confused about density of transplants

[andieje]

Hi

I am confused about the density of grafts that can be achieved in a transplant. I have heard different information from different clinics and I was interested in your opinions

I have spoken to respresentatives from alvi armani in the past. This surgeon appears to be able to achieve extremely high density (90-110). I do not know if they manage this in one procedure or multiple procedures. Can you achieve this density in a single procedure? I have been informed that they inject saline solution under the scalp to expand the surface area so a higher density can be achieved in one sitting. However I thought the limiting factor to the number of grafts that can be done in one procedure was limited by the blood supply to the transplanted grafts and not the scalp surface area.

Why is there such a vast difference in the density that different clinics offer? I have seen figures ranging from 40-100 grafts per cm^2.

What is the minimum density that you can have in a transplant and obtain satisfactory results? I know it is difficult to define satisfactory. I do not expect a transplanted area to look the same as an untransplanted/unaffected area but I would hope you could achieve a result where the transplanted area didn't look noticeably thinner than the rest of your hair to a casual observer (I know it would look thinner to an expert!)


I'd also be interested in anyone could hazard a guess at the density of the transplant in this picture. This person has had 2065 grafts over a significant area so the density can't be that high but the overall result looks more than satisfactory to me. no links please.

Regards

 

[Prohairclinic]

I would say that 90-110 grafts per cm2 density using normal size FU is impossible in a single session.
If one would try to make 90 slits or holes in 1 cm2 you would end up with one big wound, the grafts would have nothing to hold them in place.

 

[andieje]

They inject the scalp with saline solution to swell the scalp so that you can achieve this density. I believe the highest they have done is 120 grafts pers cm2. I have confirmed with the clinic that that density can be obtained in a single session.

 

[mars]

stay away from armani he also says the average fue patient has between 10-15 thousand grafts available for fue,he has one certain forum wrapped around his finger..he his an artist alright a 'con artist'..once again stay away,also no one needs that density 60 will loook tha exaxt same as 120 you will just be wasting grafts-fact!

 

[andieje]

Hi, I didn't mean to suggest I wanted a graft of that density. My hair is naturally thin and even thinner at the sides so a density of 60 would be more than adequate for me I'm sure. I was just wondering why there is such a huge range in the density of grafts that clinics can apparently offer when they are all doing more of less the same thing?

 

[andieje]

mars, can you tell me why you think the armani clinic is a con? I presume this forum is where people can freely share their experiences and opinions so I can ask you why you have a negative opinion I hope?

 

[martinvain]

Andieje,

I will have a try at answering your question though let me make it clear I have a very limited knowledge compared to a lot of posters on here!

I am a transplant patient and while doing my research I picked up bits and pieces of what you are asking. My understanding is that in order for an area of the scalp to look like it is thinning you would have lost 40-50% of the original hair. I think original hair density is typically said to be say 80-100 FU per cm squared. This is why tranplanting at densities of say 40-60 FU per cm squared can give the illusion of a full head of hair. A hair transplant is exactly that - an illusion of a full head of hair.

Density in terms of FU numbers is also not the be all and end all of a good transplant. Having thick hair shafts, low skin to hair colour contrast (e.g. blonde hair white skin) and curlier hair are examples of how to create a dense looking head of hair. A good yield is also very important and I have read before that the higher the density planted the greater the chance of grafts not growing which explains why a lot of doctors achieve high densities over two sessions as opposed to one.

We have a limited amount of hair that can be taken from the donor area which is a lesser amount than what was originally in the area which can bald (prone to DHT) in a high norwood sufferer. This obviously means that should you have a large balding area you can not transplant one hair for every one lost.

If you use densities of 100 FU per cm squared just to recreate your hairline when you are young then yes you may have a super dense result but what happens 20 years later when your mid scalp and crown bald? You will have less hair to cover it. It is the opinion of some (mine included) that certain doctors re more concerned about getting rich than getting patients good long term results. Spectacular results are promised and sometimes provided in the short term and a lot of money is made in doing so.

When a clinic boasts about being able to transplant at super high densities I personally view it as an advertising ploy. High density promises also tend to go hand in hand with the offer of a juvenile hairline also which to me is preying on a balding guys desperation to get all his hair back. I see high density promises as clinics trying to present themselves as better than others in the hope that potential patients will buy the hype and accept the one dimensional view of transplants they are advertising. I think the reality is that there are many good doctors out there who are just as capable of planting 100 FU per cm squared and getting them to survive but choose not to do it. Why? Because they view it as being unethical.

A good and ethical doctor will have you future hair loss in mind and leave you enough donor hair to cover any further loss which is why they won't transplant any area at densities higher than 40-60 FU per cm squared. Also when looking at the business side of things it makes sense, You get a good hairline transplanted then come back in 10 years for the mid scalp then 10 years for the crown to be transplanted. You become a long term customer.

I guess what I am trying to say in all this is that if it sounds to good to be true......................then it probably is.

 

[mars]

andieje

My reasons.

1:aggressive hairlines on young patients

2:not taking patients long-term needs into any consideration

3:stupid and ridiculous claims saying the average fue patient has 10-15000 grafts available via fue

4laying a negative part in corrrupting forums to say the least he is not on this forum why so because this a genuine forum with no bull****

5:many unhappy patients regarding yield

6:is not a member of the ishrs or iahrs

7:white dotting as you can see on stingrays photos so basically his punch size has to be in question

8:doesnt understand 'ethics' or choose to ignore

All armani is interested in is money and marketing simple as,i think if he took a leaf out of the books of dr's shapiro,bisanga,hasson&wong,feller etc he would be good imo he has the skill.