What Are the Side Effects of Hair Transplant Surgery

A person with balding problems can gain a great deal of confidence by having hair transplant surgery.  The procedure is a fairly easy one for the patient.  However, there are some minor complications or side effects that sometimes come with the surgery. 

1.  Thinning.  If you have hair transplant surgery, you might be alarmed if you notice that the hair you already did have is getting thinner.  This is a normal post-operative condition.  The thickness comes back within a few months after surgery.  It will be just as full as it ever was. 

2.  Bleeding.  The hair transplant surgery will likely cause some bleeding.  If you put pressure on the area, the bleeding will usually stop.  In rare situations, the bleeding does not stop this way.  In that case, it might be necessary for the surgeon to do some extra stitching to close the wounds. 

3.  Pain.  There is actually very little pain with hair transplant surgery.  About half of the people who have the procedure done will not need any pain relievers at all.  Most others take a mild pain reliever such as Tylenol for a few days, and that seems to be enough for them. 

4. Itching.  It is not unusual for itching to occur on areas affected by hair transplant surgery.  Yet, it should not last more than a few days.  If you use shampoo and wash the hair every day, it helps with the problem. 

5.  Swelling.  Almost everyone who has hair transplant surgery has swelling in the forehead and around the eyes.  This lasts for only a few days, the worst being about the fourth day.  Some people exhibit a black eye as a result. 

6.  Numbness.  A hair transplant patient will feel numbness for several weeks after the surgery.  It is almost a given.  However, it is usually only temporary. 

7.  Hiccups.  Interestingly enough, one side effect of hair transplant surgery is having the hiccups after the procedure.  Only about 5% of the patients have this problem, but it can be troublesome if it lasts more than a few days.  It can keep you from eating or sleeping properly.  Doctors have medications they can prescribe to help with this. 

8.  Infections.  Infections are rare with hair transplant surgery, but they can happen.  One reason they do not happen more is that antibiotics are given before and after the procedure to prevent infections from even starting. 

9.  Cysts.  Cysts can come up in the areas where the hair is being transplanted to, also called the recipient areas.  The cysts do not usually last more than a few weeks and are rarely more than the size of small pimples. 

10.  Scarring.  If you have keloid scarring after hair transplant surgery, it is probably because you are genetically inclined to have it.  Very infrequently, patients have scarring that takes the form of ridges. 

The side effects of hair transplant surgery are not particularly difficult for the person who has them.  They are more like minor inconveniences for most people.  The most important thing about them is that nearly all of them will be gone in just a few weeks.