Can your body reject a hair transplant?

While the rejection of a hair transplant is rare and not the norm, it is possible. Here are some scenarios where rejection of hair transplants may occur:

Immunological Response: In rare cases, the body's immune system may perceive the transplanted hair follicles as foreign and mount an attack against them. This can result in the formation of antibodies that specifically target the transplanted hair follicles, leading to rejection.

Infections and Poor Aftercare: Infection post-transplantation can damage the hair grafts and increase the risk of rejection. Poor adherence to post-transplant care instructions, such as rigorous washing or neglecting prescribed medications, can also compromise graft survival.

Scarring and Tissue Death: Extensive scarring at the recipient site or tissue death due to complications like improper graft handling, overharvesting of donor hair, or poor blood supply to the transplanted follicles may lead to transplant rejection.

Improper Technique and Tissue Mismatch: If the surgeon utilizes an outdated technique or selects a mismatch between donor and recipient hair characteristics (e.g., fine hair transplanted into coarse hair areas), rejection may occur due to the hair follicles' inability to adapt to their new environment.

In most cases, the success rate of hair transplants is high, and rejection is an infrequent complication. However, choosing an experienced and qualified hair transplant surgeon, following proper aftercare protocols, and maintaining good overall health are essential to minimize the risk of rejection and ensure the best outcomes from a hair transplant procedure.