Take a look at the Recent articles

How to improve graft survival in hair transplantation?

Aleksiy Makharashvili

Scientific and Medical Centre for Hair Restoration, Hairline International, Tbilisi, Georgia

E-mail : aa

Diana Papaskiri

Scientific and Medical Centre for Hair Restoration, Hairline International, Tbilisi, Georgia

Maka Doghozashvili

Scientific and Medical Centre for Hair Restoration, Hairline International, Tbilisi, Georgia

Natalia Filipova

Scientific and Medical Centre for Hair Restoration, Hairline International, Tbilisi, Georgia

DOI: 10.15761/GOD.1000199

Article
Article Info
Author Info
Figures & Data

Abstract

Despite the improvements in the methods of hair transplantation, results are not always satisfying. The viability of grafts is one of the most challenging problems in the hair transplantation. This is especially important in case of mega sessions, when the time of ex vivo maintenance of the follicles increases significantly.

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the morphological changes of grafts and to define time frames of follicles’ viability at the various stages of hair transplantation.

The research of the follicle ultra-structure has been carried out in an electrical microscope JEM-1200 EX-II according to the mainstream methodic.

On the base of presented results, the timing of various stages of hair transplantation may be optimized to increase the survival rate of grafts and improve the effect of hair transplantation.

Key words

 hair transplantation, graft survival, hair loss treatment, androgenic alopecia, cicatricial alopecia

Introduction

Hair transplantation is the only effective method to restore hair in case of androgenic and cicatricial alopecia. Its popularity has significantly increased in recent years; consequently the number of the specialists of hair transplantation has risen. Over the past 15 years, hair transplantation has transformed from a simple 1-2 hour procedure, in a very difficult, 5-10-hours microsurgical operation, when it is possible to transplant hundreds and sometimes thousands of grafts. It requires the coordinated work of numerous highly qualified staff. Despite the improvements in the methods of hair transplantation, results are not always satisfying.

The viability of grafts is one of the most challenging problems in the hair transplantation. This is especially important in case of mega sessions, when more than 3,000 grafts are transplanted during one surgical intervention, while the time of ex vivo maintenance of the follicles increases significantly.

One of the key factors, affecting the grafts survival is warming and dehydration of grafts. Generally recognized method of graft preservation is cooling them to + 4-5°С in saline or Ringer solution.

What happens in follicles during the time of ex vivo maintenance? This is the question to which we would like to answer. For this reason we have carried out an original research.

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the morphological changes of grafts and to define time frames of follicles’ viability at the various stages of hair transplantation.

Material and methods

All the patients included into the study underwent autological hair transplantation by the method of micrografting with use of strip technique. After excision of donor strip, dissecting the grafts was performed with the use of stereoscopic microscopes, the prepared grafts (Figure 1) were collected on a gauze container soaked in saline (25-30 grafts per container) and kept in a fridge at +4 - +5°C) until implantation to recipient zone. During the implantation the container was placed on the back of surgeon’s hand. This is the classical scheme of working used by the majority of hair transplantation specialists. 

Figure 1. the total image of micrografts.

The morphological changes of the grafts (each consisting of 1-3 follicles) were studied placed on the preparatory table after 10-20 minutes, after preparing them with the intervals of 2 min. (30 grafts have been studied). The grafts have been studied in the process, started from the 3rd minute after being placed on the glove with the intervals of 1 minute for 8 minutes ( 30 grafts totally). The grafts placed in the fridge have been studied for 2 to 24 hours.

The tissues were embedded and Epon-812, cut and stained as semi-thin slices for choice of the region of interest. Then the chosen areas of samples were prepared for TEM following the conventional protocol and studied under transmission electron microscope JEM-1200 EX-II (Japan).

Results

It has been shown that in 10 minutes after dissection the cells of germinative zone of follicles were well preserved in the grafts located on the preparatory table at room temperature (22°С) (Figure 3).

Figure 2. A germinative zone of the follicles right after dissecting the grafts. ,,Healthy cells”.

Poorly differentiated cells, without the signs of specific differentiation, are well kept with large nuclei. Moderate amounts of organelles. The cells are densely adjacent to each other. Plasma membrane form the contacts in the type of desmosomes with digitiform protrusion. 

Figure 3. A germinative zone of the follicles  10 min. after dissecting.

