The FOX™ Megasession

Follicular Unit Extraction Megasession

We are pleased to announce our most recent advance in Follicular Unit Extraction. On April 1, 2004 we transplanted 1901 FOX™ (FOllicular unit eXtraction) grafts. Now we must qualify that this is not an April fool's joke; it really happened. It was our largest case yet and a move toward establishing the FOX™ Megasession as a standard offering for our patients.

FOX™ Megasession: 1 Day After (April 2, 2004)

This case is important for a number of technical reasons. First, the almost clear white hair is unusually difficult to see. To address this problem, we dyed his hair black the morning of the surgery. Second, we had to clear our schedule to provide for an uninterrupted procedure. Total concentration and thoughtful planning before and during the procedure is critical to its success. This particular patient was totally committed to our FOX™ approach, making the entire process worthwhile. The grafts were trimmed and sorted by size as they were removed. All of the grafts were removed with better than 90% yield.

How Many Over How Long:

We have long believed that for the FUE technique to become mainstream, it must become highly organized and specialized. We have never liked the approach offered by some of our colleagues; performing daily and sequential 500 graft surgeries. Reports of such surgeries have blanketed internet chat groups, but beware. Wounds are potential culture mediums for bacterial growth. Adding new wounds near these culture mediums can cause complications. In addition, we do not like to submit our patients to successive days of anesthesia, something required for sequential small session surgeries.

FOX™ Megasession: 11 Days After (April 12, 2004)

Scarring:

One must not discount the impact of wounds and below the skin scaring on future FUE procedures. Simply, as each graft is removed some scarring will occur. Adjacent follicular units as well as future yields may be impacted by these scars. Many doctors promote FUE as a 'scar-less' surgery yet it is clear that such procedures can not be 'scar-less'. Although small and pinhole like, FUE scars are visible when the donor area is clipped very short or shaved. Every patient must be fully aware of the tradeoffs between traditional linear scarring and FUE scarring.

Click here to read more about the FUE Megasession in our 2004 Medical Publication!

The Future of the FUE Megasession:

We expect that large FUE sessions will become routine for some doctors who decide to specialize only in this procedure. We remain skeptical however, that this type of procedure is for every patient (it certainly costs more than traditional strip harvesting). We also remain skeptical that every surgeon will be willing or able to develop the special skills required or commit the type of time and concentration required.

Conclusion:

The FOX™ Megasession is being routinely performed in our offices. We often show one of our FOX™ patients at our open house events. Please check with our office if you plan on coming to an open house to be sure that a FOX™ patient will be present.

For more information about the FOX™ Procedure, please click here.

Another FOX™ Patient - One Year Later

You will see 3 pictures of a FOX™ donor area one year out of surgery:

Parted: up-close with natural short hair. The scarring is practically unnoticeable.

Clipped: up-close with clipped hair.
The scarring is slightly noticeable.

Zoomed: extremely close with clipped hair.

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Please Note: Hair parted

Please Note: This is closer than normal view, to highlight the scars.

Please Note: 1 mm is approximately the same thickness as an ordinary paper clip