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There are two
accepted ways to
perform modern
hair
transplantation:
The first and
most popular is
called STRIP
technique or
Follicular
Unit
Transplantation
(FUT). In
this procedure
the back of the
head, known as
the “donor area”
is numbed with
local anesthetic
and a thin strip
of skin
containing hair
roots is
painlessly
removed by Dr.
Lindsey and
sutured closed.
The hair roots
within the
sliver are then
dissected under
high power
microscopes into
“follicular
units”, also
known plainly as
“grafts”.
While the
dissection
process is being
performed, Dr.
Lindsey will
numb the bald
areas and make
very tiny
incision using
custom made
instruments.
These incision
rarely exceed 1
millimeter in
length and are
similar in size
to a comma
in newsprint.
Dr. Lindsey
creates the
smallest slits
possible and
packs them as
close together
as nature will
permit to allow
for the highest
density and most
natural (and
pleasing)
result.
After the tiny
incisions are
made, the grafts
are then placed
into the slits
according to Dr.
Lindsey’s plan.
At the end of
the day most
patients look
like they just
had a “buzz cut”
in the areas
that were bald .
The area also
looks as if it
had a rash which
disappears after
3 days.
After 10 days
the sutures are
removed by Dr.
Lindsey and the
patient does not
need to visit
the office
anymore. The
implanted hair
will grow for
about 2 weeks
and then fall
out as the hair
roots go into a
“sleeping” phase
to allow
themselves to
heal into the
once bald areas
of scalp. Then,
in about 3
months, the
hairs will begin
to sprout out
and grow. These
hairs will
continue growing
and thickening
until they get
to their final
maturity level
by 14 months.
Generally, most
patients see a
cosmetically
significant
benefit by the
end of their 6th
month. By the
end of one year
the patient is
encouraged to
visit the clinic
for follow up
photos.
The second
accepted method
of performing
hair
transplantation
is through the
use of
Follicular Unit
Extraction, or
FUE.
This procedure
does not involve
the removal of a
strip of skin
from the back of
the head, but
rather each
individual
follicular unit
is removed
individually
using a patented
custom made
punch-like
instrument. In
Dr. Lindsey’s
office this
instrument will
never exceed
.9mm in
diameter.
Unlike what is
claimed in hype
around the
internet, FUE
does in fact
leave scars. In
fact, FUE leave
far more
scarring than
strip procedures
do. However,
this scarring is
so uniformly
distributed
around the donor
area (back and
sides of the
head) that FUE
APPEARS to leave
less scar than
the strip method
even when the
hair is closely
cut.
Because FUE
technique causes
more trauma to
the graft, the
yields from FUE
techniques tend
to be lower than
that for strip.
For this reason,
FUE should not
be used in
procedures
exceeding 1,000
to 1,500 grafts
in a procedure
in selected
patients, and
probably
shouldn’t even
be used in cases
much above 600
grafts per
procedure at
all.
Because of the
difficulty level
and amount of
time to remove
intact grafts
via FUE this
procedure is on
the order of
three times more
expensive than
it’s strip
counterpart and
should only be
used in select
patients with
minimal hair
loss.
Contact Lindsey
Medical to make
an appointment
for your free
consultation to
see if which
procedure you
are best suited
for.
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