Whether patients have hair transplant regrets or not depends entirely on the individual and their experience. Many hair transplants go smoothly however, some don’t.
In 2022, the ISHRS reported that 6% of hair transplant repair cases were due to a black-market hair transplant failure [1]. This gives a glimpse into a small fraction of hair transplant surgery regrets, and how they could have been avoided.
This article will look at hair transplant patients and their regrets, and how you can avoid having your own surgical hair restoration regrets.
When looking at testimonials and individual experiences, you’ll find that the majority of patients don’t regret their hair transplants. They have opted for the surgical procedure for a reason, with 37% of patients choosing transplant surgery for social and/or dating reasons [1]. If successful, hair transplants usually improve the patient’s quality of life.
Thousands of Wimpole Clinic hair transplant patients have been extremely satisfied with their results, with football star Rob Holding among them. Rob Holding had a hair transplant at the Wimpole Clinic due to male pattern baldness which was affecting his confidence, and his testimonial shows his satisfaction:
“I struggled so much with my hair and self-confidence. Wimpole Clinic treated me so well and I am so happy with the results, I could not recommend them enough.”
Unfortunately, not all hair transplants lead to successful results. Some people may have previously had a bad experience due to negligent clinics or black market procedures.
One Wimpole Clinic patient shared their unfortunate hair transplant encounter with a different clinic:
‘I had a relatively bad experience at another hair transplant clinic last year but after talking to Wimpole I was sure that I wanted to go ahead with another procedure. They made me feel extremely comfortable all the way through and after the initial injections, I felt no pain at all.”
There are many reasons why someone may regret having a hair transplant. However, these reasons are often due to a lack of knowledge beforehand. A good hair transplant surgeon will ensure that you have all the necessary information prior to your hair transplant procedure.
Below is a list of the most common hair transplant regrets.
Finding a legitimate, quality-controlled clinic rests entirely in your hands, which is why it is so important to do your research on how to spot a shady clinic. There are many clinics out there who are looking to offer you a quick deal which will inevitably lead to poor results as well as a large hole in your wallet.
Many people who have undergone a hair transplant regret choosing a clinic without doing their research first. They may end up having a bad experience such as excessive hair transplant scarring, a hair transplant infection, or graft overharvesting.
Hair transplant cost is an indicator of quality. Though it can be tempting to choose the clinic that is offering you an extremely low price as well as quick results, trust your instincts. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Before opting for any restorative surgery you should do your research to ensure you are making the right choice for you.
Rushing into a hair transplant could end with physical, emotional, and financial unhappiness. Some people regret their lack of research regarding clinics and FUE vs FUT procedures, which can lead to choosing the wrong procedure or overpaying for your surgery.
You should ensure that your research focuses on whether you would actually benefit from a hair transplant and if there are any other suitable options to try first, such as Minoxidil or Finasteride, whilst also researching reputable clinics to avoid hair transplant complications.
If your surgery wasn’t performed professionally, or you have suffered problems, seek expert advice on what to do if your hair transplant goes wrong.
When people haven’t done their research or they don’t use a competent surgeon, they may go into the procedure with a number of false expectations.
A common misconception is that you will see immediate growth. This isn’t true. The hair transplant recovery timeline shows that hair takes a number of months to grow after a transplant, with 60% of new hair growth appearing at around 6-9 months [2].
After the transplant, those who don’t understand the hair growth cycle may be disappointed when they don’t have a full head of hair immediately. With research, they would have found that the only transplant to get immediate (though less natural-looking) results is an artificial hair transplant.
Another misconception is that you will have thick, dense new hair even though you didn’t before. A hair transplant can only be performed by using hair from your body, so wherever the donor site is on your body will determine the density of the transplanted hair onto your head. Because of this, people may be disappointed when they come out of surgery and find that their hair is still thin.
One thing that many people wish they’d known before opting for a hair transplant is that hair transplant aftercare is imperative to its success. You must practise proper hygiene and maintenance to avoid infections and permanent scarring down the line.
Those who don’t properly care for their hair transplant may regret the poor results and are more likely to need a second hair transplant at some point.
With 25% of males experiencing androgenetic alopecia in their early twenties, it can be extremely tempting to correct any hair loss as quickly as possible to avoid embarrassment and low self-esteem. However, alternative hair loss treatments are available, such as medicated solutions and laser therapy for hair loss. A hair transplant should be a last resort, especially for patients younger than 30 [3].
There’s no way to predict further hair loss which may occur in the future. Undergoing a hair transplant too soon may not be necessary if you can manage hair loss with other solutions like Minoxidil and Finasteride.
To avoid hair transplant regrets, you should:
You should also look at your budget. Cost is a key factor in a quality hair transplant, so you must decide whether this is an affordable procedure. Opting for a cheap hair transplant to save money will almost always end badly. So it’s often better to choose a good value hair transplant on finance rather than trying to cut corners.
Remember, a good hair transplant isn’t cheap, and a cheap hair transplant isn’t good.
Patients who opt for reputable clinics are likely to have more successful, long-term results.
If you’ve had a hair transplant that didn’t go as planned, we can help. Our expert team of trichologists and hair transplant surgeons is on hand to fix your bad hair transplant or answer any questions or concerns you may have about a future procedure.
Check out our list of questions to ask before your hair transplant surgery to help you get the best out of your free consultation.
Our treatments include:
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