Are Hair Transplant Scars Permanent?

A scar from a hair transplant can be permanent, but it varies from many factors. Also, the degree of scar visibility varies. Some scars fade over time with proper care, the right products, and treatment, whereas the majority of others are concealed by hair. The key to “minimal scarring” on the scalp, however, is selecting the top hair transplant clinic. If your surgeon is qualified and skilled, “visible” scarring would not be a concern.

Hair transplantation by definition is a surgical procedure in which the hairs from the donor site are extracted and transplanted into the recipient site. As it is a surgical process, scars are inevitable. Yet, the amount of scarring is mainly determined by the surgeon’s skills; the technique utilized and the instruments involved. A good surgeon will yield minimal scars that diminish as and when the hair grows.

Sapphire FUE and DHI are the most recent methods of hair transplantation technology. In this article, we will examine every aspect of hair transplant scars, including their severity and mitigation techniques.

How Does A Hair Transplant Work?

Hair transplantation is a cosmetic surgery done on the scalp to cover bald patches. During the procedure, the grafts are extracted from the donor site (mainly the back of the scalp) to the recipient site (the bald region). 

There are two advanced techniques for hair transplantation–

1. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
2. Direct Hair Implantation (DHI)

The studies suggest that the success rate of hair transplant through these techniques is over 90%..

FUE hair transplant scars

Due to the nature of the FUE hair transplant procedure, it yields some scarring which vanishes once the transplanted hair grows back. During the procedure–

1. The follicles are extracted from the donor region by making micro-punches. The individual follicles are extracted from those punch incisions.
2. The punches are made on the recipient area and the individual hair follicles are grafted.
3. After completion of the hair transplant, the scalp is treated with topical ointment and bandaged.

Here, due to the punches made, the procedure leads to wounding. The advantage of the Micro Fue Sapphire hair transplant technique is that the scars are easy to conceal and they diminish shortly after the procedure. This is because the punches made are 0.7 mm to 0.9 mm in diameter, which is very small compared to other hair transplant procedures like the simple FUE.

DHI hair transplant scars

DHI hair transplant is the most advanced technique and an advanced instrument namely, DHI Choi implanter pen is used to directly implant the hair follicles. During the procedure–

1. After the application of local anesthesia, the Choi pen is used to extract the follicles from the donor region.
2. The follicles are loaded on the Choi pen and are directly implanted in the recipient area at a proper angle, depth, and direction.
3. After completion of the hair transplant, the scalp is treated with topical ointment and bandaged.

Here, though the incisions made are very small, yet, there is some wounding due to the extraction and transplantation of hair follicles. The DHI hair transplant scars are less as compared to FUE hair transplant scars as DHI is a minimally invasive technique. However, it must be said that with DHI Choi pen the scars are not permanent if the procedure is carried out in the proper way. 

What is the hair transplant scar healing time?

Soon after surgery, scabs will form on the donor and recipient sites. These are removed after two weeks. And during the recovery process, it is essential that you adhere to your surgeon’s aftercare instructions. The precautions after a hair transplant are mentioned below.

1. Avoid combing or rough combing in both the grafted and donor regions.
2. For a few days, refrain from washing your hair and avoid using hair dryers.
3. Apply soothing agents to the donor regions in order to alleviate itching and discomfort.
4. Occasionally, even the eyebrows and forehead region may swell; this can be remedied by sleeping with your head elevated on additional pillows.
5. Scars can become sore, susceptible to infection, and painful. Apply topical antibiotic creams and, if necessary, take prescribed painkillers.

What are the hair transplant scar removal techniques?

Advancements in cosmetology have led to the revival of techniques for removing hair transplantation scars, which can detract from one’s overall appearance. This is especially true for patients that have already done a surgery with an invasive technique like; FUT and simple FUE Scarring after a hair transplant procedure is possible; moreover when the selection of the clinic isn’t the best;   but these scars can be concealed using a variety of methods. They consist of–

1. Scalp Micropigmentation or SMP: It is a technique involving the permanent injection of pigment matching the hair’s color into the scar to create a uniform hair appearance. This technique, also known as a medical hairline tattoo or scalp hair tattooing, helps to conceal scars with a tattooed hair effect. In this case, the pigmentation of the scar can be tailored to the desired hair color and density. Because the pigmentation resembles hair follicles, many individuals consider this hair transplant scar revision technique in lieu of hair transplantation.
2. Tricopigmentation, or TMP: It is a technique that involves injecting semi permanent ink over scars. Compared to SMP, this process is temporary. However, individuals interested in the temporary benefits of scar revision may consider this method.
3. Laser-assisted scar removal: Lasers can be used to cover scars by combining SMP and TMP techniques with them. Targeting the scar with laser pulses will assist in removing dead skin cells from the upper layers, resurfacing new skin layers, boosting collagen production, and improving the elasticity of the affected area. This promotes the scar’s disappearance or reduces its discoloration.

Final Thoughts

Hair transplant scars are evitable and differ in intensity from person to person. Successful hair transplants with no visible scars are possible. It depends on the expertise of the surgeon; the right selection of the technique and the instruments utilized. The inflammation and scars are healed completely within a month after the hair transplant procedure. 

If you are looking to have a hair transplant that yields minimal to no scars, BlueMagic Group is your solution. We have a team of experienced surgeons. Our clinic uses the latest technological tools to minimize the scars and yield better results. Our latest Sapphire FUE hair transplant techniques and DHI using CHOI Pen helps us to perform precise surgery that is minimally invasive.

So book your free consultation call today!