According to statistics by the ISHRS, 5–6% of people who undergo hair transplantation seek another doctor to correct a poorly performed procedure. According to our own statistics, an average of 1 in 10 individuals apply to our clinic to correct an bad hair transplant done elsewhere. We have explained how to correct a faulty transplant towards the end of our article.

People choose to have a hair transplant because they believe it will make them feel happier. The key to this is achieving a natural and successful result with sufficient hair density. Unfortunately, some of the procedures end with poor outcomes and disappointment, contrary to these expectations.

What is the success criteria in hair transplantation?

We will explain this to you by presenting the same situation in two different scenarios. Let’s assume you’ve had a hair transplant, and one year has passed since the procedure.

Imagine meeting someone new and having a brief conversation. Normally, when people speak with each other, they look into each other’s eyes. In other words, human communication is face-to-face.

SCENARIO 1: If this person keeps looking not into your eyes but constantly at your hair while speaking with you, then there is something wrong with your hair. And if shortly after they ask, “Did you get a hair transplant?”, you would not be pleased with this situation at all. In fact, we assume your answer would be something like, “Yes, unfortunately, I had a hair transplant.”
This is a result of a failed hair transplant full of mistakes.

SCENARIO 2: You’re having a conversation with the same person, and your interaction remains eye-to-eye. The other person isn’t looking at your forehead or your hair. Eventually, the conversation progresses and turns to the topic of hair. And you say to the other person, “Look, I also had a hair transplant.” The person is surprised and says, “Really? It looks amazing, I couldn’t even tell.” We assume you would be very happy with that response. Isn’t this a successful and satisfying result?

As a result, for a hair transplant to be considered successful, two things must be present:

  1. A natural hairline that cannot be detected by the others
  2. A sufficient amount of hair density.

So, why does a hair transplant turn out poorly? What are the reasons behind the mistakes made? Now we will try to answer these questions.

Reasons for a Failed Hair Transplant

Imagine someone who has undergone a hair transplant and now has thick, multi-follicular grafts growing straight out at odd angles along the hairline. On top of that, there are patchy, unevenly spaced areas creating a sparse appearance, and visible scar marks in between. Would you want to be in this person’s shoes? You will of course say no. So, what could have gone wrong in this hair transplant? Why has it resulted in such a terrible appearance?

We can categorize the causes of mistakes and failures in hair transplants into three main areas. These are;

  1. Mistakes made before the transplant procedure (such as performing a transplant on someone with a weak or unsuitable donor area, falling for exaggerated advertisements, unrealistic promises)
  2. Mistakes made during the transplant surgery (such as lack of skill in the surgeon and staff, incorrect hairline design, poor planning, over graft collection, use of inappropriate tools, improperly placed grafts, infection)
  3. Mistakes made after the procedure ( insufficient post-op care after hair transplant)

Now we’ll break down these three major groups into 11 subcategories and examine each in detail.

1) Suitability for hair transplantation

According to us, the most important reason for an unsuccessful result is this. If a hair transplant is performed on someone who is not a suitable candidate, there’s no need to even discuss other criteria. Because in that case, a disappointing and failed result is inevitable. Before the operation, factors such as age, family history of hair loss, donor area quality, and the person’s expectations must be examined thoroughly. We explained these in detail in our article titled “Are You a Suitable Candidate for Hair Transplantation?” Especially in very young individuals or those with extremely high expectations, performing a hair transplant is risky.

A true hair transplant surgeon does not sell dreams, and would never perform a transplant on an unsuitable person just to make money.

2) Unrealistic promises and exaggerated advertisements

Hair is an indispensable accessory for men. Just as a woman wouldn’t want to go outside without a handbag, a man doesn’t want to be without hair. Those who want to exploit this vulnerability in men flood the market with unrealistic promises and flashy advertisements. Unfortunately, because some people fall for these tactics, the number of failed hair transplants is increasing significantly.

