Hair transplant surgery has progressed significantly since the days of hair plugs. Nonetheless, scarring is an undesirable side effect of the operation. Today’s surgical procedures are divided into two categories. Each one causes scarring in a different way. The amount of scarring you have depends in large part on your surgeon’s ability and experience. Whatever choice you choose, keep in mind that wound-closure methods, as well as the procedures themselves, have improved. You and your doctor are the best people to decide which treatment is best for you.
In this article, Dr. Ankur Singhal who is working with one of the best hair transplant clinics in India will discuss how you can hide the scar of hair transplant.
Procedures for removing transplants
Follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT) are the two most common surgical procedures for hair transplantation (FUT). Within three to six months, both surgeries produce visible hair growth.
FUE
Hair follicles from the back and sides of the scalp are used in follicular unit extraction. Through a micro-punch instrument, the surgeon can extract each hair follicle graft one at a time. Each extraction leaves a thin, circular scar that can be up to one millimeter in diameter.
Hundreds or even thousands of puncture mark scars will result depending on how many hair follicles are removed. After healing, these scars can appear as tiny white dots. The hairs are then grafted onto the scalp’s recipient regions, which have been prepared with small incisions for each individual hair.
FUT
A strip of scalp containing hair from the donor region must be surgically removed for this procedure. This is normally found at the back of the brain. The region is sutured together after the hair strip is removed. Depending on the size of the strip removed, this leaves a longitudinal scar of different lengths. This scar can stretch from ear to ear in some cases.
The hair follicle grafts are separated from the scalp strip and prepared for grafting onto the scalp’s recipient regions, which have small incisions for each individual hair.
Scar treatment after a hair transplant
Several methods may be used to minimize or eliminate the scar left by the FUT operation. Their achievement isn’t always assured, and there’s a good chance that some scarring will remain. Keep in mind that your scalp will inevitably sag as you get older. The scar from the scalp reduction can become wider or more noticeable as a result of this.
Scars and how to hide them
Another choice is to cover the scarred area with cosmetics. By growing your hair over the donor region, you might be able to achieve this. Some scars, such as keloid scars, can be more difficult to hide than others. Keloids are raised scars that grow larger than the surgical scar that caused them. Keloid scars can take months or even years to grow. Keloid scarring affects certain individuals. Before undertaking some sort of hair transplant treatment, tell your doctor if you’ve ever had a keloid scar. There are also techniques that will assist in the concealment of the scar:
Scalp micro-pigmentation
Scalp micro-pigmentation (SMP) is a permanent treatment that injects pigment directly into the scalp, giving the appearance of thicker hair. It is also known as medical hairline tattoo or scalp hair tattooing. SMP is an alternative to surgical hair transplant procedures for certain individuals. This technique can also be used to cover up scars left over from FUE or FUT.
Depending on the size of the region to be injected, it can take several sessions to complete. The ink color is chosen to compliment the color of your hair. Keep in mind that although your hair will gray or lighten with time, the ink will most likely not.
Tricopigmentation
Tricopigmentation or TMP is a short-term version of Scalp micro-pigmentation or SMP. Since the ink is inserted into the top layer of the dermis, this technique provides semi-permanent inking.
The time it takes for TMP ink to fade ranges from clinic to clinic, ranging from six months to three years. Some people can experience physical discomfort as a result of this procedure.
Laser treatment
This therapy is often used in combination with Scalp micro-pigmentation SMP or Tricopigmentation or TMP to help reduce the appearance of scars. The laser is used to target and remove damaged skin on the scar’s surface.
It also aids in the stimulation of collagen synthesis in the dermis layer of the skin, rejuvenating the skin’s elasticity and overall appearance. Since this procedure was not created specifically for the removal of hair transplant scars, outcomes may differ from person to person.
