Managing the Donor Area to Minimize Scarring

In 2001, Mayer and Perez-Meza provided recommendations for managing the donor area in hair transplant procedures to minimize scarring based on the collective experiences of multiple surgeons. They advised against removing hair from the lower quarter of the "safe zone," recommended shallow incisions to protect vessels and nerves, suggested limiting tissue removal to a width of no more than 1.3 cm, and advocated for the removal of old scars. The use of subcutaneous mattress sutures was recommended to reduce tension, and careful handling to avoid transection was emphasized to decrease scar visibility. They also advised keeping the incision moist and employing digital massage to further reduce scarring. The paper highlighted the need for ongoing refinement of techniques and knowledge sharing to preserve the donor area and ensure a natural-looking scalp.