Did Eyebrow Hair Transplant Damage My Skin?

This question, from a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums, was answered by a staff physician from Coalition hair transplant clinic Feller Medical:

I had an eyebrow restoration months ago and as of today my skin on the recipient site is terribly scarred, pitted and bumpy. I am so upset I cry every day. I was never made aware before the procedure that the skin would actually change. The marks are really noticeable, this causes me distress every day and I have even stopped my social activities as I am so ashamed of how my brows look.

I am looking for recommendations on creams I could use to soothe the skin over. My skin is healed now, but is showing hundreds of bumps and pits (bumps on one eyebrow and pits on the other..!!)

I do not want to comment on the lack of experience of my hair restoration surgeon as it is just too obvious and it makes me even more upset as I am mad at myself for picking a surgeon without properly checking their background etc. I have obviously followed up with him and he is avoiding the question, saying it is normal and I just need to be patient. But I am terribly sceptical.

Right now my priority is to hope my skin will at some stage resolve. I know I need to wait another few months to judge, but since the procedure is described as being scar-free, I am thinking maybe the fact my skin is in such a terrible condition at three months is not normal.

I’m sorry to hear you are upset about your recent procedure. Let me see if I can help with some of your concerns:

First: I know this probably isn’t what you wanted to hear, but it’s still very early. The skin can remain disrupted for some time after surgery, and some of this irregularity will likely go away. What’s more, remember that you are at the point now where all the implanted grafts have shed, but have likely not started growing back yet. This means you are seeing any sort of disruption in the skin but without any of the associated hairs. Even if the “scarring” didn’t improve — and it very likely will — remember that it will be hidden under the newhair growth through it.

Second: Did you ask your hair transplant surgeon if there is anything he/she recommends putting on the skin disruptions? It’s always best to follow your clinic’s post-operative instructions as closely as possible. If it is true scarring, usually vitamin E is the best treatment. If it is some sort of skin irritation, there may be something better suited. And if you have been discussing it with the clinic, they have probably seen pictures and can recommend the most effective treatments. Otherwise, it may be helpful to share some images and maybe elicit some opinion here.

I hope this helps. Altogether, I do think this will improve; I think the skin itself will “calm down,” and I also think the hair growing through it will camouflage any remaining disruptions on the skin itself.

~Feller Medical
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David
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.

To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit the hair loss forum and social community.

Technorati Tags: eyebrow restoration, hair restoration, hair growth, hair transplant