How soon to start scalp laxity exercises

[mixedguy]

How far out from your procedure date should you start doing scalp laxity exercises?

[Shampoo]

mixedguy....A little over two weeks ago I had my surgery at Hasson/Wong. Dr. Wong said he could "only" place 4352 grafts because he felt my scalp laxity was not exactly ready for the 5300+ graft procedure I had planned on. Although I am quite pleased with 4352 grafts, I wished I had been more diligent about doing scalp laxity exercises and started earlier.

 

These words are from the Hasson/Wong website:

 

"Patients can help make their hair transplant experience a success by performing scalp exercises in the weeks or even months prior to surgery. Scalp exercises can increase scalp laxity which may allow more grafts to be harvested in a single session. Even patients with good laxity can benefit from scalp exercises."

[mattj]

It's never too early to begin. Starting early could be a good idea in case you find yourself 'forgetting' as you get closer to the procedure. Definitely be diligent in the final few weeks before the date, though.

[Dr. William Lindsey]

We routinely get 3500 grafts and my strips are almost always the width of a stick of gum. I generally avoid wider strips, not because of manpower and cutting/placing, but rather because I worry about scalp closure tension causing a worse scar.

 

I ask people with tight scalps on physical exam to start stretching 1 minute before meals a month before the case. That makes a huge difference.

 

However, if I were going for wider strips I would imagine H and W are correct that starting earlier is helpful.

 

Dr. Lindsey McLean VA

[gobble]

Can scalp exercises be done when someone has an existing scar? For example, if you're going or a second procedure 1 year after the first one?

[Dr. William Lindsey]

certainly

[Bill - Seemiller]

Mixedguy,

 

As others have already stated, the sooner you start scalp exercises the better. In my experience, scalp exercises can help increase scalp elasticity enough to harvest a greater quantity of grafts during a single procedure. It's typically recommended to do scalp exercies for 15 to 30 minutes a day. Personally, I broke up 30 minutes into two 15 minute sessions, one in the morning and one at night before bed.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Best wishes,

 

Bill

[mattj]

certainly

 

Yes, and if anything it's more important than for the first procedure as your 'virgin' laxity will have been reduced by that procedure.

[mixedguy]

I know alot of sources say to start the exercises approx 2 weeks to a month prior to your procedure for 30 mins a day. If I did it for a hour a day 1 week prior, would that that be the same?

 

Also, I know that people say that scalp laxity exercises increase the number of grafts that can be harvested. Is this because the scalp is looser/not as tight? (hope I'm using the right words here).

[mixedguy]

Well I'm just a few weeks away from my procedure date. I just starting doing the exercises yesterday and I noticed that my scalp is very tight (not much laxity). If you have hardly any laxity is it still posible to extract a strip?

[gillenator]

mixed guy,

 

I think you will be just fine. If you are faithful to do them as directed, you should have enough laxity in 2 weeks.

 

And yes, these exercises can potentially create "more play" or looseness in the scalp to allow the surgeon to take a "wider strip" which can potentially produce more grafts.

 

Best wishes to you my friend.

[mosd]

Should one really do 30 minutes a day?

[gillenator]

It certainly cannot hurt because it's well worth it to gain enough laxity for the proposed strip that will be excised.