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A Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) hair transplant is a minimally invasive procedure, and unlike the Strip Method, it leaves no linear scar. It is permanent, natural in the sense that it uses your own hair, and completely undetectable as a hair transplant. But does it leave any visible hair transplant scar whatsoever?
In an FUE hair transplant, the follicular units (a bundle of a few hair follicles surrounded by supporting tissue) are removed from the donor site (usually the back of the head) one by one. So in a transplant requiring, say, 1,500 grafts, a person would have 1,500 nearly microscopic perforations in the back of the head following surgery. Since the average person has about 100,000 hairs on the head, this is not as much as it may sound.
The 1,500 dots then form miniature scabs in the days following surgery, and the recipient areas that received the follicles may also be red and slightly swollen. These conditions are temporary however.
Tiny or invisible hair transplant scars with FUE
Once the scabs have healed completely there can either be no trace of scars or very small dot-like scars. Typically, even if clippers are used to sport a short haircut, there is little or no evidence of surgrey .
In some instances, if the head is shaved to complete baldness, a trained eye might be able to discern the traces of an FUE hair transplant. But if a shaved head is your style of choice, then a hair transplant—of any kind—may not be n your best interest.
Scars from the Strip Method
The Strip Method does not remove the follicular units one-by one, but rather removes a strip of scalp from the back of the head that contains the follicular units. If you are reading this, chances are you have seen a number of photos on the web whereby unfortunate men have been the victims of poorly performed strip method hair transplants. Some of these images are enough to make you shudder. It’s no wonder so many men have expressed concern over this method at my clinic throughout the years.
The skill of the physician plays an important role in minimizing scarring when someone opts for the Strip Method. It’s true a linear scar will exist, but it need not be prominent or gruesome. The longer hair at the donor site covers the scar. Indeed, the shocking scar photos on the web are all of men with shaved heads, where the scar is prominently on display. Again, if a shaved head is in your future please steer clear of any type of hair transplant.
Contact my clinic for a consultation or ask me a question about your unique situation and how we might treat it.
Dr. James Harris is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, inventor of patented follicular unit excision technology, published author in the field of hair restoration and an advocate for patient care. He is currently at the forefront of research and development in the field of hair cloning. Learn more about Dr. Harris or read rave reviews from his patients.
