Hair replacement is an elective surgery. It is generally considered safe, however, all surgical procedures can put you at risk for developing complications. Usually, it is performed in your doctor’s office with local anesthesia. In some rare instances, it is performed under general anesthesia.
Infection
There are some rare risks associated with the procedure, itself. The most common risk is that of developing an infection in the treatment area. Your doctor may prescribe post-surgical antibiotics to prevent this from developing.
Rejected Transplanted Grafts
There is always the risk that the body may reject the transplanted grafts. You should be aware that in rare instances, the body may reject the transplanted hair graft. Additionally, if your surgeon is not cautious in the placement of the graft, you could experience hair growth in different directions.
Scars and Bumps
Although, mild scarring is expected, you may also have a risk of developing larger scars. This depends upon how well your body responds to the healing process. Some individuals are more susceptible to scarring than others. You may also develop bumps in the skin and ingrown hairs following surgery.
If your surgeon does not place the grafts properly, you are also at risk of developing bumpy, uneven areas of skin.
Hematoma
Hematoma is also a possibility. This is when blood vessels rupture below the treatment area, causing a pool of blood to develop below the skin’s surface.
Damaged Follicles
Healthy hair surrounding the treatment is susceptible to trauma. This is usually a temporary condition. Often, the hair surrounding the treatment area falls out. You will generally see re-growth in the months following surgery. In very rare cases, the follicles may become damaged during the surgery. Should this happen, your hair will not grow back in the affected areas.
The process of hair growth in the grafted sections takes place over the course of several months. In cases where the graft was allowed to dry out before implant, there is a risk of slow to poor hair growth. This can also result if the graft was traumatized during the surgical procedure.
Scalp Numbness
Following surgery, you may experience some scalp numbness in the treated area. This is fairly common, as some tiny nerves may be severed during the surgery. The condition is usually resolved within a few months. However, there is a possibility of permanent nerve damage if the larger nerve endings were severed during surgery.
Reactions to Anesthesia
In addition to the risks associated with the surgical procedure, there are also risks associated with the anesthesia. If you have experienced a past allergic reaction, you must inform your doctor. Also, you should tell your doctor if you currently suffer from any allergic condition.
General anesthesia puts you at a risk of developing other complications. Some of these include: pulmonary embolism, excessive bleeding, heart attack, stroke and respiratory problems.
You are also at additional risk for complications if you suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, heart, liver or lung disease. Tell your doctor if you have an immune disorder, are taking anticoagulants or smoke.
