If you add in the supposed poorer yield from larger sessions (or excess dissection), then the gains of higher graft counts may be even less.

I am starting to form the opinion that the largest sessions may not always get greatest yield. (This from my own results.) I had 3x as many grafts as those patients and my results look no better. There was a bit more native hair in those patients, but not much more.

I think what it really comes down to is that not everyone gets 100% yield. Those impressive results with 1500 grafts, had they gone to H&W, would have been "home runs" and turned out like Bobman or Shuffle. With differnt physiology their results could have turned out pathetic. I think the "X factor" is more prevalent than docs admit. Those pics are outliers and represent good hair quality and 100% yield.

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My Hair Loss Web Site - Hair Transplant with Dr. Wong

Hey, remember: patients are not math where 2 and 2 is always 4; but rather they are like cooking. If you cook with your mom's stuff in her kitchen things turn out one way, if you do it at your girlfriend's house it will taste a bit different and may take longer.

That's why you need to get the feeling the doctor is treating you, not a number that a consultant came up with.

Dr. Lindsey McLean VA

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William H. Lindsey, MD, FACS
McLean, VA

Dr. William Lindsey is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians

Thanks for the answers, guys! It all makes sense. Dr. Lindsey, I especially liked your tree metaphor. That really put it in perspective for me.

personally, i am not in favour of anyone younger than 30yrs old and NW5/6 before going for HT. i certainly waited patiently till mid-30's and reaching a steady NW5/6 before going for it. this makes great impact in appearance.

with what i have seen on this forum and my research i would go with a mega session that gives a good coverage on front/mid scalp. i don't think the FUT/cm2 is a real decider, it all depends on hair characteristics & skin color. then maybe go with crown HT if there is still fuel in donor area.

i hope i can prove this once i have completed my crown work next week with Dr B Farjo, UK.

good luck with anyone considering HT...

my 0.02 cts worth
FS

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My Hair Loss Weblog - Hair Transplant with Dr. Bessam Farjo

after looking at those pics and reading this thread it makes me kinda feel like maybe even I could get away with 1200 grafts if done right......too bad other docs always reccomend a much higher number.....im a nw4 and one of the docs i visited said i needed 4500 grafts.....i was like wo in my head yeah whatever.....i knew he just wanted more money.....i wouldn't mind it either but at the end it all comes down to costs as to whether or not i can afford it.....i wish i could show you guys my head and maybe you guys can tell me how many grafts i really need.

I totally agree with Sir Fivehead. The numbers of hairs placed is more important in creating density than the number of incisions per sq cm, which connotes with the number of grafts per sq cm. For example, 25 3-haired grafts is equal to 75 1-haired grafts, so saying that 50 grafts per sq cm is more dense then 25 grafts per sq cm would not be accurate in that example. It really makes sense to look at the numbers of hairs transplanted rather than the numbers of grafts transplanted in a procedure.

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I am a medical assistant and hair transplant surgical assistant employed by Dr. Keene

Dr. Keene is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians

Hamilton,

I am a tree guy, not a tree-hugger, but I like trees and I like to farm and garden. Most of my patients have some idea of what trees they or their neighbors have, and so I use that as my analogy.

Plus, our office park has lots of trees, if the patient doesn't know trees, then we can just look out the window and continue our discussion.

Dr. Lindsey McLean VA

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William H. Lindsey, MD, FACS
McLean, VA

Dr. William Lindsey is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians

Dr. Lindsey,

Good analogies...you illustrate the point well!

Benjamin

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My Blog -- Hair Transplant with Dr. Feller
My Personal Hair Transplant Blog