Strip scar repair is a demanding procedure that requires skill and experience. Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) used to be the most prevalent form of hair transplantation. However, it always leaves a visible scar of unpredictable size. Not only does this impact natural appearing hair growth, but it also limits the patient's selection of hairstyles. Repair entails using Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), today's leading hair transplant technique, to establish a realistic hair growth pattern and scalp micro pigmentation, a realistic tattoo that lasts up to seven years, to mitigate the scar's appearance. For many patients, FUE into FUT scar is the only solution to fix their GUT scar and is considered by them as a lifesaver. The patient's ideal result is the ability to wear their hair how they wish without any obvious signs transplantation happened.
FUE Strip Scar Repair 2013
Before making his decision to have his strip scar repaired by Dr. Cole and his team, our patient received discouraging news from the other hair restoration physicians he consulted with. One doctor said that FUE into a scar would yield so little hair, it would be a complete waste of money.
On June 18, 2012, our patient, received 1244 scalp hair grafts into his strip scars. Our video demonstrates the successful growth of these grafts 11 months post-op. On May 17, 2013, our patient received an additional 200 grafts into his scars to improve hair density.
FUE Patient Results from 10.17.2013
Our patient began with hair transplant surgery in 1995. At that time he received plugs and mini grafts. Fortunately, he got a relatively thin strip scar. To date, he has had two small procedures with Dr. Cole. His first surgery was in November 2005 and the next, in April 2007. In 2005 he received 779 grafts and in 2007 he received 500 grafts for a total of 1279 so far. Today, October 2013, he is having his final procedure. He is receiving 400 scalp grafts and 100 beard grafts.
Today, I used Hair Cycle Texture gel in an attempt to make the strip scar as visible as possible for the photo (see upper right photo) before his final surgery. The two previous surgeries have done a great job so far at filling in the strip scar to the point where a short haircut is possible without revealing the scar.
The lower right photo reveals some minor plugginess that will be addressed during today's surgery.
FUE Scar Repair Results 9.29.2014
Our patient came to us looking to improve the appearance of his strip scar. This patient had previously undergone 4 strip surgeries at another clinic, causing a 21cm wide and 2cm high strip scar. With each subsequent strip procedure, a patient increases his risk of a larger strip scar. Dr. Cole has hair grafted into this region. 5cc of ACell was injected into the scar along with the 443 scalp hair grafts. Dr. Cole has found that the administration of ACell and PRP during transplant surgery improves the graft survival rate. When performing scar grafts, a low-density placement of hair during the first surgery is beneficial for both graft survival and blood supply, thus setting an optimal environment for the placement of future grafts. The benefit of added density is an improved appearance when hair is worn in a shorter hairstyle. The goal is to make the scar blend with the rest of the patient’s hair. While some of our patients have told us that other hair transplant physicians do not recommend scar grafting as a means to strip scar repair, we can only conclude this advice is based on the concept that scar tissue will not grow hair. However, as we have seen with our patients, this is simply untrue, especially with the addition of ACell and PRP. This patient has quite an improvement in his strip scar even with as little as 443 hair grafts.
Before the FUE scar repair:
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After
