Using Lasers to Remove Hair Transplants from 14 Years Ago

Hello,

I am 33 years old and had a transplant surgery done in 1994. My hairline had receded slightly and I thought I was going bald, so made a rash decision and had the procedure done. Since that time I have lost very little hair and currently have a full head of hair.

I have never been happy with the results, as it looks unnatural and obviously not my own hairline. Now, at 33, I would like to have it fixed. I have been in contact with a local doctor who operates a medical spa and he has recommended laser hair removal. He said it should take about 4-6 months to complete.

I have 3 questions: First, is laser hair removal effective for removing transplants. Second, is scaring likely. Third, if successful at killing the hair, will laser hair removal address the issue of the bumps I feel at the base of the transplants? And if not, what are options for smoothing out these bumps?

Thanks.

Cases like yours are unfortunate, but it is an important reminder that hair transplants are permanent. As such, you need to make sure you are getting the treatment done by a physician and a medical group that you trust and that you have checked out for competence in this area. Do not search for the best deals, but rather do the research and make an informed decision. Most importantly see prior patients up close (not just photos) to gauge your realistic expectations.

Laser removal does work on transplanted hair, but you would need many treatments and there may be some discoloration of the skin. More importantly your “bumps” will still remain. In the end you may be left with no hair, but with bumps that are discolored. If this is still something you are interested in, you need to ask the doctor if he/she has had experience with cases like yours and if so, ask to see former patients and results.

You may also consider a consultation with a hair transplant doctor to see if there are repair surgeries possible to soften your unnatural hairline. As an example, you can see some before/after photos of repair work at NHI. Also, there’s a story I posted a while ago from a man that wanted to “undo” his hair transplant, complete with photos — Horror Story with a… Happy Ending?. What is important in that “Horror Story” is that the patient was happy with the results of his laser treatments, although I would imagine that many of the viewers here may not find it acceptable. Compare where he ended up with where he began, as everything is relative.