Hair transplant scar repair in London — SMP, FUE camouflage and revision
Old strip scars and visible FUE dot scars can be dramatically improved. The right choice depends on the scar, the surgeon, and your hair length preference.
Dr. Theo Marwick
Hair Restoration Surgeon · Marylebone
In short
- SMP into strip scars: fastest, cheapest, works for short hair.
- FUE camouflage into scar: 200–800 grafts, £2,000–£6,000.
- Full revision: for surgical errors, poor angle, low hairline.
- Set expectations — 'invisible' is often not achievable, 'much better' is.
Transplant scars fall into three categories: linear strip scars, FUE dot scars, and 'pluggy' old grafts. Each has a different repair strategy — and mixing them without a plan makes things worse.
Strip scars
A linear scar from an older FUT strip procedure. Options:
- SMP into scar: adds pigment illusion of hair; needs short hair to work well; £800–£2,000
- FUE into scar: implants viable grafts into scar; challenging (scar tissue has poor blood supply); 40–60% take rate; £2,000–£5,000
- Combined: SMP + FUE for best cover
FUE dot scars
Small circular scars from FUE punches, more visible in dark hair on light scalp, especially with buzz cuts. SMP is nearly always the answer — £1,000–£2,500 for the donor zone.
Pluggy / poor-angle transplants
Full revision surgery required — remove offending grafts (punch or laser), redistribute or discard, redesign hairline. Complex, expensive (£8,000–£20,000), only worth doing with a top surgeon experienced in revision work.
The cost of repairing a bad transplant is always more than doing it right the first time.
Frequently asked
Common questions
Can a Turkey scar be repaired?+
Often yes — SMP for donor, FUE for hairline. Common London referral.
How long until I can repair?+
Wait 12 months after original surgery for tissue maturation.
Will insurance cover revision?+
No — cosmetic surgery is out of pocket in the UK.
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