Steps of a hair transplant
We’ve covered ways of harvesting hair (FUE and FUT). Once the hair is harvested, be it from the head, neck, or chest area, it needs to be transplanted into the recipient area. There are different ways in which this can be done.
What does the process of transplanting hair look like?
How can the recipient sites be made?
The incisions are made with the use of needles and blades. Many surgeons opt for using a blade with a blade handle to make the incisions. As the blade dulls out, the surgeon replaces the blade. The blades can have different diameters, the ones that are usually used are 0.6 millimeters to 0.8 millimeters.
Is there an advantage to using blades over needles?
Is the scalp-entry angle always the same?
There are two types of blade entry types: lateral and parallel. The lateral type of entry is also called coronal and the parallel type of entry is called sagittal. The coronal entry will stay true to its size. Hence, if the surgeon likes a 0.7-millimeter blade the length of the slit will be about the same. When the surgeon is doing a sagittal type of entry, the slit's length will be 30-50% longer than the blade size.
Does the size of the incision matter?
This is where some people get confused. Some might ask: “If you harvested grafts with a 0.9-millimeter punch, which is fairly standard, how can you use a 0.6-millimeter blade?” The answer has two parts to it. First, the actual incision can be longer than the blade as described above. Second, the surgeon wants the grafts to fit into the slits snugly. Surgeons don’t want to make recipient sites that are too big because hair can potentially change angle or direction from what the surgeon intended. When a slit is well sized to the graft, the result is going to be more true to what was planned.
What happens after the recipient sites are made?
Implanter pens are a popular option in some parts of the world. The pens are preloaded with the graft. They have a sharp tip or a dull tip, depending on whether or not sites were pre-made. The grafts are released from the pens into the sites.
Is it better to use implanter pens or forceps?
The content of this newsletter is for entertainment and educational purposes only. This content is not meant to provide any medical advice or treat any medical conditions. Patients must be evaluated by an appropriate healthcare provider on an individual basis and treatment must be tailored to meet that patient’s needs. Results and particular outcomes are not guaranteed.