Hair Transplant Techniques
Hair transplants are minor surgical operations that are used to replace bald or thinning parts of the scalp with donor hair. This hair is usually taken from the sides or back of the scalp, but can also come from other parts of the body. Hair transplant surgery relies on the fact that some hair follicles are permanent, while others are transient, and the permanent ones can be moved around the body and continue to grow naturally. Follicular unit transplantation is the most widely used procedure, and can be performed with both strip harvesting and follicular unit extraction techniques. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Hair transplantation was pioneered by the Japanese dermatologist Dr. S. Okuda in 1939, who first applied the process to the scalps of burn victims with considerable success. The procedure was first performed in the United States by Dr. Norman Orentreich in 1952. He published his findings on hair transplantation in 1959, which helped legitimize the procedure within the medical community.
Follicular Unit Transplantation
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Hair transplantation was revolutionized in the 1990s when follicular unit transplantation or FUT was developed. FUT---unlike preceding hair transplant procedures---pays special attention to the tiny bundles (follicular units) that hairs grow in. These units share small muscles, nerves and blood vessels, and are surrounded by a collagen band. In follicular unit transplantation, either large strips of follicular units are removed (strip harvesting) or individual units are removed (follicular unit extraction) and inserted into the bald or thinning areas.
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Strip Harvesting Technique
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The strip harvesting follicular unit transplantation technique is characterized by the removal of large strips of tissue from the donor area containing multiple follicular units. The units are transplanted as a group, keeping them in their natural genetic forms and preventing follicles from being damaged. The follicular units are stored in a special solution, at a specific temperature, until they are carefully inserted into the recipient area of the scalp.
Follicular Unit Extraction Technique
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The main difference between the strip harvesting and follicular unit extraction or FUE techniques is the method of extraction. While strip harvesting involves removing multiple follicular units, FUE requires the removal of individual follicular units. A customized needle with a diameter of less than 1 mm is used to punch the scalp and extract single follicular units. The main advantage of FUE over strip harvesting is that it does not require the use of a scalpel or require stitching following the procedure.
Risks
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While follicular unit extraction is non-invasive and generally risk-free, the strip harvesting technique can cause bleeding, scarring and infection. With both techniques, new hair growth may form unnatural-looking tufts.
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