Hair transplant surgeons use a wide range of instruments and utensils during a hair transplant operation. The primary instrument hair transplant surgeons use is the punch tool. Punches can be manual, robotic, suction-assisted, motorized, or take other forms. Depending on the sharpness, shape and size, the punch will exhibit different capabilities and executions.
It is our expert opinion that the manual punch is the most accurate and effective of the surgical punches due to its very small diameter aperture (Dr. Yazdan uses the smallest size for maximum detail, 0.7 millimeter) and tremendous free-from aesthetic capability. By free-form capability we mean that it is capable of handling extremely difficult angles (associated with curly hair for example) and skin types (whether loose or tight). A manual punch – when under the direction and usage of a master transplant surgeon – can create high quality grafts and a most natural-looking hairline.
The punch incises the skin surrounding the hair follicle (follicular unit), freeing it from the surrounding tissue in order to be implanted safely in the scalp.
Dr. Yazdan’s State-of-the-Art Instrumentation
Dedicated to research and improvement in the field, Dr. Amir Yazdan is one of the foremost innovators of specialty FUE utensils and devices. Over the span of a decade, Dr. Yazdan has engineered punches that are the sharpest in the world and made from the highest quality materials. Dr. Yazdan’s micro punches boast a unique design to minimize scars and have a transection risk rate of below 2.5%, the lowest in the industry.
Moreover, Dr. Yazdan only conducts manual extractions using the smallest possible punch, for purposes of maximum accuracy, aesthetic precision and natural-looking design.
Manual vs. Robotic FUE Hair Transplants
Based on clinical experience and a study of the various hair transplantation methods and instruments, Modena Hair Institute maintains that manual FUE operations done by hand from start to finish result in the most natural and symmetrical hair line. No machine or robotic device (yet developed) can mimic the artistic finesse and pure design of the work done by the hand of an expert hair restoration specialist.
Even as many come to understand that high tech machines and surgical devices are simply neutral tools which provide no guarantee of even half-way decent results, many hair clinics continue to market FUE machines like the NeoGraft and Artas as immediate routes to excellence and success. Yet usually the opposite is true, based on our clinical experience. Any hair restoration practice that markets a machine more than a surgeon is cause for suspicion and concern, as only a highly competent and skilled surgeon can use a robotic instrument successfully – and even then there are no guarantees or special advantages to using a machine.
On average, based on the repair clients we have received and deep
knowledge of the technical advancements in hair restoration over the last decade, hair follicle/transection damage can be higher when using robotic devices as opposed to manual extraction by an experienced surgeon. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of manual and robotic punches below:
- Smaller incisions when done manually, due to small diameter punches
- Smaller scars when done manually
- Larger incisions and deeper punches when done robotically, which can mean larger scars
- The vacuum suction of certain robotic machines can damage the follicle and dry out the graft
- Larger grafts require larger recipient site incisions which can mean lower density and unnatural appearance
Robotic Devices and Unskilled Technicians
We’ve discussed the disadvantages associated with the method and application of robotic devices, but there exists another great area of concern: such devices are operated – many of the time – by poorly trained and outsourced technicians who are often performing the surgery without a doctor present.
Why would manufacturers of state-of-the-art robotic devices market their product to doctors and clinics with little to no hair restoration experience? The answer: to gain a bigger return on their investment. It has been reported that since the NeoGraft company markets primarily to physicians with no prior hair restoration experience that the physicians can hire teams of hair transplant technicians who often perform the entire procedure for the physician.
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) has issued a consumer alert regarding this practice. Many hair transplant surgeons simply found no need or advantage in purchasing such surgical devices, and so these companies began to advertise and sell to doctors with little to no hair restoration experience.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
Medications are designed to treat a wide range of health conditions, but sometimes they can have unwarranted side effects including changes in our hair. Changes in hair color, texture and you guessed it…even hair loss! Medication-induced hair loss, just like any other form of hair loss, can have a profound influence on men and women’s self-esteem. The good news is – once the medication is stopped, your hair loss most likely can be reversed. Now for the unwelcome news – many of us must take these medications to treat a more fundamental problem (i.e. thyroid problem) creating a vicious cycle of problems and frustration.
When you first begin to notice
Undergoing a
It is perfectly normal for us to prefer certain facial features over others. If you find yourself self-conscious about having a large forehead then first of all, don’t worry – you’re not alone! Whether you were born that way or over the years you’ve begun to see one of the tell-tale signs of aging – a receding forehead where the hairline slowly retreats further back onto the scalp – many of us have been there.