Well kept cells. The same contacts, as in ,, healthy” cells.

The dynamics of the grafts viability, located on the preparatory table, depending on the period of their being on the container has shown that after 12 minutes there were significant changes at the ultra-structural level, and in 20 minutes the irreversible changes were noticed, meaning cellular death (Figure 4). These changes indicated rupture of cell membranes (plasma membranes were not visible), destruction of cytoplasmic organelles, elution of chromatin from nuclei.

Figure 4. A germinative zone of the follicles 20 min. after dissecting.

The plasma membranes are not visible. The cytoplasmic organelles are destroyed, washed chromatin nuclei. Changes are irreversible - cellular death.

The grafts placed on surgeon’s glove remained intact during the first 4 minutes (Figure 4).

The dynamics of the study showed that after 5 minutes their viability notably decreased and on the 8th minute the grafts died (Figure 6).

Figure 5. A germinative zone of the follicles  4 min. after placing on the doctor’s glove. The cells are kept. Characterized by the formation of small cavities between them with microvilli. ( Viable cells).

Figure 6. A germinative zone of the follicles 8 min. after placing on the doctor’s glove.

The plasma membranes are not kept. (rupture of membrane structures). nuclear membrane partially destroyed. Chromatin cores partially washed. Changes are irreversible – cellular death

Figure 7. A germinative zone of the follicles  24 hours after placing into the fridge.

Irregularly shaped cells, with small number of organelles in the cytoplasm and large structureless bands. Cores of irregular shape with condensed chromatin. Plasma membrane with multiple microvilli. (membrane structures kept). The cells are viable.

The grafts, which were kept in a fridge at +4 - +5 °C, demonstrated perfect structural conditions during the first 3-4 hours, while a viability rate at 24 hours was about 71%.

Conclusion

Performing the electro microscopic study of the structural condition of the grafts has allowed to identify time frames of their survival.

  1. Graft spending time on the container during dissecting _ not more than 10 minutes.
  2. Graft placing time on the doctor’s hand during the transplantation _ not more than 4 minutes (optimally 2-3 min.)
  3. The optimal time of the graft kept in the fridge at +4-5°С is 3-4 hours.

On the base of presented results it can be concluded that we can optimize the duration of different stages of hair transplantation. This will increase the survival rate of grafts and improve the results of treatment.

References

  1. Beehner M (2004) Beehner’s study of Fu vs 1.3mm minigrafts after one to three sessions; graft survival, growth, and healing studies. Hair Transplantation (4thetdn) New York: Marcel Dekker Pp: 268.
  2. Limmer R (2004) Hair growth studies in follicular units/micrografts. Hair Transplantation, 4th edn. New York: Marcel Dekker Pp. 268.
  3. Cole J (2009) Status of individual follicular group harvesting. Hair Transpl Forum Int 19: 20-24.
  4. Seager DJ (1997) Micrograft size and subsequent survival. Dermatol Surg 23: 757-761. [Crossref]
  5. Beehner M (2010) Comparison of survival of FU grafts trimmed chubby, medium, and skeletonized. Hair Transpl Forum Int 20: 1-6.
  6. Frechet P, Beehner M (2006) A multi-center study of the effect of 100% transaction on hair graft survival, 14th Annual ISHRS, USA.
  7. Beehner UW, Mayer M (2004) Studies comparing hair growth after transaction through the bulge area to produce approximately two equal halves, graft survival, growth, and healing studies. Hair Transplantation, 4th edn. New York, Marcel Dekker.
  8. Kim JC, Hwang SJ, Lee JJ, Oh BM, Lee SJ, et al. (2002) The Effects of Dehydration, Preservation Temperature and Time on the Hair Grafts. Ann Dermatol 14: 149-52.
  9. Belzer FO, Southard JH (1988) Principles of solid-organ preservation by cold storage. Transplantation 45: 673-676. [Crossref]
  10. Raposio E, Cella A, Panarese P, Mantero S, Nordström RE, et al. (1999) Effects of cooling micrografts in hair transplantation surgery. Dermatol Surg 25: 705-707. [Crossref]
  11. Adanali G, Senen D, Turegun M, Tuncel A, Erdogan B, et al. (2002) Cryopreservation of hair follicles at 20 degrees C: can it work in staged transplantation. Aesthetic Plastic Surg 26: 465-469. [Crossref]
  12. Kurata S, Ezaki T, Takayasu S (1997) Long-term in vitro preservation of human follicles. Hair Transpl Forum Int 7: 23.
  13. Bernstein RM, Rassman WR (1999) The logic of follicular unit transplantation. Dermatol Clin 17: 277-295, viii. [Crossref]
  14. Cooley J (2004) Isehemia-reperfusion injury and graft storage solutions. Hair Transplant Forum 14.
  15. Gandelman M, Mota AL, Abrahamsohn PA, De Oliveira SF (2000) Light and electron microscopic analysis of controlled injury to follicular unit grafts. Dermatol Surg 26: 25-30. [Crossref]
  16. Jiange Q, Wenzhong L, Guocheng Z, Liangbin Y, Wei S (2005) How long can hair follicle units be preserved at 0 and 4 degrees C for delayed transplant? Dermatol Surg 31:23-26. [Crossref]
  17. Krugluger W, Moser K, Moser C, Laciak K, Hugeneck J (2004) Enhancement of in vitro hair shaft elongation in follicles stored in buffers that prevent follicle cell apoptosis. Dermatol Surg 30: 1-5. [Crossref]
  18. Limmer B (1994) Elliptical donor stereoscopically assisted micrografting as an approach to further refinement in hair transplantation. J Dermatol Surg Oncol 20: 789-793. [Crossref]
  19. Seager D (2002) The ‘One-Pass Hair Transplant’ – A six-year perspective. Hair Transplant Forum 12.
  20. Shiell R, Norwood O (1984) Hair transplant surgery. Springfield, IL.
  21. Uebel C (2005) A new advance in baldness surgery with the platelet-derived growth factor. Hair Transplant Forum 15: 3.

