Scalp Lacerations Required Staples — Will Hair Regrow There?
About a month ago, I sustained two lacerations to the scalp on the back of my head. They were closed with seven staples. The area was not shaved at the emergency room. The largest of these lacerations is about 20 mm long and 1 mm wide. However, the resulting bald area exceeds the wound width by approximately 5 mm (making the width of the bald area 6 mm). I know no hair will grow again within the wound parameters. So I ask you:
1.) Is the prognosis good for full hair regrowth outside the wound?
2.) How many weeks (or months) must pass before I could justifiably believe there would be no more significant hair regrowth?
3.) What are the potential surgical corrective measures (e.g. cutting open the scar and running hair from one hair bearing edge up through the scar tissue)?
Hair loss with laceration repairs is common around the wound. The size of the bald area will vary depending upon the direction of the wound. The scars will be less significant in the normal Langer lines direction (see here).
The regrowth will usually occur within the first 4 months or so and any hair that has not grown in 6 months may probably reflect some permanent hair loss. Scars from scalp lacerations that form are not easily amenable to excision, as they tend to recur (I am assuming that the scars were properly closed and that there were no unusual circumstances present at the time of the closure, such as dirt in the wound).
This site is just perfect! I love that you are able to answer all queries about balding head or maybe, just maybe all about hair. Good job! Nice post!
For whatever it’s worth, I got a laceration in the head back when I was a kid. To close up the wound, it also required quite a few stitches. Now I’m in my 30’s and I don’t feel any bald spot in the area. I probably have a tiny scar, though, but it’s definitely hard to feel.