Dangers of Unskilled Hair Implants – Warn by Experts

Hair loss can be a distressing experience for both men and women, and many individuals seek solutions to restore their hair and regain their confidence. One popular option is hair implants, a surgical procedure that involves transplanting hair follicles from one part of the body to another. While hair implants can provide positive results when performed by skilled professionals, there are significant dangers associated with unskilled practitioners. In this article, we will explore the potential risks and complications of unskilled hair implants as warned by experts in the field.

Overview

Medical experts say that hair transplantation is usually a safe surgical procedure with the least possibility of complications. 

However, not only hair transplant procedures, but other surgical procedures also require a thorough medical investigation of the patient as well as the involvement of experienced surgeons to assure the success rate of surgeries. 

What if unskilled and non-experienced surgeons perform hair transplantation surgeries? 

This article elaborates on the fatal incident of hair transplantation, the significance of undergoing a hair implant from a skilled surgeon, the safety aspect, and the success rate with the key takeaway by Dr. Sandeep Bhasin.

A shocking fatal incident of hair transplant

Here’s a fatal incident of hair transplantation reported in Patna, India.

Manoranjan Paswan, a constable of Bihar Military Police (BMP) died of a cardiac arrest, just a day after he underwent a hair transplant at a private clinic called ‘Enhance’ on Boring Canal Road. Both doctors and staff members fled after the incident.

After undergoing the procedure, Paswan complained about itchy skin. By that time his health deteriorated. Although Paswan was admitted to the ICU, he died within an hour.

Doctors reported that he underwent cardiac arrest due to the reaction to medicines prescribed for the hair transplant procedure.

What do experts say?

Dr. VP Choudhary, a plastic surgeon and the principal of Patna Medical College, said, “Hair transplant does not involve any risk, provided it is done by a team including a plastic surgeon, dermatologist, and anesthetics in proper operation theatres.”

Dr. Pankaj Tiwari, the PMCH’s dermatology department, said, “It first needs a pre-surgical workup and proper dose of the anesthetic agents as it could take long hours for completion of the process. Surgical interventions by unskilled and unqualified persons may put the life of the patient at high risk.”

Dr. S K Jha, the head of plastic surgery at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, commented that the underdose or overdose of anesthetic agents or inappropriate post-surgical care could lead to some complications. He further added, “It is unfortunate that some unskilled people with no medical qualification have started performing hair transplants as part of the cosmetic treatment.” 

Short Summary:

Whatever it might be, hair implants done by unskilled people can be really dangerous. That’s what our cosmetologist Dr. Sandeep Bhasin comments.

Is there any risk in hair transplant?

As mentioned already, risks are involved in all surgical procedures including hair transplants as well. Hair transplantation is simple and safe. Still, you should get it done by an experienced surgeon only. 

Both you and your surgeon should be on the same page while discussing realistic expectations for this procedure.

Would you like to undergo this procedure with utmost satisfaction and without any complications? Contact Care Well Medical Center right away.

Apart from the risk of inflammation and infection of the hair follicles, you may experience the following side effects such as:

• Crust formation
• Itchiness
• Appearance of scars
• Swelling of the scalp
• Tingling sensation
• Bruises
• Bleeding
• Shock loss where the transplanted hair falls completely and regrow

However, it takes nearly 3 weeks to recover completely. 

People who come to me doubt whether hair transplantation causes brain damage. The quick answer to this question is no. 

Hair transplantation targets only the portion of the scalp that involves only the upper skin layer and connective tissue. However, this procedure will never reach the brain at any cost.

Short Summary:

Thus, undergoing hair transplantation from a highly skilled and experienced cosmetic surgeon could successfully reduce the risk of the above-listed complications for sure.

Is hair transplant safe and successful?

Yes, Hair transplantation is both safe and successful. If you are also thinking of getting a hair transplant in India, then you must be absolutely sure. There are many such centers in India where you can take this treatment without any hesitation. Where hair transplant is very safe and successful. You just have to keep some of the following things in mind. for example :

Safety aspect

A 2018 article published in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery reported that hair transplantation surgery is safe with relatively very few complications. 

Since it’s a cosmetic procedure, the complications might affect both the psychological and social aspects of the patient. 

Hence, surgeons should be completely aware of the possible side effects of hair transplantation and should remain prepared with the management steps.

Surgeons should recommend hair transplantation with the aim to eliminate the complication rate. Remember that most of the complications could be avoided easily and minimized by taking proper patient care. For that, it is mandatory to have an open discussion with the patient before surgery and have realistic expectations about the outcomes in order to avoid patient dissatisfaction.

Success rate

Hair transplantation is not as complicated as other surgical procedures. However, there are various parameters used to determine the success rate of this procedure.

If you want to know the success formula of hair transplantation, it’s a cumulative effort that includes the skills and experience of the surgeon, the technology used, the clinic/hospital infrastructure, the thickness of the donor’s hair, and the efforts of patients after undergoing hair transplantation like following post-operational instructions properly without fail.

It is not possible to measure the success rate of hair transplants quantitatively. Instead, the success rate is ascertained by the satisfaction score.

By approaching experienced and reputed surgeons, they can discuss the type of procedure, and the possibility of risks, and educate the patient in setting up realistic expectations accordingly during the consultation.

Hence, patients can easily predict how their hair will look after transplantation, thereby achieving a high satisfaction rate.

Usually, the success rate of FUT comes between 95 to 100 percent in India. In the case of a FUE hair transplant, the success rate would be 100 percent if the right quantity of follicular units is transplanted properly to achieve enough coverage.

Do you wonder when surgeons get complaints? It is mostly from patients who become unsatisfied as they expect a higher density of hair after undergoing hair transplantation. The fact is they may not have dense hair in the donor region due to which there was a reduction in the number of grafts.

