Q: Can you use beard hair for a hair transplant using Follicular Unit Extraction? — A.C., San Francisco, CA
A: It is possible to use beard hair for a hair transplant, but there are three main differences between harvesting from the donor area and harvesting from the beard that should be taken into account. These are: 1) scarring 2) ease of extraction and 3) hair quality. Let’s explore these differences in turn.
Posted by Updated 2017-12-11
Surgery of the Skin: Procedural Dermatology; published in 2005 by Elsevier-Mosby and Edited by Robinson, Hanke, Sengelmann and Siegel; is monumental work that covers the entire spectrum of dermatologic surgical procedures.
Dr. Bernstein was honored to write the chapter on hair transplantation, with a focus on Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), the technique that has changed the face of surgical hair restoration over the past decade.
The chapter discusses strip harvesting, follicular unit extraction, the use of anesthetics, ways to optimize density and ensure the naturalness of the procedure, as well as a host of other important topics.
Posted by Updated 2013-07-08
SUMMARY of Dr. Harris’ Abstract from his presentation at the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, 2005 – Sidney, Australia
The SAFE System for FUE provided a novel methodology and new hair transplant instrumentation to increase graft production rates, decrease follicle transection rate, and expand patient candidacy for surgical hair restoration. However, the mechanism of the interaction of the blunt dissecting punch and the dermis produced follicular unit graft burial (approximately 7.2% of attempted extractions) that slowed the extraction process during the hair transplantation and resulted in inflammatory cysts requiring surgical excision in .02% of attempted graft extractions.
The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a new dissecting tip that could potentially decrease the graft burial rate and increase the graft production rate in the hair restoration. In the study, three patients received a total of 422 grafts. The protocol utilized limited sharp dissection of the epidermis (using a 1-mm punch to a depth of approximately 1.3 mm) followed by the insertion of the specially modified dull dissecting tip to its full depth of 5 mm. The follicular units were then grasped with fine forceps and removed.
Posted by Updated 2017-04-21
“Hair Transplantation” is a part of a series of medical textbooks — Procedures in Cosmetic Dermatology, published by Elsevier Saunders — which offers step-by-step, practical guides to performing cutaneous surgical procedures.
In “Hair Transplantation,” Dr. Bernstein co-authored the chapters on Follicular Unit Transplantation and Follicular Unit Extraction, covering the philosophy, basic science, and techniques in a practical clinical format.
The book’s editors selected Robert M. Bernstein as a major contributor, as Dr. Bernstein was uniquely qualified to provide medical professionals with insight and training on the state-of-the-art in hair transplant surgery.
Posted by Updated 2013-07-08Q: If someone doesn’t have enough donor hair, do you ever perform a hair transplant using FUE, using donor hair from outside the permanent hair zone? — M.V., Nashville, TN
A: No. If hair was taken from outside the permanent zone as the surrounding hair continued to bald, the scars from FUE, although small, would become visible.
In addition, the transplanted hair would not be permanent, and over time would eventually fall out.
Posted by Updated 2017-12-11
