Dissecting microscope versus magnifying loupes with transillumination in the preparation of follicular unit grafts - A bilateral controlled study

BACKGROUND. The increasing importance that hair transplant surgeons are placing on maintaining the integrity of the naturally occurring follicular unit has generated great interest in finding the ideal method of graft dissection. OBJECTIVE. The present study attempts to compare two popular dissecting techniques: the dissecting microscope, and magnifying loupes with transillumination, in the preparation of follicular unit grafts. METHODS. Donor strips from 41 patients were used in a prospective, bilateral controlled fashion to compare the two different dissecting techniques. RESULTS. Microscopic dissection produced a 17% greater yield of hair as compared with magnifying loupes with transillumination. CONCLUSION. The results of this study show an increase in the yield of follicular unit grafts, as well as the total amount of hair harvested from the donor strip, when using the dissecting microscope as compared with magnifying loupes with transillumination. This increase was observed when only the latter part of the dissecting procedure was studied. When complete microscopic dissection is used, the advantage should be even more significant. (C) 1998 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Dermatol Surg 1998;24:875-880.