Follicle Trauma and the Role of the Dissecting Microscope in Hair Transplantation

In a multicenter study involving 12 experienced hair restoration surgeons, the use of a dissecting stereomicroscope during hair transplantation was found to significantly reduce follicle transection rates from 20.0% to 10.2%. The study, which analyzed 271 grafts containing 749 hair follicles, concluded that microscope-assisted graft dissection could lead to improved hair growth outcomes by minimizing follicle trauma. However, it also noted that transected follicles might still regenerate and produce hair, indicating that the actual impact on hair growth might be less than the transection rate reduction suggests. Despite potential confounding factors, the research supports the use of the follicular family unit in transplantation procedures and provides scientific backing for the practice of pure follicular dissection, which may influence its adoption among surgeons.