Evaluation of Survival Rate After Follicular Unit Transplantation Using the KNU Implanter

Abstract

Background. Many hair transplant surgeons have advocated the use of micrograft megasessions for the purpose of a more natural looking end result, especially in the Oriental with higher skin/hair color contrast and darker, coarse, straight hairs. But it also has some fundamental limitations. Most important are a low graft yield and a low density after transplantation. There are several reports about the survival rate of micrografts in Caucasians, though the results are variable, but few reports about the survival rate and fate of micrografts in Orientals. Objective. To compare the survival rate of one‐hair follicular units with that of two‐hair follicular units using the KNU implanter, to ascertain the average survival rate of micrografts (one‐ and two‐hair follicular units), and to evaluate the fate of grafted hair according to time. Methods. Two templates of 1.5 cm2 were made by tattooing on both sides of the frontoparietal recess areas in 11 patients with male pattern baldness (beyond Norwood type IIIa). The authors planted one‐hair unit micrografts in the left template and two‐hair unit micrografts in the right template, which were prepared by the concept of follicular unit, and counted the surviving number of follicular units at 1 and 3 months and total hairs at 6 and 12 months after transplantation. Results. The mean survival rate by the number of follicular units was 47.3 and 57.4% at 1 and 3 months after transplantation, respectively. The mean survival rate by the total number of hairs was 92.0 and 90.4% at 6 and 12 months after transplantation, respectively. Conclusion. About 50% of the transplanted hairs fell out in 1 month, but at 6 months the survival rate of follicular unit transplantation using the KNU implanter showed a good result (92%), and there were no significant differences in the mean survival rate of follicular unit and total hairs between one‐hair and two‐hair units at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after transplantation.

Does the Recipient Site Influence the Hair Growth Characteristics in Hair Transplantation?

“…In these studies, the survival rate was 60.2% in the lower leg at 3 years after surgery. This is a much lower survival rate than that for transplantation in androgenetic alopecia (92%) 6 . The hair also showed a marked decrease in growth rate—half that of the donor area hair.…”

27 Hair Transplantation in East Asians

“…1,2 A study done to assess the survival rate of one-and twohair follicular unit grafts using the implanter revealed graft growth of 92.0% after 6 months and 90.4% after 1 year. 42,43 There is controversy regarding the optimal density for high survival rate. Graft survival at different transplanted densities was also studied in Korean patients, and the results This document was downloaded for personal use only.…”

“…• A density of 30 to 40 FUs/cm 2 or less is appropriate for Asians and permits the best hair survival rate. 42,43,44,45 Density Gradient and Layering Effect…”

New Instrument for Hair Transplant: Multichannel Hair Transplanter

“…Recently, micrografts such as FUG and SHG have been preferred, providing a more natural appearance for male androgenetic alopecia and hairline refinement. During the past decade, several instruments have been developed in the field of hair transplant surgery 3–6 . One of these, a hair transplanter, has been widely used in Korea 5,6 .…”

“…During the past decade, several instruments have been developed in the field of hair transplant surgery 3–6 . One of these, a hair transplanter, has been widely used in Korea 5,6 . Although it is simple and easy to use (eg, insertion of a single hair follicle or follicular unit one after another), it has some limitations, such as time consumption and the possibility that previously transplanted adjacent hair follicles may pop out.…”