What is Unlimited Graft Hair Transplantation?
27/02/18
Let's examine together what the concept of Unlimited Graft Hair Transplantation is, which we encounter with the advancement of technology and diversification of methods in hair transplantation, and what it is not.
Is "Unlimited graft hair transplantation", which has been frequently mentioned and started to appear in recent days, really possible? Or is it just a concept or a hoax? I want you to decide this at the end of our article. Because let's examine together how limited or unlimited today's technology is in hair transplantation.
What is Graft?
A graft is a piece of tissue from which not only this tissue (hair) but also the nerve and vascular connection feeding this tissue are taken, in order to be transplanted to another part of your body, from a tissue in your hair or another part of your body. Therefore, in our field, the exact equivalent of the word graft is the name given to the part of each hair follicle group taken together with the skin. When a graft is purchased, 2-4 hair strands come with the tissue. In other words, grafts and hair strands are different from each other, and the number of grafts and hair strands in a hair transplantation procedure is also different.
This is actually the conceptual confusion we encounter. At a point where you are not paying attention, a hair transplant center or plastic surgeon tells you that he will transplant 3000 grafts of hair according to your needs. Another center or surgeon may tell you that they will transplant 9000 hairs. The number in the two examples is actually the same. If you consider that there are two to four hair strands in a graft, on average there will be three hair strands in a graft. In other words, three thousand grafts are equal to nine thousand hair strands.
What Happens to the Graft in Hair Transplantation?
Grafts in hair transplantation; It is taken from the nape area, which is behind the two ears and is genetically non-shedding, which we call the donor area. Inserts with an average diameter of 0.5 mm are used to harvest each graft. These are the same size as the tip of the tip pens we use, and are generally steel tips of the same shape, made of specially sterile and sharp material. Each graft is inserted into the scalp so that the hair strands on it are inside these ends, and the hair follicles are cut in a circular manner. And now the graft is ready to be separated from the scalp.
After this stage, each of these grafts is taken from that area and kept in a special solution to be transplanted to the area to be transplanted. So why do these grafts wait? Because small holes are opened to place the grafts in the area to be transplanted, as many as the number of grafts that can be taken from your donor area. In addition, since these roots taken from the donor area have 2-4 hair strands, they are divided into double, triple and quadruple grafts, and grafts containing many hair strands are used in the front areas for a more beautiful appearance. In fact, if some of the hair in the harvested area has white and some black hairs, these are separated according to their colors during the transplantation so that only whites do not come to one area and only blacks do not come to another area.
While all this separation and collection process is completed, channels are opened in the area to be planted. During all this separation and channel opening, the grafts continue to remain in solution. There is a significant time difference between a 1000 graft harvest and a 3000 graft harvest and separation process. The real question arises here. How long can the graft survive in this solution?
What Happens If Unlimited Graft Retrieval Is Made?
There is a "waste rate" in hair transplantation, as in other business fields. In the world hair transplantation literature, this rate is accepted as 10% at most in a successful procedure. If you prolong the waiting time of the grafts in the solution and cannot place them in the opened channels in sufficient time, these roots will die and cannot hold on to the place where you transplanted them. In other words, you place the non-viable grafts only in that area. In this sense, there is a limit to today's technology, the tools, robots or types of solutions used. The maximum limit you can perform in robot hair transplantation without exceeding this period is between 2000 and 2500 grafts. Unfortunately, a single professional person can perform a maximum of 1500 - 2000 grafts per day without killing the grafts. Because it takes approximately 10 seconds for each root to be removed by a professional and fast person, separated, kept in solution and placed in the opened channel. In other words, if you take and transplant two thousand grafts in a procedure that can be done by a single person, it will be an operation that takes 5.5 hours. If more than one person is performing the procedure at the same time during your hair transplant, it is possible to exceed this number of grafts. However, this also has some physical limits.
While taking the graft from your donor area, 2 people can work in that area in a healthy way. Imagine that the roots removed by these two people are separated by 2 people at the same time. Imagine that this graft collection process is followed by a healthy channel opening and then another person performs the graft placement. In summary, if there are 4 people in a procedure, the healthiest procedure would be a procedure in which a maximum of 2 people can perform the operation comfortably in the head area and without their hands hindering each other, and 2 people support them. There can be a maximum of 4 extra people during the operation, and more will not be actively useful.
In a procedure in which four people take an active role, the grafts can remain outside for an average of 4 hours without dying and without exceeding the 10% wastage rate accepted by the world health organizations, and a procedure that can be performed at once without exceeding this period is approximately 3000 - 3500 grafts. The total duration of a procedure in which the grafts remain outside for four hours will be approximately 7 - 8 hours. In other words, it is the maximum transaction that can be done in one session, or in other words, in one day.
Can Hair Transplantation Be Performed by Taking Unlimited Grafts?
Yes, you can collect an unlimited number of grafts from one person. You can collect 5000 or even 10000 grafts in one day. You can even transplant all of these grafts. However, unfortunately, there is no technology or human speed that can separate these roots and place them in the opened channels without dying. Even if the total time spent for a graft is 5 seconds (we are talking about taking the tissue, separating it and placing it in the opened channel), a procedure of 5000 grafts will take 7 hours. Yes, if there is a human with superhuman features or a hair transplant robot at this speed, unlimited grafts can be performed. Unfortunately, since such a situation does not exist today, "Unlimited Graft Hair Transplantation" cannot be performed.
Yes, they can take 5000 - 6000 grafts of hair from you and transplant them, but even if the wastage rate is 50% (which increases rapidly after 4 hours of graft life), only 3000 of the 6000 grafts transplanted will survive. In other words, it is actually of no use other than the graft taken from you unnecessarily.
Maximum Density Guarantee and the Importance of Retouching in Hair Transplantation
Yes, you had a healthy and professional operation and your transplanted hair lost only 10% at most. You lost 350 grafts in a procedure of 3500 grafts. Of course, having no wastage is directly related to your structure and the quality of your grafts. You can see this loss as roots that do not grow clearly after 1 year. If you want a procedure in which there will be no point gaps and cannot be distinguished from your own hair, and the institution or doctor performing your hair transplant promises this, they should fill these point gaps with a small operation at the end of 1 year, free of charge.
In light of all this, please carefully question the people and institutions that promise Unlimited Graft Hair Transplantation and ask your questions in the light of the information above. Each graft taken from your hair is your graft and there is no return. When transplanting a hair that you will use throughout your life, you should research thoroughly. You can change a house or a car you bought, but you cannot receive the hair transplantation service you received again. Because, unfortunately, you do not have the chance to have the transplanted hair removed and transplanted again.
