A New Technique for Combining Follicular Unit Excision and Linear Strip Harvesting to Optimize Graft Yield: FUE-Linear Ellipse

The paper discusses a new surgical technique called FUE-Linear Ellipse (FUE-LE) that combines Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) and Linear Strip Excision (LSE) to optimize graft yield in hair restoration surgeries. FUE has become the dominant method of donor harvesting globally, but it has limitations in terms of lifetime graft yield and cosmetic coverage in patients with advanced pattern hair loss. The FUE-LE technique allows for the dissection of grafts inside a demarcated linear ellipse, eliminating the need for a large dissection team, which has been a barrier for many new practices. The addition of the LSE method by the modified FUE-LE technique is possible without specialized staff training or associated equipment costs. The paper encourages hair restoration surgeons to provide both methods of donor harvesting (FUE and LSE using FUE-LE) to optimize graft yield for patients and avoid long-term donor depletion.