Hair transplant surgery to conceal or reduce the appearance of scars is one of its most valuable and least discussed applications. Scars on the scalp — whether from injury, previous surgery, burns, or facelift procedures — can cause permanent hair loss in the affected area, and FUE transplantation into scar tissue is an established technique for restoring coverage.
The challenge with scar tissue is vascularisation. Scar tissue has a reduced blood supply compared to normal scalp, which means grafts implanted into it have a lower survival rate than those placed into unaffected areas. This is not a contraindication to treatment, but it does mean that patients should expect a survival rate of perhaps 50 to 70% rather than the 90%+ achievable in normal tissue, and should plan for potentially needing a second session to supplement the first.
The most common request is for covering the linear donor scar left by a previous FUT (strip) procedure. This scar can be made significantly less visible by implanting FUE grafts directly into it, breaking up the linear appearance. Results vary depending on the scar’s width and the skin type, but most patients achieve a meaningful improvement.
Scalp scarring from injuries — including burns, lacerations, and surgical incisions — can also be treated with FUE transplantation. The same principles apply: careful patient selection, realistic expectations around survival rates in scar tissue, and planning for possible supplementary sessions.
If you are considering scar repair transplantation, it is essential to choose a surgeon with specific experience in this area. Inexperienced handling of scar tissue leads to poor survival rates and can make the scar more prominent, not less.
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