Hair Transplant Complications Tips

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NY Hair Transplant - Possible Complications

Hair transplantation in NY or anywhere in the world is a surgical procedure and should be regard as such. As with any surgical procedure, an occasional complication may arise. This is one of the reasons why finding a reputable hair transplant facility is so important. While these complications are not life threatening, you should be aware of them before you begin any hair transplantation procedure.

Poor growth of the transplanted area is of concern to many patients. This possibility has been dramatically reduced with the implementation of modern techniques in hair transplant procedures – but these new techniques are not available in all hair restoration practices.

Damage to the follicles prior to transplantation is another common concern. The use of microscopic dissection has greatly decreased the chance of transecting the follicular units. Be sure to ask if the hair transplantation clinic you are considering uses stereo-microscopic dissection. A scar in the donor area is another concern of hair transplant patients. As a result of a hair restoration procedure, the linear scar should be easily hidden by the hair at the back of the scalp. But there are several steps which can be taken to further reduce scarring from a transplant procedure. Let the doctor know if you heal with raised scars or keloids as this may impact you hair transplant procedure. Ask your doctor what kinds of closures are used, staple or sutures – as there are pros and cons to each. And always follow the post operative instructions that you are given.
Slow growth, on the other hand, should not be a concern. It is ideal to have slow and continual growth of your newly transplanted hair. One benefit is that it makes detection of your hair transplant by other people difficult. You do not walk into a hair transplant facility bald, and walk out with full coverage. Normal growth will be over the course of months, with full growth achieved at approximately 10-12 months. You must be patient.

   
I’m having a hair transplant in New York soon and I was wondering what the most common complications are?

NY Hair Transplant Possible Complications

Bernstein Medical Tip: NY hair transplant facilities are often the choice of those wishing the very best hair transplant possible. While most hair transplants go off without a hitch there are possible complications that can arise. While many of these complications aren't serious, if you are planning to undergo a hair transplant you should be aware of these complications before you begin the procedure.

The first complications can be poor growth or no growth at all in the transplanted hair. While this can be very disappointing, it is by no means life threatening. Thankfully the modern use of microscopes to dissect the follicles from the donor strips greatly decreases the chance of damaged follicles attributed to failed transplants. However, some people are thought to have overly sensitive follicles or slow growing hair. These conditions make it harder to predict how successful your NY hair transplant will be.

Excessive scarring or pigment changes in the skin are also possible complications when undergoing a NY hair transplant. While some scarring is inevitable due to the nature of the surgery, in some cases the scarring can become excessive in people who tend to scar easily. The scars can appear thickened or elastic-like. Usually though, the scarring is small enough that it can be hidden with a normal length hair cut.

Pigment change is a possible risk anytime the skin's surface is disrupted. Usually this complication only occurs in people with more color in their skin. In these cases of NY hair transplant complications the skin around the transplant area becomes darker. Thankfully, with the advances in hair transplants this is a rare occurrence.

   
What’s a good way to avoid some of the risks associated with hair transplants?

Knowing Hair Transplant Risks

Like any surgery, there are always risks involved when having a hair transplant performed. Before you go under the scalpel you need to learn what the hair transplant risks are and spot signs of them to avoid a potentially dangerous situation.

Before you have your hair transplant surgery you need to check out your doctor for previous lawsuits or complaints filed against him. An independent local medical authority can investigate a doctor's record for you and inform you of any problems. When speaking with the doctor prior to surgery ask him who you can contact regarding this information. A reputable doctor will give you this information freely and straight away. If the doctor hesitates or does not give you the information do not have this doctor perform the surgery. Cut down your hair transplant risks by only choosing a doctor with a clean record who isn't trying to hide anything.

Another very important factor to check out is in regards to the anesthetic that will be used during your surgery. Generally hair transplant patients are only given a local anesthetic for their pain but those undergoing large transplants, such as chest hair transplants, may need a general anesthetic. Be sure that the facility you choose is equipped to deal with any medical emergencies that may occur while you are sedated. Reduce your hair transplant risks by only choosing a facility that has a crash cart or other medical equipment and procedures to deal with emergencies.

