What is Graft Compression in a Hair Transplant?

Q: What exactly is compression in a hair transplant? — D.O., Short Hills, N.J.

A: Compression refers to the visible tufting of grafts due to the contraction of the grafts from the normal elasticity of skin around it, after it has been inserted into the recipient site.

Compression is most commonly seen when minigrafts are used in the hair restoration (minigrafts contain more than four hairs each).

Follicular units don’t show visible compression, since they are already naturally compact. However, if more than one follicular unit is placed into the same site, it can exhibit this phenomenon.

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