This is one of the most commonly asked questions and it is a very important one for those deciding which hair restoration procedure to choose. In contrast to Follicular Unit Transplantation, where the graft sizes are determined by nature, in mini-micrografting (the combination of minigrafts and micrografts as defined in Chapter 6) the graft sizes are arbitrarily determined by the doctor who cuts the donor tissue into the size pieces that he wants. Another name for this technique is mini-micrografts "cut to size."

In mini-micrografting, neither preserving follicular units, nor even keeping hair follicles intact, are felt to be that important. Rather, the speed and economics of the procedure are the deciding factors. Mini-micrografters use a multi-bladed knife to quickly generate thin strips of tissue and then use direct visualization (rather than microscopic control) to cut the tissue. The resulting grafts are generally larger than follicular units and since the excess skin is not trimmed away the donor sites (wounds) are also larger.

It should be apparent from the comparison shown on the next page that Follicular Unit Transplantation is superior in producing a natural, undetectable result, in maximizing healing, and preserving precious donor hair. Mini-micrografting, however, requires a smaller staff and each procedure is cheaper and shorter (although in the end it takes more procedures and therefore may cost just as much for this technique).

For more detailed information on NHI's Follicular Unit Transplantation, please see the reference section in the back of the book. Many of the original articles can be found on our web site www.newhair.com in the section, NHI Medical Publications.

The following table summarizes the major differences between Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Mini-Micrografting