by O’Tar T. Norwood, MD, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA Hair Transplant Forum International (July/August 1997 issue) NOTES FROM THE EDITOR EMERITUS The evolution of “follicular transplantation” can be attributed to three people. Dr. Robert Bernstein coined the phrase and advanced the concept. Dr. Bob Limmer ((Limmer B: Forum, Vol. 2, #2, 1991.)), ((Limmer B: J …
by O’Tar T. Norwood, MD, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Hair Transplant Forum International (May/June 1997 issue)
I just returned from visiting Dr. Bob Bernstein in New York, and was impressed with his operation and even more impressed with his thoughts, observations, and insights into hair transplant surgery. He applies scientific methods to his work, is academically honest, and has an almost eerie instinctive knowledge of hair transplant surgery. Of course he has Dr. Bill Rassman to work with, but it is still remarkable. Dr. Bernstein is best known for introducing follicular transplantation to hair transplant surgery, an idea Bob Limmer has been pushing for ten years with the use of the binocular microscope, but no one would listen to him. Dr. Limmer, however, never used the term follicular transplantation. Using the microscope, you automatically dissect the follicular units. It can’t be avoided if done properly.
The following is a portion of “An Idea Whose Time Has Come,” an editorial written by O’Tar T. Norwood, MD — founder of the Norwood Classification System for Hair Loss — and published in the May/June 1997 issue of “Hair Transplant Forum International”:
I just returned from visiting Dr. Bob Bernstein in New York, and was impressed with his operation and even more impressed with his thoughts, observations, and insights into hair transplant surgery. He applies scientific methods to his work, is academically honest, and has an almost eerie instinctive knowledge of hair transplant surgery. Of course he has Dr. Bill Rassman to work with, but it is still remarkable. Dr. Bernstein is best known for introducing follicular transplantation to hair transplant surgery, an idea Bob Limmer has been pushing for ten years with the use of the binocular microscope, but no one would listen to him. Dr. Limmer, however, never used the term follicular transplantation. Using the microscope, you automatically dissect the follicular units. It can’t be avoided if done properly.
Cosmetic Surgery Times features Dr. Bernstein’s presentation to the 55th annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology in their April 1997 issue.
The article describes Dr. Bernstein’s introduction of the concept of Follicular Unit Transplantation to the academy as well as the keys to making the technique successful. From the article:
“‘Hair doesn’t grow singly it grows in naturally occurring groups of from one to four hairs. In follicular transplantation, we use these naturally occurring groups as the unit of the transplant,’ he told CST.
Although the procedure is highly labor intensive, it can actually be less expensive than conventional hair replacement surgery, because it can be performed in a single, but lengthy, session.
‘It is also much more efficient and conserves donor hair much better than conventional hair transplants. Every time you make an incision in the person’s scalp you waste some hair and make the remaining hair more difficult to remove. Accessing the donor area just once or twice will increase the total amount of hair that is available for the transplant,’ Dr. Bernstein told CST.”
Synopsis: An editorial that challenges the assumption that insufficient blood supply in a hair transplant is the main contributor to delayed growth.
Synopsis: This editorial challenges those who claim to not have seen delayed growth to look more carefully, since large-graft hair transplants interrupt the blood supply to a greater extent than using large sessions of very small grafts.
Robert M. Bernstein, MD, New York, NY William R. Rassman, MD, Los Angeles, CA Dermatologic Surgery 1997; 23(9): 785-799. Background Follicular Transplantation is a method of hair restoration surgery which uses hair in its naturally occurring groups called follicular units. Using the follicular unit exclusively in the transplant, the surgeon can create hair patterns that …
Aesthetics of Follicular Transplantation: Summary Read More »
Synopsis: This article focuses on various aesthetic aspects of follicular unit hair transplants including hair distribution, density, hairline design, and temple and crown restoration. It also examines racial variations that can affect the hair restoration. Together with the 1995 paper, these paired articles laid the foundation for Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation.
Robert M. Bernstein, MD, New York, NY William R. Rassman, MD, Los Angeles, CA Dermatologic Surgery 1997; 23(9): 771-784. Background Follicular Transplantation is a method of hair restoration surgery which uses hair in its naturally occurring groups called follicular units. By using the follicular unit exclusively in the transplant, the surgeon can move extensive quantities …
Follicular Transplantation: Patient Evaluation and Surgical Planning: Summary Read More »
Synopsis: This landmark paper details how a patient should be evaluated for Follicular Unit Transplantation, stressing densitometry as a means of assessing both miniaturization and donor supply. It also provides guidelines for the planning of the first and subsequent hair transplant sessions and discusses the management of patients with diffuse androgenetic hair loss.
