If you’ve considered a hair restoration or hair transplantation procedure, chances are you’ve encountered the term “scalp laxity” in your research. Likewise, you may have discovered that it is an essential element in the hair restoration process, helping your specialist determine what procedures are open to you and what will be required to achieve your desired results. Scalp laxity is an important factor, but it is something that can be managed. With the help of your hair transplant specialist, you can achieve dramatic results from your procedure.
What Is Scalp Laxity?
Scalp laxity is the term used to describe how easily (or not) the tissues of the scalp stretch when tension is placed on them. Basically, your hair transplant specialist will pinch an area of the forehead or scalp to see how lax the skin is. Some prospective patients have more laxity of the scalp tissue than others.
During your consultation, your hair transplant specialist will evaluate the laxity of your scalp tissue, particularly in the donor area. Tighter skin around the donor area means that the grafts removed may be more limited. Those patients with a greater amount of laxity in this area can have more grafts harvested for transplantation.
Can Scalp Laxity Be Increased?
If you have a tighter scalp, there are some measures that you can take to increase the amount of laxity in the graft donor area. For many, even a small increase in skin laxity can help to improve their hair restoration procedure. Talk with your hair transplant specialist about scalp exercises you can do at home to help “stretch” the skin and increase its laxity. If you are consistent with your efforts, you should notice a reduction in tightness.
Why Does Scalp Laxity Matter?
When it comes to hair restoration, the amount of hair grafts that are collected can determine how successful the procedure is in the long run. With an hair transplant specialist to guide you along the way, you’ll be able to work towards your best results. Still, a tight scalp may not yield as many donor follicles and additional grafts may be performed as a result.
Scalp laxity helps to determine:
• The height of the donor site that can be removed safely
• The width of the scar that may result from the donor graft
• The recovery time following each graft
While scalps that are too tight might pose a challenge for harvesting donor follicles, they do have an advantage when it comes to healing. Patients with very loose scalp tissue, for example, may see a larger or wider scar form following their procedure.
How Does Scalp Laxity Affect Hairline and Forehead Surgery?
In the hairline lowering/forehead reduction operation, scalp and forehead laxity is proportionate to the level a hairline can be lowered.
Plan Your Hair Restoration Consultation Today
Consult with an experienced hair transplant specialist to design the right procedure for you. Let Dr. Sheldon S. Kabaker guide you through the surgical process from start to finish. As the San Francisco Bay Area’s most experienced Aesthetic Facial Plastic Surgeon and Hair Transplant Specialist, he is the founder and director of California’s longest standing office surgery facility and the past president of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS). He received his medical degree from the University of Illinois, College of Medicine before serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and seeing active duty in Vietnam. Dr. Kabaker has become the world’s leading authority on hairline lowering surgery as well as an internationally recognized authority on facial plastic surgery and hair/scalp reconstruction surgery. Today, he serves as the AAFPRS fellowship director of young facial plastic surgeons while delivering satisfactory results to his patients. To book a consultation with Dr. Kabaker, contact his office located at 3324 Webster Street in Oakland, California by calling (415) 379-9015.