This nice fellow from overseas had had 3 previous transplants in Europe. He is quite an athelete and felt like the scar was too noticable when he kept his hair the length that he wanted, and he wanted a revision. Additionally, in my opinion, he had had (at his previous surgeries) too little hair sprinkled over too much scalp, not really "fixing" anything, but rather giving him some coverage which was a bit thin.
We had LOTS of talks on the phone, internet and in person debating the double edged sword of trying to repair the scar; and at the same time, get more hair. Additionally, I told him that if we placed 1500 AMONGST the grafts that he already had, it still wouldn't be dense but would give him more coverage. He declined a denser placement up front and I felt that he had made an informed decision.
He called me this past saturday at 5am (forgetting that we are not in European time) to tell me his scar was widening. He sent me pics on Monday and I don't think he is widening at all. His scar is however red and will get redder and a bit lumpier for a few more weeks before improving. He is back exercising and although I can't predict the future or guarantee him no scar, I am pretty confident that he will wind up with a nice scar next spring.
Please note that I enclosed a few intra-op pics, not to show blood, but to show just how WIDE his scalp retracted prior to placing deep sutures. He had done a good job of scalp exercises and the closure was really quite tension-free.
Dr. Lindsey McLean VA |
