A hair transplant can restore thick, healthy hair growth across your scalp, giving you a confidence boost and a more youthful appearance. However, like all surgery, it comes with some level of risk.
Hair transplantation has a low complication rate compared to other types of aesthetic surgery [1], and research suggests adverse events occur in just 4.7% of people who receive a hair transplant [2].
However, serious problems are possible, and you need to be fully informed of the hair transplant risks to decide whether this procedure is right for you. In this article, we’ll explore:
A hair transplant involves transferring healthy hair follicles from one part of the scalp to an area of hair thinning or balding. When performed by an experienced surgeon, hair transplant success rates tend to be very high. For example, the Wimpole Clinic’s success rate is between 97% and 100%.
Hair transplantation is often used to treat conditions including:
Hair loss can affect your confidence, self-esteem and quality of life. Research suggests that balding men are viewed as less desirable in a personal, physical and social sense [8]. They may experience a better quality of life if their hair loss is treated effectively [8].
Hair transplants are permanent, providing natural-looking hair growth that lasts a lifetime. A hair transplant can increase hair density and coverage in areas affected by hair loss, making you look younger and significantly improving your appearance.
Recovery from a hair transplant tends to be minimal and uncomplicated, with most people able to return to their social life and work within a few days. However, you may need more downtime after a hair transplant into scar tissue. Grafts into scar tissue often have lower survival rates [5], so giving yourself extra healing time can help you achieve the best outcomes.
All surgery comes with some risk, and a hair transplant is no different. Your surgeon should discuss these with you before agreeing to the procedure. Here are some of the possible risks of hair transplantation.
While mild bleeding is to be expected during and after surgery, there is a small risk of severe bleeding. [13] It is more likely to occur during an FUT transplant due to the wider cut created in this procedure [13].
Excessive bleeding is usually prevented with surgical stitches (in the case of FUT). FUE patients don’t need stitches, but you may still be at risk of excessive bleeding if:
It’s really important to tell your surgeon about any pre-existing medical conditions so they can determine if you’re at risk of excessive bleeding and put measures in place to manage this.
Hair transplant infections are rare but possible. Serious infections occur in less than 1% of people who receive a hair transplant and are usually associated with poor hygiene [14]. If you have an infection, you’ll likely experience fever, swelling, pus, pain, or spreading redness [15]. in the affected area several days post-surgery.
If hair transplant infection is left untreated, you may develop sepsis or necrosis. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that requires urgent medical attention. Necrosis happens when infection causes tissue death. Your skin may turn black and start to blister. Necrosis requires urgent medical attention.
Scalp scarring after FUT hair transplant
Image source: https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/html/10.1055/s-0041-1739255
The images above show unacceptably large scars following FUT hair transplant. While a thin, subtle scar is to be expected with this type of hair transplant, large scars like these are considered a risk associated with poor surgical technique.
Hair transplant scars tend to occur for one of the following reasons [13]:
If you’re considering FUT, it’s important to discuss the potential for scarring with your surgeon. FUE leaves only small scars that are virtually invisible, so this may be a better option if you’re worried about scarring.
Keloid scars are also possible after hair transplant surgery. If you’ve had keloid scars in the past, mention this to your clinician.
Drugs used during a hair transplant, including antibiotics, neuromuscular blocking agents, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and povidone-iodine, carry a risk of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction [13]. This can cause a rash, difficulty breathing, and high blood pressure [13].
In all reputable UK clinics, staff carry EpiPens to treat anaphylaxis and are trained to use them. However, there have been hair transplant deaths outside the UK due to allergic reactions. That’s why it’s extremely important to check the credentials of your chosen clinic, especially if you’re getting a hair transplant abroad.
Any injury to nerves during strip harvesting or an FUE punch that penetrates too deeply can cause neurological problems [13]. Nerve damage can cause pain, hypersensitivity, and a burning scalp, and a completely severed nerve can cause numbness.
Minor nerve damage usually resolves within 6-8 weeks, but more severe neurological problems require medical assessment [13]. Serious nerve damage may be permanent, though this is extremely rare at reputable clinics.
Donor area hair loss after hair transplant
Image source: https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/html/10.1055/s-0041-1739255#N109CF
Donor hair loss is rare compared to the common shock hair loss that can occur in the recipient area [13]. If it happens, it’s normally as a result of trauma to the donor area.
Significant accidental vascular damage, smoking, diabetes, and excessive tension on the stitches increase the risk of donor hair loss [13]. Hair regrowth can be accelerated with Minoxidil after this type of hair loss [13].
Wound dehiscence (the opening of a surgical incision) can occur after a hair transplant, but it is not common [13].
