Posts Tagged: Graft Excision

In Hair Transplant Repair, Can Follicular Unit Extraction Be Used To Remove Hair Plugs?

September 11th, 2009

Q: I was wondering if it was possible to use Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) on the old plugs instead of graft excision.

A: Graft excision generally works better than FUE in removing old plugs and mini-grafts. In these grafts, the hair is not aligned due to the scar tissue that forms from the large recipient sites. Because the hair direction is altered from the scar tissue, there is much more damage when the grafts are removed with FUE.

Another benefit of graft excision is that we can remove the underlying scar tissue and improve the appearance of the skin.

Finally, graft excision sites are sutured closed so they heal with an imperceptible scar. FUE sites are left open and the white scars at the hairline can be visible.

Topic: Repairs

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 12:31 pm

Can Dermabrasion Repair Old “Pluggy” Hair Transplant Scars?

June 9th, 2007

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.

Topic: Repairs

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 9:25 am

In Hair Transplant Repair, Can You Re-use Hair from Old “Plug” Hair Transplant?

May 3rd, 2007

Q: I had several prior hair transplants that left me with a pluggy look, I was hoping to re-utilize the removed hair and re-implant it, perhaps in the front as a new, more recessed hairline. It is possible?

A: The hair from the excised grafts is always re-implanted.

The grafts that are removed are dissected into individual follicular units and then placed back in the recipient area in a more natural distribution and angle. See this patient’s hair transplant repair in the Hair Transplant Repair Photo Gallery on the Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration website.

Topic: Repairs

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 6:11 am

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

May 1st, 2007

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.

Topic: Repairs

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 6:24 am

Can Hair Transplant “Plugs” be Repaired by Lasers or Electrolysis?

December 8th, 2005

Q: After a bad hair transplant, can you use lasers or electrolysis to remove the transplanted hair?

A: Electrolysis does not work well, because the follicular anatomy is distorted and it is too difficult to insert the needle in the right position.

Lasers will work as well with transplanted hair as it will with normal hair but, in either case, it takes multiple treatments.

The disadvantage of both procedures is that they destroy the hair that is removed and they do nothing to improve the appearance of the underlying skin, which is often scarred and made more visible when the hair is gone.

Graft excision, on the other hand, allows the hair to be reused and can often improve the appearance of the underlying skin.

Topic: Repairs

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 2:08 pm





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