Repair of a Previous Hair Transplant
Hair transplantation is the most popular solution for treating hair thinning. In many cases, however, older hair transplants have left patients with poor results, including visible scars and marks. A hair transplant repair procedure aims to restore or improve the outcomes of previous hair transplants. For years, hair transplantation has been the most popular solution for those experiencing hair thinning and seeking a permanent result. However, the success of a hair transplant is not guaranteed, and there are several factors that can undermine its outcome. Additionally, older techniques used in the past often did not meet modern standards or aesthetic expectations. As a result, many individuals who underwent hair transplants — whether due to outdated methods or poor choice of surgeon — are left with sparse, unnatural-looking results, which they often try to conceal by any means possible.
In recent years, thanks to significant technical and aesthetic advancements in hair transplantation, there has been a growing number of people seeking to repair the failed results of their previous procedures.
What Is a Hair Transplant Repair Procedure?
A hair transplant repair procedure is a specialized treatment aimed at restoring or improving the results of previous hair transplants that did not deliver the expected outcomes. The goal of any hair transplant is to provide a dense, natural-looking result that blends seamlessly with the patient’s unique characteristics — so well that no one can tell a transplant was ever performed.
However, in many cases, older hair transplants have left patients with a sparse or unnatural appearance, poor follicle distribution, or even visible scars and marks. These issues may be the result of outdated techniques, poor management of the donor and/or recipient areas due to surgeon inexperience, or procedures performed by non-doctors or untrained personnel.
What Are the Challenges of Repairing a Failed Hair Transplant?
The repair process, which involves correcting these imperfections and achieving a more natural and aesthetically refined result, is an extremely demanding procedure. In most cases, the surgeon tasked with repairing a failed hair transplant must address errors and damaged areas — in both the donor and recipient zones — which require highly specialized handling in order to be effectively “transformed.” Only a highly experienced and truly specialized physician is capable of successfully performing such complex corrective procedures.
Figs. 1–2: Photos of the patient before the repair at Anastasakis Hair Clinic. The patient had previously undergone a failed hair transplant at another clinic. As you can see, the hairline design is poor, and the grafts have been placed sparsely and with incorrect direction/angulation. Beyond being unnatural, the result is also unsightly. (Courtesy of Dr. Anastassakis)
Figs. 3–4: Photos of the same patient after the repair at Anastasakis Hair Clinic. See how dense and natural the result is after the hair transplant at Anastasakis Hair Clinic—no one can tell he has had a hair transplant. (Courtesy of Dr. Anastassakis)
Who Can Benefit from a Repair Hair Transplant?
Hair transplant repair is intended for individuals who:
- have undergone a hair transplant using outdated techniques that do not meet modern aesthetic standards, resulting in a sparse or unnatural appearance. Sparse results are often due to poor handling or damage to the follicles during extraction or placement, leading to graft destruction and failure to regrow in the recipient area. Unnatural results typically stem from grafts placed at the wrong angle or direction, causing the hair to grow awkwardly, or from hairlines that appear triangular, overly symmetrical, straight-edged, or filled with multi-hair grafts, creating a “doll-like” effect.
- have visible scars or marks from previous procedures that they wish to conceal or improve.
Repair Hair Transplant at Anastasakis Hair Clinic
At Anastasakis Hair Clinic, we specialize in repairing previous hair transplants, giving you the opportunity to restore a natural and aesthetically pleasing appearance.
The “Restoration” Program
In 2018, for the first time in Greece, Anastasakis Hair Clinic launched the hair transplant social contribution initiative called “RESTORATION”, under the auspices of the ABHRS. This hair transplant support program was aimed at individuals who had undergone at least one previous hair transplant but were left with unsatisfactory results requiring corrective surgical intervention, in accordance with the principles of modern Hair Restoration Surgery as outlined by the ABHRS and ISHRS. Based on these criteria, a select group of patients was chosen for the “RESTORATION” program, and they underwent their hair transplant repair procedures completely free of charge, performed by Dr. Konstantinos Anastassakis and the medical team at Anastasakis Hair Clinic.
The “RESTORATION” program ran from June 2018 to August 2019, and was a great success. Over 1,000 individuals applied, 480 were evaluated, and from those, 28 patients were selected who met the strict eligibility criteria: having had at least one previous hair transplant and needing a corrective procedure based on the standards of modern hair transplantation.
Dr. Anastasakis himself undertook the complete repair and restoration of all 28 cases, and Anastasakis Hair Clinic fully covered the costs of the new procedure and postoperative follow-up.
“RESTORATION” Program – Patient Video Reviews
Video reviews from the first patients who participated in the “RESTORATION” program at Anastasakis Hair Clinic and underwent corrective procedures for previous hair transplants that required surgical repair based on the principles of modern Hair Restoration Surgery. Watch Sakis and Vaggelis before their hair transplant and again 7 months after the procedure, during their scheduled follow-up with the doctor. See Sotiris share his story of undergoing three prior hair transplants, and follow Vasilis just before his corrective hair transplant, aiming to restore the poor appearance of his hair caused by earlier procedures.
What Does a Failed Hair Transplant Repair Aim to Achieve?
The primary goal of a hair transplant repair is to achieve a result that is both dense and natural-looking, blending perfectly with the patient’s unique features, so that it is not apparent that a hair transplant was ever performed. The success of this procedure depends on the experience and specialization of the surgeon, as well as on the careful analysis and planning of the repair strategy.
How We Successfully Repair Failed Hair Transplants from Other Clinics at Anastasakis Hair Clinic
The repair process depends on the specific needs of each individual patient. The core strategies we apply to correct failed hair transplants from previous procedures include:
- Use of the most advanced hair transplant techniques: Including FUE (Follicular Unit Excision) for optimal use of grafts from the donor area, FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) if deemed necessary by the surgeon, or a Combo approach (FUE + FUT). We may also use Body Hair Transplantation, where grafts are harvested from the beard or other body areas when the scalp donor supply is insufficient
- Redesigning the hairline: In most failed transplants, the hairline is unnatural — poorly designed, overly straight, and filled with aligned grafts. Patients seeking repair usually want a more natural hairline that goes unnoticed. To achieve this, we not only redesign the hairline based on the patient’s age, facial structure, and natural hair pattern, but most importantly, we place the grafts in a random, irregular, non-linear pattern that simulates a natural frontal hairline
- Graft recycling (removal and repositioning): In cases where grafts were placed incorrectly — such as multi-hair grafts in the hairline or a hairline positioned too low — we can extract and re-implant those follicles in a more natural position or area where they’re actually needed
- Increasing density: The second most common problem in failed transplants is insufficient density. In such cases, we restore the density in the previously transplanted areas, using the available follicles strategically and efficiently to maximize coverage and volume
- Scar coverage or reduction: Many patients who had previous strip (FUT) procedures are left with visible, wide scars in the donor area. Repairing a failed transplant often involves covering or minimizing these scars. When skin elasticity allows, we use the trichophytic closure technique to reduce the scar to a barely visible 1mm line. In cases with low or no elasticity, we use the SMP SC™ (Scar Camouflage) technique to conceal the scar and restore visual density in the area.
If you would like to receive scientific and trustworthy information about hair transplantation and how it can help you transform the appearance of your hair this time book an appointment, either in person or online, and take the first step toward a successful result.
