Scarring

I've had 4 surgeries going into the same coronal incision which has left me bald in certain areas. Is it possible to do hair transplantation onto this overly worked incision line?

Dear Anna - Yes, it is quite likely that the scar can be improved by a transplant procedure. You can email some photos for me to evaluate if you wish.

Posted by Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS

Dear Anna - Yes, it is quite likely that the scar can be improved by a transplant procedure. You can email some photos for me to evaluate if you wish.

Posted by Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS

Up until the early to mid 1990s, scalp flaps, when performed properly by qualified surgeons, were reasonable procedures to perform on select individuals - given the less than perfect aesthetic results of micro/minigrafting procedures. Personally, I stopped performing these complex surgical procedures in 1995, after limiting them to only select patients.
Today, it is possible to significantly address and repair the major aesthetic problems that result from scalp flaps. The abnormally solid hairline can be softened. The donor site scarring can be repaired with grafting and/or with scar repairs. The rounded off frontotemporal recessions can be made more receded. As a surgeon who was trained in this procedure, I am able to understand the  dynamics of these surgeries, and repair them to their greatest degree.

Posted by Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS

Up until the early to mid 1990s, scalp flaps, when  performed properly by qualified surgeons, were reasonable procedures to perform on select individuals-  given  the less than perfect aesthetic results of micro/minigrafting procedures.  Personally, I stopped performing these complex surgical procedures in 1995, after limiting them to only select patients.
Today, it is possible to significantly address and repair the major aesthetic problems that result from scalp flaps.  The abnormally solid hairline can be softened.  The donor site scarring can be repaired with grafting and/or with scar repairs.  The rounded off frontotemporal recessions can be made more receded.  As a surgeon who was trained in this procedure, I am able to understand the dynamics of these surgeries, and repair them to their greatest degree.

Posted by Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS

I am sure that your research has shown you that I have extensive experience in reparative procedures.  It is usually possible, even in cases such as yours, to obtain at least enough donor hairs-  say 800 to 1200 or so grafts- to create a moderate to significant improvement in appearance.  This is because the grafts can be strategically placed so that they provide the cosmetic improvement that makes the biggest difference.

Posted by Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS

I understand your reluctance to have a tattoo to the area, given that it never truly looks natural.  It is in fact possible to transplant hairs into the scar, resulting in the scar being somewhat to significantly less noticeable.  For most of my patients, having eyebrows restored is an emotionally significant event.  I suggest you email some photos for me to evaluate, and I will have a Patient Advisor from my office contact you with more information.

Posted by Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS

No, in most cases, Dr. Epstein can simply excise the existing scar and the site heals to as fine line scar, as before. So there will only be one scar even after multiple procedures.

Posted by Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS