FUE hair transplant mega-sessions consist of extracting and placing 4,000+ grafts in a single procedure. This is much more than the usual 1,000-3,500 that is extracted and placed in a typical FUE hair transplant procedure.
With a higher number of grafts extracted in one sitting, the risks of shock loss, scarring, and low-graft survival rate increase. Below, I break down how each of these risks is increased by an FUE mega-session.
Shock loss – What’s important to understand is that any surgical procedure is a type of trauma that the body endures. Your surrounding follicles are affected by the extraction and placement of grafts in the scalp tissue. If certain surrounding hairs in both the donor and recipient zones are weak and nearing the end of their life cycle, it’s possible the trauma of surgery could push them over the edge. This means they may be permanently shed through a condition called shock loss. During FUE mega-sessions, this surgical trauma is amplified. More grafts are extracted and placed which means more of the surrounding hairs are susceptible to shock loss.
Scarring – The FUE method of hair transplantation consists of each graft being hand extracted one-by-one. While tedious, it offers natural looking hair transplant results with minimal scarring. Anywhere from 1,000-3,000 grafts are comfortably and safely extracted during FUE. Much more than that and the low risk of scarring is negated. This is because the donor area is getting completed depleted in order to sustain the high number of grafts needed. This creates more scar tissue which means visible scarring and decreased hair growth returning in the donor area.
Low-graft survival rate – The longer grafts are out of the scalp, the greater the likelihood they will not survive once transplanted. Due to the nature of mega-sessions and the extended amount of time they take to complete, grafts tend to be sitting outside of the scalp for a longer period of time. Additionally, grafts are extremely fragile and sensitive. Mega-sessions don’t often allow time and space for the quality of care needed to maintain the health and safety of the grafts. Any damage to the graft and it will not survive once transplanted. It is believed by many experienced hair transplant surgeons that less than half of all transplanted grafts in a mega-session survive.
So how do we achieve high graft hair transplants for those patients who need it without doing a mega-session?
When a high number of grafts are needed to achieve the desired density and fullness the patient wants in their hair, it is often better to utilize multiple surgeries over time. This allows the scalp to heal and newly transplanted follicles to grow naturally and fully.
This in turn yields better results over time, as shock loss is reduced, scarring is minimal to non-existent, and graft survival rate is high. You are much more likely to see the full results of a high graft FUE hair transplant if the surgery is split up.
If you’d like to learn more about the FUE method of hair transplantation and get a graft and price quote for your specific hair needs, give us a call for a free consultation today.
Tag Archives: fut strip hair transplant
Hair transplants then versus now
Hair transplants have changed a lot over the years. Hair transplants were first developed in the 1950’s but didn’t gain popularity until the 1980’s.
Due to the newness of the technology available and the lack of experience of the doctors at the time, the results of these hair transplants were not too favorable. Grafts or “plugs” were taken out of the donor zone, and placed sporadically in the balding areas. This haphazard placing of grafts led to the appearance of the hair being ‘plugged’ in. Many individuals were left with their hair looking very doll-like.
Thankfully, hair transplant technology has advanced tremendously over the past 40 years. Specially crafted tools are used to extract and place grafts. Grafts are now placed closely together, just like our natural hair is, which gives the transplanted hair a nice, natural, and blended look. Experienced and qualified hair transplant surgeons are now able to leverage their skills and techniques to give the best and most natural looking hair outcomes possible.
Unfortunately, not all surgeons are up to date on the latest techniques. Some less experienced surgeons are still using the plug technique as is illustrated below.
Most individuals seeking hair restoration are not looking for this plug-like look. Your best defense against a botched hair transplant surgery such as this one, is to research research research. While hair transplants are considered a non-invasive cosmetic procedure, when they go wrong they can make a drastic difference in your overall appearance. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, read reviews, and study the before and after pictures of your prospective surgeon.
If you are the victim of a botched surgery and would like to learn more about what options are available to you to fix your hair, give us a call today. Here at Modena, we specialize in reparative hair transplant surgery.
Medical Management of Hair Loss
What is the medical management of hair loss?
Medical management of hair loss refers to utilizing various methods and tools to maintain your current hair and even potentially re-growing hair for those who are experiencing recent mild hair loss.
While most individuals who are experiencing hair loss are concerned mainly with the areas of hair loss, there’s one very important reason you should be just as concerned with maintaining the areas you still have hair: PREVENTION.