 

Editorial Information

Editor-in-Chief

Prof. Torello Lotti

Article Type

Review Article

Publication history

Received date: October 25, 2016
Accepted date: November 08, 2016
Published date: November 12, 2016

Copyright

©2016 Makharashvili A. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Citation

Makharashvili A, Papaskiri D, Doghozashvili M, Filipova N (2016) How to improve graft survival in hair transplantation? Glob Dermatol 3: doi: 10.15761/GOD.1000199

Corresponding author

Aleksiy Makharashvili

Scientific and Medical Centre for Hair Restoration, Hairline International, Tbilisi, Georgia

2021 Copyright OAT. All rights reserv

E-mail :

Time

(min)

Number of grafts

Total number of

grafts

Number of viable

grafts

10

5

5

12

5

4

14

5

2

16

5

2

18

5

1

20

5

0

Table 1. Viability of grafts depending on the period of their being on the container

Time

(min)

Number of grafts

Total number of grafts

Number of viable grafts

3

5

5

4

5

5

5

5

3

6

5

1

7

5

1

8

5

0

Table 2. Viability of grafts depending on the period of their being on the doctor’s glove

Figure 1. the total image of micrografts.

Figure 2. A germinative zone of the follicles right after dissecting the grafts. ,,Healthy cells”.

Poorly differentiated cells, without the signs of specific differentiation, are well kept with large nuclei. Moderate amounts of organelles. The cells are densely adjacent to each other. Plasma membrane form the contacts in the type of desmosomes with digitiform protrusion. 

Figure 3. A germinative zone of the follicles  10 min. after dissecting.

Well kept cells. The same contacts, as in ,, healthy” cells.

Figure 4. A germinative zone of the follicles 20 min. after dissecting.

Figure 5. A germinative zone of the follicles  4 min. after placing on the doctor’s glove. The cells are kept. Characterized by the formation of small cavities between them with microvilli. ( Viable cells).

Figure 6. A germinative zone of the follicles 8 min. after placing on the doctor’s glove.

The plasma membranes are not kept. (rupture of membrane structures). nuclear membrane partially destroyed. Chromatin cores partially washed. Changes are irreversible – cellular death

Figure 7. A germinative zone of the follicles  24 hours after placing into the fridge.

Irregularly shaped cells, with small number of organelles in the cytoplasm and large structureless bands. Cores of irregular shape with condensed chromatin. Plasma membrane with multiple microvilli. (membrane structures kept). The cells are viable.