Graft bleeding 25 days post op during wash, prior exposure to infrared heater?!

[snooze123]

Dear All,

 

I had a 3650 FUE transplant 26 days ago, and last night while washing my hair, I leaned my head forward, poured water over it, and gently went with my hand over the recipient area. When I lifted my head up towards the mirror, I saw a thin stream of blood came out down my scalp from a graft?! It stopped bleeding by itself after that stream came out, some 5 seconds later, and didnt bleed ever since. Now I just have a small red pimple on that spot.

 

What I am worried about is that earlier that day (some 4 hours before that), I was sitting in a caffe terrace, 2-3 meters under a supposedly infrared light heater for an hour maximum, and out of that one hour I was wearing a cap for 45 mins. I noticed just slight, weak, heat coming out of the heater on my arms and nothing else. I know that the doctors say to stay out of UV lights and sun, but what about IR lights from the heater for example?! I need to add that I dont see any unusual redness on my recipient, or any inflammation or pain after that. I know that laser caps have as well the infrared lights, and that they enhance circulation, so not sure if it could damage my transplant? Or the increase in blood circulation from the IR could cause my graft to pop out and bleed?!

 

I wouldnt worry about it if the graft didnt start to bleed all of a sudden the same night, and especially this late, 25 days post op?! And I healed quite well, and most of my scabs are gone, I might have 2-3 small ones left. Could it be that the infrared radiation from the heater could impact my grafts, or did I perhaps just by accident pull out an old scab while washing and it started bleeding?! Because I see that I have few of these tiny scabs left here and there, that are quite attached to the scalp. Is the graft lost, or even worse, could I mess up my hair transplant with this IR exposure?!

 

Pictures of the recipient area attached and the pimple that was created after the bleeding. I contacted my doctor immediately, and he just sent a general reply stating that everything looks ok in the pics and that I shouldnt worry, he didnt mention specifically anything about the bleeding nor the IR exposure. I also couldnt find a similar issue anywhere else online on forums, so I wanted to address it here.

 

Thank you very much for your help in advance everyone!

[Melvin- Admin]

By day 25 the grafts have been anchored in to the body, the only way to remove them would be surgically, you likely just popped the pimple which caused some bleeding, pimples post op are common, if you have a lot of pimples contact your doctor to prescribe ointment. But don’t worry the grafts have been secured for quite a while now. 15 min of heat exposure is not enough to damage grafts, I walked in 100 degree heat with no hat for 15 min one moth post op and my grafts grew just fine, only worry if you get a sun burn. But if you didn’t get a sun burn you’re fine.

[snooze123]

By day 25 the grafts have been anchored in to the body, the only way to remove them would be surgically, you likely just popped the pimple which caused some bleeding, pimples post op are common, if you have a lot of pimples contact your doctor to prescribe ointment. But don’t worry the grafts have been secured for quite a while now. 15 min of heat exposure is not enough to damage grafts, I walked in 100 degree heat with no hat for 15 min one moth post op and my grafts grew just fine, only worry if you get a sun burn. But if you didn’t get a sun burn you’re fine.

 

Thank you so much for the reply HTsoon, I really appreciate it. I couldnt sleep since last night

 

I was more worried because it wasnt "traditional" heat, but rather heat from the infrared heater, involving infrared radiation. Again, I have no idea about this subject whatsoever, so I "constructed" the story in my head that the radiation from the heater couldve damaged my recipient area and caused the bleeding, because Ive read online that the infrared radiation can go few inches in the tissue and through materials (unlike UV radiation, that usually wouldnt go through a cap). So you as well think that the infrared heater couldnt do any damage? And I am talking about something like this:

 

 

Nope, no sun burn, or any kind of redness or irritation. Thank you again so much for your response, feeling a bit better now!

[Melvin- Admin]

No for 15 minutes I HIGHLY doubt anything happened, grafts are anchored in your body past 9 days, the only way to remove them at that point would be surgically, as a matter of fact by day 25 you should begin shedding, meaning the graft is dormant subdermally. Now yes you should avoid strong UV rays for the first 4 months, but 15 minutes isn’t going to do anything. Like I said the main culprit is the pimple popping. Relax, just be a little more cautious moving forward you’ll be fine:cool:

[snooze123]

No for 15 minutes I HIGHLY doubt anything happened, grafts are anchored in your body past 9 days, the only way to remove them at that point would be surgically, as a matter of fact by day 25 you should begin shedding, meaning the graft is dormant subdermally. Now yes you should avoid strong UV rays for the first 4 months, but 15 minutes isn’t going to do anything. Like I said the main culprit is the pimple popping. Relax, just be a little more cautious moving forward you’ll be fine:cool:

 

I was actually sitting 50-60mins under the heater, its just that I took my cap off for 15 min while I was sitting there, but I hope its fine. I read also on other forums DRs responses that X-Ray radiation even after a CT cant hurt the grafts, so I hope the same would be with this bloody heater, if there was any radiation from it whatsoever. Thanks so much again, you saved my weekend ahead!

[pkipling]

For you own peace of mind, I would like to add that I also don't think you have anything to worry about here. The grafts been secure for a couple of weeks at this point, and the blood was most likely a scab/pimple. Keep being cautious and avoiding the sun/UV rays and I'm sure you'll be just fine.

[snooze123]

For you own peace of mind, I would like to add that I also don't think you have anything to worry about here. The grafts been secure for a couple of weeks at this point, and the blood was most likely a scab/pimple. Keep being cautious and avoiding the sun/UV rays and I'm sure you'll be just fine.

 

Thank you pkipling! Ive got few similar statements from few doctors as well, so I hope it should be fine. Thanks again, its great what you guys are doing here!

[gillenator]

I agree, based on the photos everything looks fine...:cool: