great thread ive stumbled upon here? i also have a few questions

could some one explain the difference between the 2 ways? i dont fully understand???? and why is the one safer for existing follicles than the other??

also

who did tsakalose's HT?

Say for example you have a mega session that yielded good results using lateral slit but you desided to go for a top up HT for density....

would it not be a good idea to choose a dr who uses sagital slit as to protect the established lateral grafts from the first transplant........

as sagital lsit is said to protect the existing hair follicles more!!!!????

any thoughts on this!!!!!

also in regards to which method produces better yeilds

i have to say after looking at the patient websites and the results for almost every single pateint and every dr pn the list!!!

i have to say dr hassons results make more of an impact than any others then followed by dr alexander in my opinion!!!

and its intresting as they both use diff slit techniques!!! how ever dr wongs results are also very good i have heared of more unsatisfied customers from his surgerys than dr hassons???

this could be coincedence but they both use the same technique...

its very confusing

but the main question is when 500 grafts are transplanted using lateral slit how many survive and when 500 are transplanted using sagittal slit how many survive?

which yeilds better results.....................

one protects native hair more
one increases the illusion of density


but all in all which is best?

I think that who the doc is performing the HT is more important than what technique is used. Then also the techs' experience and talent comes in 2nd place. Technique would probably be third on the list IMO.

I remember early on in my HT that morning the master tech (Jodi w/ 15 years under her belt) told Dr. Hasson that his slits were a little too small. The way she told him was very authoritative as if she was his peer, not a subordinate. I seriously believe if it wasn't for her high level of experience and comfort working with Dr. Hasson my yield may have been compromised. A truly great HT cannot simply depend on the skill of the doc as there are just too many variables and he is only human no matter how great he is; you need a system of checks and balances all throughout the process and the best clinics have this and THAT is why they are more expensive! You truly get what you pay for.

Also, two different docs performing lateral slit will NOT acheive the same results! Just like two different painters using oil based paints will not paint the same picture. One will paint a masterpiece and the other will paint a run-of-the-mill painting.

That's why I don't get too caught up in the technical details concerning HTs. This is what the great clinics are getting paid for so that you don't have to stress out thinking about it yourself too much. Either a clinic has the PROOF of a multitude of consistent successful outcomes or they are just talking intellectual mumbo-jumbo BS.

IMO the proof is all that matters. And if they can't show it then you have to wonder to yourself -- WHY ???

great ethic.... and sound reasoning.

i some times think the team is as important as the doc as the techs, disected the follicles and plant them....

some times no matter how good the dr is if the grafts have been miss handled the out come will only be as good as the techs performance...

j1j9j85,

I've posted the below before, but I suspect this will help explain the differences between the lateral slit technique and sagital incisions.

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There has been a lot of debate on our hair restoration forum about the benefits and drawbacks between coronal (lateral) slits and sagital slits. Hair transplant surgeon’s that prefer one technique over the other have often emphasize the benefits of their preferred technique without mentioning the drawbacks.

A much better description of these incisions is parallel (sagital) and perpendicular (coronal/lateral).

The sagital incisions run parallel (vertical) along side and in between existing hairs while the lateral incisions bisect existing hairs perpendicular (horizontal) like a T.

Since some advantages of lateral slits were mentioned above (in another topic), below I have mentioned some of the advantages of sagitals.

One of the big advantages of sagitals is that they do a much better job of sliding in and around existing hairs to avoid transection. This certainly makes a strong case for physicians who do not require shaving of the recipient area.

In addition lateral incisions also tend to disrupt the scalps vascularity more than sagital incisions. Thus sagital incisions transect less hairs and blood vessels, assuming the same size blades.

Many physicians also use a combination of both lateral and sagital incisions. I have found that many hair restoration physicians who use a combination of the two use perpendicular (lateral/coronal) incisions in areas of little or no existing natural hair and parallel (sagital) incisions in denser areas.

For those reading, I am not posting this to argue against the lateral slit technique which clearly has great benefit, only to show that the sagital slit technique has equal benefit.

Click here to see a picture of a patient who received lateral slits on one side with Dr. Wong and coronal slits on the other side with Dr. Shapiro. From the pictures, in my opinion, there seems to be no difference in naturalness or hair density from one side to the other.

The bottom line is that both lateral and sagital incisions have benefits and drawbacks. Therefore it is the skill of the surgeon and their staff that determines the quality of the hair transplant result, not so much one type of incision over another.

Best wishes,

Bill

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To learn about how I restored my hair, view my my hair loss website.

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I am not a medical professional and my words should not be taken as medical advice. All opinions and views shared are my own.

thanks for that Bill it really did help me alot!!!!!!!!!!

i think for my next hair transplant im going to choose a dr that does sagital mainly as i dont want to shave down or risk the established grafts that H&W did using lateral incisions in the same area, by having more lateral to risk disection or compromised blood flow.....

also by choosing a dr that does sagital next time i can clearly rate both methods and i can keep my hair longer thus be less noticable to my friends in regards to noticing ive messed with my hair!!!!!

after looking at dr alexanders site he too also uses lateral slit?

if i knew this i whouldnt have done my 3rd ht using lateral, considering that most grafts were placed in already transplanted areas, if what u say its true and cosnidering that an area thats has been already grafted in the past, has decreased blood flow than a virgin area, it makes a possible for the poor result (poor growth, thin almost invinsible to the naked eye hairs etc)

Hi,

Custom cut blades can be used for Sagital or Coronal incisions. The type of blade used for coronal incisions are chisled without any angle to them. You can technically make Sagital or Coronal incisions when needles are used. I believe they are in a category by themselves. At SMG, we do not use needles for incisions but our doctors utilize both sagital and coronal incisions to just about every case. Here is a pic of the two types of blades:



Here is a picture of the two different types of incisions:




This picture depicts what grafts look like once they are planted.

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Dr. Ron Shapiro and Dr. Paul Shapiro are members of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.