Despite being informed about these facts during initial consultation, some men choose to ignore them, only to be displeased after surgery, Dr. Stough said. Among the complications dependent on surgical technique is the post-transplant epidermoid cyst. These lesions were common several years ago among men undergoing surgery with small-graft methods. However, their prevalence has more recently declined thanks to meticulous care in the removal of all donor tissue and use of an extremely sharp recipient punch. Many other complications are beyond the surgeon's control.
Some patients develop folliculitis.
Dr. Stough noted he usually treats this inflammation empirically with antibiotics. However, he has encountered some resistant cases, which have shown the presence of yeast when cultures are performed. Scar widening in the donor area is another problem that can occur in some patients no matter who the surgeon is or what technique is used. Scars up to 1 cm in width develop in approximately one of every 50 patients even when the case seemed routine. Dr. Stough said he has only been successful in partially correcting these abnormalities.