I had a hair transplant 7 months ago. Skin discoloration at recipient area? (Photo)

[kleaner]

I had a hair transplant 7 months ago. In the pictures, I shaved my hair to see the skin under my transplanted hair.

Why does my skin at the recipient area still not look normal?

How long does it take for the skin to go back to normal?

or will it ever be normal before a hair transplant?

Thank you

 

[Melvin- Admin]

I don’t really notice anything strange. Looks like the typical color when you shave dark hair. Was there smp performed as well?

[kleaner]

25 minutes ago, Melvin-Moderator said:

I don’t really notice anything strange. Looks like the typical color when you shave dark hair. Was there smp performed as well?

Thank you for your reply
no, there is not. just one hair transplant.

the skin between the grafts is also dark. Isn't it supposed to be the same color as normal skin?

[Melvin- Admin]

28 minutes ago, kleaner said:

Thank you for your reply
no, there is not. just one hair transplant.

the skin between the grafts is also dark. Isn't it supposed to be the same color as normal skin?

I mean I can't really tell to be perfectly honest. I suggest growing your hair out and reposting a picture. Right now all it looks like is shaved hair.

[gillenator]

I also do not notice anything to be concerned about...possibly pics do not show as much as what you are seeing in the mirror...having said that, don't worry because in most cases it just takes time for the scalp and recipient area to recover both in terms of inflammation and color.

[pkipling]

While I don't see anything to be concerned about, I do believe I see what you're seeing and understand the initial concern. I say that to emphasize how crafty our brains can be when it comes to convincing that there's an issue or something to conerned about. I know for myself, once my eye brings attention to something, it's all I can see - and sometimes it's important for me to trust outside perspective in those moments.

[gillenator]

Keep us in the loop and maybe post more pics in 3 months?

[kleaner]

On 3/20/2019 at 2:50 AM, gillenator said:

Keep us in the loop and maybe post more pics in 3 months?

Thank you

May I ask you one question?

Have you ever seen any case that has permanent discoloration in the recipient area?

[gillenator]

I know there have been a few cases posted that have experienced long term lingering redness yet it is clearly the exception and not the rule...still, I wish there was something that could be done for them as it's something that none of us expect.

[Kiwi Guy]

Yes it does look discoloured, you aren't going crazy, but it's so early on give the entire area another 3 or 4 months to heal and hopefully it disappears, worst case scenario it lingers but you have a stronger head of hair to cover it.

[gillenator]

You can also speak with your doctor about the use of a topical cream steroid that can also potentially help the redness subside.

[sqny]

I don't seem to understand how people could not recognize the blackness around the shaved hair. It is subtle though. You shouldn't mind it in my opinion.

[harryforreal]

Hi, I haven't logged in for awhile!

 

Yes, I had horrible lingering redness for well over two years. I was advised by another doctor to try the V-Beam for the redness. She does not use a V-Beam in her practice, so there was no financial incentive for her suggesting me to try it. 

 

The V-Beam specialist suggested 3 treatments, but after 2 treatments the discoloration is for all practical purposes gone. I am so thankful for the V-Beam.

 

As for you, I definitely see the skin discoloration in your transplanted hairline.

 

You have a different skin tone from me (I'm fair skin caucasian), and I'm no doctor, so I can't say exactly what the discoloration in your hairline is from. But here are my thoughts POSSIBLY.

 

1) When I had discoloration it was explained to me that there are tiny blood vessels very close to the skin that were "ruptured" or damaged from the hair transplant and that these blood vessels were now visible through the skin causing the discoloration. The V-Beam laser targeted the color in the blood flowing through these blood vessels and effectively "cauterized" these blood vessels, at which point they then "dry up" and get reabsorbed into the body. Once dried up, there is no more blood flowing through them, so no more discoloration.

 

After more than two years of redness following my hair transplant, the two V-beam treatments I then had definitely significantly improved the skin discoloration following my treatments. It's pretty much all gone now. This definitely changed my life for the better. I seriously thought my skin along my forehead would remain red for the rest of my life and I would have to combover my hair for the rest of my life just to hide the redness.

 

2) Sometimes I look around the base of a transplanted hair follicle and still see it's a little dark, and I wonder if I'm actually seeing the darkness of the hair shaft under the skin? Or maybe it's still just a tiny bit of the blood vessels still left that could be treated with a third V-Beam treatment (to be fair, I was advised 3 V-Beam treatments, but after 2 V-Beam treatments it looked so much improved I really didn't see a need to go back). 

 

One thing I've realized is that the hairs that were transplanted at the front of my hairline are thicker and darker than the native hairs that were there - too thick and dark in my opinion to look natural. You can transplant pubic hairs, for example (or hair from anywhere else on the body) and it will grow, but it doesn't mean it will look "soft" and natural. In any case, it MAY be that the native thinner hairs that are normally along the front of the hairline are so thin and light that we don't see them through the skin? So when you transplant thicker hairs to the front, you can see the hairs through the skin at a place in the hairline where one doesn't normally see this so it stands out.

 

But I think looking at your pictures again that the discoloration is more likely the result of the blood vessels that are there now.

 

So I would definitely try a couple V-Beam treatments first. The discoloration looks like more than just a hair follicle under the skin. With your darker skin tone compared to mine, I could definitely see how the discoloration you are experiencing is a result of tiny blood vessels that have appeared since your transplant operation, even though the color isn't "red" like my discoloration was - but then my skin is very fair and "pink" to begin with.

 

I hope this helps!

 

I would be careful about "removing" the hair - I think it could create more scaring possibly. 

 

First try the V-beam for the discoloration. Then decide after that if it looks acceptable once the discoloration is gone!

[gillenator]

The V-beam is a laser?

[harryforreal]

Yes, the V-Beam is a laser that targets specifically color in the blood vessels, so it does not affect hair follicles as they are a different color.

[saqali]

On 3/22/2019 at 8:29 AM, kleaner said:

Thank you

May I ask you one question?

Have you ever seen any case that has permanent discoloration in the recipient area?

Hey, I have the same issue, did you ever find a solution?

[gillenator]

  IMHO, harryforreal’s case is exceptionally amazing and a huge success!

[harryforreal]

Yes, the V Beam laser made a huge difference.  I am really quite surprised it is not mentioned more often in these threads.  I was advised 3 treatments, but in only 2 treatments it removed most all redness.  

 

I also have had a couple micro-needling sessions to reduce scaring and even 3 Genius RF sessions, which give a very nice lift to the face (it's for face, but I purchased the micro-needling and Genius RF with the understanding that it would include my hairline.

 

I still think the hair transplant is a shit job, but at least I don't have redness and scarred, bumpy textures to draw attention to it.

 

At this point my hair is graying a lot, and at least now the transplant looks typical of a man in his 50's with graying hair and some thinning of the hair line. But it still looks like shit, people just think I'm an old man now and don't pay much attention to it.

 

I would not do the transplant again, and stand by this statement after years of trying to mitigate it and combing over my hair to hide such a shit job.