Can Grafts Transected in the Hair Transplant Donor Area During Follicular Unit Extraction Regrow New Hairs?

This below response from our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums was written by recommended hair restoration surgeon Dr. Ali Emre Karadeniz.

I had follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS) at the hairline two years ago. I’m in consultations to get a 2nd pass for more density (follicular unit extraction this time). I have curly hair.

In one of my recent chats with a hair transplant surgeon, I was inquiring about the higher risk of transection during graft extraction on curly hair. He claims that transection does not result in a dead graft, just one that cannot be used in the current session. The root remains unharmed and will grow a new hair. How true is this?

Obviously, it’s possible for a root to be accidentally severed, but is it likely since the root is so tiny?

The fate of a totally transacted graft is not clear, however I don’t think we should be very optimistic about it. A partially transected graft, that is a graft with an intact follicle and transected follicle(s) beside it however, is different.

I am currently on a scientific study that has currently shown me that at least half of these transected follicles beside an intact follicle can yield a fully grown hair (at the recipient area). I don’t know what happens at the donor area. Further studies are of course necessary.

Dr. Ali Emre Karadeniz
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David (TakingThePlunge)
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
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