Scar Repair in Turkey
Content overseen by Doctor Costin Pasnicu who has over 7 years of experience in the medical field and has performed numerous successful surgeries. He graduated from the renowned University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila" Bucharest.
In some cases, patients are left with large scars due to outdated strip procedures or multiple operations. For them, there is hope. These scars can be either surgically removed or the hair transplant surgeons in Istanbul can utilize the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) scar repair method in Turkey in order to conceal them, by transplanting grafts on them. Even though the scars will not be completely healed, if they are minimized or covered with hair, the patient will be able to wear his or her hair shorter than before.
If you are interested in a scar repair operation, in our hair transplant clinic in Istanbul, you can benefit from FUE scar repair without needing to go through other complicated procedures.
The main scar repair procedures
There are several ways in which a scar can be repaired and since hair transplant procedures have come a long way, even those who have opted for hair transplants through older and invasive procedures can benefit from new technologies used nowadays. Among these, the Follicular Unit Extraction and the Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) are two of the most modern and offering the best results.
While FUE scar repair is used on smaller portions of the scalp, the FUT technique can be used on larger areas and if the scar is not too visible. No matter your option, it is best to first come in for a consultation with our hair transplant surgeons in Turkey and decide together with our team the best approach for your situation.
In our clinic in Istanbul, which is one of the best hair transplant clinics in Turkey, every patient will benefit from a personalized treatment scheme adapted to their needs. We will make sure the results match the expectation of our patients, but most of all, that they will offer natural-looking results and that no scar will be visible again.
How to choose the scar repair procedure?
When deciding for scar repair through a hair transplant in our clinic in Istanbul, there are several factors that need to be considered before the actual surgery. Most of the time, these factors will impact the procedure used during the scar repair operation. Many times, FUE scar repair is recommended, however, the following factors should be considered:
- if other scars are expected and their type (the main goal is to prevent further scarring on the transplanted area);
- the hair loss pattern if the scar has created patches of boldness (in most cases it does);
- the amount of hair available on the donor area as it will impact significantly the method chosen;
- the size of the recipient area which must be correlated with the donor area and the grafts to be implanted.
Considering all these factors, most of the time, the FUE scar repair transplant will be recommended because the hair follicles can be collected individually and thus reduce further scarring on the donor and recipient areas.
In our hair transplant clinic in Turkey, our experienced hair transplant surgeons will first complete a thorough check-up and propose the most suitable approach to the patients. If you worry about the cost of the hair transplant in our clinic in Turkey, scar repair is usually cheaper than in other countries. As a matter of fact, Turkey is one of the cheapest countries in the world when it comes to all types of hair transplant operations.
Scar removal in Turkey
In order to have a successful scar removal operation in Turkey, the patient should have an appropriate scalp laxity. To accomplish this, the patient has to execute scalp stretching exercises before having the operation.
A scalp stretching exercise consists of placing the hands with interlocked fingers on the back of the head, putting on pressure and moving the skin of the scalp upwards and downwards. Another type of scalp stretching exercise consists of placing the palms of the hands above the ears, putting on pressure and moving the skin upwards and downwards.
Our doctors will revise the patient’s scalp and provide instructions on how much time these exercises should be performed before the scar removal operation.
The scar removal procedure itself consists of extracting hairs from the body or head using the FUE method and transplanting them on the scarred tissue. It is important to note that the growth rate and survival of the new grafts on the scarred tissue are smaller than those transplanted on healthy skin and can vary depending on the type of scars. This is the reason why our hair transplant surgeons in Istanbul generally implant some test grafts first in order to observe if it is useful to extract more hair follicles.
Some of the most common situations in which patients present to our hair transplant clinic in Istanbul for scar repair are those that have to do with the linear scar resulted from a poorly executed FUT (follicular unit transplantation). When the surgical procedure was not a refined one or when the incision was made too low on the scalp or, as may be the case, too short or too long, the patient can be left with a scar that is wide and visible. In other cases, even if the FUT technique was not a poorly executed one, the scar can widen in time. This does not mean that the FUT technique is not an option for scar repair, you can read below more about its uses, however, it is essential to work with an experienced hair transplant surgeon who has perfected his technique and will be able to provide natural-looking results with minimal scarring.
The video below summarizes the main procedures for scar repair in Turkey:
Scar repair in Turkey using the FUE method
For patients who want to conceal their scars, the FUE hair transplant method can be used by transplanting grafts on the wounds. This will enable patients to wear their hair shorter without the scar being perceptible.
FUE is a non-invasive scar repair method in Turkey that enables the correct distribution of hair follicles that are hand-picked after diameter and structure during the repair operation. They will eventually restore the recipient area by rendering it a more natural and aesthetical aspect. With FUE, the donor area is regularly thinned out in order to redistribute extracted grafts on the scalp or scarred skin. Single hair follicles – grafts with only one hair – can precisely be extracted to render a natural-looking hairline and assist in correcting any existing wounds. Our hair transplant surgeons in Turkey pay the greatest attention to their patients at selecting, extracting and transplanting hair follicles, while utilizing highly modern precision instruments to prevent further scarring. Every FUE scar repair transplant in Turkey is achieved in order to render naturally looking outcomes on the scalp. Furthermore, the cost of this procedure is much lower in Turkey than in other countries and we invite you to find here details about the hair transplant cost in Turkey.