Don’t let these male celebrities fool you – they haven’t always had their flowing locks! Celebs are constantly being put under a microscope to look their best, so it comes as no surprise that these male stars are opting for some surgical assistance when it comes to losing their locks. Today, we live in a day and age were the better we look, the better we FEEL, and the better we feel can lead to endless possibilities in life! Whether it’s getting that job promotion, getting (or keeping) the woman of your dreams, or just being able to look in the mirror with confidence and say, “I look good today.” Whatever the motivation may be, a hair restoration procedure can significantly improve your overall quality of life.
Matthew McConaughey – one man known for his gorgeous appearance and thick lustrous hair. It wasn’t always like that! He had his hair in his youth but by time 1999 rolled around, we started seeing the signs of his receding hairline. Look at him now! As far as career – what has this hunk accomplished since undergoing a hair restoration?

John Travolta – Miraculously, his once thinning head of hair is now just as thick and full as it was in Saturday Night Fever days.
It’s paramount to keep in mind that hair restoration is a medical ‘art.’ Medical art combines medical knowledge, mastery of advanced surgical skills and techniques as well as a keen eye enabling the accurate reproduction of what occurs naturally. Unfortunately, many prospective hair restoration patients assume that artistic ability is a given resulting from education and practice of established surgical techniques. Art and surgery are separate skills, and this must be taken into consideration when evaluating a doctor for your hair restoration surgery.
Hair loss is a big concern for most adults as it reminds us that our youth – and hair is slowly withering away. And when natural home remedies, chemically-induced products and hair loss treatments fail to work their ‘magic’, a hair transplant may be last resort for most of us. Unlike using ointments for hair growth which is quite simple, a hair transplantation is a tedious process that should be done under the guidance of an expert hair restoration specialist alike Dr. Yazdan to avoid any
Myth #7: An Unlimited Amount of Hair Can Be Extracted from the Scalp.
In this day and age, we all strive for perfect skin and a healthy body, free of flaws! However, those accidents, injuries, surgeries, acne and even dog bites can leave you with unpleasant scar formations. If you’ve ever had a wound on your scalp or face, you may wonder how the wound is going to heal and whether or not the scar will grow hair. There’s good news and then there’s the unfortunate news…


While the temperature of your shower may not be the first thought that comes to mind when it comes to hair care, there are pros and cons to washing your hair in both hot and chilly water! Really, which is better comes down to a few key factors to understand:
For many people whom lose their hair clump by clump, it may seem more like a nightmare than reality. This condition can have a very deep psychological effect on men and women’s lives. It starts with no warning and can be devastating to anyone who must go through this. Some people will get this periodically throughout their life, and some will lose all their hair completely or see patches that appear suddenly and permanently.
Almost every woman eventually develops some degree of female-pattern hair loss and as many as two-thirds suffer hair thinning or bald spots. It can start any time after the onset of puberty, but women tend to first notice it around menopause, when hair loss typically increases. The risk rises with age, and it’s higher for women with a history of hair loss on either side of the family.
Most scalp conditions will eventually lead to some type of skin rash and unfortunately…hair loss! Whether it’s hereditary, malnutrition or an infection, a pesky scalp condition can occur leaving you wearing hats every day or in severe cases, hermitizing in the comfort of your home waiting for your unsettling condition to subside. Here you’ll find a few common scalp disorders and some helpful recommendations to restore your damaged head of hair.
There’s nothing ‘unmanly’ about wanting to look good. Taking care of your skin and hair is just as critical to men as it is to women. “We’re finally at an era where it’s more acceptable for men to pay attention to skin and hair care” says Southern California and Las Vegas hair restoration physician, Dr. Amir Yazdan. Keep your medicine cabinet stocked and get the latest on grooming essentials, skin care treatments for thinning hair and more here in this article.
If you’ve been familiarizing yourself with the diverse types of hair loss conditions out there, you may have read the scientific term “effluvium” pondering on what that word even means; effluvium is the ‘scientifically correct’ term for the outflow, and anagen and telogen refer to the distinct phases in your hair growth cycle.
Alike good health and youth, most of us take our locks for granted…until they’re gone! For many men and women, a hair transplant can bring back the appearance of a fuller head of hair. If thinning, balding or a receding hairline has you bothered – a hair restoration procedure is one way to have you feeling confident about your looks again.
Opposed to widespread belief, the human hairs do not all grow at one time. Rather, each individual strand of hair is constantly undergoing one of the three phases to determine whether it should grow and shed. The anagen phase is part of the hair growth cycle or ‘active phase’ when the hair enters a state of active growth. This is the only time new hair is growing. Most of your top hair transplant surgeons would agree that this period lasts approximately 3 to 5 years on average. At Modena Hair Restoration, Dr. Yazdan recommends the use of certain medications such as Minoxidil and Propecia to prolong the anagen stage which aids hair in producing longer and fuller hair, and