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Can You Reverse A Hair Transplant?

Can you reverse a hair transplant? You are able to reverse and rectify a hair transplant procedure that’s gone wrong, so long as you see a surgeon with experience in reversing hair transplants, such as the Surgeons at Treatment Rooms London.  Many patients receive bad hair transplants and at The Treatment Rooms London, we’ve seen our fair share. We offer corrective surgery to repair any bad hair transplants for men, women or those who identify as transgender. 

I do see a fair amount of patients asking for help when correcting a hair transplant. It is hugely important for these patients to see us in clinic so we can see what is precisely the issue before undergoing surgery again

Dr Fernando, Hair Transplant Surgeon and Co Founder of The Treatment Rooms London Hair Transplant Clinic

Signs of a bad hair transplant 

Some patients may seek out hair transplant surgeons without doing the proper checks or research and end up with a bad hair transplant. Bad hair transplant results can be due to several reasons, such as

  • The patient not being the right candidate
  • The surgeon ignoring a patient’s unsuitability for a hair transplant
  • No consultation to examine the patient before surgery Choosing to have surgery with an unlicensed surgeon, technician or clinic in a largely unregulated country (e.g. Turkey, Iran or India) because it’s cheaper
  • Not taking the right steps during the aftercare and recovery process

For information and advice please read our article on how to find a good hair transplant surgeon in the UK.

So, what are the typical signs of a bad hair transplant? Red flags to look out for include:

  • Excessive scarring, which may be caused by substandard surgical tools or poor technique
  • An unnatural hairline, with a bad shape or an incorrect angle
  • Infection, due to unsanitary surgical tools being used
  • Poor hair growth, 12 months after surgery
  • Noticeable implanted hair growing in poor directions
second hair transplant
Corrective, second hair transplant surgery performed by our Surgeons for a bad hair transplant to the frontal hairline

Is an FUE hair transplant permanent?

Both the follicular unit excision (FUE) and follicular unit transplant (FUT) techniques are surgical procedures that are considered permanent. Hair transplants typically address the areas of the scalp that are affected by hair loss, such as the hairline and crown. 

Transplanted hairs are taken from areas of the scalp where hair tends to stay for life; the back and sides of the head. This means they offer resistance and can grow healthily in the recipient area (the part of the scalp where your new hair will grow), providing permanency to a hair transplant. 

If you have a bad hair transplant, get in touch with The Treatment Rooms London. We can guide you on the right path to reversing a hair transplant gone wrong, with hair transplant corrective surgery. Read on for more information on this process. 

Can you reverse a hair transplant?

Skilled surgeons such as the experienced team at The Treatment Rooms London can reverse or repair a bad hair transplant. Many patients visit us with bad hair transplants that they need fixing, and we have successfully performed hair transplant repair surgery many times over the years.

There are several methods for corrective hair transplant surgery, but the most common and effective way is to undergo another hair transplant. This is one of the reasons why having a hair transplant in an inadequately regulated country is not always worth it; you may have to pay for another transplant to correct it. 

repair hair transplant for a bad hair transplant
Hair transplant correction for a poor density transplant

Corrective hair transplant surgery

The way in which your bad hair transplant is repaired is likely to depend on your reason for needing corrective hair transplant surgery.

Unnatural Hairline Repair

If you have an unnatural hairline as a result of a hair transplant, this can be repaired with an FUE hair transplant. A new shape can be planned for your hairline that is more suitable for your hair loss. Follicles are taken from the donor area with tiny punches, before being transplanted to the recipient area where they can form a new hairline. Any follicles that were incorrectly placed can be removed or hidden by the newly implanted hairs. 

Poor Follicle Quality Repair

When follicle quality is the problem – due to the procedure being carried out poorly – unhealthy hair follicles can be removed and new hair grafts can be transplanted to the recipient area. This is done using the FUE procedure and can cover hair loss areas that were not effectively treated in the initial procedure.

Poor hair density repair 

Poor hair density after a hair transplant – when not enough hairs were transplanted during the procedure – can also be repaired using the FUE technique. This is a complex form of corrective hair transplant surgery which involves implanting additional hairs into the required area in between existing transplanted hair. 

hair transplant correction for poor density
Poor density following a hair transplant in another clinic, corrected by our experienced hair transplant surgeons at The Treatment Rooms London

Excessive scarring repair

Excessive scarring after a hair transplant can occur after a FUT hair transplant which takes a strip of hair as a graft and can be camouflaged effectively using the FUE technique. Excessive scarring after an FUE hair transplant can be repaired using scalp micro pigmentation whereby small medical ink is placed into the scars to disguise them.

FUT scar repair
FUT scar repair with an FUE hair transplant

Treatment Rooms London can help guide patients on all the corrective procedures outlined above. 

How to avoid a bad hair transplant?

There are steps you can take that can help you to avoid having a bad hair transplant. We recommend the following precautions:

  • Do your research: you should ensure that surgeons and their clinics are fully qualified (licensed by organisations such as the General Medical Council and Care Quality Commission), as well as read a clinic’s reviews and patient photos
  • Attend an initial consultation: to meet the surgeon and see the facilities; never allow a clinic to pressure you into getting a hair transplant
  • Ensure that an aftercare and recovery plan is provided
  • Listen to word of mouth: are previous patients happy with their results?
  • Enquire about pricing: ask how much the procedure you are interested in will cost
  • Avoid going abroad: unlicensed clinics in underregulated markets represent a risk

Get in touch 

If you have received a bad hair transplant that requires reversing, please get in touch with The Treatment Rooms London – don’t make the same mistake twice. We offer a wealth of experience in this area, having carried out many corrective surgeries over the years. When you choose The Treatment Rooms London, you give yourself the benefits of expert surgeons, state-of-the-art facilities, and a personalised care experience. 

Book a free consultation today – call us on 020 8706 0076 or use the contact form

Authored by

Hair Transplant Surgeon Dr Roshan Vara

Dr Roshan Vara

Full Medical Member of the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery (BAHRS) Associate Member of International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS)

GMC Registered - 7458409

Reviewed by

Hair Transplant Surgeon Dr Dilan Fernando

Dr Dilan Fernando

Royal College of Surgeons

Full Medical Member of the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery (BAHRS) Associate Member of International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS)

GMC Registered - 7458157

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