Is there a Way to Accurately Measure Donor Density for a Hair Transplant?

This question, asked by a member of the Hair Loss Discussion Forums, was answered by Coalition physician Dr. Bernardino Arocha

I have heard of a device called a [tag]Densitometer[/tag] that claims to provide an accurate assessment of how many grafts can be harvested from the donor hair supply. I have consulted about 6 [tag]hair transplant surgeons[/tag] and they all state that there is no way of determining the accurate number of grafts available for [tag]hair transplantation[/tag]. Am i missing something here?

There are several devices to measure follicular unit [tag]hair density[/tag]. Basically it is a magnification lens with a 1cm2 demarcation. To use it we trim the hair in the donor area, then the loop is used to view and count the number of follicles in the 1cm2 area. The problem is that, in most individuals, the density varies all along the [tag]hair transplant[/tag] donor strip, higher in the middle and lower along the sides. Also the breakdown of the number of hairs within the follicles varies along the strip, with more one and two hair follicles in the temporal sides and a higher percentage of 3+ hair follicles in the middle of the strip.

Despite all the above, most experienced [tag]hair restoration surgeons[/tag] can be fairly accurate within ± 50 FU most of the time.

Dr. Bernardino Arocha

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David – aka TakingThePlunge
Assistant Publisher and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
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