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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
THE GRAFTS |
FUT |
Mini-Micrografting |
Follicular Units used exclusively |
Yes |
No |
Graft size |
Uniformly small |
Larger |
Number of hairs per graft |
1-4 |
1-6 (or more) |
Hair/skin ratio in graft |
High |
Average |
Extra skin transplanted |
No |
Yes |
Wound size |
Uniformly small |
Variable |
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THE TECHNIQUE |
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Harvesting type |
Single-Strip |
Multi-bladed knife |
Microscopes required |
Yes |
No |
Follicular Units Preserved |
Yes |
No |
Follicular transection |
No |
Yes |
Maximizes donor supply |
Yes |
No |
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THE RESULTS |
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Healing time |
Fast |
Slower |
Skin surface change |
No |
Yes |
Maximum fullness |
Yes |
No |
Undetectable |
Yes |
No |
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COST & CONVENIENCE |
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Staff requirements |
Moderate |
Small |
Duration of individual procedure |
Long |
Short |
Time for complete restoration |
Short |
Long |
Cost per procedure |
More |
Less |
Total cost for restoration |
Similar |
Similar |
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Special Thanks To
Dr Bill Rassman and Dr Bob Bernstein, who
contributed portions of their "Patients Guide to Hair Transplantation"
for use on this site. You can visit their excellent in-depth web
site at www.newhair.com
and request a full free copy of this, 300 page plus, book.
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