Instant Follicular Hair Unit Transplantation (IFHUT) in androgenetic alopecia – The evolving scenario

• Main Authors: Viral Desai, Shalini Malhotra, Virendra N. Sehgal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-07-01
• Series: Journal of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery
• Subjects: Instant Follicular Hair Unit Transplant; Follicular unit extraction; Andro-genetic alopecia
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352241016300342

Background: Hair transplantation in the current context has emerged as one of the most sought after treatments for andro-genetic alopecia. In conventional FUE technique of hair transplantation graft damage may occur due to various factors which can be eliminated by Instant Follicular Hair Unit Transplant (IFHUT), an innovative technique which involves extraction of hair follicle one by one from the safe donor area and implanting them immediately after extraction. Methods: 10 patients of andro-genetic alopecia were inducted to the study. One half of the donor area was utilized for IFHUT, while the other for conventional FUE and the implantation results were compared pictographically as well as with trichoscopy and documented at each follow up. Results: Significantly, better growth was seen by the naked eyes, pictographic comparison and hair scope examination in the IFHUT site in 9 patients. Conclusion: Although this technique presents a steeper learning curve for the surgeon, need for clear protocols and proper execution, the efficacy and superiority of results presented by the IFHUT method show the potential of this technique to reshape the future of the hair transplant industry.