Getting the types of grafts you need

[HairHunter]

Hi guys just a quick question for you.

Senario- NW2 patient comes to your clinic requiring hairline to be lowered 5mm and temples rebuild.

If Fue is the preferred choice does the doctor only extract singles and doubles or can he tell what he is extracting?

If a small fut is the preferred choice does the doctor cut 3 and 4's and maybe 2's if there is a shortage of singles? What are the difficulties associated with this kind of requirement and what are the dangers associated with cutting grafts? Is there a danger of insufficent tissue around the cut grafts and a lower survival rate?

Regards
HH

 

[sl]

Hi HairHunter

FUE, the scalp is shaved, the doctor under loupes can see the units and the number of hairs per unit, this allows the entire donor to be used to cherry pick the correct calibre of hairs and the hairs per unit to place along the hair line and back into the native hairs.

Strip is obviously different because taking a Strip you cannot decide which units you want you just get whatever is in the strip removed, a mix probably of 1-4 hair units. As the Strip would be small if only hair line work it is doubtful there would be enough single hairs to make up the temples and immediate hair line so a few of the larger groups may have to be split down to get the correct number of single hairs for the hair line.


When dividing grafts it is obviously a skill, should be performed under scopes to ensure total accuracy and enough fatty tissue needs to be left between each hair to ensure not to damage or traumatise the grafts. Different hair types make it more demanding, very curly or grey/white hair for example. A good well trained team of techs is required.

Hope this helps.

 

[HairHunter]

Thanks for the reply Stephen, Great Response.

Would I be right to presume that any graft could be cut by a good tech even 2hairs. Does it make a difference if its fue or fut? Lets say the doctor is touching up the hairline at the end of a mega fue procedure and is running low on singles would a tech be able to split a 2hair fue graft or would there be insufficient tissue due to the small punch extraction?

Do you need any medical qualification to become a tech or do techs just receive training from a clinic?

 

[sl]

Hi Hairhunter


Without not wishing to answer indirectly I think it is fair to say it depends on a few issues, the size of the graft, type of hair, calibre etc, so while it's not impossible it would depend on the individual graft.

Not sure why you would run out though, and beware of mega sessions as such as FUE does not necessarily lend itself to larger sessions that can be achieved with Strip. Normally hair line work is the first aspect that is treated and then working back from the hair line.

FUE or for Strip there are times when more singles may be needed, although not usually for virgin cases as the doctor can cherry pick what he wants for the surgery when dealing with FUE, and a virgin Strip also should have the required singles for the intricate hair line work.

In cases whereby there are not enough natural singles then multiple haired units that fulfil the correct criteria can be separated into singles where needed and the patient would be advised of this.

Techs can be trained by the clinic, this is quite normal in clinics, although it's not uncommon that the doctor also has a registered nurse also as part of the team.

 

[HairHunter]

Hi Stephen,

Thanks for the response.

Do you ever get involved hands-on with surgery?

 

[sl]

No I don't get involved, no reason to, it's not my role.

Good techs are worth their weight in gold, ask anyone who has sat in the chair and has seen the dedication and care they give and the skill needed. My role is an advisory position, a conduit between patient and doctor. If I were to tech also I would never have time to reply to emails and phone calls. People need to be dedicated in order to fulfil their roles whilst having an appreciation for the role of others.