Achieving a very narrow strip scar

[topccat29]

This is more of a question as it may have been thought of before. If one were to view the scarring from some of my ill advised procedures of long ago something clearly stands out. This would be the difference in the strip scars and the hairlift scar. The strip scars were under a great deal of tension while the hairlift scar on the temple and across the top of my head was under very little tension. The result is clear in the photos posted below.

With that being said would it not be a better idea to go into the strip area and detach the skin from the scalp with a laproscope or a cannula type device thus relieving all the tension before excising the strip? Perhaps this would just become too complicated but I was curious as why we don €™t see it being performed.

Another observation I have made over the years is that the tension on the back of the head seems to be greatly affected by bodyweight and the development of the trapezius muscle. Less weight and development, less tension. My weight fluctuates from about 160-215 depending on which weight class I enter in competitive sports. At the moment my weight is on the very low end and the tension is practically zero. Do clinics advise patients to lose weight before the procedure if the case calls for it.

 

[Sparky]

I was told the strip scar would be as thin as the edge of a piece of paper by Phil Edmonson, (Norton employee) what a f'kin liar!

 

[hairtech]

Top,

Great post. So you had two observations. I can offer my experience and opinion.

1. Relieving tension by way of detaching scalp from cranium by use of a laproscopic method or cannula. Well this is a good theory but here is what I know that has been tried in this approach. "Detaching" the scalp from the cranium for tension relief in hair restoration is called undermining. It occurs during a strip excision and the closure is so tight that the edges are unable to be sutured properly.

2. Do clinics advise to lose weight to relieve scalp tension? No

But I do like your theory of this. It makes sense.

Good thinking.

Sparky. Ya. That is not true. '''h;h;;h

 

[topccat29]

Sparky my feelings are much different I do not have feelings of anger towards those doctors or clinics from my past. My feelings are more wishing I would have had information. Would I have done the same as they did those doctors and clinics when presented with someone who possessed low information at the time €¦ €¦ €¦ €¦.no but we all are different and regardless I look at it as a positive experience. There are many more out there that are suffering life threatening diseases and are equally armed with low information. I feel much worse for them but I know I have very little chance of being in that same position as having information and as much of it as possible has become part of my life. Sparky use your experience to realize the same, to realize it might very well be something positive.

BTW I ask this question regarding this strip idea not for myself as I €™m probably too far gone and it €™s really not that much of an issue for me, concealer takes care of it very nicely. Take note here guys that whine about a few hairs that are not quite right €¦ €¦..get over it and stop obsessing about something that absolutely does not matter. My question is mostly in hopes of maybe helping some of these younger guys who are not too far gone.

 

[Sparky]

I too wish that I was more knowledgeable at the time.

When it comes to anger against the Dr's who did this, yes I am angry at them, true they didn't hold a gun to my head and force me to get this done, but they did downplay everything bad about what they were selling.
These were Dr's who did this, Dr's are supposed to look after people.

As for feeling bad about people suffering around the world and close to home, of course I feel bad for them, but that's all I can do. Very recently, my second cousin who is a year younger than me died from a suspected heart attack so I know things could be a lot worse.

 

[topccat29]

Thanks Hairtech.
So what exactly happens to the edges after undermining that makes it difficult to suture? I'm guessing not enough body and maybe tearing at the suture points?
I guess I don't quite understand why so much difficulty when suturing as when the hairlift is performed the whole side of the head is undermined and pulled up and the area is sutured with very little tension resulting in a very thin scar.

 

[Sparky]

I don't see why this wouldn't work, but maybe only useful for people having multiple strips nowadays considering that the good clinics are generally producing thin scars without having to undermine.

 

[topccat29]

Sparky the question was directed towards those that have strip scars they are dealing with that didn €™t come out as good as they hoped for and are looking for solutions. For example Hedgehog, although his scar does not look too bad to me but none the less it bothers him. As I wrote I €™m sure the idea has been thought of in the past I was just curious as to why it doesn €™t work.

 

[hairtech]

Basically the problem arises when the scalp can only stretch so far. And believe me I have seen some difficult situations in my 10 years in being in hair restoration. I have witnessed a few times where the edges would not touch... despite an undermining. And when this occurs... scar tissue builds in its place.

 

[topccat29]

Thanks hairtech, I was thinking it was as simple as peeling away the scalp from the underlying tissue much like is what is done when performing a face lift or similar type of procedure but without having to make vertical incisions and just releasing the tension with a cannula type of device. Sounds like that might not be possible and maybe just too much trauma. As I stated just curiosity on my part.

 

[hairtech]

Well the balloon expansion procedure whereupon they fill bags of saline under the scalp moths prior to a resection or whatnot does relieve tension but this is not an immediate procedure. It takes time to stretch the scalp. The old school poster balloonman had this done many years back and used to post often about it.