Bernstein Medical - Center for Hair Restoration » Graft Dislodgement

What is Hair Transplant Graft Depth and How Long After Transplant can Grafts be Dislodged?

Robert M. Bernstein M.D. — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:52:00 +0000

Q: How far into the scalp are the grafts placed and is the follicle far enough into the scalp that it will not be damaged? I have heard that the critical time to not touch your scalp is the first 2-3 weeks after the procedure.

A: The growth part of the follicle is 3-4mm into the scalp. Grafts can be dislodged the first 10 days, so you need to be careful not to scrub your scalp during this period. After that, the grafts are permanent. At 2-3 weeks they can’t be dislodged, even by vigorous scrubbing.

After Hair Transplant, When Can One Resume Laser Therapy Treatment?

Robert M. Bernstein M.D. — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:44:00 +0000

Q: I am currently using the Hair Max Laser Comb. I am starting on my third week and am scheduled for a hair transplant in one week. My question is: how long do I have to wait to restart the laser comb after my hair restoration procedure? This is not my first procedure and I understand the grafts are delicate for the first couple of weeks. If I keep the teeth away from the scalp and just let the light hit the grafts will this promote faster growth?

A: You can start using the laser comb again right after the surgery, as long as it doesn’t touch the scalp.

At 10 days after the hair transplant you can use it normally, as the grafts are permanent and there is no risk of dislodging them.

Is it Possible to Lose Hair Transplant Grafts Without Bleeding?

Robert M. Bernstein M.D. — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 10:41:00 +0000

Q: Five days after my hair transplant I shampooed, rubbing the transplanted area vigorously using my finger tips and all the scabs fell off. Is it possible I have dislodged some of the grafts even though they didn’t bleed? If there was no bleeding, is it enough to assume all the new transplanted follicles stayed in place??

A: At five days after a hair transplant the grafts are pretty secure, but still can be dislodged.

However, if there was no bleeding, it is unlikely that you lost any grafts.

Can One Use Laser Comb After Hair Transplant?

Robert M. Bernstein M.D. — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:20:26 +0000

Q: I want to use a laser comb and have already bought it. How soon after a hair transplant can I use it?

A: For the first ten days following a hair transplant you should not use the teeth on the laser comb, since it can dislodge the grafts. After this time it can be used normally.

Keep in mind, however, that as of now there are no published studies for this use.

Can Hair Transplant be Performed on Scar Tissue from Prior Surgery?

Robert M. Bernstein M.D. — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 10:48:00 +0000

Q: I have had some surgical procedures on my head that left a fair amount of scar tissue. Can hair grow there? Is it a more difficult procedure? Are there any complications?

A: Transplanted hair will grow in scar tissue as long as the tissue is not thickened. Thickened scar tissue can be flattened with local injections of cortisone.

Once the scar is smooth, the hair transplant procedure is relatively straightforward, however a few things must still be kept in mind.

Since the blood supply of the scar tissue is less than in normal tissue, the grafts should not be placed as close.
As the grafts from the hair transplant grow, new blood vessels are formed in the area.
Additional density can then be achieved in a subsequent session by adding more grafts.
After the hair restoration procedure, care must be taken with grafts transplanted into scar tissue, as the scarred scalp doesn’t hold onto grafts as well as normal tissue and they are more easily dislodged.

If grafts are packed too closely into scar tissue, poor growth can result. If sites are placed properly and the post-op care is diligent, good growth should be expected.