A New Method of Donor Site Harvesting

    July 1984 in “ The Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology ”
    Walter Unger
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    TLDR A new suturing technique for hair transplant donor sites leads to better scarring and allows more grafts to be taken.
    In 1984, Walter P. Unger, M.D., introduced a new suturing technique for donor site harvesting in hair transplantation that improved scarring and allowed for the removal of an additional 10 to 15% of grafts. The study involved 18 patients and compared the new suturing method to traditional unsutured methods, demonstrating that the new approach resulted in better immediate camouflage and long-term scarring. The technique, which included specific spacing and suturing patterns, aimed to avoid tight sutures that could impair blood circulation, leading to superior scars that were difficult to photograph due to their improved appearance. Despite potential disadvantages such as difficult spacing and future alopecia reductions, the new method was recommended for its significant improvement in scar quality.
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