  • • Hair transplantation with a guarantee certificate
  • • Unlimited hair transplant at a cheap price
  • • 10,000 grafts in a single session
  • • Hair transplantation with ultrasound

These are deceptive advertisements that sound nice but have nothing to do with reality. Unfortunately, this is a very common and exploited situation in Turkey. Many people are sold dreams through false promises and misleading ads. With attractive websites and paid Google advertisements, it becomes even easier to set the stage for this kind of deception. Moreover, this situation negatively affects Turkey’s image in the global hair transplant industry. In the U.S. and many other countries, there is black propaganda being spread, such as “don’t go to Turkey for a hair transplant.”

However, the truth is that there are many talented and world-renowned hair transplant surgeons in Turkey who perform exceptional work. In fact, the Turkish proverb “the innocent suffer along with the guilty” fits this situation perfectly.

3) Inexperienced Doctors and Untrained Technicians

The extraction of grafts and their placement into recipient areas in hair transplantation are procedures that require specialized knowledge and experience. There are not enough experienced doctors in this field. Unfortunately, a significant portion of unsuccessful results is due to the doctor’s lack of experience and the inadequate training of technicians. An experienced doctor carefully plans every stage of the operation in detail and performs the transplantation by strictly following this plan.

Moreover, in Turkey, there is currently no official institution that provides certified training for hair transplant technicians. Because of this gap, people from all walks of life such as ambulance drivers, retired teachers, shoe shiners, or real estate agents can simply print a business card at a print shop and claim: “I’m a hair transplant specialist.” This is a major factor that paves the way for faulty and unsatisfactory results.

4) Over collection of Grafts

Everyone’s donor area capacity is different. If this capacity is exceeded and an excessive number of hair follicles are extracted in a non-homogeneous manner, it is inevitable that the donor area will exhibit patchy and unattractive appearances. The rules of graft extraction must be strictly followed. At our clinic, we receive a significant number of patients seeking correction of their donor area due to improper graft harvesting.

5) Tools Used in Hair Transplantation

A good hair transplant surgeon must constantly strive for improvement. Every operation should aim to be more successful than the previous one. The best technique which is best suited for each patient to achieve optimal results should be researched. The instruments used during graft extraction and implantation are crucial to obtaining a good outcome. Moreover there can be instruments which are disposable such as the implanter needle tips used in the DHI method. These must never be reused on another patient.

6) Incorrect Hairline Design

One of the most important factors in achieving naturalness in hair transplantation is the correct design of the hairline. Here, the surgeon’s artistic perspective comes into play. Additionally, the grafts must be implanted at the correct angle and direction. Even if all the hair grows successfully, a poorly designed hairline will never satisfy the person. For more details on this topic, you can check out our article titled “How to Achieve a Natural Hair Transplant.”

7) Graft Implantation Fault

If the doctor and assisting technicians lack the necessary knowledge and experience, the likelihood of serious mistakes in the hair transplant process increases significantly. Implantation must be done without damaging the follicles. It is essential to know the correct depth at which the grafts should be placed. In procedures performed haphazardly without knowledge of technical principles, the loss rate is quite high. If you don’t want to have regrets, you need to thoroughly research who you’re going to entrust with your transplant. Otherwise, you are highly likely to end up with a failed result that includes a terrible appearance.

8) Insufficient Number of Grafts

In baldness types like Norwood 6-7, the recipient area is quite large. It’s highly likely that the number of grafts won’t be sufficient to cover this area. As a result, a sparse appearance will emerge after the transplant. An experienced doctor must also make the correct plan for the patient whom they deem suitable for transplantation. Otherwise, a sparse appearance with uneven and irregular gaps will never make the person happy.

9) Duration of the Operation

As the number of grafts increases, the duration of the operation will also extend. In hair transplantation, the ideal maximum duration is 8 hours. In procedures that exceed 8 hours, the loss rate of hair follicles increases, and some of the implanted follicles will not grow at all—because those follicles are dead. We plan our procedures in a way that 2,000 grafts do not exceed 6–7 hours of operation time. If more grafts are to be implanted, the procedure must be divided across consecutive days.

