalp 2 - 3 days after transplanting;
- an antibiotic ointment may be suggested to reduce the chance of infection;
- you may have to return 5 - 7 days after the procedure for the removal of stitches or staples;
- contacting your practitioner immediately if you experience any severe pain or infection.
Who should not undergo hair transplantation?
There are few medical reasons why people should not undergo hair transplantation. The main considerations are your expectations of the treatment and the extent of your balding and the density and quality of your donor hair. If either your expectations of a final result are unrealistic, or if the potential donor hair is not suitable, the practitioner may recommend that this is not a suitable procedure for you. If you are prone to keloid (red, angry, raised) scars, or have a history of problems with wound healing your practitioner may not recommend this procedure or may caution you that scars could be raised and very visible.(published with permission in writing from:http://www.consultingroom.com)
