Recipient incisions: blade or needle ?

[Birdness]

Why do some physicians use blades and others needles to make the recipient incisions? Any advantages to either one? Is one more up to date?Thanks

[Blake Bloxham]

Frankly, I've seen physicians use both with good results. I think the type of tool a physician uses is mainly derived from the way they were trained and what they feel comfortable using. I think a lot of individuals advocate the use of very thin, custom-cut blades, and these same individuals see these as less invasive, more precise, and more "up to date." However, my guess is that physicians who use needles could make the same argument.

 

Altogether, I would recommend reviewing the physician's overall "before and after" results and determining (for yourself) if they are achieving excellent results with their chosen tools. If you're satisfied with the results, I'd probably try to discuss why they chose to use one tool over the other, and factor this in to your overall decision.

 

I hope this helps!

[NW3VKY]

Some clinicians have explained to me that they use an 18 guage needle where others have told me they use a small blade.

 

I guess I could see the advantage of using a needle would be that you have a site which is created more compact and can hold the graft better, more securely. However, the cons, as told me other clinicians is that it may blanch the graft bulb or cause it to pop out if not correct size.

 

The advantage explained to me for the small slits were that it simply spreads the dermis and does not take away tissue or possible transecting or harming adjacent native roots.

 

I am curious what most top clinicans do.