Scarring after Hair Transplant Surgery
Hair loss in an unfortunate potential side effect of aging that affects millions of men and women. While there are shampoos and serums that promise to promote hair growth, the most effective way to combat hair loss is through hair transplant surgery.
At the Chicago Hair Institute, we offer numerous surgical hair loss treatments to add volume to the hairline. These procedures fill in sparse, bald spots on the scalp while maintaining a natural-looking hairline. While many people are eager to benefit from the results of hair loss surgery, many worry about the scarring that will develop after treatment. Although hair transplant surgery results in some scarring, our Chicago, IL patients can feel confident that the experience of our surgeons, along with advanced surgical techniques, ensures that scars will be minimal after treatment.
What Will Hair Transplant Surgery Scars Look Like?
There are several different hair transplant surgery techniques for patients to consider. Hair that is transplanted into the hairline is highly unlikely to produce any visible scarring. However, patients should expect scarring at the donor site. Below are brief descriptions of our two most common hair extraction techniques:
- Donor strip harvesting: When the donor strip harvesting technique is used, our surgeons make long incisions to remove a strip from the back or side of the scalp. The size of the strip will be dependent on how many grafts are needed and how dense the hair in the donor site is. The size of the strip will determine the size of incisions and, thus, the size of the resulting scar. Although the scar may appear raised and red initially, it should fade substantially as the skin heals. Most patients find that the scar from a donor strip harvesting procedure can be hidden underneath the hair, even when the patient maintains a short haircut.
- Follicular unit extraction: Follicular unit extraction, or FUE, involves the removal of individual follicular units. Because we are taking out individual units of follicles, the incisions are different from those of a strip harvesting. For every follicular unit that is extracted, there will be a very small circular incision, almost like a hole punch. Since these scars are so small, and are dispersed over a large area of the scalp, they are easy to conceal. Even during the initial stage of recovery, FUE scars will be hard to distinguish.
Trichophytic Closure
To further minimize scarring following donor strip harvesting, our surgeons are happy to use the trichophytic closure technique. This technique is not performed by all hair loss surgeons, but our highly-skilled team is able to enhance the results of hair transplant surgery with this scar-minimizing procedure. This closure technique softens the appearance of scars at the donor site, and allows hair to grow through the scar tissue, thus camouflaging the scar even further. Our doctors are happy to discuss this technique in further detail with those who are considering donor strip harvesting.
Contact Us
If hair loss has diminished your self-confidence, contact us at your earliest convenience to learn more about the surgical hair loss treatments offered at the Chicago Hair Institute. We will customize your hair loss treatment to best meet your hair loss needs while maintaining a natural appearance for your hairline.