When Hair Restoration Goes Wrong?

Hair restoration techniques have come a long way, but that doesn’t mean things can’t go wrong if inexperienced doctor and technicians do the procedure.

With traditional hair transplant surgery, hair is harvested in strips from the back of the head and surgically implanted into other areas of the scalp where more hair is wanted. Newer, less invasive techniques, like follicular unit extraction (FUE), gently and painlessly extract individual hair follicles while leaving the scalp intact. The follicles are then carefully placed in areas where you want more hair coverage without the risk of scarring or need for scalpels and sutures.

Though all hair restoration procedures carry some risks, side effects range in severity and largely depend on the experience of the team conducting the transplant. Here are some of the side effects that can occur when a procedure goes wrong:

Scarring

Traditional hair transplant techniques surgically remove healthy areas of the scalp and move them to areas where there is less hair growth. During strip harvesting, a large incision is made on the back of the patient’s head and a section of scalp skin is removed and used as a source of hair follicles, which are then implanted to a new location. The donor part of the scalp is then sutured back together, often leaving a long visible scar. Sometimes the hair over the scar area does not regrow or regrows in patches, leading to unnatural looking results.

Infection

If an unskilled technician or surgeon makes incisions that are too deep, makes too many incisions in one area or does not practice proper sterilization techniques, an infection can develop after hair transplant surgery. Most infections can be treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated, the infection can spread deep into the scalp and permanently damage the tissue.

Pitting

Pitting, or “pit scarring,” can occur after hair restoration surgery and is most commonly a result of older transplant procedures, which used larger punch devices to harvest hair follicles. The hairs look as if they are growing out of a deep “pit” or divot, as you'd find on the surface of a golf ball. Pitting typically occurs when the follicular hair unit is placed too deep into the scalp and causes a concave imprint.

Subdermal Cysts

In some cases, cysts can appear after a hair transplant procedure. A hair follicle near the transplanted follicle is injured in some way and a cyst forms on the scalp. These fleshy nodules range in size and can often be treated with an injection of a corticosteroid or with minor surgery. Antibiotics can be prescribed to prevent infection.

Folliculitis

There can be inflammation of the implanted follicles and infection can occur in these follicles leading to formation of papules, it will cause itching and pain. Antibiotics given will cure the condition.

Shock loss

If existing hair also falls along with the implanted follicles than it may be due to shock loss, it is normal in female hair transplant. Sometimes it may occur if adjacent follicles are damaged during implantation.

Unnatural look

If hair grafts are implanted in wrong direction than they will grow in that direction only giving a unnatural look to the patient.

Hair transplant is the surgery which if done in an experienced hand give 100% natural result and change the appearance of the person to the great extent. It will improve the self confidence of the person so without compromising on the qualification and experience of the surgeon, go for the best hair transplant in India.