Category Archives: Scalp Scars

How to Treat Scars on the Scalp?

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Scar tissue can form anywhere on the body and this includes the scalp. When scars form within the hairy regions of the body, the tissue becomes damaged and the scar can also destroy the hair follicles. A small scar from an injury or acne, surrounded by healthy tissue, may not be visible to others since it can hide within the surrounding hair follicles. People prone to severe acne or psoriasis or have had significant head injuries or surgery may have regional hair loss. This happens because the fibrous connective tissue that makes up a scar has limited blood flow and restricts healthy hair growth within the scar. Multiple scalp scars, or even one scar, can permanently destroy countless hair follicles and leave a person with noticeable visibility of the scalp. Thankfully, there are several ways to treat scars on the scalp and lessen their visibility.

Scar Scar Treatments

  • Scalp Acne Treatment

Although acne on the scalp may seem irrelevant, it is one of the main causes of hair loss because acne is infected glands in the skin. They can become inflamed, itchy and burst at the surface. The lesion is then replaced by scar tissue. When someone has recurring acne outbreaks, the skin is unable to heal properly and excessive acne scarring can occur and cause baldness. It is best to treat acne issues as soon as possible using an acne wash containing salicylic acid either 2-3 times a week or as directed by a dermatologist. If acne scars already exist, there are some natural treatment options available.

  • Take Vitamin E

Vitamin E has therapeutic properties to increase the rate of wound healing. It is rich in collagen production and can be a natural means to maintaining healthy hair and skin. Vitamin E is full of antioxidant qualities which make it popular for use in beauty products as well as highly recommended by dermatologists. It can help prevent acne and keep scars at bay by promoting a healthy flow of oxygen and blood to the scalp.

  • Scalp Massage

Dead skin cells can form all over the body and they clog the pores and accumulate on scars. Massaging the scalp can help remove dead skin and stimulate blood circulation. Scalp massages can reduce scar tissue build-up and keep the surrounding skin healthier.

  • Itching Solutions

Scar tissue can have some unpleasant side effects such as inflammation and itchiness. In many cases, itchiness can become unbearable and cause the scar to become worse than it already was. Keeping the scalp clean and applying a steroid ointment can help reduce itching and allow the skin to heal more naturally. Depending on the type of scar, certain injections may be beneficial with alleviating inflammation, itchiness and making a raised scar flatter.

  • Hair Extensions and Lasers

Hair extensions can hide thinning or bald patches caused by scarring. Since treatments can take time to improve the appearance of the scar, hair extensions can provide adequate coverage at an affordable cost. In some cases, the scar may not be receptive to non-invasive treatments and may not improve. Therefore, the patient may need to consider alternative treatment options such as laser treatments to reduce the appearance of the scar.

  • Hair Transplant

When scars are left untreated or the skin and hair follicles have been severely damaged, the hair may never regrow. Therefore, some patients turn to a surgical method such as a hair transplant. A hair transplant can reduce the scar and make it less noticeable thanks to the implanted hair follicles. The donor hairs are taken from the back of the patient’s head so any scarring from the transplant technique will be hidden within the patient’s natural hair.

SP

Scalp MicroPigmentation

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Scalp MicroPigmentation is one of the newest non-surgical procedure which allows patients to improve the appearance of balding areas by the use of dermal pigments. This procedure can be done without the use of any anesthetics. The doctor performing the procedure is required to carefully match the dermal pigment with the color of the patient’s hair. After making the match the pigments will then be superficially introduced into the skin decreasing the level of pain and minimizing the risk of the pigments spreading.

Scalp MicroPigmentation

Left: Before SMP; Right: After SMP

Scalp MicroPigmentation is an ideal procedure for those who have male patterned baldness, scalp scars, female patterned baldness. Patients who do not have enough donor hair to adequately cover the balding area can use this procedure to help add to the look of the area which is balding.

The only disadvantage that this procedure has is that patients need to have touch up once every few years as the color will fade away. In order to know if you are a candidate for the procedure and how many sessions you would require, you would need to call a doctor offering this service to schedule a consultation appointment.

FUE vs Strip Study

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Doctor Parsa Mohebi, founder of US Hair Restoration, is enrolling participants for the FUE vs Strip study at his Southern California hair transplant centers. The purpose of the study is to be able to make viable comparisons between the benefits of the follicular unit extraction (FUE) and strip method (FUT) of hair transplantation. The study will help identify the final hair quality, survival rate, and the comparison of the overall success of the two methods of hair transplantation.

