Question about debulking (removal of grafts)

[Murad]

Hey Guys,

I want to get you opinion or if possible first hand experience with a debulking (removal of grafts) procedure.  Few years ago I had a FUT procedure with a not very reputable hair restauration clinic (I know I should have done my homework in this forum).  The new hair line created during the procedure was too low and looks unnatural. I recently went to a new clinic to learn about the available options I have to fix my low unnatural hairline. 

One of the options given to me was the debulking of my hair line grafts and transplanting them a little higher on my scalp or on my linear scar.  I'm little worried that the debulking will create a scar and will make my hairline look full of tiny FUE like scars.  I searched the forum but did not find anyone who went through the same procedure.  Do you guys recommend it or know anyone who went through a similar procedure.  

Another option given to me was to remove the hair on my hairline using hair laser removal technology.  This sounded like a less risky option but I don't know much about the topic and never heard of laser hair removal on a scalp.  Do you recommend it over the debulking procedure ?
 

Please let me know what you think and if you know of any other option to fix my low hairline.

 

Thanks,

 

 

[ITA]

Check the thread of @digi23, he is doing laser sessions to remove the multiple grafts that were put on him by Yaman, but his case is about the temples and not the front line, you could ask him how it goes.

[Al - Moderator]

@Davyhas had this done and it seems to have turned out really well. See below.

 

 

 

[Gatsby]

@Murad if you could post some pics of your hairline we would be better able to assess and give you more accurate advice. All the best!

[Berba11]

There's two cases on this forum; both Dr Feriduni who removed a lot of grafts from the front via FUE of two chaps. One has been linked already I can see. But there's another that the search function should get you to.

There's also a few videos by a popular YouTuber who's name I can't mention on here, but if you YouTube search 'Kyle Christie hair trainsplant' and 'Maria Fowler horrible FUE' you'll find them. Their repairs were done by Ed Ball in the UK.

In the right hands it seems that are extraction from the front doesn't scar like it does in the donor area. But you need a good repair specialist and depending on the complexity of your case, it might take more than one pass to get things looking right. Some photos would be good!

[SeanT1]

I've seen some people use lasers to permanently remove facial hair, I wonder if it is applicable for a hairline also?

[Dillpickle123]

You could do laser on the hairline celebs have done it to get rid of baby hair but why waste the grafts looks for a repair specialist 

[Murad]

Do you know/recommend a good repair specialist in the Chicago area. Someone in the same level as Dr. Feriduni in Belgium.

[TjMiles270]

I have had several FUE punchouts done on my hairline from an FUT transplant that was too low and very unpleasant.  The scaring is essentially invisible, it has not been an issue whatsoever.  I did get some regrowth which was honestly the biggest downside from the experience.  I am still glad I did it though.  Also I was told on a few consults and was told by more than one doctor that the laser route would not be beneficial and I was advised against it.

[Murad]

Hi TjMiles,

Thank you for your reply.  Did you mean that there is a chance the removed graft regrow back in the same spot?  Also why were you advised against the laser route?  what are the downsides of removing the low hairline using laser assuming I did not care about implanting the grafts somewhere else?

[TjMiles270]

From what I gathered from a few consults (I will be explaining it in layman's terms) when removing the grafts via punch out, is not an easy task.  You need to see the angles in which they were implanted in order to take them out correctly.  Otherwise if you'll miss while removing the hair it just grows back.  So with laser removal you're not really getting to the root of the issue and I was told the laser can cause more trouble as far as scarring to the skin area, where as punchouts the scarring is essentially invisible (which I can attest to)  This is just what I was told from a renown doctor.  There is probably thousands of other ppl on here that can explain it in more detail and in technical terms, that is not really my strong suite.  I am just trying to give you the gist of the information that I got over the years from some top docs.  So basically graft removal is a detailed and difficult procedure in which the surgeon doing it needs to be skilled  to do it correctly.  So after a few consults it got me off the laser removal path, although I'd advise to keep digging on the subject because I know ppl have used the option in the past for repairs in our situations.  FYI I didn't care about implanting the grafts somewhere else either, although I did have a few hundred placed back into my scar.  I just wanted the major offenders from my lowered hairline gone.

[TjMiles270]

7 hours ago, Murad said:

Hi TjMiles,

Thank you for your reply.  Did you mean that there is a chance the removed graft regrow back in the same spot?  Also why were you advised against the laser route?  what are the downsides of removing the low hairline using laser assuming I did not care about implanting the grafts somewhere else?

but yeah, you can def get some regrowth in the spots you had removal done, which I have had.  It's usually not a one and done type scenario unfortunately, and you'll have to talk to some doctors but the repair journey is going to be a process.  I know mine has been, one frankly I am still on.

[Al - Moderator]

There is always a small percentage of hair that will not be visible because the hair has fallen out through the normal hair growth cycle and a new hair hasn't started growing yet. If you have all of the hairs that are visible FUEed out, a few weeks later you may have a few new hairs growing due to that normal cycle. You may need another session to get rid of the rest and you may still have a hair here and there that continue to grow after that. Depending on the reason you are FUEing out these grafts, leaving some can create a more natural appearance (if they aren't pluggy or wrong angles) as they create a transition to the full hairline behind it.