ACell is a technology wherein a bioscaffold is applied to a wound, and, according to the company, “the scaffold is rapidly degraded and completely resorbed leaving new tissue where scar tissue would normally be expected”. People in the hair community are hoping that new hair follicles are generated once the wound is healed, but this remains to be seen.

This level of transparency in the medical field is very rare; Dr. Jones should be commended for that. We would have a much more elucidated experience if even a fraction of the companies and practitioners were as gracious and honest.

A couple of notes:

1. This was done on a pre-existing transplant scar, not fresh follicle-bearing skin. However, according to ACELL, this should still be sufficient to see some amount of success.
2. The hideous axe-gash you’re looking at is part of the technique of laying the ACELL matrix down and letting the body gradually refill the space with new skin.

Read more about ACell on the Tressless Wiki.

His first surgery occurred in September 2005. In this instance 5,700 grafts were transplanted to create a free standing hair line, and to fill in the front of his scalp in a natural fashion. All the grafts were derived from his chest, abdomen and legs.

His second surgery occurred in November of 2005. This time the back of his head (crown) was filled in with 3,400 grafts while the large scar on his head were implanted with ~1,600 grafts. All the grafts were derived from his chest and legs only.