nycshearling

Hi friends, I have a small area from a previous transplant that is unfortunately now atrophic. I’m curious if anyone here has had a transplant insurance atrophic scar or an atrophic part of their skin. Thanks in advance!

I am in a very similar situation where I have scarring from a procedure last year but the doctor is going to fill it in in October of this year. About 1000 grafts. What did your doctor tell you about the graft survival for the scar area?

Thanks everyone who took the time to respond. Yes, hairs can still take in a scar. But I’m curious if anyone knows if they still can when that scar is atrophic (dips into the skin). Thanks! 

Had a FUE back in Sept of last year. Unfortunately had a small area that scarred and grafts didn’t take. The area appears to have scarred and atrophied. Can I get a repair surgery there (like 50 grafts) or is it not a good idea?

What was swelling like for this many grafts? As bad as the first time?

I had something similar to this happen to me and unfortunately there is no growth in the affected areas. For me, it ended up being a small area, but it’s still less than ideal

Hi friends. 
 

I had a transplant of about 4900 graphs back in September of last year. I need to have a small revision surgery of about 200 graphs in order to fix up an area where there is very low density. The doctor is performing this free of charge. Does anyone have a recommendation of how long to wait before performing the surgery? I was thinking of May which would put me at about 10 months, but would not want to do it if people think it’s too soon. Any thoughts on this??I had a transplant of about 4900 graphs back in September of last year. I need to have a small revision surgery of about 200 graphs in order to fix up an area where there is very low density. The doctor is performing this free of charge. Does anyone have a recommendation of how long to wait before performing the surgery? I was thinking of May which would put me at about 10 months, but would not want to do it if people think it’s too soon. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks!

I had a very similar situation happen but not severe and the doctor has been helpful in addressing. I have no hair in the affected area and hope to have a second transplant to cover it up (less than 300 grafts)

2 hours ago, Melvin- Moderator said:

It’s strange your infection started at day 14 given that most grafts have anchored and healed by then. Did you wash the recipient at all during the 14 days? Maybe the dried blood got infected? That’s why it’s important to keep the recipient sites clean. After day 9 you should be using conditioner to soak and gently scrub away scabs. 

Yes, I was washing generally continuously//daily. I do think it’s a little odd timeline wise. Time will tell how this heals. 

Thank you so much @DrTBarghouthi for taking the time to help. Could I run these questions by you? 

1. When infection occurs, is it always a guarantee that the grafts are lost in that area? My infection occurred post the 14 day mark, interestingly, so I am curious whether this absolutely means that no grafts will grow, given that they technically had been "secured" by then. I do see some hairs sprouting the area, so I haven't lose hope completely, but I am realistic that it won't grow from there as much as the other areas. 

2. At what point (month-wise) would you recommend following up to transplant more hairs in that area? My doctor mentioned, in passing, doing 6 months post-the initial HT if nothing seems to grow from there, but I am worried that this would be too soon and that we would not have a full idea of any hairs growing from the affected area. Any thoughts? 

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

I am facing a similar, although not exact, situation, in which I had an infection in my frontal recipient area. There is no hair growing in that area almost 4-months out, and the only solace I have is waiting until about the 6 month mark as advised by the surgeon. And will reconsider options. In the meantime, doing everything I can topically to help the area heal (vitamin E oil, aloe, Mederma, petrolatum). Best of luck.

4 hours ago, SadMan2021 said:

Each transplant hair grows in at a different pace, but I would be concerned if there was a defined area on my scalp that had no hair growing in. That does make me think there actually is a tangible root cause to why that specific area is not growing. 

Do you have any pre-existing scalp issues? I would say its uncommon to get a scalp infection such as your pictures indicate. 

You are on the right track by getting a 2nd opinion from a different hair transplant. You're never going to get the operating surgeon to admit a mistake on their end (if indeed there was a mistake made)

Thanks very much for taking the time to respond. Yes, it's a little odd that it's on a very specific section, and I agree that something is going on, although I don't know exactly what. And I am not sure that I would attribute it just to "inflammation."

No, I do not have any pre-existing scalp issues. I do think an infection did occur here, though. 

Yes, I am going to see what the second doctor says and whether they think it's treatable or a lost cause. The operating MD claim that they have never seen this before, but they are very responsive and willing to tackle the issue with me, which I am appreciative of. They haven't been brushing me to the side or ignoring me, which shows their dedication to resolving the matter, for which I am grateful.

12 hours ago, digi23 said:

As you said, you need to have patience and just wait it out.

