Overcoming shame of a hair transplant scar

[varonil]

I got a transplant when I was 20 (1995) to stop my receding hairline. The doctor said the scar it would leave would hardly be noticeable and of course I was desperate to halt my hair loss. After awaiting the result I knew I was duped because the new hair on the front of my scalp was thin and wiry, and I had a bigger scar then expected. My confidence (and luck) with women has been devastated ever since.

I would have shaved my head years ago but do not want to "advertise" my hair transplant because for me that would be like advertising the insecurity I had about baldness. Like it was something so horrible that it merrited disfiguring surgery. It is a double edged sword because I'm attractive to women when my head is buzzed but the shorter I shave my head of course the more apparent the scar.

I still think shaving my head is the best way to go because my hair loss is quite extensive and therefore I understand I'm not the best candidate for more transplants. I've read many threads on scar reduction techniques, but nothing that seems it will make the scar invisible. Therefore I'm wondering what other victims of strip scarring transplants who have elected to shave their heads are doing to overcome the scar stigma. When people inevitably ask what happened what do you tell them? Does anyone have a great excuse? If you told the truth to friends, relatives and colleagues, how did people react?

Cheers,

Adam