What are the Risks of Scar Stretching in Hair Transplantation?
If a scar stretches in hair transplantation, is it the fault of the hair transplant doctor or the hair transplant patient?
For those considering undergoing a hair transplant procedure, scar stretching is a very concerning issue. This issue has also been discussed a lot recently on our hair restoration discussion forum
Scar stretching is never the “fault” of the hair transplant patient but can be related to a hair loss sufferer’s physiology. Scar stretching can be the fault of the hair transplant physician. Some factors resulting in bad scarring include:
- Harvesting too wide of a strip in follicular unit hair transplantation
- Improper closure of the donor area
- Improper Removal of the donor strip
- Improper location of the excised donor strip – outside of the donor area safe zone
Are there preliminary signs therefore that a scar might be at risk of stretching? Dr. Epstein who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians suggests that hair transplant patient extreme scalp elasticity might be a sign of “thin skin” lacking in the supportive collagen which may increase the risk of scar stretching after surgery. He further stated that this is seemingly more common in younger hair transplant patients – which is yet another possible indication that waiting to undergo hair restoration surgery might be the better choice.
Bill
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog
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