Not every hair transplant delivers the hoped-for results. Whether it's an unnatural hairline, poor density, visible scarring, or simply wanting more coverage, revision procedures offer a path forward. Here's what you need to know.
Common Reasons for Revision
- Unnatural hairline: Pluggy appearance or poorly designed shape
- Insufficient density: First procedure was too conservative
- Continued progression: Native hair loss created new bald areas
- Scarring: Visible FUT strip scar or FUE overharvesting
- Graft failure: Poor survival from first procedure
The Good News: Modern FUE techniques can address most prior issues. Even "bad" transplants can often be significantly improved with skilled revision work.
What Revision Can Achieve
Softening a harsh hairline with single-hair grafts. Adding density between existing transplanted hairs. Camouflaging strip scars with FUE grafts placed into scar tissue. Extending coverage to new areas that have thinned since the original procedure.
Limitations to Understand
- Donor area may be depleted from first procedure
- Scar tissue can affect graft survival (though skilled surgeons achieve 80-90% even in scars)
- Removing improperly placed grafts isn't always possible
- Multiple revisions compound complexity
Choosing a Revision Surgeon
Revision work requires more skill than primary transplants. Look for surgeons who specialize in repair work, ask to see before/after photos specifically of revision cases, and be wary of anyone who promises perfection—improvement is realistic, but previous work creates limitations.
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