Anyone Grown their Hair Transplant Out to Cover Their Hairline?

[Gatsby]

I'm curious for those of you who have grown your hair out so that your fringe (bangs?) covers the transplanted hairline? As a Norwood 6/7 my upcoming surgery will not be able to surgically cover a 7cm high FUT like scar that runs across my forehead. The new hairline will be created behind this scar. My hair is (was) curly/wavy. I was curious if any other forum members have grown their hair 'out' as opposed to having it styled back to give a greater illusion of coverage? Many thanks in advance.

[Fue3361]

I personally always wear my hair forward in a kind of fringe.  Mostly due to having a big forehead.  Now that I got the transplant, I'm not sure how I'll style it in the future, but I personally think that slicked back is overrated anyway.  A bit of a fringe gives a more carefree/playful look.  If you are otherwise clean elsewhere (dress well/trimmed beard or shaved/in good shape) a fringe can look great.

A fringe looks bad if the rest of you looks messy as well.  It's about contrasting it with the rest of your look.

[Fue3361]

Also, that said, what have you tried for your forehead scar?  Have you tried microneedling it?  A microneedling pen is a great investment and can make a big difference after a year+ of use.

[Gatsby]

@Fue3361 many thanks for the reply and the advice. The scar is now about a couple of mm wide but runs the length of forehead horizontally from temple to temple. It's been well established over the past 35 plus years. I initially had a hairline full of 'punch graft plugs' and I had them excised over several operations (in an FUT manner) to continually try reduce the risk of stretching and leaving a very wide scar. As the scar is very low (7cm above at the mid line point above the glabella) using grafts in that area would look not only too low for my age but also would be a massive waste of grafts for a Norwood 6/7 where those grafts would be better served further back in a more natural appearance. However I am extremely self conscious of the scar (and how I came to have it as you could imagine). My hair is naturally wavy/curly and I'm hoping that with enough scalp/beard grafts (around 8,000 combined) that if I grow my hair out long enough it may be enough to style my hair so it covers the scar to some degree.

 

[WhiteyUK]

Hopefully with decent density you will be able to wear it forward, especially with your wavy locks, also from what I can see the back of your hair looks quite dense.

I alternate between wearing it back and forward which is something I never thought possible a year ago 😀

And good luck 

[Fue3361]

I'm never one to bullshit or sugar coat things, so take this as an honest opinion.  From those pictures, the only thing that in any way is eye catching is the redness of the scar.  The scar itself, not even a big deal.  Very minor detail.  It's a fine scar, not at all ugly.  

If it were me, I'd look at a skin expert and see if there is not something that can be done for the color.  There are lasers or other treatments that could make a difference (possibly).

 

That said, if a fringe is what you want, it's definitely a possibility.  The scar is not so low that a fringe couldn't do a decent job o covering it.

Something like this would do a good job: 

It doesn't need to cover every inch of it, just to take a little attention off of it.  

And looking at your hair type, it would more probably look something like this:

Which is a fine look imho.

[jay80]

Hey Gatsby.

The styles fue3361 recommended look good. 

Agree the texture of the scar actually isn't bad at all, it's just the redness. I suffered severe acne as a teen and was left with terrible scarring. I've had countless operations and non surgical treatments to get rid of them. I had 3 laser surgeries which completely removed the skin right down to the dermis, each time I was left with tomato red skin for several months. My surgeon recommended a camouflage cream that was great. If you search for any green "cover up" cream or make up I'd try it. Had a bit of trial and error till I could apply it properly without it being noticable. Essentially when you apply a green to red it reduces the redness and makes it appear similar to skin colour.  A lot of people use it for rossacea. Might take a while to be able to apply it properly but worth a try.

Could also speak to a dermatologist about some pigment reducing lasers such as pico, q switch or maybe even IPL. Think they could take a lot of the redness out of it and you would hardly notice it. Think you're in Australia? So you're probably already good at applying SPF daily, that could really help too.

Some alternatives worth trying 

[Gatsby]

The SMP helps 'confuse' the look of the 'surgical' appearance of the scar. It is less red these days and this is more representative of how it appears. However I'd love to show a natural hairline from surgery as you can imagine. The first thing the eye will be drawn to though is the scar. Sorry it's just a huge hang up of mine. Appreciate the honest advice.

