As part of the pre-operative procedures and before you start preparing for hair transplant you will go through a preliminary health screening.
Certain hair transplant blood tests will be administered by the operating clinic. This is to make sure that you are in good health and there are no obstacles to get it done.
Even if hair transplant is considered to be a minimally invasive cosmetic surgery, complications could still occur.
In this article, we will discuss the importance of blood tests before hair transplant and what the results of these tests indicate.
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Initial Screening Before Hair Transplant
When you first get in touch with a hair transplant clinic it’s common that they ask you some questions about your general health condition.
This initial screening of your health tells the clinic if you are eligible for a hair transplant or not.
Generally, the questions will investigate whether you suffer from any chronic diseases including diabetes, blood pressure and heart related diseases.
It also gives them an insight about any possible blood borne diseases that a patient might be having.
Individuals with diabetes and blood pressure can still get hair transplant done only if their case is being supervised by a physician and kept under control.
Why Is It Important to Get Hair Transplant Blood Tests Done?
We are aware how much baldness is affecting you and how much you need to restore your hair. But there is even something more important than that and it’s your health and the safety of the operating team.
Getting a medical checkup before hair transplant is obligatory to determine whether you’re eligible for the operation or not.
Normally, the hair transplant clinic runs a blood test to check the level of sugar, any viruses and blood borne pathogens like HIV, AIDS and Hepatitis B and C.
The tests are administered one day before the operation to give plenty of time to either proceed with the procedure or reschedule.
What If the Result of Hair Transplant Blood Tests Is Positive?
Sometimes some patients hide the fact that they carry a certain disease or maybe they are unaware of it.
This leads to serious problems because a positive result indicates that there is an issue that limits the options of carrying out the operation.
Hence, we urge you to inform your clinic about any health issues beforehand. You must share your medical history with them during the first contact.
This way your hair transplant specialist can make an informed decision on whether you are eligible for the operation or not.
Now, you might be asking yourself:
‘’What if I have a health problem that I’m not aware of and I find out on the day of the operation?’’
Well in this case and to rest assured we recommend you get a medical checkup before scheduling an appointment.
And when the results are out you can share them with the clinic. They will let you know if there are any barriers to undergo the hair transplant.
Type of Blood Test Required for Hair Transplant
A hair transplant blood test checks for the presence of certain chronic and infectious diseases which include:
- Blood glucose test
- HIV test
- Hepatitis C (HCV) and Hepatitis B tests (HBsAg)
- Coagulation tests
- Blood Pressure
Blood Glucose Test
A glucose test including (HbA1c) is often done to monitor the blood sugar levels and tells if the patient has diabetes or not.
If the level of sugar in your blood is too high, you might be required to keep it under control before you can have a hair transplant.
Diabetic patients can still get a hair transplant only if they have been taking their medications regularly and keep their condition well managed. The only difference is that the number of grafts could be limited to ensure fast and proper wound healing.
HIV test
HIV is an immunodeficiency virus that attacks the body’s immunity system and weakens its ability to fight infections and can develop to AIDS.
An HIV test is administered in most hair transplant clinics to ensure that the patient is not infected with the virus.
Incase the results come out positive the operation can not be performed. This is to prevent the risk of the medical team contracting the disease.
Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Tests
Hepatitis B and C are viral infections that target the liver. They are very infectious and could be transmitted from one person to another by using needles and scalpels.
In order to minimize the risks of infection a test is required before hair transplant. A positive result indicates that the patient carries the virus and therefore not suitable to get the operation done.
Coagulation tests
Coagulation tests measure the time it takes for the blood to clot and this helps hair transplant specialists evaluate the risks of bleeding during the surgery.
This very important to know before hair transplant as the operation consists of creating micro incisions.
And if the blood is not able to clot properly this could lead to excessive bleeding.
Measuring Blood Pressure
Before starting the operation, patients’ blood pressure is measured. If the blood pressure level is too high or too low the operation will be rescheduled until it goes back to normal.
Sometimes this could happen with the tension or not getting enough sleep the days before the operation.
Patients with a history of blood pressure can still get a hair transplant only after getting their physician’s approval and if they use medications to control its levels before the operation.
Which Cases Are Not Eligible for Hair transplant?
Now since we clarified the blood tests required for hair transplant it is very important to understand that there are certain cases which are absolutely not suitable for the operation.
Individuals with heart related problems or who have undergone a cardiac surgery of any kind are not suitable for hair transplant.
Also, those with kidney and liver failure are not a good match for hair transplant. This is due to the potential risks associated with the anesthesia which could jeopardize their lives.
The Cost of Hair Transplant Blood Tests
Hair transplant blood test costs are usually included within the packages offered and you don’t have to pay extra charges.
However, if you decide to get a blood test before scheduling a hair transplant appointment then you will have to pay for it by yourself.
Our advice to you is if you have never been through a health problem before then there is no need to do it separately. On the contrary, if you suspect you might be having a certain disease then it’s wise to do a blood test in advance.
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