Question about future hair density calculation

[Midiman]

Hi,

Am I correct in assuming that overall future hair transpant density and outcome cannot be determined until the follicular family counts (ones, twos, threes, etc..) of a patient are determined at the time of surgery?

For instance, if a patient has very thick hair at the donor site, yet most of his follicular yield counts are 1's and 2's, does that hamper the surgeon in creating a desired result... especially if a moderate session (maybe 2200 at 30cm2) is initially planned?

Thanks

 

[CCS]

Surgeons will sometimes put two 1's in the same hole and charge you for one graft. They may even pair a 1 and 2. That is OK. If they put one graft with a 1 and a 2 on it, that is a mini graft, which is bad, unless they are very close together and risky to split. I don't know if you have to wait until surgury to know, but you definitely need an inperson consoltation. There may be a tool they can use. I'm sure if they parted your hair and looked at it close, they could give you a ball park estimate, but not and exact number until they had taken out a few 100. A ball park number should be good enough for you.

 

[Midiman]

Thanks for the explanation CCS

 

[Guest]

Midiman,

A prudent surgeon will first calculate your donor density throughout your donor zone, primarily the occipitalis area. Some docs utilize a densometer which magnifies a 1 cm square area and allows the Doctor to visually count the total number of FUs and total number of hairs supported by those FUs within that defined area. Then you take the total number of hairs and divide the total number of FUs into it and you get the average number of hairs per graft. That will provide you a better idea of how many hairs will be moved in the procedure. Let's say for example that you have roughly 40 FUs and 93 hairs within a 1 cm2 and is consistent throughout your donor zone.So if your grafts average 2.3 hairs per graft and you want to do 2500 grafts, you'll move approximately 5,750 hairs.

But really, the degree of coarseness (caliper) and other positive hair characteristics have a bigger impact in attaining the illusion of coverage even over the amount of hairs moved.

 

[htownballa]

Gillenator what is your hair situation like? Just curious

 

[Guest]

hair transplant,

Thanks for asking. I wore hair systems with HCM for 11 years and I hated it. I was a Norwood 5 when I did my first hair transplant in 1996 when I was 41 years old. To date I have been through three procedures for a total of 4417 grafts. I have reasonably good hair characteristics meaning, medium coarseness/caliper, slight wave, and still enough donor left at 51 years old. My original virgin donor density was considered slightly above average. My last hair transplant was in 2002 so I presently have good scalp laxity for my fourth and last hair transplant and can barely afford it. :hairy: