Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) for Concealing Hair Loss: Can It Be Removed with Lasers?

This hair loss article was written by  Dr. William Rassman  of Los Angeles, CA who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.

Because so many grafts were lost in my first two hair restoration surgeries, I’m tapped out for donor hair. I believe I’m right at the cusp of having a cosmetically acceptable appearance. However, I’m considering a light tattooing in the event the final result isn’t quite dense enough to provide the appearance of more density. I visited a company while I was in Minneapolis having my last hair transplant. I was not impressed. They were far more worried about me signing on the dotted line than answering my questions. When I finally told them I would go no further until my questions were answered the conversation shut down. They answered all of my questions to my satisfaction except one.

I asked if the tattooing could be removed with a laser one day if I needed to do so for some unforeseen reason without damaging the hair follicles. They would not answer that. After completing a little more research after my surgery on the hair tattooing subject, I discovered there was a Coalition approved surgeon in California offering hair tattooing. Does anyone have his name or another recommended hair restoration physician who is offering that service? I would feel far more comfortable going to a doctor for that service rather than a tattoo artist for many reasons. Thanks!

We offer scalp micropigmentation (a tattoo essentially that mimics the stubble of a shaved scalp). We have been doing it close to two years now with some wonderful results.

To answer your question about removal of the tattoo with a laser, yes it works reasonably well. We had one patient who had the hairline placed in a position that he was not comfortable with, one that was far too flat without the normal appearing mature hairline. We had it tattooed and then once the hairline was ‘erased’ we redid it for him. He was more than happy. Hopefully, he will agree to allow us to use his before and after pictures which will appear on our website when that occurs.

Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) is not for everyone. We make it a point not to sell this procedure but rather spend considerable time getting to know the problem the SMP is going to treat and the mental state of the patient (is he/she realistic in their expectation). We spend a great deal of time with each SMP prospect because so many of them really don’t understand the process and, as good doctors, we must teach the patient as much as diagnose and treat them.

We have Open House events every month and our patients (people who had transplants or SMP in the past) come to these events. Last week at the monthly open house, there were three SMP patients there so that prospective candidates could judge, first-hand, what it is all about and what they are going to look like after the process is done. We even performed SMP on one of our patients for everyone to see. Nothing is a secret when it comes to good education.

It takes hours and hours to do the SMP right. The typical patient who wants to cover an entirely bald head and shave it (keeping it shaved or clipped) will take 4-6 hours on the first of what may be 2-3 sessions. The reason for second and third sessions is because the pigment often fades in blotches and we want uniformity so we touch it up again and often again. Our website covers the many issues (good and bad) and provides a balanced view of the process.

Our best SMP artist is Dr. Jae Pak, himself. It took a long time to learn the process and refine it. We have two additional staff members that have mastered it as well and, like a hair transplant, the process is a team effort. Also like a transplant, the process is very tedious.

It is very important to educate the patient audience. The doctors also need an education on the benefits of the process. It is not uncommon for us to treat people who have had many hair transplants and have depleted the donor supply. Our work with scars produces fantastic results. With some patient’s work incomplete (because of poor planning on the transplant surgeon’s part), the SMP process offers a reasonable alternative for filling in a thin transplant (pigment between longer hairs).

Again, this process is not for everyone. Feel free to write me here on the Hair Transplant Network by clicking on my name at the top of this article.

William Rassman, M.D.

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