Are you living with a hair transplant that gave you a “pluggy” or “doll-head” look? If so, you’re not alone. And if you’re reluctant to undergo another procedure to correct it because you’re apprehensive about making it even worse, help is available if you choose the right surgeon. Of course, we will soon talk about Dr. Marco Barusco—Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Tempus Hair Restoration—and his extensive experience in correcting botched hair transplants. But first, let’s look at the reasons this kind of bad result has occurred over the years, and why it continues to this day.
Pluggy Hair Transplants: A Brief History
Back in the mid-1970s through the ‘80s—when hair transplants were first gaining popularity—the technology and surgical procedures for harvesting and implanting hair grafts were primitive by today’s standards. Doctors harvested hair with a circular punch device, and each graft contained as many as 20 hairs. The surgical team placed the transplanted grafts far enough apart to ensure they had a sufficient blood supply to survive. The hair then grew out as isolated clumps, similar to those on a doll’s head, resulting in an unnatural look.
Fortunately, hair transplant technology has come a long way since then. When performed properly, the outcome has the appearance of natural growth—thus achieving the desired effect that no one can tell you had a hair transplant!
So Why Are Pluggy Hair Transplants Still Out There?
Unfortunately, there are a lot of unqualified or minimally qualified people performing hair transplant procedures. Regular readers of our Tempus Hair Restoration blog have learned about foreign black market hair transplant clinics where non-medical staff members harvest and implant hair grafts—often without supervision by a licensed surgeon—under unsanitary operating room conditions. In such clinics, a pluggy result would probably be the least of what could go wrong.
Even here in the United States, clinics and medical practices that use robotic devices to harvest and implant hair grafts can cut corners by using unlicensed technicians or other staff members to operate the machine—in effect, performing surgery. Our blog has covered this situation in depth, and Dr. Barusco has written this eye-opening article about why you should avoid choosing such a practice for your procedure.
Today, we can add changing taste in male hairline aesthetics to the reasons why pluggy hair transplants persist. Unlike their fathers, the new generation of men seeking hair restoration procedures tend to favor a more forward hairline, which is characteristic of a youthful hairline. In the hands of a surgeon who has a poor sense of how to place hair grafts to have some variation to avoid a straight-across look, however, the growth pattern appears “off,” with the hairs seeming to grow up from the hairline instead of subtly blending in.
Dr. Barusco’s Advice for a Viewer Unhappy with His Pluggy Hairline
Dr. Barusco answers questions from viewers of his YouTube channel, Hair Loss Medical Advice. One viewer said he had a hair transplant in England in 2016, and has a concern about his hairline and the direction of the graphs. There were multiple hair graphs placed right on the hairline, resulting in a pluggy look. His question to Dr. Barusco: What can be done to fix it?
Looking at the viewer’s photo on screen, Dr. Barusco identified where the transplant went wrong. Of course, you should watch the video, but the essence of the issue is the hairline is at once too forward and too similar to that of an inverted U-shaped female hairline. While Dr. Barusco provides detailed advice regarding correction in the video, he recommends surgically removing some of the hairs from the hairline, dividing them into smaller units, and re-implanting them in a more natural pattern to soften the hairline. This is typically achieved by using advanced follicular unit extraction (FUE) techniques to achieve a less obvious, denser appearance that softens the pluggy effect.
Dr. Barusco also recommends removing some grafts from the corners of the hairline frontotemporal angles) to make them appear more natural.
Will the viewer follow up by booking an appointment with Dr. Barusco for a one-on-one consultation and undergo the corrective procedure? We don’t know yet, but watch this space for a follow-up blog post if he does!
Key Steps in Correcting a Pluggy Hair Transplant
While we just looked at one specific individual with a pluggy hair transplant issue, the general steps in performing a corrective transplant procedure are as follow:
Removal of old grafts—The primary step involves carefully extracting the large, visible “plug”grafts using a punch tool, essentially reversing the previous transplant procedure.
Graft manipulation—Depending on the size and quality of the removed grafts, the surgeon might divide them into smaller follicular units for a more natural distribution.
Strategic re-implantation—The newly separated grafts are then strategically placed in the recipient area, following a natural hair growth pattern to camouflage the previous unnatural appearance.
Camouflage techniques—In some cases, where the donor area is limited, the surgeon might use existing hair to “camouflage” the remaining visible pluggy areas.
Factors to Consider when Correcting a Pluggy Hair Transplant
Severity of the “pluggy” appearance—The extent of visible plugs will determine the complexity of the revision procedure.
Donor hair availability—The quality and quantity of remaining donor hair will influence the potential for achieving a natural result.
Surgeon’s expertise—Choosing a highly experienced surgeon with a strong aesthetic sense is crucial for a successful correction.
Living with a Pluggy Transplant? Don’t Give Up Hope! Choose Your Next Surgeon Wisely!
When you get a hair transplant, you deserve the result you expected. If you didn’t, don’t resign yourself to living with it—as well as the dissatisfaction and diminished self-confidence you feel every time you look in the mirror. When it comes to hair restoration, you deserve care from a surgeon with experience, integrity and a proven track record. With over 25 years of experience and a notable reputation in the field, Dr. Barusco leads Tempus Hair Restoration with a commitment to delivering personalized care. Every consultation is conducted by Dr. Barusco himself, ensuring that you receive expert advice tailored to your unique situation. We also offer financing options that can help place this important goal within your reach.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re looking for answers to your specific hair loss questions, schedule your free virtual consultation with Dr. Barusco today. Consultations are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. And for out-of-town clients, we offer a complimentary two-night hotel stay for those traveling over 100 miles to our Port Orange, Florida, surgical center. We will be with you at every step of your hair restoration journey!