Power Boosting the Grafts in Hair Transplantation Surgery*

Abstract

In our opinion, a "metabolic preconditioning" of micrografts by means of storing them for 5 hours in the described medium may be of some utility in augmenting the survival rate of hair grafts when performing hair transplantation surgery.

Effects of Cooling Micrografts in Hair Transplantation Surgery

“…In this study, the survival rate of follicles from both the control and experimental groups was consistent with that reported by Limmer, 9 who stored the grafts in chilled isotonic saline at 4°C. In striving to obtain the maximum survival rate possible for transplanted micrografts, one might consider using antioxidant preconditioning of hair grafts by using dedicated storage mediums 7 instead of relying on chilled isotonic saline. In our opinion, in the time span considered (5 hours), the prevention of oxygen free radical action is more effective in preventing tissue damage than decreasing the metabolic demand of hair grafts.…”

Enhancement of In Vitro Hair Shaft Elongation in Follicles Stored in Buffers That Prevent Follicle Cell Apoptosis

“…To evaluate the effects of different storage media supplemented with inhibitors of ACD, micrografts were stored for 5 hours at room temperature in the test media at atmospheric conditions. After storage, micrografts were cultured in standard human hair follicle culture media 2–4 containing 10% fetal calf serum (Sigma‐Aldrich Co.) for 5 days at 37°C in a 5% CO 2 atmosphere. HSE was measured after 5 days using an invert microscope.…”

“…Studies on media composition revealed only minor differences on graft survival at 4°C, showing similar survival rates in standard media (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium [DMEM], RPMI 1640) compared with Hank's balanced salt solution 1 . Recent data suggest that micrograft survival in vitro is enhanced by replenishment of intracellular ATP with exogenous ATP and the addition of a nonselective scavenger of oxygen radicals 4 . These data support the view that metabolic changes in the microenvironment of hair follicle cells during micrograft preparation and storage reduce the viability of the cells.…”

How Long Can Hair Follicle Units Be Preserved at 0 and 4°C for Delayed Transplant?

“…The viability of preserved hair follicles, which act as organs, needs to be further evaluated and validated by in vivo experiments 3 . Data from in vivo experiments will be more valuable and reliable and will be more interesting for hair transplant surgeons.…”