Repair Hair Transplant Tracking: Document Corrective Procedure Results
Repair hair transplant procedures account for approximately 10% of all hair restoration surgeries performed annually. These corrective procedures address pluggy grafts, unnatural hairlines, poor density distribution, and visible scarring from previous work. myhairline.ai tracks the repair journey from pre-correction documentation through post-repair density recovery with clinical precision.
Why Repair Transplants Need Careful Tracking
Repair surgery is more complex than a first-time transplant. The surgeon works with compromised tissue, redistributes previously placed grafts, and must account for reduced donor supply from the original procedure. Tracking is essential because it documents the starting damage, measures incremental improvement, and confirms the corrective outcome.
Without tracking, you rely on memory and mirror comparisons to judge whether a $10,000 to $30,000 repair procedure actually improved your result. That is a significant financial decision to leave to subjective assessment.
| Repair Challenge | Why Tracking Matters |
|---|---|
| Pluggy graft removal/redistribution | Confirms density improved in previously pluggy zones |
| Hairline redesign | Documents new hairline position and naturalness |
| Scar revision | Tracks scar camouflage density over time |
| Density addition to thin areas | Measures graft survival in compromised tissue |
| Directional correction | Confirms grafts now grow in natural direction |
Step 1: Document the Existing Damage Thoroughly
Before any repair work, create a comprehensive record of the current state. This documentation serves three purposes: it gives your repair surgeon precise information for planning, it establishes the baseline for measuring improvement, and it protects you legally if disputes arise.
Use myhairline.ai to photograph every affected area.
Wide shots. Capture the overall appearance from front, sides, and top. These show the general pattern of damage and how it affects your appearance at social distances.
Close-ups. Photograph individual problem areas at high magnification. Pluggy grafts, cobblestoning, poor direction, and scarring are all visible at close range. The AI density analysis quantifies the current density in each zone.
Lighting variations. Take photos under multiple lighting conditions. Harsh overhead light reveals scarring and pluggy appearance. Softer front lighting shows how the hair looks in normal conditions. Document both.
Step 2: Map Repair Zones Separately
Repair procedures may address multiple distinct problems in different scalp zones. Map each zone independently in myhairline.ai.
| Zone Category | Examples | Tracking Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Hairline (if being redesigned) | Frontal 2 cm | New density, naturalness, angle |
| Plug redistribution area | Mid-scalp, wherever plugs existed | Density uniformity after redistribution |
| Added density zone | Areas receiving new grafts | Graft survival and growth |
| Scar camouflage zone | FUT strip scar, donor area | Coverage density over scar tissue |
| Untouched reference zone | Healthy native hair | Comparison baseline |
Keeping these zones separate ensures you are measuring the specific repair outcomes, not averaging them with unchanged areas.
Step 3: Track the Post-Repair Recovery Timeline
Repair transplant recovery follows a similar timeline to first-time procedures, though healing in previously operated tissue may be slightly different. FUE recovery takes 7 to 10 days for the initial healing, with graft survival rates of 90 to 95%.
| Post-Repair Phase | Timeline | What to Track |
|---|---|---|
| Initial healing | Days 1 to 10 | Redness, scabbing (photo documentation) |
| Shock loss period | Weeks 2 to 6 | Temporary density drop in repair zone |
| Dormant phase | Months 2 to 3 | No visible growth yet |
| Early growth | Months 4 to 5 | First new hairs appearing |
| Progressive growth | Months 6 to 9 | Density increasing monthly |
| Near-final result | Months 10 to 12 | Most grafts mature |
| Final assessment | Month 14 to 18 | Full maturity, final density comparison |
Track monthly starting at month 3. Before that, the repair zone is healing and density readings are not meaningful. From month 3 onward, each reading adds a data point to your recovery curve.
Step 4: Compare Pre-Repair and Post-Repair Density
The primary metric for repair success is the density comparison between your pre-repair documentation and your 12-month post-repair measurement.
A successful repair typically shows 20 to 40% density improvement in corrected zones. The exact improvement depends on how many new grafts were added and how the existing grafts were redistributed. For context, Norwood 3 patients usually need 1,500 to 2,200 grafts for a full procedure, while repair work may use 500 to 2,000 grafts depending on the correction needed.
Use myhairline.ai to generate a side-by-side comparison report showing the same zones at baseline and at 12 months. This report is the definitive measure of your repair outcome.
Step 5: Assess Whether Additional Work Is Needed
Some repairs require multiple sessions. The first procedure addresses the most visible problems, and a second session adds density or refines details.
Your tracking data tells you exactly where additional work is needed. If the hairline zone shows 90% improvement but the mid-scalp zone shows only 50%, you can direct your surgeon to focus the next session on the mid-scalp.
This zone-specific data prevents the common problem of undergoing additional surgery in areas that already have adequate density while neglecting areas that still need attention.
For general transplant tracking approaches, see our hair transplant progress tracker. For procedure-specific recovery tracking, see the FUE recovery tracking guide.
Donor Area Considerations for Repair Patients
Repair patients face a unique challenge: reduced donor supply. The original procedure already extracted grafts from the donor area. A repair procedure extracts more. Tracking donor area density is just as important as tracking the repair zone.
The safe extraction limit for donor hair is approximately 45% of available follicular units. If the original procedure already extracted a significant number, the repair surgeon has fewer grafts to work with.
Document your donor area density before and after the repair. If it drops below safe levels, further surgical options become limited. This data helps you and your surgeon plan realistically.
Cost Context for Repair Procedures
Repair transplants often cost more than initial procedures because of the added complexity. In the USA, costs run $4 to $6 per graft. In Turkey, $1 to $2 per graft. In the UK, $3 to $5 per graft.
| Location | Cost Per Graft | 1,500 Graft Repair | 2,500 Graft Repair |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | $4 to $6 | $6,000 to $9,000 | $10,000 to $15,000 |
| UK | $3 to $5 | $4,500 to $7,500 | $7,500 to $12,500 |
| Turkey | $1 to $2 | $1,500 to $3,000 | $2,500 to $5,000 |
| Europe | $2.50 to $4.50 | $3,750 to $6,750 | $6,250 to $11,250 |
At these price points, objective tracking data that confirms the repair achieved its goals is not optional. It is a necessary part of protecting your investment.
Start Documenting Your Repair Journey
Whether you are researching repair surgeons, preparing for a scheduled procedure, or already in recovery, start your density documentation now. Every data point you capture adds precision to your repair assessment.
Upload your first photo at myhairline.ai/analyze and build the baseline that will measure your corrective outcome.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Repair hair transplant procedures should be performed by experienced hair restoration surgeons. Consult multiple qualified surgeons before proceeding with corrective surgery.