4 Ways to Remove Hair Transplant Scars

Even though there has been significant progress made in hair restoration, unfortunately, hair transplant scars are still inevitable. More than 650,000 men and women worldwide receive hair transplants each year and everyone has to think about scars. 

But there are a few factors to consider regarding the size and amount of hair transplant scars you may have. One major factor is your surgeon—the more skill and experience the surgeon has, the better off you’ll be. Other factors, including the type of hair transplant, the amount of hair loss, and the condition of your scalp, also play essential roles in the amount of scarring.

We’ll discuss the two most common types of hair restoration procedures, the kind of hair transplant scars to expect, and the four ways to remove or cover up scars. 

Common Hair Transplant Procedures 

In hair restoration, the two most common procedures are follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE). 

FUT Hair Transplant 

This procedure entails taking a strip of your scalp from the donor area, removing the hair follicle grafts from the strip, and transplanting them to the recipient area. When the surgeon removes the donor strip, they will suture the site back together, which will leave a scar. 

To transplant the follicles, the surgeon makes small incisions in the recipient area and places each hair. This procedure does require stitches, which the surgeon usually removes after about 10 days. 

FUE Hair Transplant 

Instead of taking an entire strip of donor hair, during an FUE procedure, the surgeon extracts each hair follicle individually from the donor area using a tool called a micro-punch. 

The micro-punch tool creates tiny round scars with each punch, each one about the size of one millimeter in diameter. So depending on how many hair follicles you need for the recipient area, you could have thousands of scars. This hair plant procedure is an outpatient procedure that usually doesn’t include any stitches. 

Which Hair Transplant Is Right For Me? 

There are a few factors that your surgeon will consider when recommending either FUT or FUE. Both are equally effective for growing hair, but one procedure may not be the best fit for you. 

 Some factors your surgeon will consider: 

• Age
• Hair restoration goals of the patient 
• The progression of hair loss 
• Available donor hair 
• The quality of donor hair available 
• The amount of hair needed in the recipient area 

4 Ways To Remove Hair Transplant Scars

If you choose FUT or FUE, there will be scars that you will have to think about. Scars may be minimal at first, but scars can start to sag and become more visible with time. 

Some of the most common ways to remove hair transplant scars include the following: 

1. Use FUE to cover a FUT scar 

If you had a FUT procedure, sometimes a good option is to use the FUE method to transplant hair over your scar. But this depends on the size and thickness of your scar. Sometimes a surgeon will recommend a medication that can reduce the thickness of the scar in preparation for this procedure. 

2. Scalp hair tattooing 

Scalp micropigmentation (SMP), also known as scalp hair tattooing, is another option for covering hair transplant scars from FUT or FUE. The surgeon will select a pigmentation that matches your skin color and then tattoo it over your scar. As a result, not only can it help cover up scars, but it can also give the impression you have thicker hair. 

3. Tricopigmentation (TMP) 

This is very similar to SMP, but it’s considered a temporary option. The pigmentation is semi-permanent, and the results can last anywhere from six months to three years. This option is less expensive than SMP because it is a temporary solution. 

4. Laser therapy 

Laser therapy has been effective in removing scars of hair transplant patients. The laser can target and rid damaged skin, which reduces the appearance of the scar and stimulates collagen to increase the suppleness of the skin.  

Hair Transplants at Cendant Stem Cell Center 

At Cendant Stem Cell Center, we work with you to determine which hair restoration method best fits you. After learning more about your hair restoration goals, our experienced surgeons will recommend a customized treatment plan just for you. If you would like to learn more, please get in contact with us today.