Head injuries can affect the scalp, the eyebrows, the beard and destroy hair follicles. The injured areas can therefore lose their hair after healing, which is called scarring alopecia.
Restorative / constructive hair transplant
Scarring alopecia : hair loss caused by an injury
Some of the most common injuries to the scalp and facial hair include motor vehicle accidents since fender benders and vehicle glass can cause extensive injuries. Some have suffered head injuries during childhood and have been scarred for the rest of their lives. Trauma-like incidents that can cause hair, body hair or eyebrows loss include sports injuries, industrial accidents and physical violence. Surgery, including neurosurgery, may require access through the skull, which can damage hair follicles and leave scars.
Burns can also cause deep and extensive scars. Thermal burns can occur because of direct exposure to fire, contact with hot substances such as metal, water or other boiling liquids. Chemical burns are caused by exposure of the skin to corrosive substances such as acids or cleaning solutions. Radiation burns are the result of exposure to x-ray or gamma radiation.
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Hair reconstruction: is it a viable option for scarred hair areas ?
In the majority of cases, FUE hair transplant is an effective option to treat scarred and bald hair areas following an accident. Despite the fact that hair transplantation is less effective on scarred hair areas than on unharmed areas, it is still possible to achieve very good results by ensuring that the assessment of the area to be treated is thorough and that the factors that can impact the feasibility and the result of the transplant are taken into account. These factors include :
- Vascularization in the scarred area: follicles need a blood supply to survive after being transplanted and blood vessels may have been destroyed or damaged by the wound, hence the importance of evaluating the arrangement of blood vessels and their vitality before establishing an operating plan.
- The thickness of the skin in the treatment area: hypertrophic scars may limit access to the underlying blood vessels while atrophic scars may be too thin to shelter the follicles. Some techniques have been developed to manage these types of scar tissue, it is up to the surgeon to determine if they can offer a good result.
- Chronic inflammatory diseases of the scalp: these can cause cicatricial alopecia (lupus erythematosus, localized scleroderma, lichen planus). It is not recommended to perform hair transplant as long as this type of condition is active.