Can Suction Used in NeoGraft Assisted Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Hair Transplants Damage Grafts?

This question, from a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by recommended hair transplant surgeon Dr. Mike Vories:

Doctor Vories, you recently discussed graft drying issues using the NeoGraft FUE machine. I was actually considering having work done at such a NeoGraft clinic and you have extensive experience using this tool – could you please elaborate? Was the yield too low or did you notice other issues versus a non-suction tool? And what about the positive air pressure – push – implanter pen from NeoGraft/Medicamat, when it comes to tight graft placement or angle control?

Suction can only damage follicular unit grafts. There is no reason to use suction besides speed. Once I reached a point where I could extract 2000 grafts in one day without suction, I stopped using the NeoGraft machine.

In my opinion, implanter pens should be used routinely with follicular unit extraction (FUE). These fragile grafts are very difficult to be hand placed without trauma. In fact, it is my belief that most of the discussion involving poor yield with FUE is due to placement of grafts, and not extraction.

The problem in using implanter pens is it puts the hair transplant surgeon back in the OR, and limits your practice to one hair restoration surgery per day.

Dr. Mike Vories
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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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