I think my FUE got messed up. Is this something to worry about? (Photo)

5 days post op our cases never look like this. Based on your photo it looks like there was a significant amount of bleeding in the hairline and recipient zone.  This is likely caused by the recipient site incisions being too large and too deep, thus causing more tissue damage to the scalp and causing excessive bleeding. The larger recipient site incisions can also damage the natural hair that was there before the hair transplant so lets hope that those don't fall out as well. When doctors don't have enough experience with FUE, they tend to use larger punches to extract grafts as it is much easier.  This leaves the grafts larger and thus require a larger incision (recipient site) to be placed in. There is also considerable gaps in the transplanted zone which likely means that the surgeon was not very careful making the sites.  There is an art to hairline design and recipient site creation.Was your surgeon involved with your entire case? Who made the recipient site incisions? Was it the doctor or an unlicensed technician?Our clinic uses a small punch to extract the grafts( usually 0.7mm) and tiny incisions the transplant zone. This minimizes tissue trauma, and minimizes the risk of shock loss to the surrounding hair follicles.  This is why it is imperative to make sure you research a hair transplant surgeon that is qualified and specializes in both FUE and FUT procedures. You also want to make sure they don't perform more than one surgery per day as that would cause them to rush to get you out the door and the next person in. A lot of times these doctors have their staff performing the surgeries themselves and are minimally involved in the procedures themselves.At this point the best thing to do is to followup with your doctor and discuss your concerns.  Then wait and see what the outcome is.

Barfi,
Please try to relax, the procedure was only done 5 days ago. It will be difficult and stressful if you do not. It is far too early to judge what final outcome will be.What's more all the transplanted grafts can fall out in the next few weeks, this can be entirely normal. The growth usually starts within 3-4 months after the transplant.

Sincerely,

Bernardino Arocha, MD