Experiencing a burn scar to your scalp or face can have long-term impacts on self-esteem. A hair transplant could be a viable way to replenish hair loss in burn victims and correct patches of scarring that visibly intercept your natural hairline.
A hair transplant may be an efficient and permanent way to conceal burn scars on any area of your scalp or restore hair loss to your eyebrows and facial hair, depending on several variables which we’ll discuss here.
It is important to note that bespoke, minimally invasive FUE hair transplants to address burn scar alopecia are a very skilled procedure, and we strongly advise you to book a complimentary consultation with our sector-leading surgeons before making any decisions.
Hair Transplantation for Burn Scar Alopecia
- Scarring alopecia is a broad-scope term that refers to alopecia caused by medical treatments, accidents, injuries, and inflammatory conditions that result in burns to the tissue and the destruction of hair follicles.
- Despite misconceptions, a hair transplant is a good way to replenish hair loss due to burn scarring, but this may depend on the size and depth of the scar tissue, the area affected, and the age and health of the client.
- However, If burn scarring is more extensive, or there are limited donor hairs available, a transplant becomes a more complex process and may be best completed alongside or after non-surgical therapies to improve the health of the scalp and follicles.
Understanding the Applications of a Burn Scar Hair Transplant
Burns are among the most destructive injuries and can impact a single area, be present across multiple parts of the scalp, and vary considerably in terms of the depth of the scar tissue.
The positive is that a hair transplant can restore hair growth across parts of the scalp that have been damaged by a burn, even if the injury has caused damage to the hair follicles, indicated by visible hair loss or patches of hair that are noticeably thinner and weaker than others.
Although this condition is referred to as burn scalp alopecia, it refers to a wide array of scenarios, from burns caused by an accident or injury to burn-type tissue as a result of medical procedures or medications and health conditions, often autoimmune disorders, that impact the health and texture of the scalp and hair.
Factors Impacting the Viability of a Burn Scar Hair Transplant
Dr Matee, the Director of Surgical Services at the KSL Clinic group, advises, ‘Hair transplants to improve or eliminate the visible nature of scarring are often most effective for clients with small to moderate areas of scarring – although we can put together highly bespoke strategies and longer-term hair restoration plans for those with more extensive scar tissue.
While a hair transplant is often assumed to apply only to hair on the scalp, we have consulted with patients looking for professional guidance on restoring eyebrows and facial hair following a burn injury – with transformative results that substantially impact their appearance.’
He goes on to explain that the challenge is that if scarring affects a larger proportion of the scalp, we may have very limited options when it comes to extracting donor hairs. We’re also cautious about any potential over-harvesting, something common in low-cost, substandard hair transplants.
That is because, even if the surgeon extracts sufficient hairs to conceal the hair loss in the target area, this can have a knock-on impact if there is visible, irreversible balding in the spaces where donor hairs have been removed.
Likewise, it is essential that we have the opportunity to perform a clinical assessment of the scar tissue and utilise specialist hair transplant methods to ensure that hair restoration is optimal, long-lasting, and suited for clients with compromised scalp health.
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Using Specialist Hair Restoration Approaches to Correct Burn-Related Hair Loss
Numerous studies evaluate the efficacy of supplemental techniques, including laser treatments, and the success rates of hair transplants in managing burn scarring.
These have found that when combining a transplant with other procedures to improve the health and condition of the tissue in the target area:
- Transplanted follicular units have an average success rate of 85.04%
- Improvements in density per square centimetre are, on average, 84.54%
This shows that, although a hair transplant can be highly successful, a personalised, custom approach is the best possible way to restore hair loss and reverse the visible impacts of scarring.
If you would like more information about a hair transplant following a burn injury or to book a consultation with our accomplished hair restoration teams, you are welcome to contact your nearest KSL Clinic at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is the Availability of Donor Hairs a Major Factor in a Post-Burn Hair Transplant?
When we perform any hair transplant, we first have to ensure there are sufficient donor follicles to replenish the area of hair loss.
Those follicles don’t just need to be healthy but need to match the colour, texture, growth direction and density of other follicles to ensure the outcome is seamless and impossible to see.
Therefore, for burn victims with more extensive scarring and very limited donor hair follicles or for whom the donor hairs would need to be extracted from very specific areas, such as around the nape of the neck, we must be certain the transplant can be completed successfully without negatively impacting the appearance of hair at the donor site.
Is it Possible for Transplanted Hair Follicles to Grow in an Area With Scarring?
Yes, potentially. Depending on whether there is a good enough blood supply to the area, some scarring is superficial and means that a transplanted hair will grow perfectly well in the area.
In other scenarios, we might consider transplanting follicles very close to the centre of the scar tissue, where there is a better chance of graft survival. Thus, we would create a thicker, fuller growth pattern that easily conceals the scar.
Can Hair Regrow Independently After a Burn Injury?
It is possible that some follicles will regrow after a burn, but that usually applies if the burn is relatively minor, causes very shallow or non-existent scar tissue, and doesn’t permanently damage the follicles.
Some patients find that a non-surgical intervention is ideal, stimulating dormant follicles to prompt new growth. However, this may not be possible in every case, and it is unlikely to result in full hair regrowth for those with larger areas of scarring.
Why Is the Availability of Donor Hairs a Major Factor in a Post-Burn Hair Transplant?
When we perform any hair transplant, we first have to ensure there are sufficient donor follicles to replenish the area of hair loss.
Those follicles don’t just need to be healthy but need to match the colour, texture, growth direction and density of other follicles to ensure the outcome is seamless and impossible to see.
Therefore, for burn victims with more extensive scarring and very limited donor hair follicles or for whom the donor hairs would need to be extracted from very specific areas, such as around the nape of the neck, we must be certain the transplant can be completed successfully without negatively impacting the appearance of hair at the donor site.
Can Hair Regrow Independently After a Burn Injury?
It is possible that some follicles will regrow after a burn, but that usually applies if the burn is relatively minor, causes very shallow or non-existent scar tissue, and doesn’t permanently damage the follicles.
Some patients find that a non-surgical intervention is ideal, stimulating dormant follicles to prompt new growth. However, this may not be possible in every case, and it is unlikely to result in full hair regrowth for those with larger areas of scarring.
Is it Possible for Transplanted Hair Follicles to Grow in an Area With Scarring?
Yes, potentially. Depending on whether there is a good enough blood supply to the area, some scarring is superficial and means that a transplanted hair will grow perfectly well in the area.
In other scenarios, we might consider transplanting follicles very close to the centre of the scar tissue, where there is a better chance of graft survival. Thus, we would create a thicker, fuller growth pattern that easily conceals the scar.
