Opting for a FUT scar repair transplant in Turkey is a liberating step for men who have lived with the visible reminder of a previous strip surgery. We understand the frustration of being limited to long hairstyles to hide the linear “smiley face” scar on the back of your head. At Clinic Care Center, we offer advanced corrective techniques to camouflage these scars, allowing you to wear shorter haircuts with confidence and freedom.
The Challenge of Scar Tissue: Blood Supply & Thickness
Transplanting hair into a scar is biologically different from transplanting into healthy skin. Normal scalp tissue is highly vascular, meaning it has a rich blood supply to nourish new grafts. Scar tissue, however, is fibrotic. It is made of dense, tough collagen with significantly fewer blood vessels.
This reduced blood flow presents a challenge: we cannot pack grafts as densely into a scar as we would into a virgin hairline. If we overcrowd the grafts, they will compete for the limited blood supply and fail to survive. Therefore, the strategy focuses on strategic coverage rather than maximum density. Often, we combine the transplant with SMP (Scalp Micropigmentation) to darken the white scar tissue between the new hairs, creating the illusion of full density.
Clinic Care Center: Expert Warning
Repairing an FUT scar requires a realistic mindset. We cannot ‘erase’ the scar; we can only camouflage it. Because scar tissue is tough and has poor circulation, the survival rate of transplanted grafts is lower than on virgin scalp (typically 70-80%). In some cases, if the scar is very wide (hypertrophic), we may recommend a Scar Revision Surgery (cutting it out and re-stitching) before attempting a transplant. We assess the thickness and vascularity of your scar before promising any results.
Options for Fixing a Strip Scar
There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Depending on the width and texture of your scar, we may recommend one of the following approaches:
| Method | How It Works | Best Candidate |
|---|---|---|
| FUE into Scar | Extracting follicles from around the scar and planting them inside it using DHI or FUE tools. | Scars that are flat, white, and relatively thin (less than 5mm wide). |
| SMP (Tattoo) | Medical tattooing (dots) to darken the white scar tissue to match your hair color. | Patients with very short hair (buzz cut) or limited donor supply. |
| Surgical Excision | Cutting out the old wide scar and sewing the edges closer together (Trichophytic closure). | Very wide (over 1cm) or stretched scars where transplanting alone would require too many grafts. |
| Combination (FUE + SMP) | The Gold Standard. Adding texture with hair grafts and reducing contrast with SMP. | Patients wanting the most natural, unnoticeable result. |
How We Transplant Hair into the Scar
The technique requires precision to ensure the new hair blends seamlessly with the surrounding growth. We often utilize Beard Hair as a donor source for scar repair. Beard grafts are thicker and more robust than scalp hair, providing excellent coverage and volume even with fewer grafts, which is ideal for the lower blood supply of scar tissue.
Furthermore, the angle of implantation is critical. The back of the head often has swirling hair patterns (cowlicks). The surgeon must carefully angle the implanted hairs to match this natural flow, ensuring the new hair lays flat and doesn’t stick out unnaturally.
Frequently Asked Questions about Scar Repair
Will the grafts grow in scar tissue?
Yes, hair can grow in scar tissue, but the survival rate is typically lower (around 70-80%) compared to healthy skin (90%+). We account for this by placing slightly more grafts than usual or planning for a small touch-up.
How many grafts do I need?
This depends entirely on the dimensions of the scar. A standard ear-to-ear strip scar usually requires between 500 and 1,500 grafts for adequate camouflage.
Can I use body hair?
Yes. Using chest or beard hair is a very common strategy for repair cases. This allows us to save your valuable scalp donor hair for the top of your head or hairline.
Does it hurt more?
Scar tissue is tougher and harder to numb than regular skin. We take extra care with the local anesthesia to ensure the area is completely blocked, but you may feel a bit more pressure during the implantation.
Can I cut my hair short after?
Yes. While you may not be able to shave to the skin (Grade 0), most patients can comfortably wear a #2 or #3 guard haircut without the scar being noticeable.
How long is the healing?
The healing timeline is similar to a standard FUE procedure. The scabs fall off within 10 days, and the new hair begins to grow permanently after 3-4 months.
Is it expensive?
Repair cases are often charged per graft or as a specialized package. Due to the technical difficulty, the price per graft may be slightly higher than a standard virgin scalp transplant.
Leave the Past Behind.
You shouldn’t have to hide the evidence of a past surgery forever. At Clinic Care Center, our repair specialists use a combination of FUE, DHI, and SMP to effectively mask FUT scars. Contact us today for a free photo assessment to determine if your scar is suitable for transplantation.
Also Read:
Hair Transplant
Beard Hair Transplant
Eyebrow Transplant
