Reducing Hair Transplant Scarring by Removing a Smaller, Wider “Strip”?

This question comes from a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums: 

I’m interested in undergoing a smaller hair transplant procedure (follicular unit transplantation), and I’d like to reduce the “smiley face” appearance of the strip removal scar. Because of this, I was wondering if removing a small, wide strip in the back of the head, opposed to a long thin strip that extends around the ears, would reduce the visibility of the hair transplant scar?

I think the “smiley face” appearance of the scar occurs, as you said, when the strip wraps further around the sides of the head, above the ears. If you’re undergoing a smaller session, a smaller strip (that does not wrap around the side of the head) could be utilized.

However, the “enemy” of the follicular unit transplantation (FUT) scar is tension. Tension on the wound is what makes the scar stretch and creates the unnatural, unfortunate appearance feared by many hair loss sufferers. This excessive tension occurs when surgeons utilize staples or sutures to bring two opposing areas of tissue together and close a very wide wound. Because of this, surgeons have two options when utilizing a smaller number of grafts: a small, wide strip or a long, thin strip.

With a long, thin strip, the “scar” will extend around the head (creating the smiley face pattern), but the closure will be much more manageable and likely resist stretching and inappropriate scar tissue formation. Unfortunately, the short, wide scar would still result in excessive tension and create a smaller, but more noticeable and less manageable scar. However, I do highly recommend discussing the issue with your hair transplant surgeon.
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Blake Bloxham – formerly “Future_HT_Doc”

Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

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