Hair Transplant for Scar Repair: Feasibility, Results & Cost
Scars on the scalp and/or the face, either due to traumatic injury, surgery or a health condition, can make many people feel self-conscious about their appearance. One way to camouflage these is by undergoing hair transplant scar repair surgery. Learn more about its feasibility, success, growth rate, and cost in this guide.
Can You Get a Hair Transplant on Scar Tissue?
Hair can be successfully transplanted into scar tissue either using the follicular unit extraction (FUE) or follicular unit transplant (FUT) method of transplantation. The latter, however, might be less popular with patients since it leaves a relatively prominent linear scar on the back of the scalp.
Scars resulting from trauma (accidental injuries or burns), surgery (facelift, brow lift, or FUT), and cicatricial (scarring) alopecias can be camouflaged with the help of transplantation surgery, though it’s important to keep in mind that this procedure won’t be the same as transplanting hair into normal, healthy skin. Your doctor may recommend treating the scar tissue with platelet-rich plasma injections (PRP), fat transfer, laser or a steroid injection before the hair transplant.
Also, to help you achieve the best possible results, you may be advised to combine your hair transplant with scalp micropigmentation (a medical-grade scalp tattoo) to create a better illusion of fullness.
Considerations For Transplanting Hair on Scar Tissue
Hair transplant scar repair surgery isn’t the same as transplanting hair into normal skin tissue. As noted by one study published in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, transplanting hair into scar tissue is more difficult because of:
- Poor blood circulation
- Tissue stiffness
The success rate of the surgery can also vary depending on the type of scar. For instance, in the study mentioned above, the researchers concluded that burn scar patients achieved better results than others (operation and trauma scars); the deeper “incision scars” have a low success rate.
Additionally, considerations can vary if the scarring results from cicatricial alopecia. In this case, a hair transplant surgery is only recommended if the condition has been stable for 2 years, as one study noted.
Even so, the authors of the same research note other challenges in performing hair restoration surgery in patients with scarring alopecia, including unpredictable graft survival rate and tissue vascularity, as well as the risk of relapse and a hair transplant itself triggering one. Graft rejection and hypertrophic scars were also reported as risks of hair transplantation, among other potential complications.
Also, the overall hair density may be kept lower in a hair transplant scar repair procedure. A case study of a patient with lichen planopilaris who had a successful scalp transplant noted the units transplanted per cm2 were lower than in a normal scalp transplant to reduce the “risk of follicles competing for the reduced blood flow through the scar tissue.” Therefore, it’s important that you have realistic expectations when getting this type of hair transplant.
Keep in mind that you might need more than one transplant surgery to achieve satisfactory results, and if you do not have sufficient hair in the donor area of your scalp, a body hair transplant might be considered by your practitioner.
How Is Hair Transplant For Scar Repair Done?
As noted above, hair transplant scar “removal” can be done using FUE or FUT techniques.
FUE Hair Transplant For Scar Repair
In FUE hair transplant, a small circular punch tool extracts hair grafts from the back of the scalp. These grafts are then implanted into the scar tissue via small incisions.
Though an FUE isn’t scarless, the scarring is minimal and practically invisible even if you wear your hair short. An FUE hair transplant might be done to camouflage the linear scar left behind by FUT surgery. The surgeon will simply implant grafts into the scar tissue in this case, so that it becomes less visible.
FUT Hair Transplant For Scar Repair
In an FUT hair transplant, a piece of skin is excised from the back of the scalp, which is then stitched back up. From that strip, hair grafts are extracted and then transplanted into the scalp.
However, this surgery can leave a relatively prominent linear scar at the back. If your primary goal is to minimise scarring on the scalp, patients may prefer FUE over FUT.
Will Transplanted Hair Grow In Scar Tissue?
Hair growth can take place in scar tissue after a transplantation surgery, though the growth and survival rates of grafts can be unpredictable. Typically, you should expect the success rate of this surgery to be lower than that of a hair transplant in healthy skin.
In one study, where 15 patients with postsurgical scarring on the scalp had FUE, a mean survival rate of 80.67% was reported. Still, keep in mind that the success rate of the surgery can vary depending on the type of scar you have.
A hair transplant scar repair can be more complicated than a normal surgery, so choosing the right surgeon is extremely important in this type of surgery. Even the seemingly smallest detail, such as the depth of the incisions, needs to be carefully determined in scar tissue transplants.
How Much Does Hair Transplant Scar Repair Cost?
A hair transplant for scar repair might cost you somewhere around £5,000 to £6,000 in the UK, but the price can vary depending on the complexity of the procedure, the number of grafts required, the location of the clinic and the experience of the surgical team.
It is possible for you to get this surgery at a cheaper price in Turkey, where prices are lower due to the lower cost of living and favourable exchange rates.
What Are The Alternatives To Hair Transplant For Scar Repair?
If you’re either unsuitable or unwilling to undergo a hair transplant surgery for scar repair, other options may be available to you, such as:
- Scalp micropigmentation
- Camouflage with makeup and/or a hair system
- Scar revision surgery (though the scar can stretch again)
It’s best if you consult an experienced, qualified and board-certified medical practitioner for the best plan of action for your concerns and desired aesthetic goals.
Interested In A Hair Transplant?
For over a decade, Longevita has been offering quality hair transplants to patients at affordable prices. If you have experienced alopecia due to any kind of scarring, do not hesitate to get in touch with our experts for a free, completely customised treatment plan. We’ll be more than happy to help you!
Dr Cagla
Dr Cagla earned her medical degree at Trakya University’s Faculty of Medicine in Bulgaria and has almost 6 years of hair transplantation experience. She is a specialist in FUE, DHI and Sapphire hair transplants of the scalp, eyebrows and beard and has performed over 6,000 surgeries. Dr Cagla is multilingual, with fluency in English, Bulgarian and Turkish.