The FUE vs Strip study will be done around the world, including Los Angeles, Colorado, New York, Brazil, and India, in order to increase the sample size and provide more accurate results. Participants of the study will first need to meet with the hair transplant surgeon to identify if they are a good candidate for the study. After the procedure, all candidates will be required to go in for a 6 and 12 month follow up visit so that the hair transplant surgeon can evaluate the results. For a limited time, Dr. Parsa Mohebi is providing an incentive to all participants for the study, due to their dedicated time and commitment.

For more information about the study, please call the offices of Dr. Parsa Mohebi at (888) 302-8747.

What is Partial Trichophytic Closure?

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Trichophytic closure is a type of scar closure that is used in conjunction to a hair restoration. For many years, trichophytic closure has been used for scalp surgeries allowing hair to grow into the scar, improving the appearance. When hair is introduced into the scalp scar, it helps reduce the contrast of the scar and the hair area. Trichophytic closure can be done on the upper edge, lower edge, and double edge of the scar.

Partial Trichophytic ClosureScar tissue and the transection of the lower portion of hair follicles, on the edge of the scar, are what cause the lack of hair in the scar. Partial trichophytic closure, recently introduced by Dr. Parsa Mohebi, requires the hair transplant surgeon to observe the donor wound edges and calculate the width of the edge that needs to be removed at any area. The surgeon will use magnifying loupes in order to carefully observe the edges of the wound, making sure that there is no transection in the hair follicles.

Partial trichophytic closure assures that hair will grow into the scar from the upper edge in order to minimize the contrast between the scar and the surrounding hair areas. With this method the visibility of the donor scar is minimized drastically if done properly.

Scalp Scar Reduction

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Scalp scars from any procedure such as scalp reduction, old plug surgery, trauma or neurosurgical procedures can be treated to minimize the look of the scar. Modern hair transplant yields natural, proven, and permanent results along with special wound closure techniques to minimize scars.

Here are some methods that a hair transplant surgeon can use to reduce the visibility of the scar:

Scar Revision

Left: Before Scar Revision, Right: After Scar Revision

1. Simple Scar Revision: This method can be used if there is a wide scalp scar due to the initial technical problem during the wound closure.
2. Scar Revision and Trichophytic Closure: This method allows the hair to grow inside the scar, which helps to minimize the contrast between the scar and the surrounding areas of the scalp.
3. Hair Transplantation inside the Scar: In this method, the hair will be harvested from other areas of the scalp and will be transplanted inside the scar to blend the scar with the rest of the hair. The hair will be harvested through the FUE hair transplant technique. The benefit of using this technique is that with FUE, follicles are extracted individually, giving the surgeon the opportunity to place them into the scar without having new scarring.
4. Scalp Micro Pigmentation on the Scar: By introducing dermal pigments into the scar, the visibility of the scar can be significantly improved because it helps reduce the contrast in color between the scar tissue and the surrounding scalp area.

In order to know which technique would fit your needs, it is recommended to visit an experienced hair transplant surgeon.

Follicular Unit Extraction – No Scar Hair Transplant

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The newest method in hair transplant known as Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is used to obtain hair grafts individually from the donor area.
The donor area of the scalp is located in the lower back and side portion of the patient’s head. Patients who have their hair transplant using this method will not have a linear scar in the donor area of their head. This gives patients the option to cut or shave their hair to shorter lengths, as desired, without having to worry about the appearance of a scalp scar.

One Week After FUE Transplant Performed by Doctor Parsa Mohebi

One Week After FUE Transplant

There is a limited amount of grafts that can be transplanted per day with the Follicular Unit Extraction method. The grafts are harvested precisely and individually requiring more time to be spent on the extraction of the grafts. With this method transection of the hair follicles may occur damaging the follicular unit, causing fewer viable grafts to be transplanted. Choosing a hair transplant surgeon who is experienced in follicular unit extraction will help reduce your transection rate.

Patients who have Follicular Unit Extraction will not experience any discomfort in the donor area after they have the surgery. The recovery of this procedure is minimal with fewer complications compared to the traditional strip method, because there are no staples or sutures to be removed, making the healing process faster. FUE is recommended for patients who wish to have the option to wear their hair short, as well as for patients who have significant scarring and inadequate laxity of the scalp.

Will I have More Than One Scar?

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Patient’s who have had a hair transplant surgery through the traditional strip method have a linear scar in their donor area. Many patients wonder if they will end up with more than one scar if they get another hair transplant. They answer to that question is no.

When a patient receives a second hair transplant, the surgeon who is performing the surgery will include the old linear scar in the new strip that will be taken out from the donor area. Once that step is done the patient will end up with only one scar no matter how many hair transplant they might receive.

Scar After 2 Hair Transplants

One of the factors for the size of the scar can depend on the Doctor that the patient chooses to have surgery with. Another factor will be how well the patient’s skin heals. Many doctors are now performing the trichophytic closure. Trichophytic closure technique helps hair grow inside of the donor scar. Once the hair grows and the scar heals it will help the donor scar blend in with the surrounding skin.

