Is it possible to harvest donor hair between scars and then suture the two scars together to make one scar with another hair replacement procedure?

This question was posed by a hair loss sufferer on our hair restoration forum and answered by Dr. Michael Beehner of Saratoga Springs, NY who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians. His professional answer is below.

It’s all well and good to talk about taking out both scars and the hair in between and ending up with one scar, but in reality it’s almost never possible. When hair transplant patients have had old “stacked scars,” they are spaced apart just enough and with enough hair in the space between the two scars that that overall vertical width cannot be bridged by simply cutting everything out. It will look like one very wide four-lane highway along the side of your head.

A far better way to approach this situation is to leave every one of those hairs between the scars, because you will need them desperately to shingle down over the scar.  Instead, use follicular unit extraction (FUE) in whatever areas you want, including the hair between the scars, and plant FUE grafts into the scar.  Another approach is to add tattoo dots along with the FUE follicular units to further help camouflage these scars.

Mike Beehner, M.D.

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Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Hair loss sufferers are very sensitive about their hair.  Anything that might facilitate the progression of female or male pattern baldness is avoided at all costs to save our precious hair follicles. 

Some balding men and women have said that working out can cause hair loss due to increases in testosterone.  Is there any truth behind this statement or is it a misnomer?  Follow this hair loss forum thread to hear what patients and hair restoration physicians have to say and offer your own input and expertise.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

This insightful information was posted on our hair restoration forum by Dr. Timothy Carman of La Jolla, CA, who is recommended on the Hair Transplant Network.

I am 5 months out from hair transplant surgery and hair growth appears wispy and lifeless in some areas.  Will this improve with time?  Also, can I expect more hair growth in the coming months?  Also, why do I have pimples on my scalp?

Newly transplanted hair typically grows in with less caliber at the start, so remain optimistic and continue to be the ”patient” patient as you have been.  5 months out from hair restoration surgery is definitely too early and yes, you should continue to see increased density with more time.

The pimples are a very good sign that things are right on track.

Dr. Timothy Carman

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Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

Despite the popularity of movie stars, Hollywood is not immune to male pattern baldness hair loss.  Some have asked, “If hair transplants are so natural, why don’t balding famous actors get a hair transplant?” We often answer to this question, “How do you know they haven’t?”

Recommended Surgeon Dr. Timothy Carman presents a humorous and forged collage of bald celebrity photos with hair.  Can you pick out who’s who?

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

In addition to the excitement in receiving a new head of hair, hair loss patients are concerned about scarring.  Sporting a new head of hair is exciting, but bad scarring from a hair transplant can draw unwanted attention to your scalp.  But what do hair restoration physicians do to minimize donor scarring?  What are the risks involved?  Is there anything a patient should be doing to avoid scar stretching?

This hair transplant patient recently had scar repair and wants to know what he can do to minimize scar stretching.  Click here to read other and offer your own input and experiences.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor