I had a transplant in 1995 that I am unhappy with. It left me with a strip scar and frizzy hair. Now all I want to do is to be able to buzz my hair short. I’ve had the scar partially filled in with FUE, and am satisfied with the result. Now I would like to remove the old hairline grafts, splice them, and have them transplanted into the scar to camouflage it some more. Also the old hairline grafts have caused cobblestoning, so this needs to be repaired (I guess with the removal it is?). Is it possible to achieve what I am looking for?
Many thanks,
Adam
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It is definitely possible to correct the appearance of unsightly grafts that are too big or that have been placed with poor direction, angle, depth or location. Unfortunately, many of these repair cases require multiple sessions to achieve maximum improvement since there is often a limit to how many grafts can be removed at any one time. There are several options available for removing the offending grafts. Follicular unit extraction techniques may be used to remove smaller grafts or to selectively reduce the density within a plug graft. Thinning out a large plug can improve its appearance by making it look less “pluggy”. Large grafts that would not benefit from thinning with follicular unit extraction may require complete extraction with a standard skin biopsy punch. The punch is used to first core out the offending graft from the recipient site. The residual defect is then sutured closed or left to close via secondary intention healing, i.e. leaving the wound open and letting it close down on its own. Read the Story

I had a transplant about one year ago to hide a scar from a brow lift. Unfortunately, the scar is still very visible, but what I’m most worried about is the dramatic thinning of my hair along the donor scar line and below it. In fact, right now, I have an irritation, the second one in a month, that is about an inch wide. This one burns and appears infected. My doctor thinks it was just an ingrown hair, but I’ve never had one like this ever! Could I be having thinning hair and irritations because of my hair transplant. Will it stop? Is it likely my hair will ever regrow what I’ve lost since the hair transplant?
-Susan
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As for your donor area, it does sound like you have local infection and inflammation at the site.  This could have started, as your doctor said, with an ingrown hair and may have spread to the surrounding area.  It could also be what doctors call an “inclusion body” like a stitch that did not dissolve and is instead working it’s way towards the surface.  Read the Story

I had two bad hair transplants that have left me with very little hair in the back of my head, and with lots of bald spots that I can’t hide. I now also have much less hair in the front then I had before my two hair transplants.

To add to that, my scalp has a white zigzag like scar around the hair line, it cost over $25,000 (FUE) with supposidly one of the best hair transplant doctors.

I am a woman who always had such long full silk-like hair (all my life) the best hair really, so I was thinning a bit in the front , but now I have to worry about the loss of all the hair from the back, only not to have it grow in the front. Scarring in the front, and hair not growing in (6 months after second transplant and nothing is growing) also lost more hair due to shock loss that didn’t grow back!

I am beside myself and cry every day, drink (to forget) gained 20lbs, no more karate, gym, going out with my husband, friends, and I am avoiding friends and family etc. This is killing me!!!! I lost myself and I’m so mad. How could this happen to me, what went wrong? How can I fix this?

Please help.
Eve
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Dear Eve:

Thank you for your question.  Yours is a complex situation, and I wish that I had photography to review to be as accurate as possible in this attempt to assist you.

Specifically, I am interested in the timing of the two transplant procedures.  You mentioned that the second procedure was performed six months ago so there has not yet been an adequate amount of time that has passed to assess the final result.  Read the Story

I am a 44 yr old African American female. I have researched several doctors and institutions that claim they can help me but after viewing the work they have done on others I am skeptical. I have been balding on the sides of my temples for about ten years now. It has gotten worse. I have worn my hair in braids for several years and have dyed and fried my hair with chemicals and hair coloring. I am sure that has damaged my hair, but I have not used chemicals in over 12 years.  I have used topical solutions, including Rogaine for Men and hair growth products for women. I see some hair regrowth only at the edge of my temples, but not where it should be. I want a hair transplant, I just don’t know who to trust and who can help me. I live in the Maryland/ Washington, DC area but I am certainly willing to travel to get a specialist to help me.
Thanks,
RS

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Dear RS,

From your description you are suffering from traction alopecia. This condition is quite common among African American women and arises because of the fashion of tight braiding. The tight braids produce a repetitive stress on the hair follicle and over a period of time actually destroy the follicles. Unfortunately topical treatment such as Minoxidil (Rogaine) and others rarely produces any recovery. Read the Story