If a patient has had a hair transplant years ago, it is most likely that the scar they have is wider. Since technology has improved, the size of the scar can be reduced in most patients. Choosing an experienced hair surgeon is vital because if a professional hair surgeon does the procedure, the scar that you had from the previous hair transplant can most likely be reduced in size. Ofcourse, the results will always vary between every patient, but a good hair transplant Doctor will try to do everything to minimize the visibility of the scar for all patients.

What Can Be Done About Scarring?

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ScarScarring is the result of tissue fibers replacing normal skin after a trauma. Scarring can result from surgery, burns, open wounds, or any other abrasion of the skin. Scars are caused when the deep thick layer of skin, also known as the dermis, is damaged. Once trauma occurs, the body forms a collagen fiber which aids in the healing process of the wound and causes a scar. Because the tissue is a different consistency and quality the scar becomes visible.

Some scars can be easily hidden, while other will always be visible. Even though scars can never be removed completely, there are procedures offered that will improve the appearance of the scar. Laser resurfacing can be used to remove the surface layers of the skin, resulting in a less visible scar. If a person has a larger scar, surgery is an available option to reduce the size of the scar. Scalp Micro Pigmentation is a new method being offered which uses dermal pigments to camouflage the scars on hair bearing areas of the scalp or face.

If a scar leaves an indentation in the skin, you can use filler injections to raise the scar to the level of the surrounding skin. This type of treatment will be temporary, meaning it should be done a few times a year. If you have a keloid scar, scars that are raised, steroid injections can help flatten the scar giving it an enhanced appearance.

To reduce heavy scarring, topical creams and ointments can be used directly after trauma. Certain scars will fade away after a year and will not need any special method of treatment. For all other cases, it is best to see a specialist who can further assist you.

Scalp Micro Pigmentation

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The new innovative non-surgical procedure, Scalp Micro Pigmentation also known as SMP is becoming a very popular procedure. SMP is done using dermal pigments. The Doctor finds a compatible pigment to the patient’s hair and introduces it into the scalp, through the use of the SMP machine. The insertions of the pigments are very superficial, which will reduce the level of pain and discomfort the patient may feel.

The many benefits of this procedure are:

SMP Before and After Procedure

Left: Before Procedure, Right: After Procedure

-No recovery time
-More cost efficient than a surgical procedure
-Most cases local anesthesia is not needed
-Eliminates appearance of baldness without hair

The only disadvantage that this procedure has is its non-permanence. The procedure will require touch ups in the future, but will vary among different individuals.

Scalp Micro Pigmentation can be used to cover a full head that is bald or it can be used to cover a small area. SMP is also used to minimize and camouflage the visibility of scars on the scalp. SMP gives the impression of a shaved head appearance. This procedure is also great for women who do not have enough donor hair and would like to have this procedure done with having a hair transplant to fully cover their hair loss.

This new innovative procedure has helped many patients overcome the stress that they live through daily that is associated with their baldness. As with any other procedure, choosing an experienced Doctor is vital to achieve desired results.

Reduced Scalp Scarring from Hair Transplant Surgery

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FUE hair restoration can reduce scars

Modern hair transplant is resolving hair loss issues for many people. However the most common form of Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) surgery ‘Strip Method’ procedure leaves a linear scar that is just not acceptable. This lends to the increasing popularity of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair restoration surgeries.

Healing of FUE Scars

FUE varies from the other FUT procedure by the method of extracting, or “harvesting,” donor hair. An FUE procedure involves the use of an instrument is to make a small, circular incision in the skin around a follicular unit, separating it from the surrounding tissue. The unit is then extracted (pulled) directly from the scalp, leaving a small wound.

This process is repeated until the hair transplant surgeon has harvested enough follicular units for the planned hair restoration. This nature of this process means it takes o time to complete the procedure. This of course varies under the number of grafts being extracted. The donor wounds are approximately 1-mm in size and in most cases heal within a week to ten days.
Patients can be concerned about the punctuate scars from FUE but in most cases they become undetectable in a short period of time.

Scars from FUE vary do to:
1. The size of the punch (ranges of punch sizes are from 0.8-1.5mm)
2. The density of the donor hair area; the thicker the hair the less visible the scars
3. The inverse is true; the thinner the donor hair the more visible the scare
4. The individual patients healing

Hypopigmentation

Generally, the donor area appears to heal without visible scarring. In some instances a patient can experience loss of color in the donor extraction wounds. These tiny spaces that lack the same degree of scalp colorization than the surrounding donor area. This is more apparent if the patient has darker skin. A hair transplant surgeon can test with a few test extractions prior to committing to a full surgery.