If you’re one of those who’ve gone through baldness or experienced thinning hair, you must have tried a slew of hair regrowth options. One of them is a hair transplant where an expert removes some hair from a region with more hair and adds it to the bald or thin area.
Although Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a cutting-edge technique, it’s essential to know everything about it. Including some side effects to expect. Now, let’s get you the nitty-gritty of FUE hair transplant side effects and more:
While you compare the FUE technique with older hair transplants, you’ll realize that FUE hair transplant is safer. However, if we take the latter, it’s more invasive as it involves surgical tools. First, a therapist will cut a part of your scalp that has a lot of hair follicles. After this, he closes the area by stitching it.
Now, let’s come to the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE); a therapist uses a needle size between 0.7mm and 1mm to extract follicles from the scalp where you have more hair. The preferred size depends on the length of your strands. So, other than that, here, there will be no cuts or stitching required. Most doctors and trusted medical centers consider FUE hair transplant side effects minor and safer than conventional methods.
Another advantage of FUE hair transplant is that there’s no scar left after the procedure, unlike the other techniques.
Since the FUE does not require surgery, it has a faster healing process, and the procedure is less painful and a little discomfort. Patients also sleep better after this treatment and can go back to their daily activities and everyday life quicker than ever.
Common FUE hair transplant side effects
Generally, an FUE hair transplant shouldn’t have any severe or long-term side effects. But if you skimp on these by using an inexperienced cheaper therapist, then you might face some long-term side effects. However, a patient should follow the before and aftercare precautions to reduce major FUE hair transplant side effects.
Pain: A patient may experience mild discomfort, but the doctor will provide some pain medication at the end of your FUE hair transplant treatment. One should ensure to take the right amount prescribed by the doctor even if the pain exceeds. But if symptoms persist, you can always consult your doctor.
Edema or swelling is a condition that occurs in the headline and under the eyes after an FUE hair transplant. It may happen if you don’t get enough rest as directed by your therapist-the injected fluids go towards the face area. But the good news is, the condition doesn’t last for long. It shouldn’t go for more than a week. Remember this FUE hair transplant side effect is avoidable if you rest as recommended by your doctor.
Bleeding: Whatever option you choose for hair transplant, FUT or FUE, there is a chance to get some pricks and cuts. And this leads to some blood loss. It’s critical to get your treatment done by a licensed and experienced therapist because they will minimize this ooze during the post-op session. A doctor may try to control this by pressing a gauze piece.
One more important thing to note is letting your doctor know if you’re taking any blood thinners or have any bleeding-related condition.
Itching: It’s normal to feel itchy in the donor area after an FUE hair procedure. And this usually lasts for just a few days. Your caregiver may advise you to use medical creams to apply in the donor area to reduce the itching.
Numbness: Before you start this procedure, your doctor will use anesthesia on the targeted region. Numbness occurs due to the remaining anesthesia effect. So, this may last in the donor area for two weeks and the implanted area from 1-3 months.
Redness: This is normal and usually appears in both donor and receptor areas, but it automatically disappears after ten or fewer days.
Cysts: It’s common for patients to have cysts after an FUE hair transplant. And this happens immediately after the treatment, but they disappear after a few weeks on their own. They are more like pimples in diameter sizes of 2 to 3mm, which may get treated effectively.
Pre-op and Post-op FUE hair transplant
- Avoid smoking one week before and after the FUE procedure. If you don’t abide by this rule, you may develop some small patches under your skin (hematoma), which appear in dark red.
- Sleep with your head elevated a night before starting the FUE treatment and several nights after the treatment.
- It would be for your good to avoid alcohol a few days before and after the hair transplant.
- Don’t go directly to the sun but use a cap whenever you go out one week after the treatment.
- Avoid heavy activities and any exercises such as heavy-lifting.
- After the treatment, don’t touch the donor or transplanted area to avoid infection.
Following the above will reduce the severe FUE hair transplant side effects.
Important things to check before you start FUE treatment
- Do due diligence by checking the hygiene of the clinic you plan to attend. Also, check if they have some of the modern facilities.
- Ensure the clinic adheres to the Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) regulations. According to this global association, only a licensed physician should administer the FUE procedure that involves extraction and incisions.
- Ensure the clinic follows some standardized protocols.
- Find out the physician’s experience who will perform the FUE procedure on you before you proceed.
Keep that in mind, you’re not alone in this if you’re experiencing some hair loss. According to a trusted source, 60 percent of men and 50 percent of women experience hair loss sometimes in their life.
In Conclusion, FUE hair transplant is one of the safest and most effective hair transplant methods. Using an expert and following the before and after the procedure from the doctor may lessen the FUE hair transplant side effects.