MINI PUNCH HAIR TRANSPLANT
This is a technique that may be indicated in special situations or when the strip technique is not indicated or cannot be applied. It involves extracting grafts directly from the back of the crown using a cylindrical punch called “mini punch” with a diameter of 2 mm rotated by an electric motor. Make it possible to obtain several hundred cylindrical mini grafts of about 5-8 strands each. It has 3 working stages. For more information about mini drilling technique prices, feel free to refer to our prices page.
Removal of grafts:
Removing the grafts requires shaving the hair over a fairly large area at the back of the head. It starts with a direct puncture of the skin at the crown level using a punch with a circular cutting tip of about 2 mm in diameter mounted on a small electric motor. The staple rotating at low speed is then placed in contact with the skin and pressed to a depth of a few mm in the axis of the previously shaved hair. The retraction of the punch leaves the graft in the cut place, still hanging by its base to the scalp. The punch is then pressed back into the adjacent scalp to cut the second graft right next to the previous one, and so on. When all grafts are cut, they are gently separated from the scalp using micro forceps and very fine scissors, then stored in a preservation solution before implanting. Sampling area, it will be covered with a crust and will heal spontaneously, leaving many holes between them that will leave small circular marks or white dots in which the crown hair will grow back. In some cases, it is possible to stitch the harvest area to make the openings left by removing the grafts less visible. Given that the grafts taken are quite large and contain 5-8 hairs, they may need to be re-cut to obtain grafts smaller than 1 to 3 hairs. Grafts are removed very quickly (approximately 1 hour for 600 grafts). The sampling area will be covered with a crust and will heal spontaneously, leaving many holes in between which will leave small circular marks or white spots where the crown hairs will grow back. In some cases, it is possible to sew the openings left by removing the grafts to the harvest area to make them less visible. Considering that the grafts taken are quite large and contain 5-8 hairs, they may need to be cut again to obtain grafts smaller than 1 to 3 hairs. Graft removal is very fast (approximately 1 hour for 600 grafts). The sampling area will be covered with a crust and will heal spontaneously, leaving many holes in between which will leave small circular marks or white spots where the crown hairs will regrow. In some cases, it is possible to sew the openings left by removing the grafts to the harvest area to make them less visible. Considering that the grafts taken are quite large and contain 5-8 hairs, It may be required to be re-cut to obtain grafts smaller than 1 to 3 hairs. Graft removal is very fast (approximately 1 hour for 600 grafts).
Preparation of the bald area:
The preparation of the bald area usually consists of drilling cylindrical holes on the bald skin where the grafts will be placed. It is performed using a punch (slightly smaller than the collection of grafts with a diameter of about 1.5 mm) by removing a few small pieces of bald skin. Holes should be spaced sufficiently to preserve cutaneous vascularization. The preparation of the balding area can also be performed by making small incisions of approximately 2 mm width on the scalp without “sacrificing the skin”, ie without removing the bald skin. This step takes about 30 minutes.
Implantation of grafts:
It consists of placing mini grafts into the bald area using pliers in the holes made in the form of intarsia (the replacement of cylindrical bald skin pieces). Mini grafts and micro grafts are placed in the skin incisions depending on the case.
Operation time depends on the number of grafts transplanted (approximately 2 hours for 600 mini grafts).
At the end of the operation, it is necessary to make a dressing that should be kept for 24 hours in order to prevent the grafts from coming out and to avoid bleeding at the sampling area. Scabs of about 2 mm will form in the inoculated area for about twenty days.
The first shampoo is usually done 3 days after surgery. The sampling area will also be 2mm in diameter, which will be covered with a crust and will heal spontaneously, leaving multiple skin openings between which will leave small circular marks or white spots where the crown hairs will grow back.
Hair regrowth usually takes place 3 months after the operation, and each graft creates a small pile of 5 to 8 hairs.
TO REMEMBER
Indications and contraindications:
- It can be indicated if the scalp is stretched in the back
- May be indicated for women
- May be indicated for curly hair
- It may be indicated in people who have already had a punch transplant.
- It is contraindicated for people who want to shave their hair too short.
Benefits:
- Depending on the number of hair added, the price of the operation is more affordable than other techniques.
- Short operation time (2-3 hours)
- Contribution of plenty of hair provided that the hair stays long.
Disadvantages:
- Limited number of grafts (maximum 600 grafts) in the same session
- The operation day requires shaving the hair in a more or less important area behind the head.
- Dressing up most often.
- Larger and more visible crusts in the grafted area
- Extended crust healing time (about 20 days)
- It follows in the form of numerous white dots in the rear sample area.
- Hair regrowth in small strands
- It requires keeping the haircut long enough to avoid guessing the transplant.
- The transplant requires several sessions to make it less visible to those around you.
