3 Main way to repair hair transplant donor scars

Hair transplant donor scars depends on the patient's hair length and the experience of the physician. In terms of technique, strip incisions leave recognizably different scars than follicular unit extractions. Strip incision techniques will leave a linear scar on the scalp, while follicular unit extraction leaves 1mm, round-shaped scars around the donor areas. Scars caused by follicular unit extraction are less visible than scars caused by other techniques.

hair loss

There are 3 methods of hair transplant donor scar repair used on patients :

1. Scar revision with suture - Most common & simplest way

This is a method of scar repair that involves improving the appearance of the scar. Correct most donor scars is by removing the scar tissue and reclosing the affected area.

This alone can help minimize its visibility. Generally, there is a 90% chance that the scar will improve with scar revision. Other possibilities include a 9% chance that the scar will remain the same, and a small 1% chance that the scar will be worse.

2. Placement of FUE into scar - Very popular way of scar repair

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is the process in which hair graft follicles are selectively extracted from the donor area without removing a strip of tissue.

This process can also be used to fill in the donor scar. It involves removing hair from the body or head and placing it into the scar tissue at the back of the head. Usually 50% to 90% of the grafts grow in scars, making the scarred areas of the scalp much less visible.

3. Botox injections around the scar area - No exact recommendation on the amount of Botox

The use of BOTOX injection into the donor area to prevent stretching of the scar is a relatively new concept that has been recently introduced to hair transplant surgery.

The research has not been done on a large number of patients yet. It mainly compared the effect of injection of BOTOX on the width of the donor scar on one side to the other side in post hair transplant surgery follow up visits. Because of the shortage of the number of experimented cases it is hard to conclude what is the best dose for BOTOX injection in and around the donor wound.