Hair restoration is one of them most common procedures performed at the Aesthetic Facial Plastic Surgery Medical Clinic, and is done for both men and women. One method involves “hair transplantion”, in which a long, thin strip of scalp from the back of the head is removed (the donor strip). This strip is cut very carefully to separate the individual hair follicles, which are then individually placed into areas of the scalp that have little or no hair. Another method of hair restoration uses larger strips of scalp (“flap reconstruction”) that are isolated and moved to new locations that are deficient of hair. Lastly, some patients in the past were treated with the simple removal of bald scalp (“scalp reduction”). This procedure is performed very rarely now.
Generally, all of these procedures are very safe and result in few complications. Some patients, though, are bothered by the scars that are created. These can be scars in the donor area during transplantation or flap creation, or from the closure after a scalp reduction. Often, scars are worst after a patient has had many transplant sessions, and hair is harvested from the same donor area several times. A patient may have trouble covering the scars with his of her hairstyle.
Treatment using scalp expansion. At the Aesthetic Facial Plastic Surgery Medical Clinic, we offer an excellent treatment for visible scars of the scalp. This procedure involves using a “scalp expander” – a soft and flexible container that is inserted under the scalp and gradually filled with saline to stretch the scalp. It is inserted through a preexistent scar so no new scars are formed. The implant is left in place up to two weeks before gradual inflation is done. The scalp is stretched to the point where additional tissue can be used to cover a scarred region. During a second procedure, the scar is removed, and the extra scalp tissue is carefully and gently placed into the region so the healing will be optimized and the new scar is very thin. Usually, there are individual hairs available for transplant at this time, and they can be placed in such a way that the new scar is almost completely invisible.
Since each patient presents with a unique situation, the exact treatments can vary. So, if you are bothered by scalp scars from prior hair restoration procedures, having a consult with Dr. Kabaker or Dr. Hicks will help you decide is scalp expansion is right for you. It may also help if you send photographs to us by email prior to your visit.
Keep in mind that scalp expansion can also be used effectively to treat scars resulting from trauma or burns. We have extensive experience in treating such patients, an example of which is shown below in figure 1.
Figure 1. Above – a young male patient who sustained a large scar to his left scalp as a result of trauma. Below – after treatment with a scalp expander, hair-bearing scalp was rotated into the defect, resulting in a much improved scalp appearance.
