Introduction

Why do hair transplants occasionally fail? Although having a hair transplant is thrilling, nothing can be 100% guaranteed to go according to plan. Failed hair transplants aren’t talked about as much as successful ones, although they do occur periodically. This article will explain the reasons why hair transplants fail as well as the crucial steps you must take to guarantee the success of your procedure.

Why Would A Hair Transplant Fail?

According to an ISHRS study, the chances of a hair transplant failing are about 43%. The focus of this study, however, is on patient satisfaction and whether patients who get hair transplants receive the outcomes they anticipated. When transplanted hair does not grow, a hair transplant is considered to have failed.

Less than 2% of operations fail in professional clinics with trained doctors. On the other hand, unprofessional clinics may have a failure rate of up to 30%.

What Causes Hair Transplant Failure

Following are the top three reasons:

Untrained Doctors

Some hair transplant doctors in Turkey are more adept at performing certain types of hair transplants than others. For example, not all surgeons can successfully do afro hair transplants in Turkey. However, most surgeons are only proficient in Follicular Unit Extraction techniques and would probably struggle to complete transplants using cutting-edge methods like the DHI.

Bad Post-Surgery Aftercare

While a top-notch doctor can perform the necessary surgery and post-op care, the success of a hair transplant also heavily depends on proper post-surgery aftercare. Patients must follow the prescribed aftercare regimen to ensure the best outcomes. This includes properly dressing wounds, washing hair with care, and taking medication as advised. Neglecting these aftercare procedures can negatively impact the results of the hair transplant.

To prevent the transplanted hair from failing to grow as intended, hair transplant patients also have a role to play. You can learn the dos and don’ts of a post-surgery lifestyle from a reputable clinic.

Rejection Of A Hair Graft

Hair graft rejection is rare, however, it occurs in certain cases. Implanted hair that is rejected won’t grow. Rejection is typically caused by a condition known as LLP (Lichen Planopilaris), which inflames the top of the hair follicles.

What Level Of Baldness Prevents A Hair Transplant?

A Norwood scale 7 patient is typically not a candidate for a hair transplant. Everything depends on how many hairs are present in the donor location. The hair transplant procedure may not succeed if the donor site has insufficient hair follicles or if the hair follicles are too thin (the donor site is typically the nape).

Yet, some successful hair transplant procedures have involved entirely bald individuals. So, the success of the hair transplant process depends entirely on the expertise and experience of the surgeon.

How Many Hair Transplants Are Successful, On Average?

The percentage of transplanted hair that grows back serves as a gauge of a hair transplant’s success. When the percentage reaches 80% or greater, the transplant is considered successful. 95–98% of hair transplants are successful overall, particularly when done utilizing the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) method. The success percentage of top-tier hair transplant doctors is typically very close to 100%.

How Can I Ensure The Success Of My Hair Transplant?

Choose The Ideal Clinic

Since their reputation is on the line, every well-known hair transplant clinic makes sure to provide patients with the utmost care. Some clinics are also knowledgeable in cutting-edge methods that raise the success rate of hair transplants, such as the Sapphire DHI process. It is your responsibility to research your preferred surgeon/clinic to learn about their hair transplant procedures.

Make Sure You Qualify

Most patients with hair loss are unaware that they may not be eligible for hair transplants if specific conditions are met. You are ineligible for a hair transplant if you have insufficient donor hair or any blood-borne illnesses. Even if you manage to avoid these issues and receive a transplant, you can still experience negative outcomes. You should look for a different hair restoration technique in circumstances like these.

Follow The Post-Surgical Instructions

Most hair transplant failures are caused by the patient, not the surgeon. You’ll probably have a failed hair transplant if you don’t adhere to all the post-op instructions. Everything you do, including your food, hair care routine, and sleeping posture, can affect your results.

What Does A Failed Hair Transplant Appear Or Look Like?

A hair transplant that doesn’t produce the desired results is considered unsuccessful. Thus, if you wished to cover up your bald head, an unsuccessful transplant would either result in a scalp that is only partially covered with hair or hairs that never develop.

The level of failure, nevertheless, varies. While the hair transplant for some patients was successful, the outcome fell short of what they had hoped for. Others’ hair transplants were a complete failure.

More than 30% of the transplanted grafts must survive for a hair transplant to be considered entirely unsuccessful. In most of these situations, you’ll appear to have grass on your head.

Following a hair transplant in Turkey, patients must adhere to the fundamental guidelines listed below, especially in the initial few weeks following surgery:

  • Avoid Wearing hats or head warmers will cause friction on your head.
  • Avoid drinking at all costs.
  • Avoid any exercise or severe activity.
  • Limit your exposure to the sun.
  • Avoid taking showers that are too hot or cold.
  • Consume a healthy diet.
  • Follow your doctor’s specific instructions when washing your head.

What To Do If A Hair Transplant Fails?

If a hair transplant doesn’t work, you can choose to have another one, preferably with a different doctor who employs a more sophisticated hair transplant technique. If a second transplant is not an option for you, you can attempt other techniques for hair restoration, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy or low-level laser therapy.

You can choose wigs or micro-pigmentation to hide your hair loss condition if these procedures don’t work out.

The Conclusion

Hair transplants last a lifetime. Most transplants have a minimum 20-year lifespan and, under ideal circumstances, a lifetime. Unfortunately, the process of hair growth will cause the freshly transplanted hair to fall out roughly three weeks following surgery. Usually, three months following the transplant, new hair starts to grow and continues for the rest of your life.