Q re repeat FUT and scar stretching

[JoeD]

I had a very successful 4300 graft FUT about a year ago, covering my frontal 2/3. Scar healed very nicely, pretty close to pencil thin. Completely hidden with a number 3 on the buzzer.  Norwood 6. (not going to post pics out of privacy concerns with my profession)

For my crown, I would be perfectly fine to get another FUT given success and healing of prior, but curious if anyone out there has had experience or seen all go in well first time around, and then scar stretching significantly on second strip. I still do appear to have some scalp laxity and would work on the exercises to increase it further.

 

thanks!

[A_4_Archan]

@JoeDCongratulations for your successfully first surgery ...I think no one can predict this thing as there will be many factors involved in it...

Even i considered this for myself for my 1st surgery and again thinking about it for the 2nd one due to the benefits of fut in getting more grafts but hesitant thinking about the scar as i keep my hairs very short on back....

Edited June 27, 2023 by A_4_Archan

[Al - Moderator]

If you keep the 2nd transplant to a smaller size, maybe around 1800 to 2000 then you should cut down the risk of getting a wider scar because they won't need to cut a wide section out. The more grafts you try to get, the wider the strip that's cut out needs to be. that leads to over tightening when it's closed up which then leads to the scar stretching. If you can wait at least 2 years rather than just one year after the first one then you even get a better chance of a thin scar because more of the laxity will come back during year 2.

[Rahal Hair Transplant]

@JoeD,

Risks of significant scar stretching are always a rare possibility.  That said, the chances that this will happen on the second procedure under the same surgeon is also rare.

That said the more you undergo strip surgery, if you were about to undergo your fifth hair transplant, for example, the risk factors may be a bit higher than if it was on his second procedure.  This is because the skin on your scalp only has so much elasticity - and while time and healing can improve upon it, full elasticity never returns.

Of course, some patients undergoing multiple strip procedures, and still end up with pencil, thin scars that are easily camouflaged bye surrounding hair 

The alternative (if you are concerned about the possibility of scar stretching associated) would be to consider FUE, which today, in the right hands is just as viable as FUT in terms of growth and zzz possesses other benefits, such as no linear, scar and or no scar stretching.  

I hope this helps.

Rahal Hair Transplant

[JoeD]

Very helpful information, thank you. 

Any concern about an FUE thinning the donor to a degree that would make the prior FUT scar more visible?