17-Aug-11 6:00 PM  CST  

The Truth About Hair Transplant Scars: What Every Patient Should Know 

Do you want scarless surgery? Do you believe in the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny? They are all figments of creative marketing. But they are not real.
 
There is always a scar anytime surgery is performed on the skin. In hair restoration, this applies to whether the harvest of hair follicles is obtained by strip harvesting or follicular unit extraction (FUE). The scars usually are only minimally visible when proper care is followed, both intraoperatively and post-operatively.
 
In the video below, Dr. Bernardino Arocha of Arocha Hair Restoration (http://arochahairrestoration.com) offers a factual assessment of the scars experienced by hair transplant patients. In strip extraction, a portion of the back of the scalp is removed to harvest hair follicles used in transplant. The wound is then closed using techniques designed to minimize scarring. In FUE, a punch is used to extract tiny portions of scalp and the scalp is left to repair itself, leaving thousands of tiny little scars.
 
 
FUEs are performed employing a small punch either 1 or .75 mm to score the follicle. The wound is very small, but it is left to heal without primary closing. Therefore, a small scar will result. In FUEs there are numerous punctate scars producing a “bird shot” pattern of diffuse punctate scars.
 
Strip harvest typically produces a linear scar. If the principle of minimizing surface tension is adhered to, the scar can be minimally visible. Proper intra-operative technique employs closing in one or two layers, the deep layer serves to minimize surface tension. Sometimes a tricophytic closure is employed in which one of the wound margins is beveled so the hair will grow throught the scar making it very difficult to see the scar. Using these methods, we are often successful at minimizing post-surgical hair transplant scarring to less than 1 mm.
 
Post-operatively, we advise the patient to limit performing exercises that cause pulling of the neck until the scar has matured. It can take the wound 6-12 months for the scar to mature. Alternative exercises can be substituted that limit pulling of the wound margins in the neck.
 
 
To determine which approach is better for you, get the facts and ask questions, but don't believe the hype that any method is "scarless."

 

Click a star to rate!

Rating: 0.00 / 5.00  - Not yet rated.
0 ratings

Comments:


Post a Comment

0 / 500 characters


Add to Favorites • • •

 

For additional information on this Hair Restoration article, please contact:

Dan Keeney

Source: Arocha Hair Restoration
http://www.arochahairrestoration.com

Related Documents:

Content Tags: •

Tags: fue hair harvest loss restoration scar strip transplant

 

Other Recent Articles:

Return to Houston Hair Transplant, Houston Hair Restoration Articles Search

Hair Restoration Services

View more About Hair Restoration...

 

Dr. Arocha's Upcoming Events

No Upcoming Events found. Check back soon!

 

Dr. Arocha's Featured Articles

Which is better FUE or FUT?

Which is better FUE or FUT? There are advantages to both techniques as there are some disadvantages to each. Each technique is worthwhile having in the armamentarium to battle hair loss and for a complete approach to state of the art hair restoration. Remember that no matter which donor harvesting more

More Articles

 

Get answers to your questions at the IAHRS Hair Transplant Info Center
Recommended by The 

View Dr. Bernardino Arocha's Recommendation on the Hair Transplant Network
View Dr. Bernardino Arocha's
Recommendation on the