COMPLICATIONS: SWELLING,  SHOCK FALLOUT & SCALP SENSITIVITY

Swelling, shock fallout and scalp sensitivity are three commonly reported complications associated with traditional hair transplants. With Follicle Transplantation, patients very rarely have to experience any of swelling, shock fallout or scalp sensitivity after the procedure. As a matter of fact, Gho Clinic prides itself on not having one single incidence of either shock fallout or scalp sensitivity among its patients since Follicle Transplantation was used 5 years ago. Many doctors have attempted to explain the scientific basis behind swelling and shock fallout but as of to date, nothing conclusive has been discovered. 

Gho Clinic suggests that a possible explanation why swelling, shock fallout and scalp sensitivity are not an issue with Follicle Transplantation patients is because the procedure is a much smaller surgery, only about 250 grafts per session, it involves a minimal amount of anesthetic and the donor hair extraction process is far less traumatic to the patient than traditional hair transplantation.

Gho Clinic is currently experimenting with a gradual reduction in the amount of anesthetic used in patients in an attempt to further minimize the possibility of complications.  

Shock Fallout

Shock fallout happens when a patient's hair loss is rapidly expedited immediately after the hair transplant procedure. It is not unusual and quite ironic that a patient may end up having less hair soon after a hair transplant procedure because of shock fallout. The reason for this complication is still very much a mystery and many attribute this to the trauma associated with the surgery and hence, the name "shock fallout". Some hair transplant doctors do not mention shock fallout to their patients during consultation but the truth is that it happens fairly often immediately after the hair transplant surgery especially among younger patients who still have a fair amount of hair. Most doctors when questioned about this complication will offer one of two explanations: 1) those are hairs destined to fall out anyway, the surgery simply expedites the inevitable, or 2) the fallout is temporary as a result of the trauma of the surgery and the hair will grow back. 

As of to date, there is not a single incidence of shock fallout among Gho Clinic's patients.

Swelling

Swelling is another complication associated with hair transplantation. Swelling does not happen to all patients and when it does, it usually occurs about 48-72 hours after the procedure. There is no pain associated with the swelling and it is not dangerous. It usually occurs on the forehead and may proceed to the areas surrounding the eyes. The condition will subside on its own in about 2-3 days. 

This complication is very rarely reported by Gho Clinic's patients. For those who are particularly concerned about the possibility of swelling after the procedure, the following precautionary measures are recommended although they are by no means 100% effective:

You may ask Gho Clinic to give you a Corticosteroid (Celestone injection in the upper arm) on surgery day. This is a preventive medication only and by is no means 100% successful in preventing the occurrence of swelling. Also, there are numerous side effects associated with Corticosteroids and since the swelling will subside spontaneously in a few days with or without medication, it is not Gho Clinic's normal policy to prescribe this medication to patients unless necessary.

Patients can start using ice on the forehead several times a day immediately after the procedure. It is important not to apply the ice directly on the recipient area as this may damage the grafts. 

It may also help if patients sleep with the head slightly elevated on several pillows for the first 3 - 4 days after the procedure.  

Scalp sensitivity

Traditional hair transplantation involves the removal of a hair and skin bearing strip from the back of the head. Sometimes the nerves on the patient's scalp are impacted in the process. Occasionally, patients may report a heightened sense of nerves sensitivity on the scalp soon after the surgery. For example, patients may sometimes feel that they can sense their nerves under the scalp while brushing their hair. A very radical example of heightened nerves sensitivity can be found in HairSite. At other times, the scalp sensitivity can actually be dimished In most cases, this heightened nerves sensitivity will diminish over time but very often it may take up to a year or longer before the patient's nerves return to normal. 

So far there is no incidence of heightened nerves sensitivity among Gho Clinic's patients. This again may have to do with the fact that the patient's skin was never cut through and removed during the procedure.