If your wound isn’t healing well within a few days, it’s important to get a checkup at the clinic. Lack of wound healing may be due to reduced blood supply, infection, smoking, tension on the wound, or suture failure. Your doctor will find out what’s preventing the wound(s) from healing and address this.
The process of reducing risks begins long before surgery. Effective pre-operative assessment and care can make all the difference, so opt for a surgeon who puts you at ease from your first appointment. Of course, careful attention during surgery and well-planned post-operative care are equally important.
There’s a current trend of heading to countries such as Turkey for cut-rate hair restoration. However, you need to consider whether the risks of a hair transplant in Turkey are worth it, considering the country has a notoriously poor safety record for cosmetic surgery [16].
During surgery, a skilled surgeon will transplant hair follicles in a natural-looking pattern, maintain a sterile environment, and select the right level of anaesthesia to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure. Failure to do any of these correctly could result in unnatural-looking hair growth, hair transplant regrets, discomfort during the procedure, or an increased risk of infection.
Choose a reputable hair transplant clinic in the UK for peace of mind and significantly reduced risks. Our clinic locations are easy to reach and offer highly experienced surgeons with success rates close to 100%.
When travelling to Turkey for cosmetic surgery, you often meet your surgeon for the first time immediately before the procedure [16]. Unfortunately, this does not allow for proper screening and assessment, raising red flags for potential risks at Turkish clinics.
A hair transplant is not the best option for everyone. A good clinic will provide you with all the necessary information without any pressure to book surgery. Instead, you will be assessed individually to see if you are a good candidate for a hair transplant.
You will often have an initial appointment with a trichologist, an expert in hair loss who can perform diagnostic trichology tests and recommend the best treatment plan for you. These tests may include blood tests for hair loss and a hair pull test.
These hair doctors take a comprehensive account of your symptoms and medical history. They help you understand the potential risks and benefits of a hair transplant and can also answer any questions during your hair loss consultation.
At Wimpole Clinic, your first hair transplant consultation and diagnosis are offered for free. You will also have the opportunity to speak to the surgical team and learn more about the procedure and your surgeon’s experience.
It’s important to follow your surgeon’s instructions carefully after surgery. This may include advice on caring for your scalp, washing your hair after a hair transplant, taking medications to manage soreness or prevent infection, and avoiding activities such as smoking that may impact hair transplant results.
You should also have regular follow-up appointments with your surgeon to monitor your recovery and address any concerns or issues. These appointments allow your surgeon to make sure everything is healing as it should.
There are two main types of hair transplant: follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE). Here, we’ll explain the difference between them and the risks that may be more likely with each technique.
FUT (the strip method) involves surgically removing a strip of tissue from an area of the scalp with plenty of healthy hair follicles. This is usually the back or sides of the head.
The strip is then dissected into individual follicular units [9] (naturally occurring groups of 1-4 hairs [10]) to be transplanted. These are inserted individually into the balding area to create a natural-looking hair transplant that mimics healthy growth.
FUT is associated with a higher risk of scarring. In the unlikely event that your stitches fail, you may also experience excessive bleeding and wound non-healing. There is also more significant trauma to the donor area than with FUE, possibly increasing the chances of donor area hair loss.
FUE involves harvesting individual follicular units directly from a scalp donor area. This leaves tiny, circular scars that are less noticeable than the strip scar left by FUT, and recovery tends to be less painful [11] However, it is generally more time-consuming [11].
The follicular units are then transplanted to the donor area of the scalp in the same way as in FUT. This process can be performed manually by a surgeon or by a robotic system [12].
FUE is less invasive than FUT, so it generally carries fewer hair transplant risks. But you may still be at risk of infection, allergic reaction, nerve damage, and hair loss in the donor area, particularly if your surgeon is less skilled or experienced.
With an experienced surgeon, you can get a hair transplant without anyone knowing and achieve natural-looking results. If you’re interested in hair restoration surgery but are concerned about the risks, consider Wimpole Clinic.
As the UK’s leading hair transplant clinic with over 20,000 successful procedures, you’ll be in safe hands with some of the best hair transplant surgeons in the UK. To see what our highly skilled surgeons can do, check out our hair transplant before and after gallery.
Still concerned about the risks of hair transplant surgery? Learn more in these frequently asked questions.
Not if you choose a good clinic with a record of great results and clinical excellence. The risks are higher at low quality clinics, especially overseas where safety standards are less strictly enforced. At reputable clinics, hair transplant surgery has a low rate of complications.
Yes, it is possible for a hair transplant to go wrong. This is more likely if you don’t take good care of your grafts post-surgery.
If you have severe health concerns — such as uncontrolled bleeding, difficulty breathing, or throat swelling — you must seek emergency medical attention.
For other problems (including fever, pain, hair loss, or numbness), speak to your clinic in the first instance. Find out more about the hair transplant healing process.
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