Not A 'Pencil Thin Scar'

[GNX]

wat do u expect wen a huge chunk of flesh is cut out of the back of ur head? this is why FUE is superior!

[Kreuzer]

Sorry, I meant to say "accepted" up above.

[Kreuzer]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and seeking advice on the trichophytic (sp?) donor area closure. It seems at one time, this was considered a good way to alleviate the unsightly appearance left from the donor area. I've had 4 transplants and all together about 6200-6400 follicle transplants. My last transplant was in Dec. 2006 here in Indianapolis. Both of the doctors I had are deceased and the clinic no longer exists. I'm looking for a doctor in Indianapolis who is recommended for performing the trichophytic closure. I've had the staple method on the 1st transplant and, thereafter, stitches were used. I'm not happy at all with the coverage of 4 transplants as I just still look like a guy losing his hair. What I'd like to do is buzz my hair down to a size 2-3 trimmer. I feel very self conscious as it stands now even though with the last transplant, the clinic did leave me with one semi-linear scar. I say semi-linear, because at both ends of my scar, it ends in a "v" shape. I've come to the resolution that I've excepted my lack of hair and just will live with it, but would like to buzz it.

I did buzz it once about 5-6 yrs ago and, man, was I self-conscious until my hair grew back enough to cover the scar. I know a lot of guys have turned to the FUT method to hide the scar, but I really don't wish to go that direction as I've heard good and bad about it. My luck, I would be on the bad side. I've heard if done skillfully that the trichophytic method can make all the difference in the appearance of the scar. I understand that a scar cannot be completely removed, but would like it to be less apparent as it looks now. I did go to one plastic surgeon that said the scar is anywhere fro 5-8mm wide. He said he could get it down to maybe 2mm. I didn't have the money at that time but probably would have gone that way if I had, being desperate for a solution.

So, please, if anyone can suggest doctors, clinics and other methods, I would appreciate it! Thanks for taking the time and reading this.

Best Regards,

Kreuzer

[teg_101]

Hi All,

I am now in the planning stages of having my scar addressed. I had been putting this off for the longest time, but now have come the point where I would really like to have the ability to wear my hair shorter and to minimize the scar itself. Since H&W are now offering FUE, I was looking to have a consultation with them and see what they say.

I have been in touch with a few of the above noted clinics that have been mentioned by other members of the thread. Since this clinic is relatively new to the FUE procedure, would it be wise to consider them at this point, or would it be a gamble?

[35YrsAfter]

Still formed some cysts within the scar, which don't seem to heal :-/

I have been looking at the various options that are available to me to address the scar, but am still quite uncertain which route I want to take. I can confirm that I DO NOT want to be cut up again, or even attempt a excision at this point, its just way too risky.

Any questions, comments, concerns are welcome. Thanks for reading.

Our recent patient had a wide strip scar with ingrown hair from another hair transplant clinic. Dr. Cole did a scar revision that addressed the ingrown hair issue. The scar widened back slightly as they commonly do but the area is now level and FUE grafts should provide additional cosmetic improvement. Fortunately our patient has good thick hair and wears it relatively long.



35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office - forhair.com - Cole Hair Transplant, 1045 Powers Place, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009 - Phone 678-566-1011 - email 35YrsAfter at chuck@forhair.com
The contents of my posts are my opinions and not medical advice
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. Ask for Chuck

[ejj]

Hi Unbald,

I had FUE into my scars with Dr Bisanga at BHR.

All the best

ejj

[UnBald]

with the greatest respect matt , i would have to disagree with you , a further revision is high risk , more so when the patient has already stretched on a second strip , the reason i believe we dont see more of these poor revisions on the forums is due to the Drs offering the revision ` free of charge ` and then silencing the patient with legal disclaimers and ` pay offs` again just my opinion

The second point i would address is i have had excellent growth with fue into my huge scars from my former drs , so much so im back in the chair for the third time week on wednesday , low density grafting to start with and establish blood supply , small procedures , small manual punch , excellent Dr with excellent surgical plan has been hugely beneficial to me

regards

ejj

hi, Who did you go with for fue into your scar?

[reversethree]

Hi all,

First off, thank you to everyone on this forum for their opinions and suggestions.

I just to provide an update on the state of my scar. Its been approximately 20 months since my last surgery. At this point, I'm done with any further surgeries, other than addressing the scar. I wanted to give my scar ample time to settle down and to assess it after the 1.5 year mark. As you can see from my pictures, there was a great deal of hair which grew back after the shock loss occurred from the last surgery. Still formed some cysts within the scar, which don't seem to heal :-/

I have been looking at the various options that are available to me to address the scar, but am still quite uncertain which route I want to take. I can confirm that I DO NOT want to be cut up again, or even attempt a excision at this point, its just way too risky. If I could go back, I would have taken the FUE route for my last surgery, and left the scar (which was alot better) as is, and not gone for a revision. Well, can't cry over split milk I suppose..

