Disposable Instrumentation: The Future of Hair Restoration Surgery
August 2003
in “
International Journal of Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Dermatology
”
hair restoration surgery disposable instruments reusable surgical instruments Creutzfeld-Jacob disease transmissible spongiform encephalopathy sterilization techniques tonsillectomies disposable forceps hair transplant disposable tools reusable tools CJD TSE sterilization methods tonsil removal disposable tweezers
TLDR Disposable instruments could be the future of hair restoration surgery to eliminate disease risk, but they require careful preparation and proper training.
In 2003, Dr. Colin Westwood discussed the potential future of hair restoration surgery with disposable instruments. He argued that reusable surgical instruments could potentially carry diseases, and that disposable instruments could eliminate this risk. He cited the example of Creutzfeld-Jacob disease (CJD), a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), which is resistant to current sterilization techniques. A pilot project in the UK to use disposable instruments for tonsillectomies was halted due to an increase in adverse incidents, highlighting the need for careful preparation and training when transitioning to disposable instruments. Despite this, Westwood believed that disposable instruments were the future of all surgical specialties, including hair restoration. He noted that while high-quality, economically viable disposable forceps for hair restoration had not yet been developed, if surgeons demanded these instruments, manufacturers would supply them.
