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Dermatology Help with a Hair Transplant Scar

Hair transplant surgeries typically do not cause extensive scarring on the scalp or head, but in some instances, you may find that your hair transplant caused noticeable scarring. You can opt for dermatological procedures to minimize the scar that allow hair to better grow through the scarred regions of the scalp.

  1. Trichophytic Closure

    • Linear scars are the most common scars that cause transplants to be less effective. Linear scars are common in transplants that take "patches" of hair from the sides of the head and implant them on the top of the head. According to the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons, a normal linear scar is 1 to 3 millimeters in length and slightly raised above the skin by about a millimeter. These types of scars can actually prevent hair from growing through because of too much tension at the edges of the scar.

      A trichophytic closure works by trimming the edges of the linear scar, freeing up the tension. Additionally, the closure works by making an incision in the scar and closing it over the linear scar, allowing the transplanted hair to grow through the scar. These procedures are outpatient procedures, and the surgeon who conducted the transplant procedure will conduct the trichophytic closure if you notice excessive scarring.

    Follicular Unit Extraction

    • The follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedure is a more advanced technique. If your transplant involved linear incisions that led to linear scars, you can have FUE grafts implanted on top of the linear scar. The FUE grafts are about a millimeter in circumference. According to the Bernstein Medical website, FUEs are ideal for patients who have extensive linear scarring. The procedure involves taking a FUE graft and implanting it directly into the linear scar so that the new "graft" breaks up the linear scar that is preventing hair growth. Rather than having a noticeable linear scar, the FUE creates smaller, virtually unnoticeable "dot-like" scars on the scalp.

    Additional Recommendations

    • As a dermatological option, you can seek tattoo treatment of your scars. Part of what makes scars more noticeable is that they do not blend with the skin tone of the rest of your scalp. Rather than having additional surgeries that may cause more scarring, consider adding pigment to the scar with a tattoo. The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons generally recommends having a qualified hair restoration surgeon perform all of the above-suggested techniques to ensure proper evaluation and outcomes.

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