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Can grafts that contain 2-3-4 hairs be split into several ‘one-hair grafts?

To obtain a natural hairline-temple closure angle, etc. it is key to insert one-hair grafts in the forntline and than gradually grafts from more hairs (for density, etc.) When you have a weak amount of one-hair graft, can a graft that contains 2-3-4 hairs be split into several one-hair grafts? My doctor told me that he would do that to obtain the most natural hairline, etc.but ones I received the detail of number of grafts, hairs/graft I saw that he did not do that (20% one hair grafts).

Doctor Answers 5

August 25th, 2016

Hair follicle that contain 2 or 3 or 4 hairs can be split to single hair grafts so that you can use it for the hair line.

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Hair follicle that contain 2 or 3 or 4 hairs can be split to single hair grafts so that you can use it for the hair line.  2 or 3 hair grafts on the hair line will not look "natural".

Learn more: https://newhair.com/resources/

Jae Pak, MD


Los Angeles Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 106 reviews

August 17th, 2016

Splitting grafts

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When grafts are split into smaller grafts, it should be done under a microscope. Great care must be taken to be sure that the growth centers in each hair is identified and moved with the split grafts
William Rassman, MD

William Rassman, MD
Los Angeles Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 29 reviews

August 15th, 2016

Can 2,3, 0r 4 hair grafts be split to make more 1 hair grafts to soften the hair line?

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fierens,The answer is yes, and it can be done accurately with a microscope like we use in our office. But in reality wether we are performing FUE or FUT it is seldom if ever needed. Because in FUT about 12% or higher are naturally occurring one hair graft, which should generate 240 or more one hair grafts for the anterior hair line. In FUE of course we select which follicles to harvest, so we can get what we need.
Sincerely,
Bernardino A. Arocha, MD
Bernardino Arocha, MD, FISHRS

Bernardino Arocha, MD, FISHRS
Houston Hair Restoration Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 12 reviews

August 15th, 2016

Splitting follicular units to produce single-hair grafts

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In patients who need more single-hair grafts than occur naturally in the donor area (this is less likely to be a problem with FUE than with strip harvesting, since the former allows single-hair grafts to be be "cherry-picked"), multi-hair follicular units can be split to produce single-hair grafts; however, this is considered somewhat of a last resort, since many surgeons believe that the follicles in a multi-hair follicular unit are more likely to survive and grow when that follicular unit is kept intact. But I wouldn't get too hung up about the details of the graft count--it sounds as if your surgeon was aware of your concerns and determined to give you a natural looking hairline. Try to be patient, give your surgeon the benefit of the doubt, and wait to see what the next few months bring. If worse comes to absolute worst, you could probably have your hairline softened with a second procedure.

Jonathan Ballon, MD (in memoriam)
Atlanta Hair Restoration Surgeon

August 15th, 2016

Balance

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This is a balance because single hair grafts do not live as well and to many of them also can produce atypical over overly thin results.  

Rashid M. Rashid, PhD, MD
Houston Dermatologist

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.