All You Need to Know About Hair Transplant Scars 

A hair transplant can produce life-changing results for people suffering from hair loss. However, patients often ask: Do hair transplants leave scars? Will people notice it? The short answer is yes, a hair transplant will leave scars, but how visible or noticeable those scars are depends on the technique used and the expertise of your surgeon. 

To avoid bad hair transplants, Dr. Ziering recommends consulting with a board-certified surgeon with a reputation for producing hair transplants with no visible scars. Here, we discuss why hair transplants produce scars, what they might look like, and ways to minimize their appearance. 

MDEE Hair Transplant Scars 

Follicular unit transplantation (FUT), also known as the Microscopically Dissected Elliptical Excision (MDEE) method, involves shaving the hair short across the designated donor strip, and then removing a thin strip of skin tissue from the safe donor area, on the back and sides of the head. This strip contains follicular units, which are dissected under a special microscope and implanted into the thinning or balding areas. 

The strip typically measures about 0.5 to 1.5 cm wide (5 to 15 mm) and about 5 to 30 cm in length, depending on the number of grafts needed. Because MDEE requires removing a strip of skin, it leaves a linear scar in the donor area. 

MDEE/FUT Strip Tissue 

Once the tissue strip is removed and sutured close,  the hair above the suture line is gently combed downward to cover the donor area. This effectively conceals the sutures and any visible signs of the MDEE incision immediately post-surgery. 

As the incision wound heals over several weeks, the suture line becomes a very fine scar that is often hard to detect even with close inspection. During this period, the hair continues to provide coverage, allowing the individual to maintain their normal appearance without revealing signs of surgery.

An experienced surgeon will plan a safe MDEE donor harvest, checking for scalp laxity which determines how easily the strip or tissue can be removed and sutured. If your scalp is tight, your surgeon will most likely recommend scalp exercises prior to surgery.  

MDEE or FUT scars are usually very thin—about the thickness of a pencil line. Patients who need a large number of grafts in a single session often consider the MDEE procedure, and the trade-off of a pencil-thin scar is often worth the results.  

Additionally, Ziering surgeons use trichophytic closure to minimize MDEE or FUT scarring and encourage hair growth through the scar. This is done by slightly overlapping the edges so hair can grow through the scar, making it harder to see even with shorter hairstyles. 

It’s a small but important step that experienced surgeons like the Ziering Medical Team use to achieve the most dramatic aesthetic change with one surgery session while also delivering natural-looking results.

A Ziering Technician placing individual follicular units into the recipient sites during an MDEE/FUT procedure 

Will I Notice Scars After an MDEE Hair Transplant? 

If you keep your hair at a medium length or longer and follow the post-op instructions carefully, you’ll barely notice any scars which allows you to return to their daily routines with confidence while the donor area heals.  People won’t even know you’ve had a hair transplant. Post-operatively, refraining from lifting heavy objects and weights or doing strenuous workouts for at least 10 – 14 days is key.  A good indicator that you are doing too much is that you feel tension along the donor site where the strip of tissue was removed. Doing too much, too soon, may cause the linear scar to stretch. 

MDEE is not typically recommended for those patients who prefer very short hairstyles, because the linear scar may be visible. However, options like scar revision treatments or scalp micropigmentation (SMP) are some of the best ways to hide hair transplant scar​s.

FUE Hair Transplant Scars

Unlike the strip MDEE method, an FUE or follicular unit excision and extraction surgery does not involve removing a thin strip of scalp from the donor area. Instead, it involves shaving the entire back and sides of the back of the head, removing individual follicular units directly from the donor area using a small punch tool, and implanting them into the thinning or balding areas according to the hair transplant designed by your surgeon. 

The punch tool used in FUE typically ranges from 0.7 to 1 millimeter in diameter, meaning the scars are so small they’re often undetectable to the naked eye, even with short hairstyles. These micro-scars heal as tiny, pinpoint white dots scattered throughout the donor area.

Because FUE doesn’t involve removing a strip of skin, it avoids the linear scar associated with MDEE procedures. This makes it the preferred option for patients who wear their hair very short or shaved and want to avoid the longer recovery time required with MDEE.

Are FUE Hair Transplant Scars Visible?

FUE scars appear as tiny, circular dots in the donor area, and they’re barely visible with short hairstyles or even a buzz cut. These pinpoint scars are also spaced out across the scalp, nearly impossible to detect without close inspection. 

