Hair Transplant: Staples Verses Sutures to Close the Donor Area

Do you feel that staples or sutures are better for closing of the donor area after [tag]hair transplant[/tag] surgery.   Which one produces a better scar?

This [tag]hair loss[/tag] question was answered by  Dr. William Lindsey  of Reston, VA who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians.

I see this question a lot on the hair loss forum  and have put my 2 cents in a few times.   To summarize, I don’t think there is any difference between sutures and staples if placed with the same amount of skill.

I place staples about 25% of the time and it really depends on how the skin comes together for me. The [tag]hair restoration[/tag] patient who is shown in this hair transplant photo album was listening to my assistant and me discussing this very topic. In the last 8 years I conservatively guess that I have placed 300,000 sutures; so I am very comfortable sewing. If there is any tension on the scalp after deep closure I do sutures. On the other hand, I think staples are more comfortable for the patient during that initial 10 days, and if the scalp comes together easily I will use staples for patient comfort. But if I have to trade a bit of comfort for a worse potential scar in my hands, I will suture and explain it to the patient.

Good question.

William Lindsey, M.D.

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Bill
Associate Publisher