Minimizing the Appearance of Scars in Hair Transplant Surgery: The Trichophytic Closure

The Trichophytic Closure

Patients undergoing hair transplant surgery using the strip method not only want a natural looking transplant but also a maximally camouflaged scar. 

The trichophytic closure is a technique for stitching up the donor area which helps to minimize the appearance of donor scars.  It's use in hair tranpslant surgery is credited to three physicians: Dr Paul Rose (USA), Dr Patrick Frechet (France) and Dr Mario Marzola (Australia).  Nowadays the technique is widely used by many hair transplant physicians, including myself.

How is the trichophytic closure done?

The trichophytic closure involves clipping hairs from the edges of the donor area so that they are more likely to grow back through the scar when it heals. When hairs grow back through the scar, the appearance of the scar is greatly minimized.  A photograph of hairs growing through a scar in a patient who had a trichophytic closure is shown in the attached image.

In select individuals, (such as those with minimal tension in the donor area), the trichophytic closure is a great technique to minimize scar appearance.