Dealing with the forehead scar (Hair transplants?)

[Debra]

In November, I'll be 1 year post-op from my forehead and nose surgery with Dr Deschamps-Braly. I'm pretty happy with the results.

But the scar is very visible at my hairline. As its healed, it's turned very white and unfortunately this summer , any time my face got the least bit of color, the scar showed VERY badly.

Kinda wondering what my options are.

I assume I can do hair transplants again, just for the hairline this time.....but I know that the recovery of that is a good 2-3 months before you look a bit normal again. Ugh.

Wondering how anyone else who had forehead reconstruction dealt with this .

[Sophia Sage]

I did two things.  First, permanent makeup to camouflage the scar.  Then, a round of transplants.  I'm very happy with the results.

Until then, there's makeup.

[Jessica Lynne]

Maybe micro- needling would help? Definitely like Sophia's idea of permanent makeup (tattoo). But first I'd want to see if micro abrasion or needling would do the trick.

[Megan.]

I know that after a year or more scars can be tatoed.
I have no idea what is/isn't possible but could you have the scar tatoed 'skin' colour??

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[Jessica Lynne]

I know that after a year or more scars can be tatoed.
I have no idea what is/isn't possible but could you have the scar tatoed 'skin' colour??

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Problem with that of course is that tattooing is a static thing. Your skin on the other hand is not. unless you live under a rock, it's gong to change color with the amount of sunshine you receive or whether you are flush or not. So it becomes problematic by itself. It's why I mentioned some sort of mechanical solution to break down the scar tissue and generate collagen growth.

[Megan.]

[emoji853] I'm not sure anything exists. But if you find anything I'd be keen to hear about it. I've got 2-3ft of scars across my abdomen from an abdominoplasty.
Have you used silicon gel,  this can help scar recovery and colour even some time after the fact.

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[Jessica Lynne]

[emoji853] I'm not sure anything exists. But if you find anything I'd be keen to hear about it. I've got 2-3ft of scars across my abdomen from an abdominoplasty.
Have you used silicon gel,  this can help scar recovery and colour even some time after the fact.

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3921236/     

[Megan.]

Ooo interesting,  thank you. X

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[Debra]

Thanks for the ideas! I am looking into transplants again and maybe talk to my hair lady about bangs but that seems like more of a temp solution too.

I've done microblading on my eyebrows and it's pretty cool but it is way more temporary than body tattoos and I assume the same would be for the hairline area.

Micro-needling is interesting, I wonder if I could beg an extra sesh of that again out of my surgeon when I see him for my 1 year.

I have had scar massages periodically throughout this year and every time I did it, the scar got angry and red but then calmed down again. It just seems stuck in this dead white state now.

I also used the scar cream on the scar for a good 8-9 months post-op (till 2 bottles of it ran out).

[Debra]

Well I talked to my surgeon and he confirmed that there's really nothing I can rub on the scar, it's pretty much healed at this point. He recommended against tattooing because color of skin will change over time (pigment) and the tattoo won't.

I am starting talks with Dr. Gabel in Portland for hair transplants. He thinks 1000 grafts should do the trick both in the scar and right in front of it. I trust him since he did a great job on the corners of my hairline in 2014.

Looks like this winter may be another 'beanie' winter. Last year it was for covering up FFS recovery and this winter for covering the grafts as they heal hah.

[Debra]

1000 grafts is scheduled for Nov 28th. Here we go again heh.

[LizK]

1000 grafts is scheduled for Nov 28th. Here we go again heh.

Congratulations 1000 grafts make a huge difference and I'm sure they will cover any scar that you have. Given the right hairstyle I'm sure they will not even be visible. Good luck and I hope it goes well.

[Debra]

So I got the 1000 grafts. Ended up being 1300ish actually but really the most of the scar coverage was probably 300-500 grafts and then he used the rest to thicken up the rounded hairline areas that he'd done 4 years ago.

Surprisingly the recovery has been way better than the last time I did this. Maybe it's because there is less visible area of new grafts (just the front area) while most of them are in between existing hairs.

I'm 2 weeks post-op and looking pretty good actually so yay!

[Ellement_of_Freedom]

Do the grafts come from the back of your head?

[Debra]

Do the grafts come from the back of your head?

Yeppers. Common good donor hair for transplants usually does.

[Harley Quinn]

Congratulations Debra.  I can't wait to go and get the crown area thickened up with Dr. Gabel.  He does some truly amazing work.  I'd love to hear how the scar regrowth goes.  I have a few scars on the back of my scalp and I'm curious how well it regrows over scar tissue.

[Debra]

Congratulations Debra.  I can't wait to go and get the crown area thickened up with Dr. Gabel.  He does some truly amazing work.  I'd love to hear how the scar regrowth goes.  I have a few scars on the back of my scalp and I'm curious how well it regrows over scar tissue.

He really is amazing! Now I am at the stage where I have to wait for the hair to regrow. ugh! haha

[Susan]

According to Dr. Lisa Lynn Sowder you need to keep your scars out of the sun for the first year after surgery or you risk them being permanently visible. (I googled scar care before my surgery)

I had the face lift and hairline lowering and for the first 9 months I wore a hat anytime I went out side, and I also use a moisturizer with a sunscreen.

Fresh scars are very susceptible to the sun and can turn permanently dark unless protected.  A "fresh" scar is defined as any scar that is still pink.  A "mature" scar is defined as any scar that is soft, flat and normal skin color or a little lighter.  Most adults have a "mature" scar by about a year.  Childrens' scars may take longer to "mature".

The best way, in my opinion, to keep a "fresh" scar protected is to cover it with clothing or with a piece of flesh colored tape or, if you prefer, a Hello Kitty band aid.  Really good sunblock will also likely do the trick if you remember to reapply it several times during the day.   Keep that scar protected until it fades to normal skin color or lighter and then sun exposure is unlikely to cause it to hyperpigment.

A dark scar may be helped with hydroquinone cream (Link Added by Susan) or laser or surgical scar revision.  But, as per usual, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound (and $$$) of cure.

My scar has since passed the mature point and can no longer be seen unless you get up close and really try to look for them.

[Debra]

Susan yeah I did that as well. Unfortunately according to my doc, my scar is a rare case.