Hair transplant - initial experience with semiautomated extraction and preservation in follicular unit extraction

Abstract

Introduction/Objective. The most modern technique for follicular extraction in hair transplantation is the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) method, first described by Rassman et al. in 2002. With this method, individual intact follicular units are extracted “without visible scarring” and then implanted into the balding areas. A challenge with FUE is the lack of a single device that can adequately meet the requirements of different donor areas. The purpose of the present study is to share our initial experience with a new vacuum-automated FUE device with the ability to sterilely store follicles in an optimal environment in terms of temperature and humidity and to evaluate its capabilities to serve as a universal follicular unit extractor. Methods. Over a period of two years (2018–2020), 60 transplants were performed, of which 57 patients were male and three females, using this device for follicle extraction. Patients were divided into two groups: the first group with FUE vacuum-assisted extraction at 26.7% (n = 16), and the second group with forceps extraction at 73.3% (n = 44). Results. The mean graft numbers transplanted at the point of study were 2015 ± 507.2, and the mean graft numbers after 12 months were 1915.6 ± 480.6 (t = 10.33; p = 0.000). In both groups (at the point of the study and after 12 months), there was a statistically significant difference between the graft numbers transplanted and the age distribution, surgical technique, and donor area (p = 0.05). The younger group generally requires fewer grafts to be transplanted and has better skin quality, leading to a greater success rate. Conclusion. Our initial experience shows that with such a device, it becomes possible to achieve more than a thousand grafts in one day when working in different donor areas, which is minimally invasive for the patient and maximally ergonomic for the surgeon. Sterile storage of the follicles in an optimal environment is a prerequisite for increasing the viability of the transplanted follicles and achieving much better cosmetic results.

Keywords

• fue
• automated extraction
• hair transplantation