Methodology of Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation

The 1999 document reviews different follicular unit hair transplantation techniques, including simultaneous needle stick and graft placement, simultaneous blade slit and graft placement, separated needle stick and graft placement, and the Choi Implanter method. It describes the procedural steps, labor requirements, and the importance of technician skill without comparing cosmetic outcomes or patient satisfaction. The paper notes that while some methods are time-efficient, such as the Choi Implanter completing a 1,000-graft case in about 2.5 hours, they may not provide the best cosmetic results and could be more costly. The study emphasizes that the final appearance is more influenced by hairline design and hair qualities than by the specific technique used. It concludes that no single method is universally superior, and while faster procedures exist, they do not necessarily lead to better or more cost-effective results. All techniques allow for 1,000 graft cases to be completed in under 6 hours, but the best cosmetic outcomes have been achieved with each method, depending on various factors.