Did I destroy my transplanted hair follicles by removing the scabs? (photos)

July 23, 2015
Asked By:worried222 in New York, NY

12 days post-op I removed all the scabs by rubbing on them with my finger. Most of them came off rather easily and I haven't had any bleeding, but there was slight pain sometimes as I was removing them (I suspect some of the transplanted hairs were being plucked) and my scalp still feels slightly numb. Only afterwards did I read that some doctors recommend that the patients not touch their scabs at all. Did I screw up and destroy the transplanted hair follicles by removing the scabs?

1 photo

Answers (6)

From board-certified doctors and trusted medical professionals
VOTED MOST HELPFUL
September 28, 2015

Answer: 12 days after a hair transplant; does removing scabs destroy the new follicles?

3 people found this helpful
Ken Anderson, MD, FISHRSBoard Certified Hair Restoration Surgeon
VOTED MOST HELPFUL
September 28, 2015

Answer: 12 days after a hair transplant; does removing scabs destroy the new follicles?

3 people found this helpful
Ken Anderson, MD, FISHRSBoard Certified Hair Restoration Surgeon
July 23, 2015

Answer: Maybe

Jae Pak, MDHair Restoration Surgeon, Board Certified in Emergency Medicine
July 23, 2015

Answer: Maybe

Jae Pak, MDHair Restoration Surgeon, Board Certified in Emergency Medicine
MOST RECENT
July 27, 2015

Answer: Scab removing

MOST RECENT
July 27, 2015

Answer: Scab removing

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August 18, 2016

Answer: Scabs after hair transplant

2 people found this helpful
August 18, 2016

Answer: Scabs after hair transplant

2 people found this helpful
July 24, 2015

Answer: Did I harm my grafts by picking at the scabs

July 24, 2015

Answer: Did I harm my grafts by picking at the scabs

Recommended reading

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