Strip Excision Donor Area Complications

Article courtesy of Dr. Kolasinski

Tissue collection from donor area results in a wound that must be sutured. Many elements contribute to leaving the scar as invisible as possible. Most frequently occurring complications in the donor area include: early and late haemorrhages, infections, skin necrosis, pain and paresthesia in the wound and scar area, visible scarring, wide scars, alopecia in the scar area.

Most frequent errors which result in complications in donor area are the following:

incisions inappropriately placed

too high (visible scar, deficient follicles)

too low (wide visible scar)

incisions too deep

damage to occipital or temporal vessels

damaged nerves pain and paresthesia

incisions too wide

problems in suturing the wound

high tension on the edges of the wound (unsightly wide scar, alopecia in donor area)

pain more acutely perceived

inappropriate dressing of the bleeding vessels

inadequate dressing (early and late haemorrhages)

excessive coagulation (paresthesia, hair loss in scar area)

vessel ligation too deep (hair loss above the scar, pain and paresthesia)

inadequate asepsis, high tension in the edges of the wound (infection, skin necrosis).

Please also read DJ's post in the Hair Transplant Message Board