The major cosmetic problems encountered with poorly planned, or improperly
executed, hair restoration surgery can be classified as follows:
•Grafts too large or "pluggy";
•Hairline too far forward;
•Hairline too broad;
•Hair placed in the wrong direction;
•Unrealistic area of attempted coverage;
•Scarring in the recipient area;
•Ridging;
•Hair wastage; and
•Donor area scarring.
Many of these problems are interrelated and patients needing
repair work often have multiple problems to correct. Before "correcting"
an old transplant, it is important to first establish what aspects of
the old work bother the patient most. The patient must clearly express
his or her concerns and his or her priorities, and then discuss the
management of each of these issues with the physician. It may not always
be possible to solve all the problems, but partial improvement may still
be a worthy goal. Some aspects of the hair transplants that bother the
surgeon may be left untreated if they do not necessarily concern the
patient. Setting priorities before the repair has begun will help ensure
maximum patient satisfaction.
Information provided courtesy of the New
Hair Institute, taken from "The Patient's Guide to
Hair Transplantation" William R. Rassman, MD and Robert
M. Bernstein, MD
