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Medically reviewed by Dr. Barış Duman
Short answer: The first step in safety is choosing the right clinic. The procedure should take place in a licensed healthcare facility authorised to perform hair transplants, with properly equipped operating rooms, hygiene and sterilisation, under an experienced doctor and a competent healthcare team.
A hair transplant is a medical procedure done under local anaesthetic and is generally well tolerated. Like any medical procedure, it carries some risks. Swelling, redness, itching, scabbing and temporary numbness may occur afterwards, and mostly ease as you heal. Problems such as infection, bleeding, reactions to the anaesthetic, scarring and prolonged healing are less common.
A thorough assessment of your health before the operation, a plan suited to you and following the aftercare instructions all help to reduce the risks. At Hairpol, the process is planned around patient safety and individual assessment. Reading about the general question of whether a hair transplant is safe is a good place to start.
Common hair transplant side effects, usually temporary
- Swelling: the forehead and the area around the eyes may swell. Read why it happens and how to reduce it.
- Redness and scabbing: expected in the first weeks. Scabs usually start to come away around days 8-10.
- Itching: a normal part of healing.
- Numbness: can last a while in the donor and transplant areas.
- Shock loss: hair shedding between weeks 3 and 8 is usually a natural part of the process. Our shock loss article has the details.
- Spots and ingrown hairs: can appear as the hair comes through.
Less common risks
- Infection: can show as increasing pain, warmth, discharge or fever, and needs a doctor’s assessment.
- Bleeding: light oozing can occur on the first night, but bleeding that does not stop with pressure should be reported.
- Reaction to the anaesthetic: uncommon, but it can happen, so tell us about any known allergies beforehand.
- Dizziness or hiccups: may be temporary. Tell the healthcare team if they continue.
Risks to the result
As well as health risks, it is worth thinking about the result itself:
- Lower density than expected: donor capacity, hair structure and the degree of hair loss all affect the result. See how to tell if a transplant is failing.
- An unnatural hairline: poor design can become more noticeable over the years.
- Overuse of the donor area: an overharvested donor area can leave a thin and lasting appearance.
- Scars: ask what to expect for your technique at the consultation.
- Continued hair loss: a transplant does not stop the hair that was not transplanted from falling out, so the plan should be long term.
Which signs mean you should call straight away?
- Swelling with a fever
- Bleeding that does not stop with light pressure
- Pain that increases day by day
- Discharge, or redness that spreads with warmth
- Scabs still firmly stuck on day 14
In an emergency, go to the nearest healthcare facility without waiting. We have no partner clinic in the UK, the US or elsewhere abroad, so if you are back home, get local care first and then let your patient manager know.
What can you do to reduce the risks?
- Share your full medical history and medication.
- Check your suitability: who is not a candidate for a hair transplant?
- When choosing a clinic, ask about the team, the method and the follow-up, including how it works once you are home.
- Read the informed consent form carefully before the operation.
- Follow the aftercare rules, and your doctor’s advice on smoking and alcohol.
How do we follow you at Hairpol?
The transplant may be done by the doctor or by the team under doctor supervision. Our international package includes the guarantee certificate, an aftercare kit with medicines, a 24/7 VIP patient manager and complication insurance. We follow you for 12 months through our mobile app and receive your photos every month. If a symptom worries you, you can write to your patient manager.
Frequently asked questions
Is a hair transplant dangerous?
In a suitable patient, at an authorised healthcare facility and done according to the rules, it is a generally well-tolerated procedure. Even so, like any medical procedure it carries risks, and these vary from person to person.
Can a hair transplant cause lasting damage?
Most side effects are temporary. Overuse of the donor area or poor design can have more lasting effects, which is why the clinic, the healthcare staff performing the transplant and the planning all matter a great deal.
Can a hair transplant harm the brain?
A hair transplant is done in the superficial layers of the scalp. Even so, if you have a headache, dizziness or any symptom that worries you, ask your doctor.
When does the swelling go down?
Swelling usually appears in the first days and eases with time. Keeping your head from bending forward for the first 3-4 days and following the head position our team recommends can help. Not following the instructions can make the swelling worse and more noticeable on the forehead, face and around the eyes. Severity varies from person to person. If the swelling is not going down or is getting worse, contact the Hairpol healthcare team.
How do I know if I have an infection?
Increasing pain, warmth, discharge, spreading redness or fever may be signs of infection. If you notice these, see a doctor and do not self-medicate.
What happens if the transplanted hair does not grow?
Enough time has to pass before the result can be assessed. If the result falls short of what was expected, your doctor will discuss the reasons and the options with you.
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