Hair Transplant Side Effects and Risks

by Carrie Aker
07/01/09

Any form of cosmetic surgery will have some level of risk associated with it. Hair transplant procedures are no exception. Even as modern technology has made hair transplantation remarkably safe and effective, the occasional issue will arise with some patients. These side effects are almost always mild and temporary, but it’s still wise to fully anticipate all possible reactions to treatment. Knowing what the risks are can help you better prepare for your hair restoration treatment, from asking the right questions of your doctor to being able to differentiate a common, temporary side effect from a potentially more serious issue. Here are some of the common side effects and risks of hair transplantation surgery:

Numbness
It is possible with hair replacement surgery to experience temporary numbness in both the area the hair is taken from and the area where the hair is implanted. The numbness usually goes away within a few weeks.

Scarring
Scarring is possible in any surgery and the same holds true with hair transplant procedures. Scarring of the donor area does happen, but is a rare occurrence.

Infection
Infection can happen, but if it does it is usually at the implant site. Infections are quickly healed through antibiotics and are not common.

Bleeding
Hair transplant is a surgery. As with any surgery bleeding may occur. This is usually minimal and the source of the bleeding will heal over in time.

Hair loss
Occasionally, hair loss occurs at the site of the surgery. This is usually temporary and the hair will grow back.

Rejection of the hair transplant
While it doesn’t happen regularly, there is the possibility that the transplant won’t take. This means that the transplanted hair did not survive the procedure. While this is not a true medical risk, it is a risk of the procedure.

Extreme scalp tenderness
As with any surgery, it’s common for patients to feel some lingering pain after undergoing a hair transplant. The pain associated with a hair transplant procedure is usually treated with traditional pain medication and resolves itself in a few days.

Unnatural looking tufts of hair
Sometimes the hair transplant procedure will not produce the results that you hoped it would. This is usually not an issue now with the latest hair transplant surgery procedures and is more often associated with older techniques.

As with any surgical procedure, knowing what you are getting into is important. One way to avoid negative side effects from the procedure is to take the time to carefully select the practitioner of your hair transplant surgery. It is important that you ask all your questions up front and discuss the possible risks with them. Educating yourself about the procedure will put you at ease about having the hair transplant surgery. To set up a consultation with a hair loss specialist in your area, you can browse our network of hair transplant providers or contact us directly today.

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