Hey SMPCHAT! 👋

I don't come around here nearly enough, but I wanted to make a more concentrated effort to share some of my healed work and contribute to the community. A few of my clients are members here as well, so I figured I'd jump in and say hello!

During consultations, I always make it a point to showcase real, healed results. Some are photographed at our clinic, others are shared directly by clients, and sometimes I'll even pull up their Instagram pages to show how their SMP looks out in the wild, under everyday lighting and real-life conditions.

For this particular example, I combined two videos using different lighting conditions: our standard clinic overhead lighting and a bright overhead ring light. I also zoomed in so you can get a closer look at the details. No edits, sharpening, etc.

This gentleman completed just TWO treatment sessions, with his final session performed 15 months ago.

As you can see, there's still plenty of intentional negative space between the impressions, which helps maintain that soft, subtle, and authentic appearance rather than an overly dense or saturated look.

While our typical protocol consists of three sessions, we ultimately decided a third wasn't necessary in this case.
The density, balance, and overall appearance were exactly where we wanted them.

Appreciate you guys taking a look! Always happy to talk shop and answer questions. 🤝

Derek B
Scalp Micro USA - Los Angeles
INSTAGRAM @derekbogs

Going to a world class doc HT doc next year. Have SMP that I did prior (liked it, but wanna try to have actual hair next). How far in advance should I get the SMP removed to ensure I don't mess the HT up in any way?

Anyone had experience in this and can weigh in? I assume earlier the better (planning 4 or 5 months) but would love some actual data. Don't want laser scarring / risks to impact graft suvival rate

And before anyone asks, yes I've done my research extremely well and am going somewhere I feel confident will give me a decent result :)

Kind of botched first hair transplant (wrong graft angles, bad density, multi graft, fake looking hairline) and I’m lowkey depressed and having some dysmorphia.

I could go for a repair transplant etc and continue to be on meds but I just want more “permanent” freedom, if you will.

Can smp help, looking for feedback/advice. 🙏

Asking more for hairline and front than back.

Edit: open to going bald-ish and smp-only btw. I feel like it’s always going to look unnatural with longer hair

Edit: first few photos are most recent, then it’s how it looks when long and blow dried, last one is after HT and is kind of deceptive because I don’t have that density but posting because it shows how I might look with less hair

Took some dslr raw camera photos of a client who had treatment a little over a year ago. Did both indirect natural light and direct natural light so you can see how SMP holds up in different lighting conditions.

This client had 3 total sessions (he actually wanted more) but convinced him to hold off!

-Matt, scalp micro usa

I did my last session today, still a lot redness, but im happy of the result at the moment. Anyway, in Italy almost all over the place that do smp you can choose between permanent smp and temporary tricopigmentation.

I do this post because here a lot of people dont know about it, and someone say doesnt exist. And so, im a little bit confused. Micropigmentation and tricopigmentation are different things?

I only know that my temporary trico it last for 3-5 years before the body will absorb all the pigment. I need to do a session every year to maintain the result. If im not wrong the pigment is biodegradable and not too deep. The body will absorb everything very slowly.

About 4 months healed what we reckon people

I have my first session with Paul Clark in a few weeks and I can’t wait to get rid of this disgusting horseshoe… I am not even aiming for a hairline, just remove this crap from my head! 😂

This is one of the most knowledgeable SMP groups out there, so here's something we rarely get: the same client in beach sun, deep shade, and all the light in between.

As an SMP artist, I'm looking for the best overall balance across all lighting. You can get a great studio photo, but the sun has other plans. Go darker for harsh sunlight and it can look too dark in shade. It won't look exactly the same everywhere.

In these photos you can see what happens to SMP across these light spectrums. In the sun, the shine stands out more and the pigment is harder to see. In shade, the detail shows up more. The camera angles and exposure make a difference too. If you go to easy, or too extreme, the lighting will call you out!

He was a full Norwood 7 and used to wear a hairpiece (view the before image in the end). I did his SMP at SCALPS in New Jersey in February 2024. He came back for a touchup in late 2025. These wedding photos are from summer 2026.

He came in as a client and became a friend. He met her between our first and second SMP sessions, so it's been great to see their relationship grow from there to these wedding photos. Congrats, my friend. Very happy for you both.

The larger photo in that last comparison was taken in February 2024. The small photo in the top right is his before SMP. The bride's face is blurred.

My technique has changed a lot since I did his original SMP, but I'm glad to see it mostly held up.

I put the full story and interactive photo gallery here:

Excuse the title, I need the seo. If you are in the area and would like to have a consultation, shoot me a text at 859-803-5179. Thank you.

This client had frontal recession and thinning through the crown. He chose to embrace a shaved head, and our goal was to create a consistent appearance while keeping the hairline and overall density natural.

We built the treatment over three sessions, using fine impressions to complement his existing shaved hair.

His scalp has been particularly dry and resistant to work on, especially through the crown. That affects how I approach each session. I keep the placement controlled and build gradually rather than repeatedly working an area to make it look darker on the day.