I am using 99% aloe vera gel in my recipient area, not sure it does anything but I bought a large bottle so might just make use of it. I like the soothing effect from aloe vera, I think it also helps with itching.

Maybe @DrTBarghouthi can give you any insight what he thinks aswell.

Thank you for taking the time to respond! Yes, I have been using aloe as well, I think it helps at least with the appearance of redness. Thanks for tagging that doc.

Hi everyone! Hoping for some help on my situation and curious whether anyone has encountered a similar situation as mine. 

I had a hair transplant back in September of this year with a very reputable surgeon (whose name I am not comfortable sharing right now, but will). Things seemed to be going well until week 2, after my antibiotics were done, and I had severe skin inflammation and what I believe was an infection. Of course, I notified that doctor who performed the surgery, but they told me that it appeared like really bad inflammation versus an infection per se. They took a series of actions to heal the skin, including a topical steroid as well as injectable steroid (kenalog). 

Now, almost four months later, my hair is mostly growing out great! I am very happy with the results generally, except or the areas where that inflammation had occurred. As you can see from my attached photos, there are two very visible gaps and patches where that inflammation was prevalent. Now, I am not completely freaking out just yet since I am not even 4 months post op, but I think we can all agree this is a bit concerning given how well the rest of the hair has grown in. And I know that a lot of this will mean just having to wait and see how things go.

So, this is not a jab at the doctor at all, because they have been incredibly helpful and responsive and even played through the scenario for me if no hair grows from this area (and they are very accommodating!). But, I am curious, do you all think I should be worried just yet? My thoughts are as follows: 

1. That skin could legitimately be taking longer to heal. If that is the case, the hair will also not sprout as soon since the skin is healing, and I need to wait it out a few more months to see whether that is the case. I don't think all hope is lost, just yet, since there are in fact at least some hairs sprouting from that area (very little stubble, very thin strands). 

2. Those areas could be damaged, which means no hair will grow. Has anyone experienced something similar to this, and will infections always cause this sort of outcome? The skin seems almost scarred, but I don't think it has, technically speaking...?

3. Any potential topicals that you would recommend for this? I have been using aloe vera, Mederma, Vitamin E Oil, and CeraVe petrolatum to heal the skin faster. If there is anything else you would suggest, let me know. 

I am speaking with a (separate) hair transplant doctor on Monday to get their thoughts on the skin and see what they think. Will report back what they say too. 

Thanks to anyone who can offer any insight and for taking the time to respond! I really appreciate it.

Hi everyone! Hoping for some help on my situation and curious whether anyone has encountered a similar situation as mine. 

I had a hair transplant back in September of this year with a very reputable surgeon (whose name I am not comfortable sharing right now, but will). Things seemed to be going well until week 2, after my antibiotics were done, and I had severe skin inflammation and what I believe was an infection. Of course, I notified that doctor who performed the surgery, but they told me that it appeared like really bad inflammation versus an infection per se. They took a series of actions to heal the skin, including a topical steroid as well as injectable steroid (kenalog). 

Now, almost four months later, my hair is mostly growing out great! I am very happy with the results generally, except or the areas where that inflammation had occurred. As you can see from my attached photos, there are two very visible gaps and patches where that inflammation was prevalent. Now, I am not completely freaking out just yet since I am not even 4 months post op, but I think we can all agree this is a bit concerning given how well the rest of the hair has grown in. And I know that a lot of this will mean just having to wait and see how things go.

So, this is not a jab at the doctor at all, because they have been incredibly helpful and responsive and even played through the scenario for me if no hair grows from this area (and they are very accommodating!). But, I am curious, do you all think I should be worried just yet? My thoughts are as follows: 

1. That skin could legitimately be taking longer to heal. If that is the case, the hair will also not sprout as soon since the skin is healing, and I need to wait it out a few more months to see whether that is the case. I don't think all hope is lost, just yet, since there are in fact at least some hairs sprouting from that area (very little stubble, very thin strands). 

2. Those areas could be damaged, which means no hair will grow. Has anyone experienced something similar to this, and will infections always cause this sort of outcome? The skin seems almost scarred, but I don't think it has, technically speaking...?

3. Any potential topicals that you would recommend for this? I have been using aloe vera, Mederma, Vitamin E Oil, and CeraVe petrolatum to heal the skin faster. If there is anything else you would suggest, let me know. 

I am speaking with a (separate) hair transplant doctor on Monday to get their thoughts on the skin and see what they think. Will report back what they say too. 

Thanks to anyone who can offer any insight and for taking the time to respond! I really appreciate it.