Earlier this year, I looked into SMP from H&W. I went in for a test patch, but didn't pursue the treatment further because unfortunately it looks like the ink did not settle well on my scar, so that is out of the question. At this point, it looks like I'm in line for multiple FUE sessions to fix this mess. Now its a matter of determining who I should be consulting for this..

Any questions, comments, concerns are welcome. Thanks for reading.

hey teg

also have issue with scar stretch after 2nd FUT

thanks for your post

what did Rahal say about the scar post op?

don't know what to do myself.....

[teg_101]

Update

Hi all,

First off, thank you to everyone on this forum for their opinions and suggestions.

I just to provide an update on the state of my scar. Its been approximately 20 months since my last surgery. At this point, I'm done with any further surgeries, other than addressing the scar. I wanted to give my scar ample time to settle down and to assess it after the 1.5 year mark. As you can see from my pictures, there was a great deal of hair which grew back after the shock loss occurred from the last surgery. Still formed some cysts within the scar, which don't seem to heal :-/

I have been looking at the various options that are available to me to address the scar, but am still quite uncertain which route I want to take. I can confirm that I DO NOT want to be cut up again, or even attempt a excision at this point, its just way too risky. If I could go back, I would have taken the FUE route for my last surgery, and left the scar (which was alot better) as is, and not gone for a revision. Well, can't cry over split milk I suppose..

Earlier this year, I looked into SMP from H&W. I went in for a test patch, but didn't pursue the treatment further because unfortunately it looks like the ink did not settle well on my scar, so that is out of the question. At this point, it looks like I'm in line for multiple FUE sessions to fix this mess. Now its a matter of determining who I should be consulting for this..

Any questions, comments, concerns are welcome. Thanks for reading.

[drac0nyx]

nicely illustrated advice!

[Ryth]

My question at this point is, would stitches/sutures produce a better scar in my case, or is it simply a case of patient's physiology, where my scar will end up the same way? Also, based on the picture, would is this scar 2+ cm wide? Should I look into other repair methods, FUE etc? A scar such as this is simply not acceptable by any standard in this day and age. Any thoughts/comments.suggestions are appreciated. Thank you.

Stitches produce horrible scars due to them having to wrap around the whole wound while they are in. They also have to be out in 7-10 days and that isn't enough time for a scar to properly heal. So do not go to a place that does a scar repair with stitches. Your scar will stretch out. Trust me.

I suggest someone like Dr. Shapiro. He uses staples and Acell. He did mine and I had a bad scar. I'm going back for 1 final revision on areas that we haven't gotten to yet.

Another thing that doctors do unfortunately in scar repairs is that they aren't aggressive enough and only go 'near' the edges of the scar on both sides. If you want to get rid of a scar, you actually have to go into the hair around it and then close those 2 areas and draw together 2 hair bearing edges. Most don't go to the hair bearing edge, they go right to the edge of the scar and even leave a tad bit of it and then close it..which really is just leaving about 1 mm of scar already which will definitely stretch.

I would suggest leaving your staples in 14 days for half and then taking out the others at 21 days minimum.

When I had my scar repaired in two stages due to length, I left them in for 21 days for half and then 30 days to make sure there was no tension. Now my scar is pencil thin where it was done. If I didn't have some old plugs scars above each line (which I'm having punched out and then X stitched closed) my hair would cover just fine and i'd have great coverage.

I also suggest having your scar done in small parts...2-3 inches in length cut out, then a 2-3 inch space that isn't cut, then another 2-3 inches in length cut out, etc...removes tension on the scar.

so you want to do something like this in stages (= is scar)(-- is repaired)

So if this was your scar

============================================

You'd want to do something like this where you cut a small section out, then skip then cut another section out.


Stage 1

{ cut out } ======== { cut out } ========{ cut out }


Stage2

---------- { cut out } ---------- { cut out } ----------

[drybone]

Fue in the scar followed by micorpigmentation is a great option. I have had 6 transplants and have done the above to help. I wear my hair very short. For all these reasons, I always encourage young patients to consider FUE. You can move about 3,000 grafts in one session without the scar. Yes it is more expensive but in the end you have one less thing to worry about... a big long scar.

You have had 6 operations? You look pretty good doc.

[ITNEVERRAINS]

And us old guys who did strip before FUE was an option can get rid of those scars as well. I'm honestly more excited about my scar revision next year than my 4 HT

[northeastguy]

Fue in the scar followed by micorpigmentation is a great option. I have had 6 transplants and have done the above to help. I wear my hair very short. For all these reasons, I always encourage young patients to consider FUE. You can move about 3,000 grafts in one session without the scar. Yes it is more expensive but in the end you have one less thing to worry about... a big long scar.

Well said Doc...

[Granastasis]

I agree with teg_101..SMP is the best option for you. Try to search on the web for more information. Wish you luck