FUE is solely dependent on surgeons experience as this a blind procedure. Because the surgeon only sees the exit angle of the hair shaft and introduces the punch in such a way that a complete graft is extracted without leaving any part of the graft inside. If any part of the graft is damaged, then it is called as a transected follicle. The more the number of transected follicle, the less the chance of having a good result.
Do you calculate it for every patient and does it really make any difference?
Yes, in every case of FUE, we calculate the number of transected follicles per 100 grafts extracted. Routinely, we calculate the total number of 1 hair, 2 hair, 3 hair, 4 hair or 5 hair follicles and the transected ones during the extraction of 100 grafts. It is extremely pertinent for every patient because our surgeons ensure that every patient get good result. A low FTR leads to:
- Less wastage
- Less time of extraction hence less total time in procedure
- Less outer body time of the grafts
- Healthy grafts
- Less injury
- Good result
- Better donor availability for future session (if required)
Do you calculate the totally and partially damaged in the sameway?
No, we calculate them separately as complete or partial transection rates. Complete follicular transection rate: If during the extraction of 2 hair graft, none of the hair follicle comes out, then it is called complete Follicular transection. We calculate the total number of such transected ones during 100 attempts of extraction (FTR). And if during the extraction of 2-hair graft, only 1 hair comes out and 1 is left behind, then it is labeled as a Partially Transected Follicle. The number of such follicles in 100 attempts is called as Partial Transection rate. (PTR).
What are the average FTR and PTR worldwidecompared to your clinic?
Worldwide, the transection rate varies from 20-30% as mentioned on various websites. However, we’ve been able to control FTR in the range of 2-3% and PTR is around 4-5%. In a recently operated upon patient, we extracted 1500 grafts from the back of the head of a patient using motorized punch of blunt, 0.9mm tip with follicular transection of only 3 grafts from total of 1500 grafts, which is a record of itself ( 0.2%)
What are the causes of follicular transection /dissection:
- Inexperienced doctor
- Difficult angle of emergence of hair follicle
- Different characteristics of the donor area e.g., it is less in occipital area as compared to temporal area. FTR during extraction from Beard is more than scalp but less than chest or other body parts.
- Curly hair
- Sharp punch has more transection as compared to blunt one.
