Overharvesting

Overharvesting refers to removing too many follicular units from the donor area during hair restoration procedures, leaving that zone visibly thinned, patchy, or scarred. It commonly results from inadequate assessment of donor reserve, overly aggressive extraction density, or attempting large single-session harvests, and it can limit future restoration options because the donor supply is depleted or damaged.

Signs of overharvesting include noticeable donor-area thinning, widened linear scars or multiple depressed punch scars, altered hair direction, and poor regrowth in the harvested region. Prevention and management center on conservative planning—limiting graft density per cm², staging procedures, considering alternative donor sources such as body hair when appropriate, and corrective approaches like targeted re-grafting, scar revision, or cosmetic camouflage to improve appearance and preserve remaining donor tissue.