Depth Control in Follicular Unit Excision: A New Classification from a Detailed Analysis of 30 Patients Undergoing FUE Technique for Hair Restoration

    August 2022 in “ Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology ”
    Otavio Boaventura, Cleber Stuque
    Image of study
    TLDR A new classification for depth control in hair restoration surgery was proposed, dividing it into three grades based on the depth required for successful graft extraction.
    The study "Depth control in follicular unit excision: A new classification from a detailed analysis of 30 patients undergoing FUE technique for hair restoration" conducted by Otávio Boaventura and Cleber Stuque involved 30 male patients who underwent hair restoration surgery. The researchers divided the donor area into 14 zones and determined the minimum depth required for at least three atraumatic extractions of the grafts. Approximately 2000 extractions were performed on each patient to determine depth control (DC). The study found that there is variability in the DC of follicular units within the different areas of the safe donor zone. For some areas, a greater depth (2.54 ± 0.10 mm) was necessary. Fifty-eight percent of follicular units were extracted with 2.0 mm DC, and 3.8% required 3.5 mm DC. Based on these findings, the researchers proposed a new DC classification: grade I ≥ 2.00 mm, grade II from 2.1 to 3 mm, and grade III > 3.0 mm. This new classification could provide a valuable estimation of surgery demand.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    8 / 8 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 171 results

      community Progress with 6 Years fin and a FUT (2017 vs 2023)

      in Is this regrowth?  210 upvotes 1 year ago
      The post discusses a user's six-year progress with finasteride and a Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) for hair loss. The user shared before and after photos in reverse order, leading to confusion, but overall, the community responded positively to the user's hair regrowth.

      community How is verteporfin doing in trials?

      in Chat  9 upvotes 1 year ago
      The conversation is about the progress of verteporfin in hair loss trials, with users expressing curiosity about its effectiveness and updates. Specific treatments mentioned include FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) combined with verteporfin, with one reported case of donor area regrowth after a year, and three patients being monitored post-treatment by Dr. Bloxham with monthly updates on YouTube.

      community HRT is literal black magic. Fin 1 mg/day @ 4 years, min 2x/day @ 3 years, Estradiol 4mg/day @ 3.5 months, and Spironolactone 100mg/day @ 3.5 months (estra & spiro are medicines you should likely not take if you are a cis man)

      in Progress Pictures  118 upvotes 3 months ago
      User shared progress on hair regrowth using Fin 1 mg/day for 4 years, Min 2x/day for 3 years, Estradiol 4mg/day, and Spironolactone 100mg/day for 3.5 months. They noted significant hairline recovery and advised against HRT for cis men due to feminizing effects.

      community Verteporfin and Microneedling

      in Treatments 6 months ago
      Clinical studies by Dr. Barghouthi and Dr. Bloxham indicate that Verteporfin, when used with FUE and FUT hair transplantation methods, shows promise in hair follicle regeneration and minimal scarring due to its ability to inhibit Yes-associated protein (YAP). Microneedling at depths of 3-3.5mm, combined with Verteporfin, could potentially reactivate dormant follicles, although the optimal dosage and application method are still under investigation. Concerns remain about the DHT sensitivity of regenerated follicles, highlighting the need for further research to optimize trauma levels and Verteporfin concentrations to achieve effective and scar-free hair regeneration.

    Related Research

    6 / 6 results