What are the disadvantages of a hair transplant?
Or rather, are there any disadvantages to having a hair transplant? We’ll take a look
When it comes to genetic hair loss, a hair transplant is without doubt the best and most permanent solution to regaining a full head of hair.
There are many advantages to undergoing hair transplant surgery, but are there any disadvantages?
We constantly hear about the success rates of hair transplants, and they are undoubtably very successful. They have become increasingly popular, over the last decade and are becoming more affordable than ever, but there must be some disadvantages, so let’s take a look at those we could find.
First and foremost – the Cost: One of the biggest drawbacks to getting the hair transplant of your dreams is the cost.
In the UK, a hair transplant can cost anywhere from £1000 for a small number of grafts to around £30,000 + for the top surgeons and high end clinics.
The average cost seems to be around £4000-£7000 but this figure is dependent on a number of factors including the number of grafts required and the complexity of the work..
Hair transplant surgeries can be expensive and financially exclusive, but fortunately hair clinics now offer finance packages where you can spread the cost over a period of time and get the transplant you want sooner rather than later.
Recovery: Although most people are able to return to work 3 days after a hair transplant surgery, the recovery process can pose some challenges.
You could experience some swelling, pain or bruising and be unable to take strenuous exercise for about 2 weeks, so if you like to go to the gym this could be considered a disadvantage.
Take a look at this recovery time chart:
Scarring: With any invasive procedure there will be an amount of scarring which cannot be avoided, but hair transplant surgery has become so refined that the level of scarring is minimal and in most cases can barely be seen.
The two most popular methods of hair transplant and the most commonly used are, FUE and FUT
Both involve extracting healthy hair follicles from a donor site, usually the back of the head, and transplanting them into the recipient site where hair loss is present.
FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) or ‘STRIP’ consists of the removal of healthy hair follicles in small strips from a donor area.
With FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) a small number of hair follicles are removed from the doner area and then transplanted to the balding or thinning area. This procedure takes more time to complete but leaves little to no scarring and a much faster healing time of just 3 to 7 days.
Although scarring is minimal, particularly with the FUE method, it can still be considered a disadvantage of a hair transplant..
The surgery may leave minor and unnoticeable scars on some of the areas of follicular insertion, but these scars are not usually visible. However, they could be noticeable if individuals opt to shave their head at a later date.
Bleeding -Hair transplants are surgical procedures and there is the risk of bleeding during the surgery but in the hands of a good medical team the bleeding will be minimal, and you’ll be taken good care of.
Swelling – The recipient area can have some swelling due to the formation of fluid under the skin, and although it can cause some pain it should subside in a few days.
New Hairline: A hair transplant won't be able to place your new hairline. In exactly the same place as the original. The transplant will be positioned somewhere in between your old hairline and your current one.
Infection: Hair transplants do include minor risks such as infection or haemorrhaging. However, these risks are unlikely to occur if the instructions of the surgeons are strictly followed.
If infections or excess bleeding does occur, patients need to undergo simple treatments to cure them.
Nerve damage in the donor site is also found to be a risk, but in the hands of a qualified surgeon the risks are very minimal.
Most of the side effects mentioned above are caused by poor graft handling where the surgeon fails to extract, hold, or insert the follicles correctly.
This highlights the importance of researching clinics and surgeons.
Your due diligence will result in a much better chance of getting the result you want with minimal side effects.
Key Takeaways: There are some drawbacks to having hair transplant surgery, but they are no greater than you’d expect with any cosmetic procedure. The main side effects are Swelling, discomfort, and downtime during the recovery period. Significant side effects are rare.
Choose a trusted clinic: The most fundamental thing about hair transplant surgery is choosing a reliable clinic with experienced surgeons, a skilled medical team, and advanced technology.
Do your research. By choosing the right clinic with an experienced surgeon, you can avoid suffering side effects after the surgery, and there will be no long-term disadvantages either.
Conclusion
Hair transplants do not generally have any side effects or disadvantages. Some may face temporary swelling and discomfort after surgery, but it heals quickly with proper aftercare and can usually be managed with over the counter pain medications.
The benefits of restoring your hair to its former glory far outway the minor discomfort and inconvenience of having a hair transplant procedure.
The most important thing to consider is the choosing of a well-researched clinic, which has experienced surgeons and a professional medical team who can provide an excellent level of aftercare.
We at the Harley Street Hair Clinic have a clinical team with a wealth of experience who can restore your bald or thinning hair into the head of hair of your dreams, and with very little chance of any of the side effects mentioned in this article occurring.
Take a look at our Harley Street Hair Clinic website and see what we can do for you, or contact us today for a no obligation chat Call Now Don’t delay – your ideal you could be just a phone call away!
