Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is becoming an increasingly popular method for hair restoration. As FUE leaves behind no linear scars, it is more suitable to harvest from various body areas including beard, chest, and extremities in hirsute individuals. Body hair characteristics such as thickness, length, and hair cycle may not completely match to that of the scalp hair. The techniques of harvesting body hairs are more time consuming, requiring higher degree of skill than regular scalp FUE. Body hair transplantation can be successfully used either alone or in combination with scalp hair in advanced grades of baldness, for improving the cosmetic appearance of hairlines and in scarring alopecia when there is paucity of donor scalp hair. Harvesting of body hairs opens up a new viable donor source for hair restoration surgeons, especially in cases of advanced Norwood grades five and above of androgenetic alopecia.
Aim: An atraumatic insertion of graft is key to successful outcomes in this procedure but there is a definite learning curve in available techniques. Many physicians do not continue hair restoration practice because of the repeated initial failures. The goal of any technique or instrument in follicular unit extraction (FUE) is to extract an individual follicular unit without transaction and implanting it in recipient area without producing physical trauma to the follicular unit. This article describes a novel technique in which an innovative instrument, the KD spreader, that addresses all the problems faced by novice physicians during FUE hair transplantation. More importantly unique design of the instrument also solves the problem of fatigue of the operator's hands while performing the hair transplantation procedure.
Methods:In this technique, the KD spreader, comprised of a shaft and a hook connected to the shaft are configured to allow the user to work efficiently. Two finger grip of the device provides efficient gripping for fatigue free operation. While performing FUE, the KD spreader provides sufficient traction at the time of scoring. During implantation of the grafts in premade coronal slits, this device provides adequate dilation and maximum visualization of the slit. Attachment of the graft holding plate reduces the chances of dehydration of the graft.
Results:In this study, we have observed use of KD spreader definitely showed advantages over the conventional technique forceps. The KD spreader provides efficient gripping, maximum visualization of slit and better stretching force for the dilatation of the slit to adjust even bigger size follicular unit grafts.
Conclusion:The KD spreader may improve ability of the beginners to perform FUE extraction and implantation smoothly.
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