Trip to ER after hair transplant

[FollicullarlyHopeful]

I am wondering if anyone else has had, or even heard of, the type of "nightmare" I had with my last hair transplant. This was my 3rd procedure (different dr. each time) and so I was accustumed to the procedure already. This 3rd surgery (this past March) went well like the previous ones without any problems, until about 6 days after the surgery. I was working and was at my computer, when I sneezed. I jerked my head forward as I usually do when I sneeze, but this time I felt alot of pressure in my head and it felt like the skin in the back of my head was ripping (felt like the donor incision was tearing open). My skin got tighter and tighter and got painful very fast so I rushed to the bathroom (thankfully I work at home). I wanted to use some mirrors to see if the back was bleeding. Before I got there, the blood was already coming down the front of my shirt. I got to the mirror to see the back and saw the blood on the front of my shirt was nothing compared to the back. It was gushing so much I had to wrap a towel around my head tightly in fear of losing too much and decided to call 911 for myself (never done that before). EMS arrived and wrapped me w/ pressure bandages and took me to ER. There, then wrapped me even tighter, as they couldn't get the bleeding to stop and my head was swollen in the back. They got the outside to stop eventually but it was still bleeding inside some. Anyway after hours at the hospital that night, they suggested I see my surgeon, as they only got my bleeding stabilized. I did and my HT surgeon cleaned me up to see the incision and it bled uncontrollably, so he had to remove my stitches and “go back in”. He searched until he found a blood vessel that was ruptured. He tied it off/cauterized to stop the bleeding, then stitched me back up. The pain for the next few weeks was worse than the pain from the initial procedure. It seems to be healing ok now, but I'm scared to get another procedure now. My dr. said he believes that the blood vessel must have been sitting under a stitch, being pressed by the stitch, then when I sneezed and jerked my head, the stitch sliced through the blood vessel. He said this is very rare. I would maybe not even consider another procedure after being freaked out by that, but my 1st procedure was not done well, leaving scarring and weird patterned hair up front. So this recent procedure was like a repair job (part 1 of 2) and I can really use the part 2 of 2, but am a little scared now. I share all of that to see if anyone has heard of such a thing and if this or similar complications are rare or not. This dr. worked out so well in every way (except this complication) that I really want to go back to him, but not sure if I should or if I should even get another procedure period if a similar complication could happen. Thanks for any info/advice you may have.

[Modenese]

That's a disturbing story, get well soon.

[BlueSteel]

this is a very odd and disturbing story

[Spanker]

That sounds very unusual. Never heard it before. I feel like if you have the laxicity that you should be good. Good luck.

[Levrais]

You could always look into fue for the next procedure.

[FollicullarlyHopeful]

I know it is an odd story, but true (wish it weren't). I'm doing good now, I think (just waiting for the recipient area to grow in). If it does grow in well and I'm satisfied with the work of this dr. I will consider going back, now that I'm confirming how rare this type of complication is. Thanks for the replies so far.

[FollicullarlyHopeful]

Good point- laxicity will be a big factor. If it's ok by next year and results from this procedure are good, I may go back for one more. If not, may go to a dr. who does FUE.

[FollicullarlyHopeful]

You could always look into fue for the next procedure.

 

That was my first thought too. I had never had FUE, only 3 strip surgeries, but may consider doing so. This dr. doesn't do FUE, but there are a ton of great docs that do. I was saving FUE for when I run out of laxicity (in a few months I'll know if that is the case yet or not). But with this scare I might go w/ FUE either way. The biggest concerns I have about FUE are price (main reason) and 2nd the amount that can be done in one session. As I look into it though, it seems alot can be done in one session now, so that may not be a factor after all. That leaves the big one- cost of FUE compared to strip.

[headbangerguy]

Very rare, idiopathic.

[AdamAJ]

never heard of that till reading your post but first time for everything i guess

 

ive had 3 hts and all went smooth

[Sean]

I really hope things are much better for you. What you wrote was very hard to read and imagine. It definately was a nightmare but glad you got it resolved. Hopefully this doesnt prevent you in the future if you need to go in again for whatever reason. I have never read of someone else experiencing this on the forums so it must be a very rare event. Keep us posted though. Good luck with everything.