Hair Transplant: Staples Verses Sutures to Close the Donor Area

Do you feel that staples or sutures are better for closing of the donor area after hair transplant surgery.   Which one produces a better scar?

This hair loss question was answered by  Dr. William Lindsey  of Reston, VA who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians.

I see this question a lot on the hair loss forum  and have put my 2 cents in a few times.   To summarize, I don’t think there is any difference between sutures and staples if placed with the same amount of skill.

I place staples about 25% of the time and it really depends on how the skin comes together for me. The hair restoration patient who is shown in this hair transplant photo album was listening to my assistant and me discussing this very topic. In the last 8 years I conservatively guess that I have placed 300,000 sutures; so I am very comfortable sewing. If there is any tension on the scalp after deep closure I do sutures. On the other hand, I think staples are more comfortable for the patient during that initial 10 days, and if the scalp comes together easily I will use staples for patient comfort. But if I have to trade a bit of comfort for a worse potential scar in my hands, I will suture and explain it to the patient.

Good question.

William Lindsey, M.D.

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Bill
Associate Publisher

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