10) Infection and Sterilization Protocols

If a hair transplant is performed without adhering to general medical sterilization standards, the risk of infection in the scalp area increases significantly. This can lead to the death of the transplanted grafts and poor hair growth results.

Additionally, the longer the procedure takes, the more local anesthetic is required, and bleeding in the recipient area increases. To control bleeding, epinephrine (adrenaline) is often used—but this also significantly raises the risk of necrosis. Necrosis is an unwanted serious complication in hair transplantation. Because blood flow to a region is cut off, leading to tissue death and black discoloration of the affected area.
We perform hair transplants using the DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) method and have never experienced a case of necrosis so far.

11) Inadequate Post-Operative Care

Things might not always go smooth after the transplant. The clinic or doctor you choose for your hair transplant should be one where you can receive support for at least one year after the procedure.

As you can see, there are many potential reasons for an unsuccessful hair transplant.

If you’re considering getting a hair transplant in Turkey, you should pay attention to the following key points:

  • Is there a doctor at the clinic where you’re planning to undergo the procedure?
  • Does the doctor personally take part in the hair transplant operation?
  • Does the clinic and the doctor have international references and registrations with reputable institutions?
  • What is their experience in hair transplantation? Make sure to thoroughly research before-and-after results of the doctor’s previous patients.

We believe that based on the answers to these questions, you’ll be able to find the most suitable place for your hair transplant.

Why Choose AHD Clinic for a Successful Hair Transplant?

Here are the reasons why patients from all around the world choose to come to Turkey and prefer our clinic:

  • AHD Clinic has become a globally respected brand thanks to Dr. Hakan Doğanay’s 23 years of experience in the field.
  • Our natural-looking results are the main reason why patients prefer us.
  • At AHD Clinic, hair transplants are never performed on unsuitable candidates.
  • AHD Clinic does not make unrealistic promises under any circumstances.
  • We maintain constant communication with our patients after the operation too. It will provide full support in every aspect.

If You’re Considering a Hair Transplant, You Can Start with a Free Consultation at AHD Clinic.

At the end of the consultation, we first determine whether you are suitable for a hair transplant. If you are eligible, you will be informed about the estimated graft count and operation cost. AHD Clinic is located in Antalya, one of Turkey’s top destination cities.

You can also reach us via our WhatsApp line for more detailed information, or follow our Instagram and Facebook pages to review our results.

How Can a Bad Hair Transplant Be Corrected?

Earlier, we discussed the reasons behind poor outcomes caused by mistakes in hair transplantation. So, the question is: Can a failed hair transplant be fixed? Let’s not be too pessimistic yes, it can be corrected. However, it is a challenging, labor-intensive, and time-consuming process. Performing a hair transplant on someone who has never undergone the procedure before and doing it by the book is significantly easier than repairing a bad result. In this purely informational article, we’ll now begin to explain how this demanding correction process is done.

People who suffer bad results from low-cost clinics without proper research often feel like someone who has “burned their mouth with hot milk and now blows on yogurt before eating” (a Turkish proverb) (meaning once bitten, twice shy.) Understandably, they now want to play it safe and start searching for the best clinic that can properly fix their previous failed transplant.

Unfortunately, very few doctors in the world are capable of performing this correction procedure. One of these is AHD Clinic, which holds a reputable position in the field of correcting unsuccessful hair transplants. Dr. Hakan Doğanay has successfully repaired many failed hair transplants for over 15 years.

In a wrong hair transplant, one or more of the following signs may appear:

  • a)Thick and multiple roots in the front hairline
  • b) A hairline with sharp angles and incorrect directions
  • c) Sparse and non-homogeneous areas in the donor or recipient regions
  • d)Infection and necrosis in the transplanted area.

The undesirable appearances can be corrected with five methods. In fact, many of these methods overlap with each other. These methods are:

  1. Hair transplantation
  2. Graft excision
  3. Camouflage
  4. Combined method (combines camouflage, excision, and hair transplant together)
  5. Microblading (scalp tattoo)

Now, we will have a closer look at the details of these correction methods

Hair Transplant Revision

In individuals who have insufficient hair growth due to previous mistakes, grafts are taken again using the FUE method, and by performing a densification process, the sparse appearance is tried to be eliminated. The main goal here is to increase the amount of hair per square cm. For this, there needs to be sufficient reserve in the donor area. If the hair on the nape has been exhausted and there is no sufficient reserve, beard and chest hair can be used as an alternative reserve.

