You can minimize their visibility, you can hide them, you can speed their healing, but you can’t avoid them entirely. As with any surgery, some scarring is an inevitable consequence of hair transplant surgery. While the Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) hair transplant technique is not nearly as invasive as other surgical procedures and is light years better in terms of scarring than older hair transplant methods, it does involve incisions in the scalp for the extraction of donor’s hair. Whenever the skin experiences such as trauma, scarring of some form will almost always be present.
In this post, we explain what you need to know about FUE hair transplant scarring; why it happens, the factors that determine the extent of post-procedure scars, and the steps you can take after your surgery to minimize scarring and move the healing process along.
Why Is There Scarring?
During an FUE transplant, we remove follicular units from the scalp one at a time using a one-millimeter punch device. This stands in contrast to the strip harvesting of groups of follicles which leave behind a more linear – and more apparent – scar. With FUE, small scars occur in a dot-like and scattered pattern that makes them virtually undetectable after healing and regrowth. The minimal scarring means that patients can wear their hair quite short (but not completely shaven) without any visible evidence that they have had hair transplant surgery.
How Much Scarring Will There Be?
If you go out for a gourmet meal, whether the food exceeds expectations or is tasteless and underwhelming is largely in the hands of the chef, who will use their training, education, artistry, and talent to craft a delicious feast for you. Even the finest ingredients won’t mean much if the chef is subpar. Same with hair transplant surgery.
The most crucial factor in minimizing or avoiding visible scarring is the identity of the surgeon performing the procedure. You need to do your homework and make sure that the doctor you choose for this important crossroads in your life has the skill, technique, and experience to perform an FUE transplant with the care and attention to detail 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.
The Miami Hair & Skin Institute’s Dr. Paul Rose was one of the pioneers of the FUE technique and has restored the hair, appearance, and confidence of thousands of patients over the past 15 years. Our approach uses the image-guided robotics of the ARTAS system, which provides unmatched precision in hair transplantation and further minimizes post-surgery scarring.
Healing Scars After Hair Transplant Surgery
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 Restoration Evaluation Today
If you are concerned about your hair loss and are ready to do something about it, worries about scarring shouldn’t stand in your way. We invite you to schedule a personalized hair loss and restoration evaluation at the Miami Hair & Skin Institute. Our Drs. Nusbaum and Rose are internationally renowned 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.