Dr. Cam Simmons – 3580 grafts with finer, straight hair but good follicular units

[Cam Simmons MD ABHRS]

This 34 year-old man had experienced gradual hair loss for 10 years. He was thinnest in a Norwood 3A pattern but had thinning hair in his midfrontal forelock and early thinning in his midscalp in a Norwood 5A pattern. He had finer than average, light brown, straight hair.

 

We transplanted 3580 grafts in front. By sampling, he had about 272 ones, 1660 twos, and 1648 3s. That translates to about 8% ones, 46 % twos, and 46% 3s. He had more threes and fewer ones than the average man but that is more common with men who have fine hair. That allowed us to create a soft hairline but provide reasonable density behind it.

 

We used the scoring-blunt donor dissection method that I presented in the ISHRS meeting in Anchorage. He had a 2-layer trichophytic closure. His scar is easy to hide but would be visible if he shaved his head.

These photos were taken after 13 months. He is pleased with his results and is prepared to have more hair transplantation further back after he loses more hair.

[Blake Bloxham]

Great transformation! Thank you for sharing.

[chrisdav]

Great transformation.

[RCWest]

This is an excellent result Dr. Simmons! I know he has to be elated with the results. BTW, I don't believe I've ever seen that many 3's, but like you said people with finer hair usually make up for it with more 3-4 hair FU's.

 

Can you elaborate on this scoring-blunt donor dissection a little bit? This is the first I've heard this method mentioned.

[Cam Simmons MD ABHRS]

 

Can you elaborate on this scoring-blunt donor dissection a little bit? This is the first I've heard this method mentioned.

 

Thanks RCWest

 

This is a technique to reduce transection of hairs in the donor strip. I score the surface with a depth-controlled scalpel tip then use the blunt edge of a scalpel blade to dissect the rest of the strip. The blunt edge is more likely to push the follicles to the side whereas a sharp blade can cut through the follicles. The idea was inspired by Dr. Jim Harris' manual SAFE scribe for FUE.

 

There are other good techniques to minimize transection. Dr. Path uses a scoring, careful open sharp dissection technique to reduce transection and Dr. Haber invented a spreader that uses scoring and blunt dissection.

 

Many doctors get very little transection with careful sharp single-blade elliptical donor strip dissection.

 

Minimal transection techniques are particularly helpful when the hair is white or curly.

[RCWest]

Thanks so much for responding, Dr. Simmons! After I responded to your post this morning I found the ISHRS transcript from Anchorage online. I must say that hair transplant surgeons are always looking for ways to further the success of hair transplantation! Thank you and all surgeons approved by this site, for always looking for improvements!!