My Transplant Doctor Suspected an Infection After Surgery, Now I Have Dead Skin Areas

Hi, after recent hair transplant, I had severe swelling in my donor area and the Dr had to cut off a some of the sutures on the 7th day as he suspected an infection. Antibiotic ointment and medication has helped heal the donor area, but I am left with an area of dead skin, where there is no hair! This is on an area about 2cms wide and 5cms long, just on top of either ear. My Dr says that he can fix it by re-doing the scar in a few months or optionally by transplanting some hair in these areas, again after a few months. In your opinion, which is a better option? Your advise will be sincerely appreciated. Thanks and regards

You describe an unfortunate, but a real and relatively rare complication with the surgery. I am not clear if what you refer to as “dead skin” is really “skin necrosis” or hair loss seen around the donor wound on the scalp that is not necrotic. Small areas are easy to treat, large areas can produce problems. You should bond with your doctor on what is going on and get comfort from him/her on the plan for you over the next month or two. I suspect all hair transplant doctors have had some scalp healing problems at one time or another. Assuming that the problem is minor and you have bonded with your doctor, the best advice I can give you is to be patient and let time work in your favor. While it may be an inconvenience, if this is just hair loss in the donor area and it is not too extensive, the hair you lost may come back after 6-10 months. If you really have a wide necrotic area, then clearly waiting without adequate physician management is not the correct course. Without seeing you I can not make a firm recommendation other than for you to connect with your doctor and follow his/her advice, or get another opinion if you can not or do not wish to continue the relationship with him/her. In discussions, you should ask about healing, timelines, a worst case scenario, etc..