Is removing large amounts of donor hair unsafe?
This is a statement commonly made by doctors who lack sufficient experience, or technique, in performing large sessions. The amount of hair needed for the average large session is well within the safe limits of what can be moved, provided that the procedure is done properly. It is the experience and judgment of the surgeon that will insure that the amount of hair that is harvested from the donor area is safe and appropriate.
Yes. There is a limit as to how much hair can safely be taken during each hair transplant session. The donor area must be able to be closed without much tension on the area. If too much tissue is removed, the donor area cannot be closed easily and may result in more discomfort to the patient, as it feels “restricting and tight”. It is much safer to take a longer thin strip of tissue along the sides and posterior aspect of the scalp, than a short, wide elliptical strip that may be difficult to close. Too much tension in the donor area can result in a scar that stretches and becomes thickened and wide. Dr. Griffin takes a thin strip of tissue that closes with ease, and results in a thin linear scar that is only 1-2 mm in width.
