Is The Strip Harvesting Of Hair Follicles Going To Go?
- Date: 2008-09-19 - Word Count: 579
Share This!
The first hair transplantations were performed in Japan back in the 1930s. In the old days of hair transplantation surgery relatively large strips of skin of four millimetres in diameter, the so called punch grafts, were transplanted from the back of the scalp to the frontal balding area. Hair transplantation techniques have evolved tremendously since then and today's hair transplantation can give you a truly natural look. This is due to the miniaturisation of hair transplants, which now contain only one hair follicle (holding between one and four hairs) and are less than one millimetre in diameter. These tiny, single follicle grafts are then implanted into the needle made incisions in the balding area. Today's technology enables dense packing of hair follicles, which gives you a completely natural looking hairline. Gone are the days of "pluggy" grafts that made you look like a toothbrush.
The two main technologies that are used today are called Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). The main difference between them is in harvesting hair follicles. The FUT is the older technique, using strip harvesting, when a linear strip of skin of up to 20 centimetres long and 1.5 centimetres wide is extracted from the back of the scalp and the opening is then sewn closed. This strip is then placed under microscopes and dissected into small grafts, containing just one follicular unit each. Such follicular grafts are then implanted into the bald area. The advantage of this method is its high yield, measured as a percentage of the follicles that are successfully transplanted. This yield is around 98%. The greatest weakness is that it leaves the patient with a linear scar at the back of the head. The FUT is less expensive than the FUE and it is used when a large area needs to be filled with transplanted hair in one single session.
The FUE method uses a micro extraction technology to harvest individual hair follicles that can be directly implanted into the small needle poke holes in the balding area. The FUE technique is the latest technology, introduced only in 2002. Its greatest benefit is the fact that it leaves the patient with only tiny scars at the back of the head, which are barely noticeable, and the healing time is much shorter than with the FUT, due to the small size of the wounds. However, this technique cannot be used to cover large areas in one session and it is more expensive. Additionally, its yield is much lower, due to the transaction of many hair follicles, and since the supply of donor hair is limited, it cannot be used in patients whose hair loss has progressed above NW4 level.
Potential future surgical hair restoration technologies, such as hair cloning and the generation of new hairs in wounds, should help solve the problem with the limited amount of donor hair. It seems that hair transplantation will in the long future only be used for frontal hairlines and, therefore, the follicular harvesting should manage to provide a sufficient number of hair implants. However, none of the aforementioned potential future methods is expected to become commercially available before 2013. Therefore, the immediate future probably lies in improving the harvesting techniques of the FUE in order to improve its yields and make it financially more affordable. The FUT with its strip harvesting, which started a revolution in the hair transplant industry less than two decades ago, may become history in the not too distant future.
The two main technologies that are used today are called Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). The main difference between them is in harvesting hair follicles. The FUT is the older technique, using strip harvesting, when a linear strip of skin of up to 20 centimetres long and 1.5 centimetres wide is extracted from the back of the scalp and the opening is then sewn closed. This strip is then placed under microscopes and dissected into small grafts, containing just one follicular unit each. Such follicular grafts are then implanted into the bald area. The advantage of this method is its high yield, measured as a percentage of the follicles that are successfully transplanted. This yield is around 98%. The greatest weakness is that it leaves the patient with a linear scar at the back of the head. The FUT is less expensive than the FUE and it is used when a large area needs to be filled with transplanted hair in one single session.
The FUE method uses a micro extraction technology to harvest individual hair follicles that can be directly implanted into the small needle poke holes in the balding area. The FUE technique is the latest technology, introduced only in 2002. Its greatest benefit is the fact that it leaves the patient with only tiny scars at the back of the head, which are barely noticeable, and the healing time is much shorter than with the FUT, due to the small size of the wounds. However, this technique cannot be used to cover large areas in one session and it is more expensive. Additionally, its yield is much lower, due to the transaction of many hair follicles, and since the supply of donor hair is limited, it cannot be used in patients whose hair loss has progressed above NW4 level.
Potential future surgical hair restoration technologies, such as hair cloning and the generation of new hairs in wounds, should help solve the problem with the limited amount of donor hair. It seems that hair transplantation will in the long future only be used for frontal hairlines and, therefore, the follicular harvesting should manage to provide a sufficient number of hair implants. However, none of the aforementioned potential future methods is expected to become commercially available before 2013. Therefore, the immediate future probably lies in improving the harvesting techniques of the FUE in order to improve its yields and make it financially more affordable. The FUT with its strip harvesting, which started a revolution in the hair transplant industry less than two decades ago, may become history in the not too distant future.
Related Tags: hair loss, hair loss treatment, hair transplant, hair transplant surgery, hair transplantation, hair transplantation surgery, hair surgery
Hair transplantation surgery is among many hair loss related topics discussed at GreyHairLoss, a website dedicated to educating the public on the treatment options for premature hair loss and grey hair.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Hair Thinning Ideas That Can Help
Thinning hair naturally occurs as one grows older. The problem lies when it happens at a young age. - 7 Main Causes Of Hair Loss In Women
Due to hormonal changes, irritation or damage, some hair follicles have a shorter growth phase and p - Permanent Hairs Removal Process
Elliminating unwanted hairs on your body might be a trouble for you, but waxing and shaving are not - Biotin Hair Supplement - What It Is And How It Works To Increase Hair Growth
Hair loss has been a growing concern for many people over the years. Today, we find a lot of over th - Four Predators Wary Of Winter Hair
Dry - dry conditions, low temperature, wind, indoor heating the water will take away the hair, makin - Wigs For Cancer Patients: Hiding The Effects Of Chemotherapy
Cancer is one of those diseases that bring sorrow to mankind in many parts of the world. There are s - Criteria Of Choosing Surgeons For Female Hair Transplant
Hair loss can lead to emotional stress for women as well, even though men are more susceptible to ha - 9 Home Remedies To Stop Hair Falling Out
It is believed that every single individual has to experience hair loss problem in his or her entire - Natural Home Remedies For Dry Scalp And Hair Loss
As a crowning glory for women, hair is a very important issue to us. We ensure that we take care of - Psychological Effects Of Hair Loss
Losing hair can be quiet depressing. No one would want to experience this type of condition. It may
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Hair Loss Treatment
Hair is the most distinct feature of any human body, and hair loss is generally experienced by each - Get a Dense Hairline With Hair Transplants
Can You Get a Dense Hairline With Hair Transplants? The short answer to that question is, "Yes. You - Premature Hair Loss: Things That You Must Remember
Hair loss is a common problem and possibly you are one of those who are quite deeply disturbed about - Can Cinnamon Help Diabetes And Cholesterol
A sprinkling of cinnamon might provide you a tasty solution to a difficult health problem. What does - Methods of Hair Loss Prevention
When it comes to hair loss, in most cases genetics is driving the bus. If you come from a long line - Hair Loss Natural Treatment
Isn't it paradoxical that inspite of the fact that most of us enter the world as bald as a coot, and - Latest on Hair Transplant
Hair transplant surgery is one of the branches of cosmetic surgery that has been revolutionized in t - Hair Loss - Hair Transplants
For those who have experienced permanent hair loss whether from male pattern baldness, injury or tra - Hair Loss and Pregnancy
For many women, everything tends to work in favor of hair health during their pregnancy. The increas - Hair Loss and You: Rogaine Hair Treatment
What is Rogaine?Rogaine, also known as minoxidil, is an FDA-approved treatment for hair loss. An ove