The amount of necessary hair transplant sessions varies by clinic and patient. Hair transplant type, target density, surgeon speed in particular effect the number of sessions. Patients should remember that the duration of a session both reflects procedure size and overall scheduling. Depending on the work, patients' session may last the entire day, half a day, or less.
Hair transplant type has a major impact on the number of sessions. For instance, FUT requires less time than FUE for the same amount of grafts. Whereas FUT leaves a very noticeable scar, however, FUE leaves far less noticeable scars, if any at all. FUE also typically requires more time, though a few surgeons including Dr. Cole now conduct FUE within the same timeframe as FUT.
Target density is the amount of transplants to be put within a certain target area. The more grafts the surgeon needs to place within a certain area, the more time a session will require. That mentioned, transplant density may be important but it is not the be-all, end-all of quality results. In fact, too many transplants in the same area can lead to shock loss: the temporary loss of hair. One of a hair transplant expert's skills is balancing target density with the amount of punctures they make, the trauma of which facilitates shock loss.
The amount of sessions for a hair transplant is important yes, but so is the amount of grafts per session. The ultimate goal should be productivity: surgeons want to extract or transplant the most amount of follicles in the least amount of time with least amount of errors. Of course, results matter most of all. Surgeons who overemphasize the speed of their procedure may compromise on results or have higher transection rates.
Like many surgeons, Dr. Colle has a set amount of grafts he is willing to perform in each session.
Shaved CIT® (Cole FUE): Depends on the patient, procedure, and scheduling
Patch Shaved CIT®: 3000 grafts per session
Non-shaved CIT® (C2G): 2500 grafts per session
Body Hair Transplant: Depends on the patient's amount of viable donor follicles
FUT: 3000 grafts per session
Plug Redistribution: Extraction and redistribution of 50 plugs, maximum, per four hours
Those transplant options mentioned, Dr. Cole also excels at general hair transplant repair. Over 40% of Forhair's patients seek correction from a transplant by previous clinics or surgeons. Contact us or set a consultation to learn about what Forhair can do for you, and in how many sessions.