[hairman22]

I wear my hair with a fringe.

I like it that way

[Gatsby]

These pics are from today. I recently had my SMP lasered back about 1cm from the hairline.

 

[jay80]

Scar doesn't look red at all on those pics. Hardly looks noticeable at all. But if it is an issue for you then the  grey haired style fue recommended looks good. I know exactly how it feels to have scars, no matter what people say if it's an issue for you then you'll be self conscious of it.

I was ready to spend yet more money with a dermatologist, thankfully she was great and told me the issues I was describing with my skin were in my head and considering the number of procedures I had gone through I had great skin. Easy to get caught up thinking the issue is terrible when its not. Years of literal trauma leave you with a warped sense of how the scars really look. Hopefully you find some peace after you get your transplant.  Hope it doesn't take you as long as me to find that peace mate, you deserve it.

[Gatsby]

18 minutes ago, jay80 said:

Scar doesn't look red at all on those pics. Hardly looks noticeable at all. But if it is an issue for you then the  grey haired style fue recommended looks good. I know exactly how it feels to have scars, no matter what people say if it's an issue for you then you'll be self conscious of it.

I was ready to spend yet more money with a dermatologist, thankfully she was great and told me the issues I was describing with my skin were in my head and considering the number of procedures I had gone through I had great skin. Easy to get caught up thinking the issue is terrible when its not. Years of literal trauma leave you with a warped sense of how the scars really look. Hopefully you find some peace after you get your transplant.  Hope it doesn't take you as long as me to find that peace mate, you deserve it.

Thanks so much for the kind words @jay80. Yes I know in photos and in passing the scars don't look that bad but it's almost a subconscious thing now and a constant reminder of how they came to be. I wish I could experience them as people who see them do if that makes sense? It's the same as balding. People never see us as we see ourselves. But the scars make me self conscious as balding does or even more so as balding is natural compared to surgical scars. Anyway it is what it is.

[jay80]

Totally get it mate.  I used to get annoyed when people told me "there is nothing wrong with your skin" cause I could see I had scars. What I really needed them to say was that they could see I had scars but they weren't bad. The dermatologist I saw basically said that she could see I had suffered from acne but it didn't make me less handsome. Was a nice wee ego boost and helped me to start feeling better.

[Curious25]

From your most recent pics after your SMP lasering, your scar looks barely noticeable. It has healed somewhat dramatically since your first set of pictures. 
 

2 points; 

 

I agree, visiting a skin specialist would be a good shout for some form of laser treatment if you still feel the scar is bothersome. 
 

If you are to wear your hair in a foreword manner post transplant, there needs to be more density behind the hairline, to help with the layering affect, as opposed to when you wear your hair upwards or backwards, heavier density focus on the hairline helps with the layering effect. 
Basically, think of where the bulk of the hair is coming from to ‘produce’ your style. Combed back or upwards, a dense hairline can cover over weaker or less dense areas in the mid to frontal zone. Styling your hair forwards, essentially required the reverse. 
 

Hope that makes sense. 

[Berba11]

2 hours ago, Gatsby said:

These pics are from today. I recently had my SMP lasered back about 1cm from the hairline.

 

Hey Gatsby,

I think the scar looks pretty hard to spot to be honest! Certainly nothing that draws the eye. What I can see of it, kinda looks pretty badass to me!

Your upcoming HT in combination with the SMP you've had (which works well for you btw!) will totally detract from the scar from what I can tell and a bit of length on the fringe should see it off completely. Like I say though, even with your current circumstances it doesn't look noticeable or bad or anything at all negative.

[digi23]

2 hours ago, Gatsby said:

These pics are from today. I recently had my SMP lasered back about 1cm from the hairline.

 

That scar looks almost invisible. Its just that you know its there.

[follically challenged]

2 hours ago, Gatsby said:

These pics are from today. I recently had my SMP lasered back about 1cm from the hairline.

 

Barely even visible mate. If you didn't mention scar i don't think notice it.

I understand its bothersome to you, as we all have our own hang-ups, but that scar is not as bad as you think it is.

With a fringe, i'm pretty sure just the slightest shadow from the overhang would help disguise the scar even further.

