Experience may not give you the single correct answer, but it may broaden the range of what you consider possible.
I wish more people knew about this
Some people have kept their hair long for a long time to hide a scar. They worry when the wind blows, fret each time they go to the hairdresser that the scar might show, and give up hairstyles they would like to try. Yet in consultations I often meet people who are surprised to learn for the first time that hair can be transplanted into scar tissue. Many who hid their scar for years and only later discovered scar transplantation then happily underwent surgery and were truly pleased with the result.
When that happens I feel really good, but at the same time a little regretful — if only they had known a little earlier… So I hope more people who have struggled for a long time because of a scar become aware of scar transplantation.
At some point, graft survival in scars improved
In the past we thought scar tissue itself was stiff and the skin over scarred areas tore easily, making dense implantation difficult. We were taught that scars lacked blood vessels and therefore had lower graft survival, so we planted at much lower density, and that's how we did it. But now we achieve good graft survival even when implanting at higher densities. Looking back, it just happened over time.
Time and experience enable you to do what you were once told was not possible. Because the blood flow and tissue condition of scars vary, the degree of graft take and improvement also varies; I explain the feasible range after examination. Experience may not give you a single correct answer so much as broaden the range of what you consider possible.
Depending on the condition of the scar tissue, we may also consider a preparatory step using an erbium glass fractional laser before implantation. This is equipment the clinic uses to support graft survival in scar transplantation, but it is not necessary for every scar and does not guarantee graft survival or any particular outcome. Whether it is applied and at what treatment intervals is explained after examination.
It takes a long time to gain experience
Revision surgery and scar transplantation are not procedures you can perform every day. Moreover, it takes a long time to assess surgical results. That means it also takes a long time to accumulate experience. I have approached scar surgery with the mindset of finding the range of improvement possible from the current condition. Seeing patients who suffered for a long time about the appearance they wanted to hide and then feel better makes me feel satisfied even if I skip a meal.
I'm glad I kept doing this surgery. I will not be complacent and will always strive so you can smile more brightly.
We do not charge an additional fee simply because the procedure is a scar surgery. This principle applies to extra charges that might otherwise be added on top of the basic surgical fee specifically for scar procedures. We separately explain the necessary treatment scope and what is included.
Bleeding, infection, swelling, scarring, folliculitis, sensory changes, temporary concurrent shedding, or graft take below expectations may occur. Preexisting hair loss may progress after transplantation, so long-term management is needed.