Can general anaesthetic and the healing process from surgery affect a new hair transplant?

Question

I had a hair transplant (fue) with around 1200 grafts on the 25th of May. I've shed a lot of grafted hairs and the redness is slowly going. I am due to be operated on on the 18th June for bunion surgery, on both feet. I will be under general anaesthetic and they will be performing an "ankle blocker" so that my feet stay numb for a small period. Can this affect in anyway my newly planted follicles? The company which performed the procedure say not, but I need a professional second opinion. Thanks

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

The Internet is a not a place for personal medical opinions.Even if it is, you should trust the doctors that will be doing your surgery.If a second medical opinion is what you are seeking you need to actually ask the doctor in person.A doctor that can examine you and take your full medical history.There may be other issues you are not aware of.Hypothetically if another doctor said the anesthesia may affect your transplanted hairs, would you not have surgery and continue to suffer from bunions?

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

At 3 weeks, grafts have committed to either growing or not growing and surgery is unlikely to have any negative long term effect. That said, one needs to keep in mind that any surgery with general anesthesia can rarely cause temporary shedding. We call this telogen effluvium.  Telogen effluvium is not common after surgeries involving general anesthesia but most certainly can occur. If it does occur, patients develop shedding 2-3 months after the surgery. It lasts a few months and then hair grows back. Reference of InterestTelogen effluvium following orthognathic surgery.Lypka MA, et al. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2007.

Greg Williams, FRCS (Plast) · Answer

General and regional anaesthesia will not have any effect on your hair transplant. Good luck with your bunion surgery, I hope it goes well!

Michael Meshkin, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

At this point, you should be healed and can return to normal routine.  If you are doing a surgery the Anastasia should not effect the transplanted hair.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

The answer to this is no. There is no connection between the surgery you are planning and the transplant you had. Go for it, it will be safe.

Can general anaesthetic and the healing process from surgery affect a new hair transplant?

Answers (5)

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