These photos show session three, before healing. The crown may need another pass, but we’ll make that decision once the skin has fully healed and we can assess how much pigment it retained.

Three sessions is a treatment plan, not a guarantee that every scalp inwill respond the same way. Sometimes an additional session is the more conservative choice.

The priority is how this looks healed and in everyday lighting. That matters more than making it appear finished for a fresh photo.

This is a real concern of mine. I’ve been told that SMP looks kinda fake online. I’ve seen some great work and the general response is “that looks good/great”. Obviously results may vary by level of expertise…

How realistic does it actually look?

What about when it comes to shine vs. no shine? I was under the impression your head shines when shaved bald. I’ve only ever done no guard trimmers (basically a 0) which is a bald look. So why wouldn’t it show shine with SMP? Also, some people use no shine on non-SMP heads, as well as SMP heads. Where’s the issue in realism? I don’t understand it. I don’t need it perfect but if I’m forking over THOUSANDS, I def want nothing but the best work where it is realistic on MY head…

SMP artists-what is your favorite needle to use for SMP?

For guys that have had Smp done did you look normal after just the 1st session or does it look weird having less density or something until session 2? I’m going for my first session in less than 2 weeks I’m just worried if it will look strange in that time before I have my 2nd session, I’m having 3 sessions done and they say 2nd session is about 80% done

Glad to be finally free from hiding my hair insecurities!

I know there’s been a lot of noise and misinformation floating around in this thread, so I wanted to share my honest experience with the process so far.

I had my first SMP session with Max in the NYC office about two weeks ago and from the very first consultation he made me feel completely comfortable. Let's be honest, deciding to shave your head is a big deal for a lot of guys. Adding a scalp tattoo on top of that can feel pretty intimidating. But talking with Max felt like catching up with an old friend. He put me so at ease that I flew all the way from South Carolina to New York to work with him.

When I arrived at the studio, the atmosphere was welcoming, clean, and relaxed. Max buzzed my hair down, and we spent a lot of time discussing exactly what I wanted to achieve. He walked me through different hairline options, what would look the most natural for my face, and what we could realistically accomplish over the course of treatments.

One of my biggest concerns was an FUT scar from a hair transplant I had five years ago. I scar heavily and developed some keloiding, so parts of the scar are significantly raised. Max immediately addressed those concerns and reassured me that we could greatly improve its appearance. From the start, it was obvious how much pride and passion he takes in his work. His attention to detail and commitment to getting things right really stood out.

Once we got started, we threw on some music and settled in. The session lasted about 3 to 4 hours, but it honestly flew by. We talked, joked around, took breaks whenever needed and at no point did I feel rushed. The entire experience felt relaxed and enjoyable. By the end of it, I felt like I could grab a beer with the guy.

After the session, Max thoroughly explained the aftercare process and made sure I knew exactly what to do to get the best results. What really impressed me was that he followed up that night and again the next day just to check in, see how everything was healing and make sure I was doing well.

Even after just one session, the confidence boost has been incredible. It genuinely feels life changing. No more hair fibers, no more comb overs trying to hide where my transplant ended and no more constantly worrying about whether my hair looks perfect. I can play with my kids, jump in the pool, go in the ocean, and not spend the whole time stressing about my hair.

Matt and his team have been outstanding from both a customer service and results standpoint. Between their experience, knowledge and professionalism, it's easy to see why they're so highly regarded in the industry. If you're considering SMP, I can honestly say they've exceeded my expectations so far. Don't let the trolls and negativity on here steer you away from doing your own research and making the decision that's right for you.

Hi all, I’m curious to know what everyone’s peak growth is on the sides by day before buzzing?

Min is every two days! I think day two looks better than day one on myself. I buzz on the evening of the second day btw. Thanks

SMP is not an undetectable procedure, by any stretch of the imagination. It’s ink on skin, which I’ve accepted (10 years too late). There’s so much marketing around “find a good artist” but good artists can make it look like a good tattoo….not like hair.

So the question is, why aren’t there any good celebrity examples of SMP? All of the guys I see on tv… they look like they tattoo’d their heads. Everyone I see with it in person … me and my friends all look at them and say yeah - he got a hair tattoo. And move on. But I’ve never seen anyone in real life, myself included, my artist included, where I was like yeah … that looks like a shaved head vs that looks like 10,000 grey dots.

I'm considering a smp since I'm a year post transplant but I'm unhappy with the results. Would a smp blend in well with the rest of my hair at this length, I tried to take a picture in sunlight to make the balding area as visible as possible.

Hey M22, looking into maybe doing SMP in the future if I can’t get regrowth for my DUPA condition.. I don’t mind the 2 guard buzz but I hate how the density is bad so there’s so many bald spots showing and it looks horrible in the sunlight.. I was wondering if I could get SMP and rock a 2 guard buzz or 1 guard at lowest and be able to make it look like I have a legit full buzz almost.. Thanks.

ello everyone.

What do you think of my SMP done in Portugal?

Best regards to all.

Smp 🇪🇸