What are the steps of an FUE scar repair operation in Turkey?
An FUE scar repair will follow the same steps as in any other hair transplant completed by our doctors in Turkey. The scarred area will be defined at first, followed by the selection of the donor area. In most cases, the hairs will be collected from the back and sides of the scalp. Each hair follicle will be collected individually, as this is what an FUE scar repair procedure implies. Then, the hair follicles will be implanted with the help of a micro-punch tool which will leave no scar after the new hairs start to grow.
It should be noted that the procedure could be repeated after a few months if any scar remains. This one of the most important advantages of an FUE scar repair implant: there is no limitation of the number of FUE hair transplants a patient can undergo.
What are the aspects to consider for scarred scalp hair transplants in Istanbul?
Undergoing a scar repair procedure in Turkey is recommended for many patients, however, a professional doctor, such as the ones working at our clinic, will be able to offer a realistic outcome prognosis. Patients should know that scar repair can be a process that will require more than one intervention in order to achieve the desired result and that, depending on the nature of the scar as well as the patient’s own medical history, the level of scar removal or concealment may not be the same as the one envisioned by the patient.
Discussing with a hair transplant doctor is essential, especially in case of patients who suffer from certain types of conditions or diseases when they first make their scar removal appointment. Some of the conditions that may influence the process include inflammatory ones, such as severe psoriasis. We always recommend scheduling an initial consultation with one of our expert hair surgeons. Understanding your particular case, medical history and how the scarring took place (whether from a less successful hair transplant or from an accident) is essential for establishing the treatment plan and for setting realistic goals for achieving an optimal, natural look.
What are the main reasons to choose an FUE scar repair transplant in Turkey?
Those who consider they will no longer look the same after suffering an accident leaving them with a scar or those who have undergone unsuccessful hair transplants now have a chance or repairing any scar no matter how old it is or how bad it looks because new hairs can grow on scarred area when the FUE method is used. According to the Keloid Research Foundation, keloid scars can now be repaired through various methods, FUE being one of them.
According to a study published by the US National Library of Medicine:
- FUE can represent a good alternative for patients who suffer from scars after older hair transplants (the study was performed on 15 patients);
- 10 male patients and 5 women patients with an average age of 28 participated in the trial;
- the patients were subject to a single hair transplant operation and the results were measured after 12 months from the procedure;
- the FUE transplanted grafts had a survival rate of 80.67% (with a range of 70% to 90%).
Hair transplant in Turkey
Choosing to work with an experienced team of doctors and surgeons from the very beginning will reduce the risk of undergoing a hair transplant procedure that will leave thick, visible scars. Despite the fact that FUT hair transplant is prone to result in different, more visible scars, improperly or insufficiently trained physicians will recommend this procedure to patients. It is useful to know that, before you agree to undergo a FUT procedure, you have the option to choose the alternative, especially if you believe that your hair styling choices will be impacted by the result of the procedure (for example, if you know that you wish to keep your hair shorter and thus any scars that result after an improper FUT technique would be visible).
The costs for hair transplants in Turkey are lower compared to other countries. This means that patients who are concerned that the FUE technique would be prohibitive for them (it is generally more expensive as the process is more thorough because of having to harvest individual hair follicles instead of a single strip of hair) will be able to afford this technique in Turkey, comparted to their home country. When calculating the costs of the FUT versus the FUE technique, the fact that the latter will not require any post-implant corrective cosmetic procedures makes it worthwhile to consider.
Patients should also know that our doctors can recommend alternative treatments for scar concealment after transplant. In some cases, these can suffice (when the scarring is minimal), however, we do recommend undergoing these treatments only as advised by a medical professional. The choices include the following:
- Medication: a doctor will be able to provide other alternative methods to the surgical option for FUE scar repair, including certain oral medical treatments.
- Scalp micro pigmentation: a medical hairline tattoo, similar to brow microblading; it uses pigment corresponding to the color of the hair;
- Tricopigmentation: a temporary form of scalp micro pigmentation; patients may find it useful to see if this suits their needs before committing to the scalp micro pigmentation;
- Laser treatment: low-level laser therapy can promote hair growth which may, in some cases, be enough to cover the scar.
The surgical treatment for postsurgical scalp scarring or deformities, namely FUE scar repair remains the suitable option for patients who have tried the alternative methods and these have not yielded the desired results. It is important to note that the methods used, as well as the surgeon’s experience, are important factors for the success of the scar repair surgical procedure.
The cost for scar repair will differ from the hair transplant price in Turkey. In most cases, the targeted area for repairing the transplant is not as large as with a new hair transplant procedure. However, the cost will vary depending on the level of repair needed (i.e., if the scarring is extensive and the hair transplant doctor decides that more than one procedure is needed).
If you are experiencing any scars from previous hair transplants, our hair restoration specialists in Turkey can help you regain natural-looking hair. Please contact us for more information.