Short Summary:

However, in our Care Well Medical Centre, we have a success rate of 100 percent for both hair transplantation procedures as we follow the above success formula. Even our patients described their hair restoration as a “life change experience” with utmost satisfaction.

Who should not get a hair transplant?

Medical experts recommend a hair transplantation procedure to deliver a natural look to your hair. However, not everyone could be the right candidate for this procedure. So, read on to figure out whether hair transplantation works for you.

• No hair since birth 

In the hair transplantation procedure, hair follicles are transferred from one part to another. Hence, having adequate hair since birth is mandatory.

• Age below 25 years

Since 25 is the recommended minimum age by medical surgeons for the hair loss cycle to get stabilized, you should wait till 25 to get the enhanced long-term outcomes.

• Having serious health complications

People having chronic health conditions (diabetes, heart disease, liver failure, or kidney failure), blood-borne diseases (HIV and hepatitis C), and clotting disorder (Hemophilia) may not be eligible to undergo hair transplantation. So, you should consult your surgeon to discuss the risks and precautions to be taken.

• People who are sensitive to anesthesia

Either general or local anesthesia is required for hair transplantation surgery. Hence, people having adverse reactions to anesthesia are not eligible.

Short Summary:

So, what should you do? Consult the highly skilled surgeon who can diagnose your hair and health condition, and discuss the possibilities of risks and precautions to be taken.

Is hair transplant in India safe?

Yes. Having hair transplantation in India is considered to be safe due to the following reasons:

• Availability of highly qualified and well-experienced hair transplant surgeons to ascertain the cause of hair loss and recommend the right treatment
• Surgeons work with accredited medical staff in the hospital to offer high international standards of hair care for their patients
• A reputed hair transplant surgeon will be certified with ISAPS and ISHRS
• Hospitals, where hair transplantation procedure is performed, are accredited with JCI and NABH to ensure a high standard of care
• World-class infrastructure with the latest medical devices available in hospitals
• Well-trained and experienced nursing staff in hospitals take proper care of patients
• The qualifications of hair transplant surgeons in India can be:
  • MCh – Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
  • MCh – Plastic Surgery
  • DNB – Plastic Surgery
  • MCh – Burns & Plastic Surgery
  • MDS – Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
  • FCPS – Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy
  • DNB – Dermatology & Venereology
  • MD – Skin, VD, Leprosy, STD, or Dermatology
  • MD – Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy
  • DDVL or DVD
  • Master in Clinical Dermatology
  • MS in Dermatology Skills and Treatment (University of Hertfordshire)
  • MSc – Clinical Dermatology
  • Diploma in Dermatology
• The facilities offered by the hospitals to undergo hair transplantation procedures include:
  • State-of-the-art infrastructure
  • Trained and well-experienced nursing staff
  • Comprehensive hair health and health examination
  • Advanced imaging technology
  • Varied treatments for hair thinning and hair loss
  • Food and accommodation for both the patient and family
  • Online payment and foreign exchange facility
  • Arrangement of transport mode

As all the above-listed services are offered at an affordable rate in India, many people from India and foreign countries consider India to be a safe destination to undergo hair transplantation even if it is not medically reimbursed.

What is the success rate of hair transplants in India?

In India, nearly 98 percent of patients are fully satisfied with hair transplantation procedures whereas 10-80% of the implanted hair regrows completely within 4 months.

That’s why even foreign patients visit India to undergo hair transplantation. Furthermore, the surgeons in India offer the best care to their patients at an affordable cost while they are well equipped with the latest devices.

What age is good to get a hair transplant?

According to hair transplantation experts, the right age to undergo a hair transplant will be 25+ years. Even people around 40+ years can also be considered better candidates for hair implantation.

However, people in their early 20s may not be the right candidates as it is not possible to figure out their hair loss pattern.

Usually, surgeons consider the hair loss pattern, type of hair loss, size of the bald portion, and the quality as well as quantity of donor’s hair to recommend the right hair restoration method.

Regardless of age, surgeons should mainly diagnose the cause of the hair loss before recommending hair transplantation.

Moreover, there is no minimum eligible age for undergoing a hair restoration method. Still, surgeons suggest 25 years because that’s the age where hair loss starts getting stabilized.

Short Summary:

Till then, doctors advise you to take a nutritious diet and prescribe medications to fix the hair loss problem.

Advice by Dr. Sandeep Bhasin

Dr. Sandeep Bhasin, the reputed cosmetic surgeon and the founder of Care Well Medical Centre, said, “Hair transplantation performed by an unskilled and non-experienced surgeon could prove fatal. So, make sure to undergo hair transplantation only from a highly skilled and experienced hair transplant surgeon belonging to a reputed clinic/hospital. Don’t take the risk with your hair and become another victim like Manoranjan Paswan.”

Key Takeaway

So, what’s the upshot? Ultimately, the 100 percent success rate of hair transplants in India lies in the hands of a highly skilled and experienced cosmetic surgeon from a reputed clinic who can meet your expectations.

In case, would you like to undergo hair transplantation from a reputed surgeon in Delhi at an affordable cost? 

Seek consultation with our highly skilled and experienced cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Sandeep Bhasin from Care Well Medical Centre in New Delhi.

Short Summary:

After discussing your expectations and examining your hair in detail, Dr. Sandeep will help you figure out if a hair transplantation procedure can achieve the hair you desire. Mind you, don’t compromise on quality!

References:

1. Hair Implant Done By Unskilled People Can Be Really Dangerous – Expert Say, Dr. Sandeep Bhasin (Link)
2. India: Military policeman dies after hair transplant in Patna (Link)
3. Kerure AS, Patwardhan N. Complications in Hair Transplantation. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2018; 11(4):182-189. doi:10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_125_18 (Link)