Bernstein Medical - Center for Hair Restoration » Circular Scar from Plug Grafts

Can Dermabrasion Repair Old "Pluggy" Hair Transplant Scars?

Robert M. Bernstein M.D. — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 09:25:00 +0000

Q: Can dermabrasion help eliminate the circular edges of raised plug grafts caused by old hair transplants? Is this similar to the suturing and excision look?

A: Although dermabrasion can flatten elevated edges, it will not eliminate the round, white circular scars that results from old punch graft hair transplants.

The scarring in these procedures goes all the way through the dermis to the fat. Dermabrasion can only go down to the upper part of the dermis without causing further scarring.

Graft excision with suturing removes the plug as well as the underlying scar and will eliminate the tell-tale circular marks of the older hair restoration procedures.

In Hair Transplant Repair, Can You Repair Scars from Old "Plug" Hair Transplant?

Robert M. Bernstein M.D. — Tue, 01 May 2007 06:24:00 +0000

Q: I had an old hair transplant and I’m hoping to remove these plugs and of course am concerned how much additional scarring would result. I’m wondering if removal of the total hair plugs (which are perhaps 2 or 3 mm in diameter) by coring them out would result in a lot of additional scarring.

A: It will significantly reduce the scarring.

The reason is that the round disc of scar tissue at the bottom of the graft from prior plug hair transplants will be removed and the normal skin edges will be brought together resulting in a barely perceptible fine line scar.

See the Graft Excision in Hair Transplants page on Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration website.