   
What’s a good way to check out and see if a hair transplant company is reputable?

Checking Out Hair Restoration Complaints

If you're thinking of undergoing a hair transplant one of the most important things you must do is make sure the facility you choose is a reputable one. Attending an open house put on by the company is one way to check out the facility for yourself but checking out a company's hair restoration complaints in this manner isn't always a viable option if you live too far away to attend one of these events.

An easy way to check out a company for complaints is to visit the Better Business Bureau online. From there you can enter the name of the company you are researching and see if there is any hair restoration complaints lodged against them. While this is not an iron clad guarantee that none of the company's clients have had problems it is an important step in choosing a reputable company.

Many times a reputable company will have registered with the Better Business Bureau and will display the BBB seal on their website. This can be very reassuring for those looking for a reputable company but even the presence of this seal doesn't mean that hair restoration complaints haven't been issued against the company. Also, just because the company doesn't display the BBB seal doesn't mean they're not reputable. Instead check for other seals of membership such as the American Hair Loss Association.

   
Are there any side effects that I can expect after my hair transplant?

Common Hair Transplant Side Effects

Just like many medical procedures there is always the risk of side effects. Learning these hair transplant side effects can help you know what to expect after your surgery. One of the most common side effects that many doctors do not talk about with their patients is shedding. The last thing someone who suffers from hair loss wants to see is more hair falling out after their expensive hair transplant but shedding does occur in a lot of cases. For the most part this is a normal hair transplant side effect and once the hair has shed normal growth will begin again in approximately three months.

Another common hair transplant side effect is vomiting. Though no one really knows why this happens there are theories. A reaction to the anesthetic could be the case or perhaps the patient is extremely nervous and has caused themselves nausea. Whichever the case this is usually not a serious sign of anything dangerous.

Swelling in the face can also occur after a hair transplant. There is nothing that can be done for the swelling as it will need to go down on its own. Due to this the patient will probably want to spend some time at home recovering before going back to work after their surgery. Some physicians say sleeping on a tilted to help minimize the swelling.

   
What are some of the common hair transplant problems and how can I avoid them?

Learn About Hair Transplant Problems Before Your Surgery

Those who have booked a hair transplant, or are considering doing so, need to do their homework and educate themselves about any possible hair transplant problems that could arise either during or after their surgery. Knowing what the risks are beforehand can make you more aware of any potential hair transplant problems and can help you avoid some disastrous situations.

One of the first factors you should check out before undergoing hair transplant surgery is are you old enough? Any reputable facility will tell their patients to wait until they are at least in their thirties before undergoing this treatment. This is because by the thirties your hair loss pattern has established itself and you will be a much better candidate. Those who receive the procedure too young may run into hair transplant problems when their hair loss changes dramatically and the hair transplant they had years ago no longer serves their needs.

You should also be sure to check out the doctor who will be performing your hair transplant surgery. Make sure he's board certified. The American board of plastic surgery requires a five year residency. Before you let a doctor perform this type of surgery on you make sure his credentials are good and avoid disastrous hair transplant problems caused by unskilled doctors.

   
I’m booked to have a hair transplant in three weeks. I’m aware of what will go on during the procedure but I’m a little worried about how much pain I’ll have afterwards. Do you know how much pain the average person has after a hair transplant?

Transplant Hair Replacement: What You Can Expect In Terms Of Pain

Those thinking of undergoing hair transplant replacement one of the questions on their mind might be on the topic of pain. As with any surgery, there is bound to be some discomfort after a surgical procedure. During the process hair transplant pain is eliminated by the use of a local anesthetic. In some cases where there will be many grafts transplanted in a large recipient area a light sedation may be used. Every attempt is made to make the client feel comfortable during the procedure.

