Worried about the over harvested donor area? Overharvesting of the donor area is one of the top concerns of patients considering hair transplant. But with the right knowledge and approach, this hassle can be avoided.
In this article you are going to have a thorough look at the overharvesting, its causes, effects and treatment plan.
What Is Overharvesting In Donor Areas?
Overharvesting can happen when excessive hair is extracted from the donor area of the scalp for a hair transplant procedure. This can leave scarring, bald patches and ugly appearance of the scalp.
See Also: Hair Transplant Trypophobia
What Are The Causes Of Donor Area Overharvesting?
There are multiple reasons for the over extraction of hair follicles. Some common causes are:
- Lack of expertise, profound knowledge and skills of the surgeon.
- Aggressive harvesting of hair follicles and getting more hair than required.
- Insufficient hair growth in the donor area.
- Overharvesting with respect to cover larger bald patches.
- Your surgeon may not have assessed the donor scalp carefully for its growth, propensity and any particular disease.
- To increase the cost of the hair transplant procedure.
What Are The Consequences Of Overharvesting Donor Area
The effects of overharvesting during a hair transplant may not be immediately apparent. They often become visible once hair growth resumes in the donor area. Overestimated harvesting can have following negative impacts:
- Visible Scarring: The donor area gets permanently damaged and leaves a lifelong scar.
- Unequal Distribution Of Hair: There might be tuft of hair growth in some areas (crown or hairline) while other areas exhibit bald patches.
- Post Operative Effluvium: Temporary shedding can occur as a side effect of hair follicle harvesting.
- Effects On Future Hair Transplants: With little to no hair follicles left to harvest, future transplants may be difficult or impossible.
- Other Complications: Such as infections, folliculitis, bleeding and numbness can occur.
- Unsatisfactory Outcome: Even with successful hair restoration, the result may be aesthetically unpleasing due to the appearance of the donor area.
How To Manage Overharvesting Of Donor Area?
If your donor area has been damaged by overharvesting, it’s important to know that there are treatment options available, both surgical and non-surgical.
Assessment & Testing
The surgeon carefully examines the donor area with the naked eye and assesses it using specialized tools such as trichoscopy or dermatoscopy. The extent of the damage is determined and a treatment plan is devised accordingly.
Medical Treatments
Medical treatments aim to stimulate the hair growth and reduce scarring and bald patches in the overharvested area. Topical medications such as minoxidil and oral medications such as finasteride can be used to achieve this.
Surgical Intervention
Surgical options are also available to address the over extracted donor area. The decision regarding the type of surgical treatment is mutually decided by the surgeon and the patient for best possible outcomes.
- Scalp Micropigmentation: It is used to mask the damaged donor area and to create an illusion of even hair distribution pattern.
- Body Hair Transplant: Another surgical option in which hair from other body parts such as beard or chest is harvested and then transplanted to the overharvested area.
What Is The Donor Area Recovery Time?
The recovery time for the donor area after a hair transplant depends on several factors like:
- Number of grafts harvested
- Surgical Technique
- Pre-op condition of the donor area
The recovery of the donor area takes about 2 weeks for healing. This only happens when hair transplant is done in the best possible manner and no complications occur before, during or after the procedure.
Initial healing typically occurs within 7-10 days. Complete recovery can take several weeks or months.
See Also: Hair Transplant Aftercare
Will Hair Grow Back In The Donor Area?
Yes, it is possible to regrow hair in the donor area after hair transplant. If hair follicles are harvested properly and the donor area is treated with care, hair regrowth is generally possible.
After FUE, in which individual hair follicles are extracted, hair growth occurs in about three months. In FUT, due to the nature of the procedure which involves the removal of a strip of skin, it may take longer for hair to grow back.
What Skin Changes Occur In The Donor Area?
Hair follicles are extracted from the scalp using surgical tools. This can produce some skin changes. However, these skin changes are temporary. If any unusual or persistent issues arise, you should consult with your doctor to get timely treatment.
- Pain
- Redness
- Numbing and tingling
- Mild swelling
- Scabbing and crusting
- Mild itching
How Can I Prevent Overharvesting During Hair Transplant?
Overharvesting is one of the most common concerns of patients undergoing hair transplant. Here are some ways, you can be diligent enough to avoid overharvesting of the donor area:
- Surgeon And Clinic: It is the most important step in getting a successful hair transplant. Choose an experienced and skilled surgeon for hair restoration. An advanced clinical facility with cooperative staff proves beneficial in this regard.
- Donor Area Assessment: An expert surgeon will carefully examine the donor area to determine whether it can serve as a suitable donor site.
- Use Of Body/Beard Hair: If the back of the scalp is not a good site for harvesting of all hair grafts, an expert surgeon will make use of body/beard hair instead of overharvesting the back of the head.
- Aftercare Plan: Success of the treatment lies in the proper aftercare. You are advised the set of do’s and don’ts to follow after hair transplant to help in healing and hair growth in both donor and the recipient area.
- Future Transplant: It is important to discuss the probability of undergoing a second hair transplant for desired outcomes. In this way, your surgeon will carefully extract hair follicles and protect the donor area for future procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many grafts can be safely harvested from the donor area?
In typical hair growth patterns and hair density, 20-30% of hair follicles extraction is typically safe. However, if more grafts are required up to 50% of the hair follicles can be harvested.
Why is my donor area patchy?
Your donor area looks patchy after hair transplant due to scarring, overharvesting and post operative effluvium. The hair growth after harvesting of the donor area is also not uniform and regular.
Why is my donor area burning after a hair transplant?
Hair follicles are extracted using specialized instruments and blades, so mild burning is normal after hair transplant. But, if burning is severe and prolonged, then you might have an infection in the donor area
Can I touch my donor area?
It is better to avoid unnecessary touching of the donor area after hair transplant. It can transmit infection and may interfere with the normal healing process.
