When hair transplants go WRONG

When it comes to any sort of beauty or aesthetic treatment, it can be tempting to try and save a few extra dollars. You may be concerned whether the cost of seeing a professional is truly worth it. Well, Sam Blanchard, a health reporter for MailOnline has revealed the truth. The answer to the question is, YES! You should always to choose to see a professional, certified doctor for any surgical hair restoration. Here’s why.

On March 20, 2019, the website DailyMail.com published an article about the dangers of cutting corners when it comes to hair transplants. You can read the full article here, but we’ve outlined some of the highlights below.

The article begins with a warning from The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, stating,

• “People are being left with irreparable damage, scars and empty wallets
• Transplants cost around £7,000 in the UK but as little as £620 in Turkey
• But regulation is poor abroad and patients risk treatment by unqualified people”

The article goes on to say that, “People travelling abroad for hair transplants may end up having the procedures done by ‘taxi drivers and Syrian refugees with no training’.

The lure of lower prices is leading people to pay for poor quality, botched transplants which leave them scarred and bloody.”

The original article includes more images and videos, but as you can see, the results of such poor quality transplants are quite gruesome.

The article continues, “’The marketing tactics are deceptive as it appears like a team of professional doctors with excellent testimonials,’ said Dr. Ricardo Meija, chair of the ISHRS’s unlicensed practice of medicine committee.

‘However, the reality is your surgery may be done by someone with no medical training.

‘The demand for hair transplants is so high, reports are that taxi cab drivers and Syrian refugees do the surgery in some overseas countries.’

The ISHRS said there are growing numbers of people being left scarred by transplants gone wrong.”

Blanchard shares some statistics, indicating that hair transplants are on the rise with 635,000 operations performed worldwide in 2017. Many celebrities have even been known to have operations including Wayne Rooney, X Factor judge Louis Walsh, chef Gordon Ramsay, and actor James Nesbitt.

The article identifies Mexico, Turkey, India and Sweden as some of the most popular destinations for transplant travellers.

“While regulation is strict in the UK and clinics must register with the NHS and care home watchdog, the Care Quality Commission, it may be more lax overseas.

Last week it was reported a man at a private clinic in Mumbai, India had died after a 12-hour hair transplant operation.

The 43-year-old had paid 500,000 rupees (£5,400) for the hair transplant and is believed to have died of an allergic reaction, though this hasn’t been confirmed.  

Speaking of less serious but still concerning complications, Dr. Meija added: ‘Patients are the ones that suffer when they realize too late who carried out their surgery.

‘[They] end up with botched complications and scars, and hairlines that are not normal and are disfiguring.’

The US-based ISHRS has launched a ‘Black Market Awareness’ campaign to try and stop these rogue operators, many of whom are in Turkey.”

In short, botched hair transplant procedures are both dangerous and damaging. It’s recommended that individuals who are considering surgical hair restoration only visit certified and licensed establishments.

Prime Hair Clinic is home to two experienced doctors, capable of performing skilled and successful transplant surgeries. Book an appointment with Prime today. Call us at (403) 259-6798.