mmhce

Had the same problem. My surgeon advised me to "scrub" the area vigorously (with my fingernails) when showering and after a couple of months, the majority of the small bumps went away.

I continue to "scrub" the area as a matter of course.

There may be one or two hairs that are raised, as you describe them.

Another surgeon told me it was "tenting"; when the grafts are placed at too much of a height above the receiving tissue.

Please post some pics.

the hair is repositioned and grows in a different direction than the other hair.

Additionally, I think there is an issue of the survivability of the repositioned flap, i.e. there can be some necrosis.

It depends on:

1. individual healing characteristics, (amount of deposition of collagen, which may be linked to genetic factors of race etc.)
   
2. as well as the size of the strip removed,
   
3. as well as skill of surgeon
   
4. type of enclosure (deep layer, double suturing cf. none)
   
5. superficial closure (stitches vs. staples)
   

May feel like a ridge or slight bump or barely nothing.

Feel may be more linked to size/width of donor scar.

I used 15% and got some initial results, (I still use it, but may discontinue it after this batch runs out).

All products are manufactured with higher concentrations with marginal increase in effects. (Same thing with finasteride & dutasteride)

If you decide to use it don't expect miraculous results.

You seem to be female. You should monitor your response in terms of undesirable side-effects such as female hypertrichosis, etc.

keep on looking

^^ x2!!

Not a bad idea. Maybe if there are "extra" grafts left over from the 1700 quoted, you can do this.

Great response by Thehairupthere

Spex,

Does Dr. Feller do scar revision? Or is Dr. Lindsey the foremost on this aspect?

Best of luck moro !!

creepingback,

What you are describing is a kind of neuropathic pain (phantom pain). I have had it for over a year now. I don't know if it will ever go away.

It's as you describe "vague" or "dull" pain.

Ref:

http://www.transitiontoparenthood.com/janelle/energy/PhantomPain.htm

"However, despite medical literature that says “both the phantom sensations and pain gradually resolve with time,” many amputees report that the phantom pain never completely disappears."

Great response by Dr. Simmons!! Thanks!

I should think because of the crown is a lower priority area in surgical hair restoration and as such, the donor hair transplanted into the crown is done later on (after the front and top). Thus:

1. the healing abilities of older patients is slower,
   
2. the metabolic rates may be lower,
   
3. there may be lower levels of collagen beneath the dermal layers (collagen is necessary for healing) etc. etc.
   

There was a poster called PLEASE GROW PLEASE, who would have had a lot to say about them (negative). I am not sure what became of him.

waveskier,

I have a similar situation. Dr. Arocha referred to it as "tenting", saying that it (tenting) occurs when the graft was left sticking out a bit and healed in that raised position. Cobblestoning has to do with the amount of tissue left in place around the hair follicle, before it was set into place in the recipient site. What you've described to me, sounds pretty similar to my situation=tenting.

Dr. Arocha said it was easily repairable with a small FUT . You can plan for this for your next surgery. The majority of HT patients do 2 procedures. Don't worry.

P.S. You can try to scrub the area, (once your grafts have been firmly secured) when you are showering. The light dermal abrasion can over the course of a couple of weeks, reduce the raised bumps slightly, though it doesn't negate the fact that the grafts are elevated a bit.

hairyballs,

You should speak to your doctor, and ask him if it's ok to gently massage the donor scar. It could be uneven formation of scar tissue.

waveskier,

Small bumps could be cobblestoning. Maybe you could post a pic.

waveskier,

...........so you had sutures without deep layering sutures, or staples without deep layering sutures??

*Original questions still stand*

Just curious, what's the purpose of applying oil over the scar? Pro's and Cons?

It helps diminish the propensity for hypertrophic scarring.

Cons: It reduces the healing time, since healing intrinsically requires the deposition of collagen, but too much collagen, too quickly leads to hypertrophic scarring.

bump^

How long after HT surgery can Vitamin E oil have an effect on reducing the size of the donor scar?

I.e. can one apply Vitamin E oil a year after the HT surgery and expect to see results?

Thank you.

I would like to find out, when staples are used for closing the excised strip, is the standard practice to install deep layer sutures prior to stapling, or, are staples applied unilaterally without deep layer suturing.

Thank you all.

I would like to invite contributions from our knowledgeable members/doctors as to the questions:

1. Does HT strip surgery actually stretch the area of miniaturization on the top & vertex of the scalp?

2. Does the elasticity/plasticity of the tissue allow for the return of the scalp to the original un-stretched position following strip surgery?

Thank you.

^^ X2.

Good reply by Blake.

azn_guy,

This is a good thread. I too have to cut my hair with a comb higher than #4 in order to hide the scar.

It's ironic though, since some surgeons say that following a HT surgery, you have to use the #4 in order to hide the scar, only to find out first hand that you have to use #5 or #6 etc.

What is the status on your scar revision?

Will you receive follow-up steroid treatment for possible hypertrophic scarring?

Did Dr. Cooley offer to do the scar revision for free, or do you have to pay for it?

Do you plan to use any after surgery treatments yourself such as Vitamin E oil etc.?

I have a few questions concerning stretching of the scar (from strip surgery)

1. When (at what period following surgery: days, weeks, months) does maximum stretching (widening or accumulation mass) of the scar tissue occur ?

2. How effective does keeping the security devices (stitches or staples) in, for longer periods of time, following the surgery, is, in reducing the width of the scar?

3. Is there published or consensual information circulating among us, with respect to point #2 above, concerning such added value of delayed removal of stitches or staples?

4. If so, what may be the conclusions? Is there a correlation (graphically or tabularly represented) between the width of the scar and the length of time the staples or the stitches were kept in, after surgery?

Thank you all for your contributions (particularly Dr. Lindsey if he reads this thread)

my 2 scars .

Lt,

Do you mean that you have 2 separate (co-planar) scars ?

If so, what options are there to reduce it to one?

Not willing to do any FUEs huh?