Can Hair Transplants Cause Cancer?
A hair transplant procedure has become a highly sought after surgery for people who are suffering from hair loss. The treatment has served as a permanent remedy for all those with monotonous baldness or thinning hair over the years and helped keep up self-esteem.
On the other side of the coin, much like with every medical procedure, misconceptions and myths tend to spread like wildfire causing undue worry. Now, among so many hair transplant myths; one is the person who undergoes hair transplant might get cancer too.
Think about it, do you believe in this?
Let’s look at this myth and dispel the concerns surrounding whether you can get cancer from a hair transplant.
What is a Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant is a form of hair restoration wherein hair follicles are taken from one part of the body (usually the back or sides of the scalp) and transplanted to an area where there is balding/thinning.
There are two ways of conducting hair transplants.
- Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT): This is also called the strip method and involves removing a strip of skin from the donor area. The hair follicles are then cut out of the strip and implanted in the area where they are to be applied.
- Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE): With FUE, individual hair follicles are extracted from the donor site using a punch tool and then transplanted to the recipient site with thinning or bald spots.
They are somewhat similar in nature as they are both minimally invasive and assure great results for natural looking hair restoration. The success rate of hair transplant is also quite high.
Addressing the Hair Transplants Cancer Myth
The theory that hair transplants lead to cancer probably arises from misconceptions about the process and with how the body behaves. In this blog post we will address some of the reasons this myth exists:
- False premise in Surgery and Cellular Regeneration
The most common worry was that if scientists could control cell differentiation (as is the case with hair transplants), they could also start cancer—in essence, unsupervised cellular growth. But, that is not the development of cancer.
Cancer happens when abnormal cells divide in an uncontrolled way and the exact cause of a person’s cancer is often unclear, however research has shown that certain risk factors may increase the chance that you may develop some types of cancer.
On the flip side, hair transplants are done by moving healthy hair follicles from one area of the scalp to another. The treatment does not change the DNA of the cells, and it is also a cancer-free radiation process. There is no data or scientific proof to support the idea that undergoing a hair transplant would result in getting cancerous cell growth.
- Concerns Over Scar Tissue
There may also be some confusion about the created scar tissue as a result of hair transplant. Scarring from any form of surgery is inevitable, but in the case of hair transplants this is usually minimal and often only concealed within the hair. Scar tissue is a natural part of healing and does not itself cause cancer.
Scar tissue can occasionally thicken or become raised (a condition called a keloid), but this is a benign problem and not associated with cancer formation. Plus, new hair transplant methods like FUE create minimal scarring – negligible in some cases — which tweaks the question of scarring.
- Cosmetic Procedures and Cancer
Another flaw is the erroneous belief that aesthetic interventions can cause cancer. This fear is unfounded. Hair transplants, similar to other types of cosmetic surgery, are done in a sterile environment by trained professionals. There is a very low likelihood of any adverse events – let alone cancer.
There is no scientific or clinical evidence to prove that hair transplant surgery increases the risk of cancer. The procedure has been practiced for decades and is perfectly safe. It is a very advanced field so every surgeon must follow strict medical protocols to get successful results and take care of the safety of the patients.
Clinical Studies and Research on Cancer and Hair Transplant
The scientific community as well has weighed in on the cancer myth. In reality, there has been no proven case of hair transplant linked in the development of any form of cancer. Hair transplants are one of the most trusted and preferred hair restoration procedures carried out by medical professionals globally.
Conclusion
It can be said that hair transplant causing cancer is a myth and scientific evidence is nowhere in support of this. Hair transplant is the only answer to almost all kinds of hair loss. Due to technological and scientific advancements, its outcomes have grown into perfection with high-end refinements, low downtime, and a natural look.
So, if you are considering a hair transplant you should know, with 100% certainty that there is no cancer risk associated with the hair transplant procedure!
Get Hair Transplants At Divine Cosmetic Surgery
We are aware of the fears and anxiety one has while deciding on any hair transplant procedure. This is why our team, under the stewardship of Dr. Amit Gupta, our team goes above and beyond to ensure that our patients are comfortable and get all the answers that they need before getting a hair transplant.
We employ the modern tools and techniques to perform hair transplant with accuracy thereby our patients get a decent result. When you choose Divine Cosmetic Surgery, you are choosing a team who is committed to performing the best hair restoration.
So, what are you waiting for? Schedule your first hair transplant consultation today!
