Overcoming shame of a hair transplant scar

[gillenator]

Hi Adam,

Please allow me to first say thank you for sharing your story and picture with us. I and probably many others appreciate your transparency because every case adds to the knowledge base of what can be potentially done in the repair arena.

You had your procedure at a very transitional time in the HT industry. I remember it well because I started researching and following the field in 1980 before the internet was even around. I must sound like a dinasour! Anyways, in 1995, there was still alot of open donor work (plugs) being done however the more progressive doctors had already been transitioning into the micro-mini technology. Instead of using punching out plug grafts from the donor, they began to dissect an actual linear strip of scalp tissue and then had surgey techs dissect that strip under magnification. No one was using scopes back then so to dissect the strip into follicular units was near impossible if not impossible altogethor. Too much transection would occur. Micro's were two and three hair grafts, and minnis were four plus hair grafts. Still not very natural appearing on the hairline. I wonder if that's what you had done.

Still in that time period, closing the area after the strip specimen was excised, closure methods were in their infancy and IMHO, did not improve until later into the late 90's and into the turn of the century did improved closure methods like the double-closure technique improve the probability of keeping the scar from stretching so much. Elasticity was not an issue for punch out grafts so quite frankly, HT docotrs did not experience their patients having scar stretch back until they started the strip methods. From my observation, I doubt that you had a double closure method. You must have had a fairly large session because the scar goes ear-to-ear which was somewhat rare back then. I was used to seeing guys with shorter, wider scars from that time period. It was not until after many men ended up with wide scars that the industry realized that elastcity is a major factor regarding potential scar stretchback so many docs began to take the strip thinner and longer. I think one of the main reasons docs took wide strips was because it was easier to dissect into grafts that way. As I said no one used microscopes to dissect back then. It was more cutting tissue, not microsopic dissection like the tops docs use today.

Sorry for my rambling of history. Back to your case. Start researching online the docs with the best reputations for repair work. IMHO, most of them will either want to extract the large grafts in your hairline for two reasons. They are too low situated on your hairline now that you are 34 years old and not getting younger. The second reason is that they are too large of grafts because natural hairlines commence in single hair FU's.

Some may recommend that you begin scalp stretching exercises to extend laxity to do a potential scar revision to make the linear scar much thinner. Then they may want you to come back after complete healing to do a FUE into the scar follow up session. You would be amazed at the end result. I have seen it done many times. Not every case is the same however. What is the implication? You need a reputable doc proven in repair work who is skilled and experienced in both strip AND FUE. It may very well take a combination of methods to bring about the best cosmetic result in your case.

That leads to my last recommendation. Get examined in person once you have narrowed your final selection of repair docs. Scap laxity cannot be tested through pics as you already know. It is difficult to get a gauge on the level of exisitng blood flow/supply in the scar area withoput seeing the area in person. See what I mean? That's why it may be more advantageous to remove dead scar tissue with a scar revision before implanting FUE grafts into the area at a later date. Improving the blood supply to the area can and will improve the chance of graft survival. The more hair that will grow in the scar, the better chance of disguising or camouflaging it.

One of the realities of getting a HT is the fact that we may not be able to buzz our hair extremely short in the future. Our scalps will never be the same as it was before the procedure.

I think you have some good potential to improve the area visually speaking though. Best wishes to you Adam!

Last c