[Zoomster]

Alright bud ...I concur with the lads ..it really doesn’t look that noticeable at all..forgive my ignorance on this issue ..can Dr Arika not transplant into the scar ?? Is 7 cms too low in your opinion ? 

[Gatsby]

4 hours ago, Zoomster said:

Alright bud ...I concur with the lads ..it really doesn’t look that noticeable at all..forgive my ignorance on this issue ..can Dr Arika not transplant into the scar ?? Is 7 cms too low in your opinion ? 

Hey Zoomster. She said that it’s too low as it will consume too many scalp grafts. To go that low would result in leaving a diffuse coverage further back. I agree with her as a Norwood 6/7 and at my age a hairline that low would also look unnatural when I think about it. It’s always been a hang up of mine but I’m beginning to see the light. 🙏

[Rahal Hair Transplant]

In my opinion, the hairline is the most important and crucial part of the hair transplant design.  Thus, if one feels they need to grow the hair transplant out to cover the hairline, then it's very likely a good idea to undergo a second touch-up or repair procedure to refine the existing hairline to make it much more thick and natural looking.

Best wishes,

Rahai Hair Transplant

[HappyMan2021]

have you ever tried putting concealer on the scarring? I'm sure they have concealer that will hide the scar pretty much completely, and blend in well with the rest of your forehead skin color. 

And, if the concealer option works, then you aren't beholden to the fringe look

I'd say try that if the fringe hairstyle doesn't work out. Who knows, you may find concealer to be less time-consuming and less maintenance than getting your hair in a strategic fringe every day. 

Edited December 16, 2021 by SadMan2021

[Gatsby]

5 hours ago, SadMan2021 said:

have you ever tried putting concealer on the scarring? I'm sure they have concealer that will hide the scar pretty much completely, and blend in well with the rest of your forehead skin color. 

And, if the concealer option works, then you aren't beholden to the fringe look

I'd say try that if the fringe hairstyle doesn't work out. Who knows, you may find concealer to be less time-consuming and less maintenance than getting your hair in a strategic fringe every day. 

Thanks @SadMan2021 🙏 Yes in my 20's as my natural hairline was thinning and receding I did use dermatch make up to cover the scar which was a lot more inflamed and it worked. This is something I could consider. However to do it everyday would feel almost akin to having to wear a hairpiece if you know where I'm coming from. I totally get and appreciate everyone's comments but it's just a hang up that is really hard to get around looking at through my eyes re: this hairline scar. Many thanks.

[Gatsby]

6 hours ago, Rahal Hair Transplant said:

In my opinion, the hairline is the most important and crucial part of the hair transplant design.  Thus, if one feels they need to grow the hair transplant out to cover the hairline, then it's very likely a good idea to undergo a second touch-up or repair procedure to refine the existing hairline to make it much more thick and natural looking.

Best wishes,

Rahai Hair Transplant

@Rahal Hair Transplant so are you saying to have a second procedure down the track, focusing on the hairline to lower it or to increase it's density, so I can grow it out? 

[Curious25]

4 hours ago, Gatsby said:

@Rahal Hair Transplant so are you saying to have a second procedure down the track, focusing on the hairline to lower it or to increase it's density, so I can grow it out? 

Increase density. 
 

Without sounding negative, because I’m really not trying to, I assume that after your first pass, due to the amount of grafts you are likely having transplanted and the amount of area to cover, the density won’t quite be achievable first time round for the particular hairstyle you’re talking about, without it looking a little sparse. Having said that, your smp will definitely help, so perhaps you will be satisfied? 
 

 

[Gatsby]

1 minute ago, Curious25 said:

Increase density. 
 

Without sounding negative, because I’m really not trying to, I assume that after your first pass, due to the amount of grafts you are likely having transplanted and the amount of area to cover, the density won’t quite be achievable first time round for the particular hairstyle you’re talking about, without it looking a little sparse. Having said that, your smp will definitely help, so perhaps you will be satisfied? 
 

 

You’re quite right @Curious25 As a Norwood 6/7 we’ll be going for every graft ‘in the book’ to get as much coverage as possible between my scalp and beard! Dr Pradeep is incredibly optimistic about my results but Dr Arika is a bit more on the conservative side. 👍