Is FUE Scarless? 

Some clinics have dubbed FUE as a “scarless” procedure. However, this is not true. To harvest the donor hair, the scalp skin must be punctured or broken, which does cause scarring.  While FUE doesn’t leave a single linear scar like MDEE, it still creates tiny circular scars at each extraction site. These scars are typically small and scattered, making them less noticeable, especially if you keep your hair short. 

Why Do Some Hair Transplants Create Visible Scars?

Hair transplants can create visible scars mainly because of two things: 1) the technique used and 2) the surgeon’s skill. 

MDEE leaves a linear scar that may widen over time if the closure technique isn’t done properly or if the scalp skin is too tight, which can cause the scar to widen over time. FUE creates tiny circular scars, but they can stand out if too many follicles are extracted too closely together or from one area or outside the safe zone, causing noticeable thinning or patchiness.

Skin tone and healing also play a role. For example, scars may appear lighter than surrounding skin on darker tones or raised scars like keloids can form in those prone to them. The best way to avoid visible scars is by choosing a skilled surgeon, knowing and sharing your health history with keloids,  and following proper post-surgical care.

FUE Hair Transplant Scars After 1 Day Close-Up Photos

Immediately after an FUE procedure, the donor area will show tiny red dots where the hair follicles were removed. These spots might look slightly inflamed at first but heal quickly. Within a few days, small scabs form and naturally fall off in about 7-10 days. Most patients feel ready to return to regular activities, including work, within 5-7 days. 

FUE scarring showing immediate, next day, and day 4 post-op progression

Next-Day FUE Hair Transplant Before and After Photos 

FUE Scars After 1 Year Close-Up Photos

A year after FUE, the donor area heals with tiny scars that are barely visible, so you can cut, style, or treat it however you like. Unless your hair is shaved very close, they are almost impossible to detect.

2031 Follicular Units, 1 FUE Hair Transplant, Showing Pre-Op and 12 Months Post-Op

2050 Follicular Units, 1 FUE Hair Transplant, Showing Pre-Op and 12 Months Post-Op

MDEE, Formerly Known as FUT,  Hair Transplant Scar After 1 Day 

A few days after a MDEE hair transplant, the donor area will have a linear incision with sutures in place. The area may feel tight and tender, with some mild swelling or redness. The incision is typically hidden under the surrounding hair, so the scar won’t be visible to others.

Most patients can return to non-strenuous work within 7 – 10 days, depending on how they feel. The sutures are usually removed 8 -10 days after the procedure. Regular physical activities, including exercise, should be avoided for at least two weeks or until your surgeon clears you. 

MDEE Hair Transplant Scars After 1 Year Close-Up Photo

After 1 year, the MDEE scar is fully healed. For most patients, it’s well hidden by surrounding hair, even with shorter hairstyles. The appearance depends on your skin type, healing, and the surgeon’s skill, but a qualified surgeon can make the scar minimal and discreet.

3,200 Follicular Units, 1 MDEE/FUT Hair Transplant, Showing Pre-Op Photos and 12 Months Post-Op

4250 Follicular Units, 2 MDEE/FUT Hair Transplants, Showing Pre-Op and 12 Months Post-Op After 2nd Surgery

MDEE Scar After 1 Year Close-Up Video

In this video, Dr. Kinler lifts the hair in the donor area of a patient one year after his MDEE procedure. Can you find the scar? Impossible to tell, isn’t it? The MDEE/FUT scar is virtually undetectable to the untrained eye. Results like these are only possible with the expertise of a highly skilled and experienced surgeon like the Ziering surgeons.

 Top Hair Transplant Doctors in Beverly Hills and NYC

For over 20 years, Ziering Medical has been the #1 choice for hair transplant surgery in Beverly Hills, CA, with additional clinics in New York City, NY, and Greenwich, CT.

Led by celebrity surgeon Dr. Craig Ziering, the Ziering hair transplant doctors bring 75+ years of combined surgical experience and have successfully transplanted over 100 million hair grafts. Choosing Ziering Medical means choosing world-class hair restoration and unmatched patient care you won’t find elsewhere.

Call us or visit a Ziering Medical clinic near you to book a consultation. We serve patients all over the greater Tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, as well as the greater Southern California area from Los Angeles and Beverly Hills to Newport Beach and San Diego.