How a Hair Transplant Works
Hair Transplantation New York, New Jersey, Boston
Hair transplantation at our New York, New Jersey, and Boston hair restoration centers is a minor surgical procedure confined to the skin. Dr. Robert True and Dr. Robert Dorin have performed hundreds of these hair restoration procedures safely and successfully.
The Hair Transplantation Procedure
Harvesting your Hair Follicles
The first portion of the procedure involves donor harvesting. Donor harvesting is performed exclusively by either Dr. True or Dr. Dorin. In Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), a strip of hair-bearing scalp is removed from the sides and/or back of the head. The area is then sutured with a two-layer closure, which will result in a very fine scar hidden within the remaining donor hair. We utilize the double layer closure, as it produces the thinnest scar possible. In addition to this closure technique, we now incorporate another technique called Trichophytic Donor Closure. This innovative method involves trimming the upper margin of the harvested area, which when brought together with the lower margin with sutures, will ultimately enable hair to grow right through the scar. The end result is a virtually invisible scar, camouflaged within the remaining donor hair!
We believe this breakthrough in donor closure to be of tremendous significance, and it should alleviate fears of visible donor scars, which were common with older techniques. Because of the elasticity of the scalp, this process may be repeated in subsequent procedures. Each time a procedure is done, the scar from the first procedure is removed so that at the end of a treatment course, there is only one donor scar.
 |
 |
| Donor area prepped for second surgery one year later. The scar, which is very fine, was created before Trichophytic donor closure became a routine practice. The scar will be removed in the second procedure. | A donor scar produced with Trichophytic Closure. The scar is barely visible Because of the hair growing through it. |
Once harvested, the strip is then microscopically dissected into the naturally occurring bundles of follicles, or follicular units. These tiny grafts of skin contain units of one to four hairs. The average donor area is made up of a certain percentage of single follicular units, double follicular units, and three-to-four-hair follicular units. The microscopic dissection process is performed by specially trained registered nurses and surgical technicians. By keeping follicular units intact, we assure optimal growth rates.
The high rates (98 to 100 percent) of graft survival that are uniformly produced in our procedures occur because of meticulous attention to detail in graft handling and preparation. Tissue is placed in chilled saline and maintained moist and cool throughout the transplanting process.
 |
 |
 |
| Follicular units prepared microscopically | Graft technicians dissecting follicular units | Dr. Dorin creating receptor sites |
With Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), the donor area must be extensively shaved in order to harvest an optimal number of grafts. Once anesthesia is complete, individual follicle units are superficially excised and extracted using tiny punches and fine-tip forceps. No sutures are required with this technique. The tiny puncture sites heal on their own, leaving barely perceptible tiny scars scattered throughout the donor zone.
Receptor Sites
The receptor sites are the tiny incisions into which the follicular unit grafts will be placed. The creation of receptor sites is truly the artistic portion of the procedure. The sites are exclusively created by either Dr. True of Dr. Dorin. Both doctors use our own unique custom-cut-to-size micro blades to make the sites. These blades range from .7 mm to 1.3 mm in width and are created for each patient, based on specific individual criteria. The size of the patient's grafts, the characteristics of the recipient skin, and the density at which the grafts will be placed all determine the customization of the receptor blades. This practice enables the doctors to perform an ultra-refined transplant at densities of 50 grafts per square centimeter. Dr. True and Dr. Dorin combine coronal, saggital, and a blend of coronal-saggital receptor sites to produce a unique appearance for each patient. Design nuances such as direction and angle of hair growth, hairline shape, crown whorl, and overall hair flow are attained by subtly varying the combination and orientation of these tiny incisions. We believe a denser, more natural result is achieved through this methodology.
Graft Placement
Once the doctor has completed his design, a team of nurses and/or certified surgical technologists will place the grafts into the incisions. The grafts are carefully placed using very fine forceps. The placement process usually takes a few hours (the patient can watch television while the work is being done). At True & Dorin, we are proud of the skill level of our technicians. Most of our staff has been an integral part of the practice since the early 1990s, each member having placed over two million grafts. Each team of technicians is assigned to only one hair transplantation case per day at our facilities in New York, New Jersey, and Boston.
The grafts are preserved in saline under the ideal temperature conditions during the placement process. They are handled with the accuracy, delicacy, and precision necessary to assure optimal survival. Once the grafts have been placed, the doctor will inspect the transplanted area to ensure that the grafts are properly situated. A hair dryer is then used to blow cool air on the grafts, which will help form a natural adhesion and set the grafts in place. Bandages are not necessary, although the patient will be required to wear a baseball cap for the trip home.
Patient Comfort
With the introduction of the CompuMed® Wand, patients are administered local anesthesia before the hair transplantation procedure. Designed by dentists to alleviate the negative stigma associated with needle injections, the CompuMed® Wand is a computer-controlled delivery system that Dr. True and Dorin employ to offer their patients maximum comfort while administering anesthesia. In our landmark 2001 study published in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery, the CompuMed® pump was shown to not only produce significantly greater comfort during the procedure, but also to reduce post-operative pain.
Those undergoing hair transplantation in New York, New Jersey, and Boston are given a small dose of oral valium prior to surgery to counteract the momentary agitation some patients have from xylocaine/epinephrine. Our goal is to ensure that patients will not feel the slightest pain in the operating room.
Learn More about Hair Transplantation
Hair transplantation is routinely performed with great success at True & Dorin’s New York, New Jersey, and Boston treatment center. We will make sure you have all of the information you need for an optimal procedure and swift recovery. If you are struggling with hair loss, please schedule a consultation with us to attain a personalized treatment plan.