Grafting of skin dates centuries back. However, hair transplantation has gained popularity off late. Discovered in the 1950”s, this technique involves the extraction of sections of your hair from back and sides and grafting them in the balder regions which provides uniform hair density.
Hair is a noted feature of our appearance, and those facing excessive hair loss and baldness deal with issues of self-confidence and self-esteem. This micrografting procedure is indeed a boon for those battling hair loss and pattern baldness. Just as uprooting plants leaves an emptiness behind them, these procedures involving hair extraction can have a discolored region or a no hair strip/region or a scar mark as a by-product.
This article talks about the hair transplant scar, care to be taken, and different scar removal techniques that would benefit a flawless hair transplant.
Table of Contents
Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:
- Hair Transplant Scarring: FUT and FUE
- Hair transplant aftercare on scar
- Hair transplant scar removal techniques
Hair Transplant Scarring: FUT and FUE
Popular hair transplantation procedure includes two major types of the surgical process. Each of the procedures leaves a particular type of scar with it. Mentioned below are the different transplantation techniques and the type of scar they produce.
- FUT or follicular unit transplant where a strip of your hair is extracted surgically particularly from the back portion (donor site) and converted into small grafts. These grafts are then implanted into the bald sites giving a uniform hair look.
The area from where the strip of hair was removed is sutured back but leaves a scar behind. This scar varies in size and length depending on the strip removed. This is known as the FUT scar.
- FUE or follicular unit extraction involves the extraction of hair follicles from the back and sides of the scalp and these donor follicles having one to four hair strands are relocated as follicular units in the bald zone. However, depending on the follicles removed, maybe hundreds or even more, an equal number of puncture marks can be observed that remain as tiny white dots also known as FUE scar.
The type of surgical procedure used depends on a lot of aspects starting from type of baldness/hair loss to the type of hair and skin texture.
Though these scars are aftermaths of transplantation procedures, there are different modern techniques to treat a hair transplant scar.
These scars can be weird and affect the look but can be covered by the growing hair around. Especially the FUE scars are less visible to the naked eye.
Hair transplant aftercare on scar
The regions from where the hair has been taken out will require time to heal. Particularly, the FUT scar where the strip of the hair is removed surgically and the donor region would have been sutured needs proper healing and some aftercare tips as given below :
- Avoid combing or harsh combing in the grafted regions as well as the donor sites.
- There may be chances of bleeding in the donor region or recipient region that can be managed by holding the area firmly and applying an antiseptic or a sterilizer.
- Avoid washing your hair for a couple of days and make sure that you don’t use hair dryers as well.
- Apply soothing agents on the donor regions to help relieve itching or any discomfort in the region.
- Sometimes, even the eyebrows and the forehead region might swell, this can be taken care of by sleeping with your head high by including a few extra pillows.
- The scars can become sore, prone to infections, and painful as well. Apply topical antibiotic creams and take prescribed painkillers if necessary.
These tips will help heal the wounds post-surgery effectively and provide relief from the side effects of the hair transplant procedure. The healed wounds formed at the donor/recipient regions form a scar or a mark that can be revised accordingly.
Hair transplant scar removal techniques
Advancement in cosmetological technology has led to the revival of ways to remove hair transplantation scars that can spoil your overall appearance. Though post hair transplant procedure scarring is inevitable, these scars can be concealed by different techniques. They include:
- Scalp Micropigmentation or SMP: This technique involves the permanent injection of pigment like the colour of your hair into the scar to give a uniform hair look. Also known as a medical hairline tattoo or scalp hair tattooing, it helps cover the scar with a tattooed hair effect on it. Here, the pigmentation of the scar can be done on the requirements of hair colour and density as well. The pigmentation looks similar to the hair follicles and thus, many people consider this hair transplant scar revision technique instead of hair transplantation.
- Tricopigmentation or TMP: This technique involves a semi-permanent ink that is injected over the scars. This procedure is temporary compared to SMP. However, people opting for the temporary benefits of scar revision can consider this technique.
- Laser aided scar removal: Lasers can be used to cover the scar which can be done by fusing SMP and TMP techniques too with it. Pulses of the laser when targeted on the scar, will help remove the dead skin cells from the above layers, help to resurface new layers of skin, enhance collagen production and improve the elasticity of the affected area. This promotes the disappearance of the scar or reduces scar discoloration.
It’s important to note that FUT scars may not require a scar removal procedure. The supported hair growth around it will help disguise the scar. However, people who have FUE scars may need to consider the above hair transplant scar revision techniques that would aid to provide a homogenous hair appearance.
Takeaway
Hair transplantation has found solutions to problems like excessive hair fall and pattern baldness in both men and women. This modern technique has visible side-effects or long-term effects of scar formation.
The hair transplant scar expected by the patients varies depending on the type of hair transplantation procedure done. However, it can be reduced or covered by even more revised procedures of scar removal including the use of lasers which is done under the guidance of your skin specialists.
At Skinqure, you will get the right suggestions and treatment from a specialized team of dermatologists on hair transplant scar removal.