New Instrumentation for Hair Transplantation Surgery
June 1998
in “
Dermatologic Surgery
”
hair transplantation differential spear blades graft counter blade holder cushioned forceps temperature probe saline solution posterior crown incisions graft viability crush injury hair grafts hair transplant sharp blades graft tracker blade guide soft forceps temperature monitor salt solution natural crown cuts graft survival graft damage hair implants
TLDR New instruments were introduced to make hair transplantation surgery more precise and improve graft survival.
In the document from June 1, 1998, Dominic A. Brandy, MD, introduced new instruments designed to improve the efficiency and outcomes of hair transplantation surgery. These instruments included a range of differential spear blades (1.0 to 4.0 mm) for making precise incisions that accommodate various graft sizes, a graft counter to keep accurate track of incisions, a blade holder with a direction guide for accurate incision orientation, cushioned forceps to reduce trauma to hair grafts during insertion, a temperature probe with an alarm to maintain the optimal temperature of saline solution for grafts, and a compass for constructing a natural-looking posterior crown. The spear blades were highlighted for their sharpness and ability to last through over 1,000 incisions, despite causing slightly more bleeding than round-tipped blades. The graft counter and temperature probe were emphasized for their roles in maintaining procedural accuracy and graft viability, respectively. The cushioned forceps were designed to minimize crush injury to grafts, which is crucial for successful hair growth. Overall, these innovations aimed to customize the hair transplantation process to individual patients and improve the survival and growth of hair grafts.
