What are My Options after a Bad Hair Transplant?

This hair loss question was answered by Dr. Timothy Carman of La Jolla, CA who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians. His professional answer is below.

Three years ago I received a bad hair transplant that resulted in cobblestoning or bumps in the recipient area as well as a bad scar. I have scheduled a consultation with a dermatologist about using a Fraxel laser to smooth the skin. Are there any other non-surgical options? Also, can I sue the hair restoration clinic?

The work that was done, although certainly not stellar, would appear to fall within the category of “standard of care”, so the “suing” issue I believe may be a waste of time. The overall result wherein the follicular unit grafts are placed sparsely more than likely would be the result of “filling in” as many patients request, without attention to the fact that this will be the result when further hair loss occurs. Following the previous “immature” hairline, results in a mismatch between the contour design of the hairline and the density.

As for the raised nature of the grafts as they sit on the scalp, while this is certainly less than ideal, hair that is worn at a “normal’ (i.e. not “buzzed”) length should hide this poorer result. However, I can understand that, as this has evolved the low density you have, your hair probably doesn’t look too good in the “normal” longer style.

The donor scar, as well, is less than ideal. However, it does not appear to my eye that this is a scenario worth giving up on. Although I understand your frustration you should, in the proper hands, be able to:

1. Reduce the scar from the first hair transplant.
2. Increase the density in the hairline and frontal forelock, and;
3. Have the grafts outside the “mature” hairline removed, either by follicular unit extraction (FUE) or laser.

I hope this is helpful for you, and I am sorry you ended up with the result you did.

Dr. Timothy Carman
La Jolla Hair Restoration Medical Center

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David – aka TakingThePlunge
Assistant Publisher 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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Technorati Tags: hair transplant, hair restoration, follicular unit grafts, hair loss, follicular unit extraction, FUE

David aka - TakingthePlunge

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View Comments

mr powers says:

January 15, 2011 at 2:47 pm

the non surgical option for this patient is lazer and only lazer and nothing but lazer, i should know... its me... never will i go for another hair transplant never will i ever even consider it, and this page shouldnt even exist. if you going to promote anything or anyone it should be the fraxel lazer and what it can do for a person, not promote more scars... also dr timothy said the following 'The laser would slowly shrink the follicle, over several treatments, to the point where it would no longer grow hair. FUE is a method wherein the hair follicle(s) is(are) extracted as a single unit- whether that be a group of one, two, or three follicles (which grow as a unit- see follicular unit definition in other posts). This results in a small defect which usually heals without much scarring.

note - more defects and not much scarring means... scarring, im trying to get rid of scars not get more.