Reconstructive Surgery
Scalp Reconstruction
Covering scalp defects after trauma, burns, or tumour removal
Overview
Scalp reconstruction covers defects in the scalp — from trauma, electrical or thermal burns, or tumour excision — using local flap techniques that borrow well-vascularised tissue from adjacent scalp to close the defect while preserving hair-bearing skin wherever possible.
Because the scalp's blood supply runs through the tissue in a fairly predictable pattern, surgeons can design flaps — such as rotational or transposition flaps — that move nearby scalp tissue into the defect without cutting off its own blood supply, even for defects that expose the underlying skull.
Candidacy
Is Scalp Reconstruction Right for You?
- A scalp wound or defect following trauma, such as a road traffic accident
- Scalp tissue loss from an electrical or thermal burn
- A defect remaining after excision of a scalp tumour or lesion
- A wound exposing the underlying skull that needs well-vascularised soft-tissue coverage
What to Expect
Your Journey
- 01
Assessment
Evaluation of the defect's size and location, and the surrounding scalp available for flap design.
- 02
Reconstruction
Performed under general anaesthesia, using a local flap technique to move adjacent scalp tissue over the defect while preserving blood supply.
- 03
Recovery
The flap's healing is closely monitored in the initial days, with sutures reviewed at follow-up and hair growth returning to the flap once fully healed.
Recovery
Recovery & Aftercare
Most patients recover over two to three weeks for initial healing, with any temporary hair thinning at the flap margins settling as the area fully matures. Larger or more complex defects, such as those involving underlying bone, may need a longer, staged recovery.
Case Gallery
Documented Cases
Graphic Medical Content
This gallery contains real surgical photography and clinical documentation, including open wounds, incisions, and traumatic injuries. It is shared for educational and professional purposes. Viewer discretion is advised.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Will hair grow back over the reconstructed area?
Local flaps use hair-bearing scalp tissue, so hair growth is generally preserved over the flap itself, though the transferred tissue needs to fully heal first.
Can a flap cover a defect that exposes the skull?
Yes — this is one of the main reasons a flap (rather than a simple skin graft) is chosen for many scalp defects, since it brings its own blood supply capable of covering exposed bone.
How is the technique chosen for a specific scalp defect?
This depends on the defect's size, shape, and location — your surgeon will plan a flap design (such as rotational, transposition, or a paired 'yin-yang' flap) that uses the available adjacent scalp most effectively.
Have Questions About Scalp Reconstruction?
Every case is different. Get in touch to discuss your situation, or keep reading for more on candidacy, recovery, and what to expect.
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