Additionally, due to the excessive number of grafts taken from the donor area in the previous hair transplant, there may be visible scars in the back of the head that did not fester. In this case, grafts can be taken from the beard or other body hair to attempt to repair the nape area.

The person had a hair transplant years ago and was actually satisfied with the previous results. However, due to further hair loss in the native areas, some thinning or newly opened areas may have developed. If the donor areas are still sufficient, a new transplant can be planned. It would be more accurate to define this not as a revision, but as a second session of hair transplantation.

For individuals with a wide FUT scar from previous procedures, grafts can be implanted into the scar area, or a scar revision can be performed to conceal the FUT scar.

Graft Excision

Grafts placed at the hairline with multiple hairs or incorrect angles can result in a very unnatural appearance. The most appropriate solution is to remove these grafts individually using the FUE technique. For this, the smallest possible FUE punches should be used to minimize scarring and trauma. The extracted healthy and multi-hair grafts can later be re-implanted into the posterior areas. The main goal here is to soften and improve the harsh and unnatural look of the frontal hairline.

Especially in transplants done to the temple area, hair that grows upright creates a very poor appearance. For this reason, all the incorrectly implanted grafts in the temple area need to be removed.

It may not be possible to remove all the incorrectly implanted grafts in a single session. After healing is complete, a second or even a third graft excision session may be necessary.

Then, the healing of this area must be awaited. Once tissue healing is complete, a new transplant can be planned by creating a natural hairline again. Of course, if there is sufficient donor supply at the back of the head. Because beard grafts cannot be used for the front hairline. As can be seen, repair work is quite difficult and time-consuming.

Camouflage Method

In some cases, the unnatural appearance can be corrected without removing the grafts. For this, a new hairline is planned 1–2 mm in front of the existing one, and a new transplantation is performed by implanting only single grafts to the front hairline, aiming for a more natural look.

Combined Method

In some cases, camouflage or extraction methods alone may not be sufficient. In such situations, it becomes necessary to use all three of the methods mentioned above in combination. In fact, when it comes to revision procedures, using all techniques together usually leads to more effective and reliable results.

In the combined method, worst implanted grafts are first extracted, then a new hair transplant and camouflage is performed to achieve a natural-looking result.

In individuals with dark skin, especially in black patients, there is a higher chance of seeing white scars in areas where grafts are removed from the front hairline. Therefore, using the combined method becomes necessary for these individuals. To create a new hairline, grafts need to be harvested from the donor area. If there is insufficient donor hair, as a last resort, chest hair may be used for the frontal hairline. As previously mentioned, beard grafts should not be used for the frontal hairline.

Micropigmentation (SMP scalp tattoo)

Applying SMP in the donor area, where the appearance has been distorted due to excessive graft extraction, is a logical solution. Additionally, SMP can be applied between sparse hairs in the recipient area to create a denser appearance.

As seen, correcting poorly transplanted hair is not an easy task. Long-lasting sessions may be required. For the patient below, 7 separate sessions were planned, and the repair process, which took 7 sessions, was completed over 2 years. You can see the transformation after a 2-year-long effort.

Result

We should draw the following lessons from this article:

  • Hair transplantation is not a procedure to be taken lightly.
  • Do not trust fabricated or misleading advertisements while doing your research.
  • Eliminate places from your list that do not promise you realistic results.
  • Make sure you get in touch with a clinic that is supervised by an experienced hair transplant doctor.
  • Always research the results of the places you are considering for transplantation. Also, be sure to consider recommendations, comments, and complaints about the clinic or doctor on forum sites.

Trying to get a cheap hair transplant may end up costing you much more later on to correct a faulty procedure.

If you are considering a hair transplant, plan a free consultation with AHD Clinic. You will be provided with a realistic plan and roadmap.