Common Hair Transplant Complications

What Could Go Wrong?

20 Years of Expertise : Every Step Performed in Hong Kong By Doctors

Why Medical Oversight is Your Best Safeguard

Our safety protocols include:

  • Doctor-Performed: Every surgical step is done by our registered doctors.

  • Safe Anesthesia: We use only local anesthesia with light conscious sedation—never deep sedation or general anesthesia.

  • No Routine Antibiotics: We maintain sterility to avoid unnecessary medication.

  • Full Health Screening: We review your medical history and medications thoroughly before clearing you for surgery.

Sara’s Comment

Hair transplant is safe, but not risk-free.
A “No Regret” outcome isn’t about zero risk—it’s about honest education, rigorous safety protocols, and doctor-led care to minimize complications.

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Common, Temporary Side Effects

Most patients experience some mild, short-term reactions. These are normal and manageable.

1. Shock Loss

  • What it is: Temporary shedding of existing hair around new grafts, usually 4–8 weeks after surgery.

  • Our approach: We identify fragile hair during consultation and set realistic expectations. Severely miniaturized hairs may not return.

2. Folliculitis (Small Bumps)

  • What it is: Pimple-like bumps as new hairs grow. This is usually a sterile inflammatory reaction (your body responding to grafts), not an infection.

  • Our approach: Treated with gentle care and topical solutions. We avoid unnecessary antibiotics.

3. Temporary Numbness

  • What it is: Minor nerve irritation in the donor area causing temporary reduced sensation.

  • Our approach: Sensation typically returns fully within a few weeks with proper healing.

4. Facial Swelling

  • What it is: Mild forehead or temple swelling that usually resolves in 3–7 days.

  • Our approach: We use a refined technique (the Abbasi Formula) and a compression headband to reduce significant swelling to near zero.

Rare But Preventable Complications

These issues are often tied to surgical skill and planning. Prevention is key.

1. Donor Depletion (Over-Harvesting)

  • What it is: Irreversible thinning in the donor area from taking too many grafts.

  • Our prevention: We create a “lifetime graft budget” and use ultra-fine tools (≤0.8mm) to preserve your donor supply for the future.

2. Poor Graft Growth

  • What it is: Transplanted hairs don’t survive or grow well.

  • Our prevention: Doctor-led handling, minimal graft exposure time, and optimal storage solutions to maximize survival rates.

3. Visible Scarring

  • What it is: Noticeable scars in the donor area from poor technique.

  • Our prevention: Precise, evenly distributed extractions with tiny punches to keep scars virtually undetectable, even with short hair.

4. Infection

  • What it is: Bacterial infection in the treated area.

  • Our prevention: With strict sterile protocols in a medical facility, our rate is below 0.5%. We do not use routine antibiotics, but target them only if truly needed.

Key Takeaways

  • Common side effects like shock loss and folliculitis are usually temporary and part of normal healing.

  • Serious complications like donor depletion and poor growth are often preventable with skilled, ethical surgical planning.

  • The single biggest safety factor is having a doctor in charge. Technician-led procedures carry higher risks.

  • Transparency is crucial. A trustworthy clinic will discuss risks openly and detail their prevention strategies.

Choosing a “No Regret” clinic means choosing a team that prioritizes your long-term safety over a quick sale.


🔍 Have questions about risks or our safety protocols?

Discuss your concerns directly with our doctors during a consultation. Make use of our Pre-consultation Review for a transparent, personalized safety assessment.

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MEDICAL - DISCLAIMERS

Images & Information shown are for reference only

Information on this website is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personalized medical advice. It is not intended to promote our service or imply superiority over another.

Individual results in hair restoration vary significantly and no outcome can be guaranteed. The before-and-after images shown represent possible results — not promises. We recommend seeking independent medical advice to discuss your options … Read More

Pre-Consultation Review

Ensure You're a Good Candidate for FUE hair transplant

Why pay for a consultation if you’re not a candidate? Start with our free WhatsApp assessment — the first step in our ‘No-Regret’ protocol to see if hair transplant is a realistic solution for your hair loss.

Still Have Questions ?

If you want to get a personalized answer from our medical team, you can reach us using this form here. We will cantact you as soon as possible.

Our ‘No Regret’ Safety & Precision Protocol

At Dr. Bertram Hair Transplant, we only offer what aligns with natural results, minimal risk, and realistic expectations. Since 2009, our FUE protocols are in strict accordance with evidence-based guidelines from ISHRS and WFI. Every procedure is internally audited against ABHRS surgical benchmarks,

ISHRS

International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery is the leading global medical association that establishes international practice standards and patient safety protocols.

ABHRS

The American Board of Hair restoration Surgery represents the highest standard. To maintain rigorous certification requirements the physician must demonstrate surgical expertise.

WFI

Worls FUE InstituteI serves as the premier educational body focused exclusively on Follicular Unit Extraction methodology. The institute ensures consistent application of safe FUE.

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