Get the real deal on beauty treatments—real doctors, real reviews, and real photos with real results.Here's how we earn your trust.
The short answer is yes. Obtaining the original density of hair in your donor scar won't be possible, as the scar tissue simply doesn't have enough blood flowing through it to support a full density of newly transplanted grafts.For scar camouflage, options are:1) scar removal and revision by an highly experienced scalp surgeon if indicated, with or without tissue expansion2) FUE into the scar; typically 2 or more small sessions will be required3) following FUE the scar to provide some texture, the skin of the scar, which is typically lighter than the surrounding skin of the scalp, can be tattooed with a specialized scalp micropigmentation procedure (SMP), which are temporary tattoos that will need to be revised about once every 2 years or so.However, as you mentioned that you'd like to "shave my head" following a linear strip procedure and have the donor scar be "undetectable", this is not likely ever to happen. This is definitely something your hair restoration surgeon should have disclosed to you prior to you signing up for surgery. These techniques can help to decrease the visibility of the scar, allowing for shorter hair styles, but following a linear procedure, is it typically not possible to shave your head without the scar being at least a little bit noticeable, despite the techniques mentioned above. All scars are, by definition, permanent, as your physician should have mentioned to you as well.
These types of technologies help make the FUE hair transplant extraction process easier for the surgeon. Yes they can be used. But they are not necessary for the goal of concealing linear strip scars. It is important that the grafts are well harvested, chosen carefully and unharmed to produce successful growth. They are inserted into the strip scar tissue so that it is no longer visible. The follicles need to be carefully selected and free from surgical injuries and other forces that can damage the graft such as air drying. However, if a patient’s head donor supply has been depleted for further surgery, Artas and Neograft cannot be used to extract body hair follicles. Here is an example of a patient here at the Dr. U Hair Clinic who required beard hair grafts to conceal multiple strip scars and restore his overall coverage.
One of the criticisms of the strip method is it leaves a permanent scar. All scars are permanent and can be attempted to be lessened in appearance. Some techniques to decrease appearance of scars from the strip method:Steroid injection- can thin a scar and make it more likely to accept hair graftsDirect excision- best for thick scars and unsightly scarsTissue expansion and direct excision- Used for rare cases with multiple harvest and especially poor scarsFUE placement- Here only the best of the best grafts will survive and ARTAS for patients with donor hairs still available as well as body hair can be optionsScalp Micropigmentation- An increasingly valuable tool in hair transplantation to help hide scars and improve hair results
A strip harvest scar can definitely be improved by implanting grafts into the scar after FUE extraction. A widened scar can also sometimes be improved by re-excision, depending on the surrounding hair and scalp characteristics.Unfortunately, it is probably impossible to make the scar go away completely to the point where it would not be visible with a shaved head. Scalp micropigmentation could be helpful to disguise the scar as well. Neograft vs ARTAS really doesn't impact the improvement of the scar itself as both are likely to give good results.All the best,
FUE is the best option to option to obtain the grafts to hide a strip donor scar. It definitely will help and possibly erase the stigmata. You need an experienced FUE surgeon to deal with that properly
FUE to strip scar will help disguise your scar. But it will NEVER allow you to shave your head so your scar is undetectable. Actually it will make it look WORSE.Think about it. You are having a hair transplant to the scar. Then you are SHAVING it. This is not going to hide your scar. You will still have the scar and the transplanted hair may even make your scar look worse as the transplanted hair will not completely match your surrounding hairs in texture and hair direction. Furthermore, your FUE scar will now be an issue with tiny white dots (when you shave your head).FUE to the transplanted scar can work if you keep your hair long, but it will not work if you shave your head.Even Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) which I perform at my clinic will have limitations. You can see all my before after photos on this site and my website but YOU WILL STILL SEE THE SCAR in certain lighting and angles. No treatment will make the scar undetectable. The goal is to make the scar less detectable and not noticeable to the general public at a casual glance. This is why you need to see a doctor for a realistic assessment.
