Can you perform a Hair Transplant on a Scar Tissue?

13 January, 2015 | Hair Loss | Author : Shveta Virmani

A common concern among a number of patients considering hair transplantation is whether one can perform FUE procedures on a scar tissue. Other common concerns in this regard include:

Whether the FUE scars will leave behind white or pint spots?
Will the donor area be detectable if the hair is cut short?
Is there a chance of FUE graft failure in such case?
Can anything be done to improve density on the scar tissue?

Individuals will be happy to know that it is very easy for surgeons to perform a hair transplant on scar tissues. A relatively simple procedure, using hair transplant to conceal any form of scarring or head injury takes a mere 30 to 60 minutes.

Increasing the Density of Hair on the Scar Tissue

Achieving this on a scar tissue is a fairly simple procedure. Few surgeons are still of the belief that employing FUE on a scar tissue will not be able to support anything more than moderate density. This is justified by the fact that this area contains overall lower vascularity when compared with a healthy skin tissue.

However, more experienced surgeons consider this blanket approach to be rather narrow minded. With proper and safe extraction patterns and the use of the right sized punch can enable you to achieve a cosmetically acceptable result.

Factors that Determine Detectable Donor Area

There are essentially two factors that determine whether any extraction points will be cosmetically noticeable. First, is the size of the punch. Conventionally, most hair transplant surgeons use a .8mm punch that is known to provide maximum ease when handling grafts. After the extraction points are entirely healed it becomes rather challenging for anyone to spot any evidence of a donor area in the form of discoloration or scarring.

If you spot any form of pink dots, this is an indicator that the area is still healing. The white dots are an indication that the fibrous scar tissues have settled and that the donor area is completely healed. With a .8mm punch it is noticed that the final circumference of the extraction point is rather insignificantly small.

On the other hand, the second factor that influences the cosmetic appearance of the donor area is the overall pattern in which the extraction takes place. If the extraction pattern is strategically spread out, there will be a minor reduction in donor density. It is thus important to visit a reliable clinic where the surgeons are experienced enough to make sure that your grafts are well spread out and not from a single region that gives a patchy finish.

Transplant Survival Rates

A common concern when getting hair transplanted into a scar tissue, there is no denying that older technologies made it more challenging for surgeons to provide long-term results for such cases. However, with the use of new age transplant methods and tools, it is possible to achieve survival rates that are as high as 95 to 98%.

By signing up with the right clinic, you will be able to find the best solution for your hair transplant needs.