This patient had several strip surgeries in the years prior to presenting to our office 7 months months ago. He desired to shave his head. Unfortunately, this exposes the strip scar.
Strip scars tend to widen with progressive procedures. no one can predict the width of the scar. Another problem with strip surgeries is that the scar often turns quite pink and can stay pink like you see in these before photographs indefinately. The final problem we often see with strip scars is the change in hair growth direction or angle. The hairs above the scar have a more acute angle to the skin while the hairs below the scar are directed more vertically so that they can even grow upward toward the top of the scalp rather than downward toward the feet.
These photographs depict some of the changes you can anticipate by grafting into scars. First the most obvious signs of strip scaring are decreased by adding hair. Another major advantage is that the pink color of the strip scar fades as we graft follicular units into the scar.
One final point is worth noting. We can make strip scars much better by grafting into them, but it can be very difficult to conceal them to the point that you will be able to shave your head. It is best to avoid strip procedures if concealment is a primary concern for you.


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