Getting a hair transplant is one common option when dealing with bald spots on your head. | Photo Credit: Thinkstock

Telangana (Hyderabad): Getting a hair transplant is one common option when dealing with bald spots on your head, especially if other treatments have not helped. Hair transplant involves taking hair and scalp from an area of the head with an abundance of hair and transplanting it to an area with thinning hair or baldness. While the technique may be a permanent treatment for hair loss, producing a natural dense look on the forehead and on the top of the head, there are a number of things people should consider before getting a hair transplant, including the risks associated with the procedure. In a case of medical negligence, a man in Hyderabad, who is a diabetic, lost his vision after getting a botched hair transplant surgery at a clinic in Telangana.

Tariq Khusrou received the transplant in July 2016 after fixing an appointment with the clinic of the accused, Dr Khan. The doctor then operated on the victim and transplanted 2700 strands of hair within 6 hours. The entire surgery was priced at Rs 1,25,000. Read: Struggling with baldness? 7 ways to reduce hair loss

But the victim claimed to have a high fever and his head got swollen the very next day after the surgery. Later, he was infected with gas gangrene that had put his life at risk. He had to be moved to an Intensive Care Unit, where he was kept under observation for 26 days supported by an artificial ventilator. He further had to take packs of antibiotics and had to go for a corrective surgery costing him Rs 40 lakh. There are still certain eye surgeries required to be done to prevent any further damage.

“I have filed a case on the doctor but till now no action has been taken upon him. He even approached the state medical council for justice who have cancelled the doctor's license for two years,” the victim told ANI.

Ravi Shankar, state secretary of Telangana Medical Council, condemned the incident and ensured stringent against the accused.

“It is very cruel that a doctor has done a practice without having a valid certificate and knowledge on it. It is the doctor's responsibility to treat the patient well and should be aware of what he is doing. In this case, the doctor is just an MBBS certificate holder but is doing hair transplantation which can also be a crime,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.

Also Read: Seven home remedies to stop hair fall and regrow your tresses

“The patient was a diabetic but still the doctor didn't take proper measures. First of all, he cannot perform hair transplantations being an MBBS doctor. Our medical association will take all the legal actions by observing the facts. We already cancelled his license but still, he is continuing the practice which is unacceptable, so we are going to take severe action on this,” he added.

What are the potential side effects of hair transplant surgery?

Truth is, any kind of surgical procedure has associated risks. And here are some potential side effects or complications of hair transplantation:

Numbness

Although rarely troublesome or long-lasting, numbness is inevitable after the surgery, particularly in the donor area. It can last from 3 to 18 weeks. If the numbness does not disappear after 18 weeks, you must consult your doctor. The numbness can be a temporary condition, but in some cases, it can be permanent.

Bleeding

Persistent bleeding is a possible side effect of hair transplantation procedure and may occur in about one in a few hundred cases, requiring additional stitching, although rare. However, in some cases, bleeding is normal and may be stopped with simple pressure.

Scarring

This is another possible side effect of hair transplant surgery you can expect, especially if you are prone to scarring. Scarring generally occurs in pre-disposed individuals and is more like to occur in people who opt for strip plantations. Also, the amount of scarring may depend on how the procedure is done, the skill of the surgeon performing the transplant.

Infection

Serious infections from a hair transplant can occur, though rare - affecting one in several thousand cases. Usually, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics before the surgery takes place to prevent an infection. To tackle any post-surgical swelling, the doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications.

Cysts

Cysts may occur in the recipient area when many grafts have been inserted. But they usually disappear by themselves. One should seek medical help without delay if the cysts do not go away by themselves after a few weeks.

(With ANI Inputs)