If you’re not actively working to prevent future hair loss, your hair loss will continue and worsen as you age. Dr. Yazdan believes proactively fighting hair loss is the only way to stall the hair loss process and protect the hairs you have now. The best way to do that: medical management.
Medical management methods and tools range from more aggressive methods like PRP therapy and laser therapy, to more prolonged and maintenance-minded methods like prescription medications such as finasteride, topical products such as minoxidil, and shampoos such as nizoral.
The great thing about these medical management tools is that many can be used in conjunction with each other and even with hair transplant surgery. In fact, utilizing multiple methods or adding them to your surgery can increase the efficacy of each method and your overall results tremendously.
But before you can get started, you should first see if you’re a candidate for medical management. While most individuals experiencing hair loss can benefit from medically managing their hair, it won’t help everyone reach their specific goals.
You should meet with an experienced and certified hair restoration surgeon to determine if you are a candidate for medical management and what methods specifically would help you reach your goals.
Here at Modena, in addition to specializing in FUE and FUT/Strip methods of hair transplant surgery, we also specialize in various methods of medically managing hair loss.
If you’d like to learn more, give us a call today.
FUE vs. FUT/Strip – which hair transplant surgery method should you choose?
Many individuals researching hair transplant surgery as an option to restore their hair loss, have come across the two main methods of hair transplant surgery: FUE and FUT/Strip.
Before you can assess which method of surgery is best for you, you must first understand how the two methods work.
The FUE method of hair transplantation works by excising one hair follicle at a time from the donor area using a very small circular scalpel. These follicles are then transplanted one by one into the recipient area. When done properly and using the proper tools, these incisions are so tiny that once healed cannot be seen with the naked eye. This is why the FUE method of hair transplantation is sometimes referred to as virtually scarless.
The FUT/Strip method of hair transplantation works by excising a thin strip of the scalp in the donor area. Grafts are then microscopically dissected from the strip and placed in the recipient area. The area where the strip was removed is closed using modern tricophytic donor closure technique. When done properly, the scar is very fine and easily covered by the existing surrounding hair.
Typically, the FUT/Strip method of hair transplantation produces more grafts. Because there is a small scar left behind by the procedure, this method is more suitable for someone with a slightly longer hair style. Therefore, the FUT/Strip method is ideal for someone who has a slightly longer hair style and is need of a high number of grafts to reach their hair goals.
In general and when done properly, the FUE method is hair transplant is scarless. That means when the procedure is done and the patient is healed, no one should be able to tell you had a hair transplant surgery. This would be the ideal method for someone who likes to wear their hair short and doesn’t have advanced and severe hair loss/balding.
In order to determine which surgical method is best for you, you should meet with a qualified and experienced hair transplant surgeon. During a consultation, you and the doctor can work together to pick the most effective hair transplant method for your hair type and goals.
If you’d like to schedule a consultation to determine your hair transplant method, give us a call today.
Case Study – Botched Strip FUT Hair Transplant Surgery Repaired by Dr. Yazdan
Patient presented 1 year post-op with a scar that was the result of a botched Strip/FUT hair transplant. The patient was not satisfied with the results his previous surgeon had given him. As you can see, the scar is thick, wide, and very obvious. In addition, there was poor graft survival rate in the recipient zone. This patient had traveled abroad to get his surgery in an attempt to save money.
The appearance of our hair is directly tied to our confidence and self-esteem. Its no surprise that hair loss results in a lower self-confidence. When we are examining the effects of a botched surgery, the harm it has on an individual’s emotional and mental state is heightened. They go into a hair transplant surgery thinking the issue causing them stress will be resolved. Instead, they come out worse than before. The patient in this case study was extremely upset about the results of his surgery, rightfully so.
Dr. Yazdan took his case as a scar repair procedure. As seen in the before picture, the patient had no hair growth in the scarred area due to scar tissue. Dr. Yazdan transplanted grafts into the scar so that hair could grow in that area and cover the appearance of the scar. As seen in the after pictures, the patient now has full hair coverage throughout the scarred area. The patient states they feel immensely better, having a new sense of restored self-confidence and self-esteem.
Don’t let this be you! While hair restoration surgery is minimally invasive, it is still a medical surgery. That means your surgeon needs to be qualified and experienced. Do not hesitate to research and ask questions. A good hair transplant surgeon will take the time to walk you through the process and share their results with you. If you’d like to learn more about scar repair options, give us a call.
