No growth in donor area

[Harry West]

I had my 2nd procedure of 1,500-1,600 grafts just over 2 months ago. As of yet, I have very little growth in the donor/wound area. It's still a big strip of pink skin with basically no hair growth. Is this normal? If so, how long before I start to see growth over the scar?

My hair is long enough in back to comb over the wound, but it can become visible if my hair gets messy.

From my 1st procedure, which was about 1,000 grafts and one year before my 2nd procedure, I don't recall how much time passed before I started regrowing hair in the donor area.

Any input out there?

Thanks.

[Spex]

Hi there, Sounds like classic shockloss around the scar area. This is common so try not worry.
3-4 MONTHS will be the time scale required in order for regrowth.
Apply some minox possibly to the area to increase blood flow.
Regards
S

[st3v]

I too had this concern a couple months after my strip hair transplant. I had the procedure done around 5 months ago.

I had little growth in the donor area and the hair in the back had a visible recess. But now, it has grown back and it looks good.

[Harry West]

Thanks for the input, guys. I'm not TOO worried about it, but I was just a little curious as to when I might expect some regrowth. I'll hang in there.

[John P. Cole, MD]

Big pink scars never grow hair unless you graft into them. they sometimes loose their pink color. then sometimes they remain pink or red for life. What may grow in is hair lost due to a closure that is too tight. In other words you might have growth despite an aggressive physician approach to harvesting a strip or shock loss. Shock loss is rare with strips and even rarer with FUE, but it can occur with both. An aggressive approach with strip surgery is the most common cause of donor area shock loss. Spex is a pretty bright guy, but i'm not quite certain what he is referring to. Maybe he is on target because i think i recall that he went through this. Anyway, pink will resolve or it will not. Hair loss will resolve or it will not. You are not out of the woods yet after a strip. I'm no fan of strips. Period.