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FUE punches - some secrets revealed

  • Thread starter Sabine-Prohairclinic
  • Start date
Sabine-Prohairclinic

Sabine-Prohairclinic

FUE hair transplantation - SMP
Attached you can find a picture that shows the difference in punches that we used in the past.

The left punch is a 1 mm punch, inside diameter and was used only for about 4 months during training back in 2004 and early 2005. The wall is made out of stainless steel.
A lot of beginning FUE surgeons used this type of punch back in 2002-2005.
In fact this is the same punch that was used by dr. Jones dr. Bart €™s procedure.

This punch comes with 2 disadvantages:
- the outer diameter is 1,7 mm, due to the thick wall of stainless steel. In some patient it produced unacceptable white dot scarring
- The inner wall was not very smooth and in some cases this could lead to burying grafts under the skin €¦ irretrievable!

The middle punch is a 0,80 mm and the right one is a 0,75 mm (inside diameter). These needles are fitted into a needle holder (not shown).
As you can see the tips of the needles are gold color. This is because the wall is coated with titanium. This metal makes a much smoother and thinner wall. The outside diameter of a 0,80 mm titanium punch is 1 mm.

At Prohairclinic our patients are mostly white Caucasians coming from Western Europe. We find that the ideal punch size for most of our patients is 0,75 to 0,80 mm. This is large enough to fit up to 4 hair grafts. Other FUE surgeons that operate from Northern Europe report that their patients, mostly blond, have finer hair calibre which allows them to use smaller punches.

Sharpness.
Depending on skin type a sharp or dull(er) punch will be used. For example the mushy skin types require the use of sharp punches. Using a dull punch on this type of skin would push the skin instead of perforating it, causing a shift of the underlying skin.
The surgeon has an array of sharp to dull punches available at the start of the procedure and will make a selection according to his assessment.

The punches we use are available to everyone, no patents, no magic, no frills.
 

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Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Thanks Sabine for that insight.

The punches you use are they wave or round punches and does the doctor feel there is a benefit of which ever one he uses.

Thanks bm.
 
Sabine-Prohairclinic

Sabine-Prohairclinic

FUE hair transplantation - SMP
the punches we use are round tipped. I tried to take a picture but it is hard to get the focus right.

The punches are really tiny as you can see in this pictures. That's the main reason why our surgeon have to use high magnification loupes.

What do you mean by wavy punches ?
 

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Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Hi Sabine

Here is a picture of a Wave punch
 

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janna

janna

Valuable Member
There seems to be few variations of punches that are available on the market today. Besides the traditional round punches (sharp, dull, stainless steel, titanium, etc,..) and the newer Wave punches - there's also the Crown punch. I believe Dr. Harris is generating interests in this. After his presentation at the Montreal meeting, there were many doctors looking to purchase his punches. I'm not sure if any of the vendors carry this punch - you may have to go through Dr. Harris directly just like his other punches he patented, it's available through his clinic only.

Another note:

Eli from Mediquip excusively carries the "Super Punch". It's very sharp and it can be autoclaved and used repeatedly before it dulls. I've seen this one in action and it's beautiful.



 
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P

Philb

Member
Dr.B uses a rounded tip, the "invention" of the wavy tip is just different, maybe some like it maybe some do not. What is important for the patient is the result fundamentally, yield in the recipient and a donor left in the best possible condition; the tool used is a consequence of the quality of the work performed. For example, "A workman also blames his tools", never a bigger load of rubbish spoken.
 
Bigmac

Bigmac

Administrator
Staff member
Thanks Phil.

Its good to know what instruments docs use ie punch size.I know it is probably down to preference what type of punch is used.It just got my curiosity with the few different types that are availalable.

Cheers bm.
 
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