Determination of follicular direction and preparation of micrograft holes for hair transplantation

Introduction/Objective. Hair transplantation is one of the fastest evolving procedures in aesthetic surgery and is accompanied by continuous improvement of new techniques. Hairline planning is one of the most important steps in hair transplantation. The shape of the hair also varies depending on the variation of facial shape so it is very important when determining hair direction and making holes for future grafts. Methods. We used ordinary 18 gauge injection needles whose number was the same as the number of micrographs we planned for transplantation. Needles are administered in pile growth direction and angle, starting from the first row, and then proceeding to the second one and so on, until we insert all prepared needles. We insert them one in front of the other with a precision ease for future follicles. Results. In all 56 patients, we obtained natural hair growth. Inserting the needles reduced bleeding and the average time of the operation was three hours. The success of grafting was 95%. We only had one infection in one patient. Hair growth corresponded to the needle insertion. After a year of transplantation at the last control, the patient’s satisfaction was 100%. Conclusion. By using the same number of needles as the number of grafts we reduced operating time, we had a better determination of the direction of hair growth, we can prevent follicular extraction that can be caused by new needle insertion, and this technique achieved a good aesthetic result.