With high success rates and few serious complications, hair transplants are one of the safest types of cosmetic surgery [1-2]. As well as being very safe, they create natural-looking hairlines that are indistinguishable from the rest of your hair. At the Wimpole Clinic, our hair transplant success rate is 97-100%.
But there are certain caveats. Hair restoration surgery is usually only safe if it is performed by a qualified, experienced hair transplant surgeon in a surgically clean environment. While many clinics appear to be the real deal, more than a few patients have been duped by referral websites and clever marketing.
So how can you tell if your hair transplant will be a safe, successful procedure? In this article, you’ll find out:
While hair transplants are usually safe, they’re not suitable for everyone. This includes patients who have [3]:
For some of these patients, hair transplants are simply ineffective. Unfortunately for other individuals, hair transplant surgery can be unsafe. Your consultant should ask about your medical history and examine your hair and scalp during the consultation to determine whether you’re a good candidate for surgery.
All surgical procedures come with risks. When it comes to cosmetic procedures like Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), it’s up to the patient (and, to some extent, the hair transplant surgeon) to decide if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Certain risks won’t compromise the safety of your hair transplant but they will have an adverse effect on your results. Others, however, have the potential to develop into more serious conditions.
Untreated infections can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening condition. Large or unsightly scars can impact your confidence and self-esteem. So it’s essential to do everything you can to avoid these risks and prevent your hair transplant going wrong.
Fortunately, most hair transplant complications are avoidable with the right technique and care [2]. So how can you make sure your hair transplant is safe?
This is the number one way to ensure a safe hair transplant. Working with a qualified surgeon who has an excellent track record of successful hair transplants is far safer than risking it with an unknown or underqualified physician.
This also extends to your clinic. Avoid black market hair transplant clinics, as they rarely meet the safety standards required by law. By choosing a hair transplant clinic on Harley Street, you can be sure you’re working with some of the best consultants and technicians in the UK.
While hair transplants in Turkey and other countries abroad are often cheaper than those in the UK, this can be a false economy. Cheap hair transplantation usually means corners are being cut — sometimes in safety standards and technical skill. So you may ultimately pay more to get your hair transplant fixed.
Getting a hair transplant in your home country is also a good idea in case of complications. It’s much easier to follow-up with a local clinic than if you opt for a hair transplant abroad.
More than half of all ISHRS members agree that it’s more effective to have an in-person consultation than a video call [4]. At an in-person consultation, you can have a full hair and scalp exam to determine why your hair is falling out. This helps your consultant give you an accurate graft quote and tailored treatment plan.
Take all your hair transplant medication as prescribed and take special care of your new grafts, especially in the days immediately after surgery. You should also schedule some downtime after your hair transplant to protect your grafts.
Learn more about hair transplant recovery:
In a worldwide survey, more than half of ISHRS members report black market hair transplant clinics operating in their city [4]. A further 20.5% are unsure if there are local black market clinics. So they’re not as rare as you might think.
Black market clinics are more likely to result in severe complications (including fatalities, in extremely rare cases. Learn more about the hair transplant death rate).
Fortunately, there are a few telltale signs of black market hair transplant clinics:
Learn more about finding a safe hair transplant clinic at the right price in our UK hair transplant cost analysis.
At the Wimpole Clinic, patient safety is our top priority. Here’s how we maintain the highest safety standards to ensure you have a safe, successful hair transplant:
If you want to learn more about getting a hair transplant, book a free consultation at the Wimpole Clinic.
Our team can answer any questions you have, help you decide which procedure is most suitable for you, and find out if you’re eligible for a hair transplant. If you are unsure about what to ask the hair loss specialist, take a look at our list of questions you really want to ask about hair transplants.
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