Hair Transplants
5 minute read
Modern hair restoration technology offers fantastic results without the risk of looking unnatural. However, certain techniques can cause scarring. This blog discusses hair transplant techniques, the scars that are possible, and how to deal with them.
Does Hair Transplantation Really Work?
If you’re considering hair transplantation, you might have a few questions, such as: Will it look natural? Will it work? And will it leave scars? Well, like most cosmetic procedures, this depends on the type of procedure you undergo.
Thanks to advances in technology and technique, hair transplantation options are more successful and result in a natural-looking outcome. Even non-surgical, therapeutic hair restoration options show great success as standalone procedures or supplements to surgical options. Essentially, scars depend on the type of surgical transplant performed, so we’ll discuss two popular options below.
Where Will My Hair Transplant Scars Be?
Your likelihood of developing scars after hair transplantation depends on the surgical technique, your genetic predisposition, your skin type, and the type of hair transplant method used. There are two main types that most practitioners favor for hair transplants: follicular unit transplantation (FUT), also known as the strip method, and follicular unit extraction (FUE).
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
The FUT method of hair restoration is a tried-and-true option that has been used for years. During FUT, your physician cuts a small section of your scalp to harvest hair follicles. They will carefully remove the hair follicles from the strip, prepare them, and then insert them in the areas where you are thinning or balding. The benefits of the FUT method include:
- Shorter surgical time
- Covers a larger portion of thinning hair
- Can provide a higher density of hair coverage
- Is ideal for patients with more extensive thinning
Because a strip is taken from the scalp, FUT does create a lateral scar. However, there are methods of reducing the scar’s appearance so that it is not noticeable.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
FUE is rapidly becoming the preferred method for hair restoration, as it allows more precise hair transfer without the risk of a lateral scar. During FUE, your provider meticulously removes hair follicles from other areas of the scalp before preparing them and reinserting them in other thinning areas of the scalp through tiny individual incisions. As this method does not result in a lateral incision or scar like with FUT, many patients are interested in this option. Other benefits of FUE include:
- No downtime
- Less invasive
- Comfortable procedure
- Customized results
- Permanent hair restoration
Despite these benefits, one of the primary drawbacks of FUE is the length of the procedure, as it can take an entire day to perform. However, this advanced method has so many benefits that many patients find it well worth it.
What Types of Scars Can You Get With Hair Transplantation?
The FUT method involves removing a small strip of hair from either the back or sides of the head—wherever you have enough donor hair to harvest. Once the strip is removed, your surgeon will suture the area back together, resulting in a straight, usually horizontal incision and eventual scar. Although the hair will grow back in that area, eventually covering the scar, the scar may look like a small, straight line across the scalp.
Are Hair Transplant Scars Permanent?
This depends. Some patients will experience more severe scarring than others, in which case, they are likely permanent. However, there are techniques to reduce scarring, lightening it enough that it is almost imperceptible.
Hair Transplant Scar Care
The sooner you start scar care, the better. But if you already have hair transplant scars, these tips can also help.
- Avoid sun exposure. In the early stages of recovery and beyond, be sure to always protect your surgical site from excessive sun exposure, as this can cause thicker and darker scarring. Wear a strong SPF and/or a hat while in the sun.
- Topical scar care. Your provider can recommend a good scar cream or ointment to help keep it smooth and flat. Silicone patches are also great options.
- Laser or light therapy. Once your incision has fully healed, you can start a laser therapy regimen to stimulate collagen, which can help heal the skin and reduce the appearance of scars over time.
- Microneedling. This minimally invasive treatment induces skin healing by creating micro-injuries in the skin, stimulating collagen production to break down scar tissue and improve texture.
Your choice of hair restoration is entirely dependent on your goals and the severity of your hair loss. Even if the strip method is the best option for you, subsequent scarring does not have to be permanent or impede your results.
Want to Learn More About Hair Restoration in San Diego, CA?
Dr. Joshua Crose at Capitis Medical & Aesthetics is a master of hair restoration techniques, offering a wide range of surgical and non-surgical solutions for his male and female hair loss patients. If you want to stop the thinning and balding today, call Capitis Medical & Aesthetics at one of our two Southern California offices or fill out our contact form to get started.
San Diego Office: (619) 510-6018 Roseville Office: (916) 701-6685