Procedure Layouts
Plan/Layout
Before Surgery: Planning Stage
This photograph shows the before surgery photos with the general hairline area having been drawn by the physician. The direction of the lines shown represents the actual direction that the future hairs will grow in order to match existing hairs. In addition to the areas where the lines are, the area which is empty, above the lines, will also be filled in.
After Surgery: Approximately 600 grafts
This photograph shows the result of the work which was planned in the photo above. As you can see, all the grafts are in place and are fully in the planned area. The hairline will be an irregular pattern and the hair direction will exactly match the existing hair.
Pre-Op
BEFORE SURGERY
Front View
Side View
Top View
Back View
Exterior Sutures
BEFORE SURGERY
Showing the surgeon beginning to run the fine external sutures
Running of external sutures is complete
Hair is now cleaned and combed down over the sutures. Note that there is no evidence whatsoever that any strips have been removed
Graft Preparation
Strips are being dissected into individual grafts. Note the Elliott Clinic technology whereby the strip is squeezed between the thumb and finger causing the distance between the follicular units to widen, after which a mirco-serrated scissor snips off the individual follicular units. This technique allows for direct visualization in three dimensions and is a more accurate method than slicing through the strip laid on a block using a razor blade.
Pinpoint Receptor Site
Showing the physician making the micro needle punctures using a 1 millimeter custom crafted spear-point blade. This results in 1 millimeter micro incisions. The direction of the micro incision will ultimately determine the direction of the hair growth. As you can see, the direction of the incisions exactly matches the surrounding hair.
Magnified view of the micro incisions. Please note the staggered and irregular hairline that will result when these hairs grow out.
A view showing the whole field of the left hairline for orientation. Please note that some hairs were filled in down on the temple area as well.
Finish
Four views showing completed results of all grafts in proper placement, having been dried with the hair dryer with micro-crusts holding the grafts in place and patient is now ready for discharge wearing only a clean baseball cap or surgical cap. Note that no large turban bandages are required. Note in the bottom right photograph you can actually see the short, shaved hairs in some of the grafts. This is not the same number of hairs that will ultimately grow out, but does illustrate the fact that the hair direction will be appropriate. Please compare the results on this page with the pre-surgery photographs.