A Technique for Performing Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation
Over the past several years our surgeons and technicians at VSC have used various techniques to perform follicular unit hair transplantation. One such technique is the Lateral Slit Technique, also known as Coronal or Perpendicular Grafting. This technique’s name is derived from the angle and direction in which the graft incisions are made.
While there are other techniques for performing densely packed and highly refined follicular unit transplantation, the lateral slit technique offers a high degree of control over the angle and direction in which the transplanted hairs will ultimately grow.
The lateral slit technique has been used both intuitively and systematically for years by hair restoration physicians and technicians. However, it has recently gained popularity as a systematic and precise way of performing follicular unit hair transplantation.
We use the Lateral Slit Technique exclusively or in combination with other techniques for creating graft incisions. The lateral slit technique enables a surgeon to create graft incisions at varying angles (ranging from 10 to 90 degrees to the scalp), including very acute angles that will make the transplanted hair grow out lying flatter to the scalp. The ability to create incisions at very acute angles is particularly useful in areas such as the front temples and sides where the hair normally grows out lying flat on the scalp.
The graft incision determines the direction of the hair growth
The lateral slit technique also helps to determine the direction of the graft incisions. This then determines the ultimate direction of the transplanted hairs growth. Thus we use this technique to control and vary both the direction and angle at which the transplanted hair will grow in order to mimic the subtle changes in hair direction that occur naturally.
Each graft incision is created by analyzing the neighboring hair we can reproduce the correct hair pattern. As a result, as each transplanted hair emerges from the scalp it will grow and lay in a similar direction as its neighboring non-transplanted hairs.
Lateral slits can enable denser packing of grafts
Lateral slit incisions also tend to be more parallel to the scalp and thus more superficial and less invasive to the scalp’s underlying vascular structure. This parallel alignment also allows more grafts per square centimeter without the grafts compressing or popping up since the pressure exerted on the grafts does not push them upward from the scalp.
Using blades cut to the size of the grafts
We use custom blade cutters to create tiny blades to make incisions that match the size and depth of each follicular unit graft being transplanted. This enables us to safely dense pack more grafts into a given area during a surgical session. Healing time is also more rapid, with minimal, if any scarring.
The lateral slit technique also helps to determine the direction of the graft incisions. This then determines the ultimate direction of the transplanted hairs growth. Thus we use this technique to control and vary both the direction and angle at which the transplanted hair will grow in order to mimic the subtle changes in hair direction that occur naturally.
Each graft incision is created by analyzing the neighboring hair we can reproduce the correct hair pattern. As a result, as each transplanted hair emerges from the scalp it will grow and lay in a similar direction as its neighboring non-transplanted hairs.
We use custom blade cutters to create tiny blades to make incisions that match the size and depth of each follicular unit graft being transplanted. This enables us to safely dense pack more grafts into a given area during a surgical session. Healing time is also more rapid, with minimal, if any scarring.
