It is not uncommon for those who had hair transplant surgery many years ago, before today’s modern techniques were available, to have been left with a cosmetically unappealing scar. And it is quite common for those with this type of scar to want to improve its appearance. While it may not be possible to completely eliminate the visibility of the scar, a skilled and experienced hair transplant doctor can usually bring some improvement to it.
There are several different ways in which a hair transplant scar can be improved, but the extent of the improvement depends on a few different factors. The exact location of the scar and the laxity, or flexibility of the scalp is two of the most important factors when considering a scar revision. A scar with a poor placement can make it difficult for the doctor to repair it, and in some cases even make it unrealistic to attempt. While a variety of factors will affect the outcome of the scar revision, the skill of the doctor might be the most important factor of them all.
One of the most common methods in hair transplant scar revision is to open the scar and close it back together, but this time in a way that will hopefully make the scar thinner and improve its appearance. With newer scar closure methods, such as the trichophytic closure which can make hair grow through the scar, there is a high chance that the scar will be improved. While the method of opening and re-closing the scar might seem like an easy and straightforward solution, it can be unreliable for a number of reasons. The skin surrounding the scar has been stretched and pulled ever since the first surgery and might have lost some of its elasticity. In some people this resulted in a widening of the scar, and there is a small risk the skin will keep this characteristic even after a scar revision surgery.
Another scar revision technique involves using the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) method. With this method hair follicles are extracted from the client’s scalp and inserted directly into the scar, in an effort to “camouflage” it and make it less visible. Using this method is usually a great way of improving the appearance of the scar. A third, but much less recommendable, option would be to tattoo the scar in a color that matches the surrounding hair, however, it is hard to find a matching color and this method will not look as cosmetically appealing as minimizing the scar or filling it with hair.
While none of these options will completely eliminate the scar, they can certainly improve its overall appearance and make it less visible. In addition to the aforementioned methods, an experienced doctor can try additional tricks to improve the scar, such as with injections, fillers or other cosmetic treatments. Regardless of method, choosing an elite hair transplant doctor to perform the scar revision is the key to success.
Photo via gaffjones