As a general rule very little hair transplant pain is felt after the procedure but you will be given pain medication prior to you leaving the facility. It is recommended to use the pain medication if you feel your require it. If you have a low tolerance to pain you may want to discuss this with your doctor before hand so he can be sure you are comfortable both during your transplant hair replacement and for the days following.

To help reduce hair transplant pain due to swelling it is recommended that you sleep with two pillows under your head for the first two nights. Any bending, lifting or straining should be avoided for the first 48 hours after your surgery to help you remain comfortable and to aid in your speedy recovery from your transplant hair repair.

   
I have very noticeable scarring from a bad hair transplant I had a couple of years ago. Is there anything that can be done to remove or hide these scars?

Hair Transplant Scar Repair

There are many reasons why a client who underwent a hair transplant may have unsightly and obvious scarring. While the most common reason is due to old and outdated techniques used in the hair transplants years ago, hair transplant scar repair may be required when a recent hair transplant was performed incorrectly or the patient was a poor healer.

There are two common methods used in hair transplant scar repair. The first is called scar revision. In this procedure the scar is both removed and stitched up properly or the direction of the scar is changed, making it much less noticeable. The other procedure involves transplanting small grafts of hair directly into the scar and camouflaging the scar by growing hair in the area.

For scars that are either thickened or depressed there are specific hair transplant scar repair techniques as well. Thickened scars can be flattened by the use of cortisone injections to make them shrink. Depressed scars can be filled in with injections of dermal fillers. Therefore, for clients who have been scarred by outdated or incorrect hair transplant techniques, there are many effective hair transplant scar repair options to remove or hide those scars.

   
I have the old style plugs and I want to have them fixed. They’re really obvious and I was wondering if anything can be done to make them look more natural?

Hair Transplant Repair: Recycling Plug Type Hair Transplants

For those who received a hair transplant back in the days of obvious “plugs” there are hair transplant repair procedures that can change those unattractive tufts of hair into natural looking hair. While smaller grafts can hide the old fashioned plugs in some transplants, if your plugs are too close to the hairline you will need another procedure which removes and recycles the old plug transplants.

With this type of hair transplant repair, referred to as plug reduction and recycling, the old plugs are surgically removed and divided into smaller, more natural looking hair grafts. To remove the old plugs a small round punch, similar to the one used to insert the original plugs, is used to remove the old plugs. The round holes are then stitched closed.

The old plugs are dissected into grafts of one to four hair units and then transplanted around the plug holes that were stitched closed. If any additional donor hairs are needed the surgeon will remove them from the clients scalp, usually at the back of the head, and grafted into place. The result of this hair transplant repair is a much more natural looking hair transplant that mimics the growth pattern of natural hair.

   
I had a hair transplant years ago in the old plug style. I hate the way it looks and was wondering if there was a way to fix the transplant and make it more natural looking.

Hair Transplant Repair: Masking Outdated Plugs

Hair transplants have come a long way since its inception. In the beginning hair transplants consisted of large, unnatural looking “plugs” of hair not unlike what a Barbie dolls hair looks like. By today's standards these types of hair transplants are outdated and cosmetically unappealing. Thankfully, hair transplant repairs can fix these types of hair plugs and turn them into natural looking hair.

If the plugs are not too close to the hair line they can be camouflaged by placing smaller, follicle grafts around the old plugs. The client must have a sufficient supply of donor hair, called micrografts, which will surround the large plugs and blend them into a more natural looking hairline. This is the easiest of the hair transplant repair procedures and the client will likely not incur any costs above what a facility would normally charge for today's hair transplants.

While this type of procedure is the best case scenario, if the plugs are front and center in the client's hairline or the client doesn't have sufficient donor hair to mask the old plugs a more labor intensive and likely more expensive procedure will need to be performed. If you have the old plug-like hair transplant speak to a hair transplant facility and ask what options are available to you for hair transplant repair.

   
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