Robert M. Bernstein, MD, New York, NY and William R. Rassman, MD, Los Angeles, CA

Hair Transplant Forum Intl. 1997; 7(4): 17-18.

Dropping grafts once they have been dissected from the donor strip is a fear that all hair transplant surgeons must experience. This is especially true when larger hair restoration sessions are performed, requiring many assistants and involving a significant portion of the patient’s donor supply.

Traditionally, grafts are transported in Petri dishes and rested on a Mayo stand until they are ready to be inserted into the patient’s scalp. This places the grafts at a substantial risk to be spilled, as Petri dishes are shallow and difficult to handle, and Mayo stands are typically unstable.

To decrease the risk of accidental graft spillage during a hair transplant, all Petri dishes that contain grafts should be transported in a covered container that an assistant holds with both hands. A second assistant should clear the way, opens doors, and announces the transport. The Petri dishes, with follicular units pre-sorted according to the numbers of hairs they contain, can be placed on ice blocks on a Wall Mounted Placing Stand, located at the head of the operating table. The placers are instructed to remove only the quantity of grafts that can be inserted in a 3- to 5-minute period. The dishes containing the bulk of the grafts are not moved from their position on the placing stand for the duration of the hair transplant procedure.

The “Wall Mounted Placing Stand” is constructed of laminated wood and is securely bolted onto the wall behind the operating table through triangular supports. The dimensions are as follows: depth 12″, width 22″, backsplash 3″, lip 1″. For ease of cleaning, the lip should not extend to the corners. A stand of these dimensions is large enough to hold an ice block, three to four Petri dishes, and the various placing instruments used in the hair transplant.