Hair transplant surgeries are an effective way to regain the lush forest of hair on your head. Most people undergo this surgery, hoping to bring back their youthful look and be more presentable. The chances of a failed hair transplant surgery are quite rare, but it can happen in some cases.
There could be various reasons for this, and you can usually see symptoms of an unsuccessful surgery that ultimately lead you to pay a higher hair transplant cost. However, don’t get deterred by this; you have several ways to avoid it and options to rectify the damage. In this article, you will learn the reasons and symptoms of an unsuccessful hair transplant surgery and the available options.
What are the Reasons for a Failed Hair Transplant Surgery?
According to various reports, the success rate of hair transplant surgery in India is between 85% and 95%. So, although the chances are mostly low, a failed hair transplant is still possible. Some of the most common reasons for this are listed below.
Surgery Done by An Inexperienced Doctor
One of the most common reasons a hair transplant surgery goes wrong is when an inexperienced doctor does it. A hair surgeon should have enough experience to predict and calculate the number of grafts needed for the surgery. Proper insight into the donor-recipient ratio is the priority of an experienced hair transplant doctor. The surgeon should also know the right techniques to implement a successful procedure.
All the grafts must be taken out, stored, and placed properly. If done incorrectly, it can lead to a failed procedure as the grafts won’t stick properly. Hair transplantations require certain skills that a doctor can only learn through perseverance and working closely with another professional. Dr. Arvind Poswal is a highly qualified surgeon with more than 20 years of experience who strives to make your transplantation journey successful at an affordable hair transplant cost.
Not Following Aftercare Procedures Recommended by the Doctor
Post-surgery care is essential to every hair transplant surgery, making the procedure successful. Your hair transplant cost includes it. Maintaining a proper hair wash routine, applying the prescribed products, not rubbing the scalp or picking the scabs, and eating a balanced diet are all necessary for the healthy growth of new hair.
In addition, you must also avoid sun exposure, apply too much pressure to your scalp, and not do anything that leads to sweating. Your doctor would suggest additional care instructions depending on your requirements and health condition. The scalp may develop an infection if the patient doesn’t follow all the instructions. This would complicate the entire procedure, leading the hair follicles to die and requiring a second hair transplant.
A Hair Transplant is Not the Best Option for You
You must know that not every person who desires a hair transplant is a good candidate for the procedure. Some people are advised not to undergo hair transplant surgery due to their medical history, health condition, or genetic issue. It is quite easy to determine a person’s suitability for this surgery based on their level of hair loss. Sometimes, a person may need to wait and lose a bit more hair before becoming the ideal candidate.
Your hair transplant clinic will conduct a comprehensive medical examination to ensure you are the perfect candidate for hair transplant surgery. This could include tests and evaluations that would make it clear whether the procedure would develop any future complications. In addition, the doctor may also conduct a hair loss diagnosis and classification for your particular case.
Graft Rejection
Just like an organ may reject your body upon transplantation, it is a possibility with transplanted hair grafts. Although your body won’t reject the hair grafts, they may not lead to the natural growth of the hair follicles. This can lead to a failed hair transplant surgery.
The most common reason for this is the disease Lichen Planopilaris. It is commonly known as LLP and is a primary scarring alopecia. It attacks the follicles, preventing their growth and ultimately destroying them. The scalp is left with scar tissue in place of the follicles. This disease can aggravate your hair loss condition and may not be detected before the surgery.
Impatience and High Expectations
Most surgeries require a certain recovery period and take time to show actual results. Hair transplants take 8 to 10 months to give you a head full of hair. Patience is of utmost importance in this situation. You need to wait and follow all the instructions laid out by your doctor to see progress in your journey to achieve good hair growth.
Another reason is setting high expectations and not communicating them with your doctor. You must always convey your goals to the hair transplant doctor. This will help you avoid setting unrealistic goals and expecting unnatural results. Moreover, you must always be on the lookout for those who mislead you with high hopes.
Dr. Arvind Poswal always minutely examines the patient before explaining what they can expect from the surgery. Not every candidate will get high hair density even if they are willing to pay a high hair transplant cost, and this is made clear in the beginning.
What are the Symptoms of an Unsuccessful Hair Transplant Surgery?
Some of the symptoms of an unsuccessful hair transplant are as follows:
Too Much Scarring
Successful hair transplants typically have minimal scarring as the surgeon uses top-notch tools and proper techniques. However, when a hair transplant clinic or doctor uses substandard tools and incorrect procedures, it often leaves excessive scarring on the scalp.
Getting Scalp Infections
Proper aftercare can prevent infections to a great extent. However, if you develop an infection after following all the aftercare procedures, you probably get infected by the surgical tools. If the tools used during the surgery are not disinfected, you will most likely develop an infection. This will increase your hair transplant cost.
Poor Hair Growth
The overall result of your hair transplant will become clear at the one-year mark. You need this amount of time for the proper growth of the hair follicles filling your scalp. If you don’t see enough volume, you may need corrective surgery considering your situation, which will add to your hair transplant cost.
Hair Grows Unnaturally in Various Directions
Proper placement of hair grafts by your hair transplant clinic looks natural, and the hair grows in the right direction. However, if the placement technique is not right, the hair will grow in unnatural directions. This would make your hair look fake.
What are Your Options After an Unsuccessful Hair Transplant Surgery?
Don’t lose hope if you have had an unsuccessful hair transplant surgery. You still have a chance to remedy your situation with several options available. Some of them are listed below:
Go for a Second Hair Transplant
You don’t have to bear with a dissatisfying hair transplant for the rest of your life. You can go for a second hair transplant surgery to boost your follicle density and cover more areas of your scalp. Do consult a qualified doctor before going further with this decision.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
In certain cases, achieving high density just through surgery may not be possible. So, your doctor may suggest platelet-rich plasma therapy to make it happen. Your hair transplant doctor may extract small quantities of blood and centrifuge it to separate the platelets. The platelets are then injected into the scalp area to boost hair growth.
Conclusion
The chances of hair transplant surgery going wrong are quite low, yet it is not something that cannot happen. By taking proper preventative measures, you can avoid regretting your decision to choose a hair transplant clinic. The number one step in this process is to choose a reliable doctor.
Dr. Arvind Poswal has 20+ years of experience and enhanced knowledge to implement the best techniques for hair transplants suitable for your needs.
FAQs
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Can you fix a hair transplant that went bad?
Yes, it is possible to fix a hair transplant that went wrong. Often called revision surgery, it can repair an unnatural hairline, poor hair density, poor follicle quality, and scar repair.
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Who should not consider a hair transplant?
People with chronic health issues, including liver or kidney failure, heart disease, diabetes, and certain other conditions, are unsuitable candidates for hair transplants.
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How can you maximize the success of hair transplants?
To maximize the success of your hair transplant surgery, you need to choose the right surgeon who will conduct a proper diagnosis and choose appropriate techniques for the surgery. In addition, following the aftercare procedures is essential to making your hair transplant successful.
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Is a hair transplant a risky procedure?
No, a hair transplant is mostly a safe procedure that has a very high chance of success in most cases. However, safety depends on the qualifications of the doctor and the equipment used by the hair transplant clinic to perform the surgery.
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How many grafts are considered normal?
Typically, you can extract around 1500 to 4000 grafts from the donor area in a single session. These need to be taken out of the safe donor zone to see positive results.
