FUE Scars: How to Avoid Them and How to Manage Them

Hair Transplant Donor AreaWhile it may not require a trip to the hospital, involve a scalpel, or a doctor operating deep inside your body, hair transplant surgery is, in fact, surgery. While certainly not as invasive as many other surgical procedures, a hair transplant does involve incisions in the skin, though they are minimal. That means there is always the potential for scars to develop in the donor areas where hair is harvested for transplant. Fortunately, advancements in hair transplant technology and techniques have gone a long way towards minimizing the scarring that was more prevalent in older procedures.

One of the many benefits of the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair transplant technique – developed and implemented by the Hair Transplant Institute of Miami’s Dr. Paul Rose – is that it results in minimal scarring. Nevertheless, scars can still develop depending on the patient’s natural healing capabilities or if a patient fails to take proper care of their scalp post-procedure.

The FUE Technique

During an FUE transplant, we remove follicular units from the scalp one-by-one. Donor hairs are removed with a one-millimeter punch device, and the procedure is abetted with a head positioning device to minimize movement. With FUE, patients can completely avoid a more obvious linear scar often associated with other hair transplant methods. Instead, scarring occurs in a dot-like pattern and is virtually undetectable after healing and regrowth. The minimal scarring means that patients can wear their hair quite short (but not completely shaven) without any evidence that a procedure has been done.

Avoiding FUE Scars: It’s in Your Surgeon’s Hands

The most important step you can take to minimize or avoid visible scarring is to ensure that your hair transplant surgeon has the skill, technique, and experience to perform an FUE transplant with the precision needed to prevent scarring. Precision is the key to a successful FUE procedure, and the key to precision is experience and the skillful use of the most advanced technology available. Dr. Rose was one of the originators of the FUE technique, performing the procedure on thousands of patients since 2004. Our approach utilizes the image-guided robotics of the ARTAS system, which provides unmatched precision in hair transplantation. 

Managing FUE Scars

Though scarring should be minimal and heal quickly, you’ll want to be gentle with your scalp and hair after surgery to keep it that way. You’ll be able to return to work and engage in your regular activities in a matter of days, but for the first few nights, try to sleep with your head elevated. Wait a few days before shampooing as you usually would, but don’t be too vigorous when doing so.

Schedule an Appointment for a Hair Loss Evaluation Today

If you are concerned about your hair loss and are ready to do something about it, we invite you to schedule an evaluation at the Hair Institute of Miami. Drs. Nusbaum and Rose are internationally acclaimed hair restoration surgeons with more than 40 years of combined experience. To receive a personalized evaluation and treatment plan, contact us online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222.