STEP 3. CREATING THE RECIPIENT SITES

While the grafts are being prepared the physician is creating the recipient sites. This part of the procedure is extremely important and uses a combination of skill, experience and art. Before any incisions are made, the physician plans the best pattern and distribution of grafts by evaluating the patient's donor supply, balding area and expectations.

In addition to planning the recipient sites, the physician has to have the skill and technique to create the incisions successfully. This means the physician has to be able to make thousands of tiny incisions in such a way that will ensure maximum survival of the grafts, minimal trauma to pre-existing hair, and the proper exit angle and direction of the grafts. At SMG, a number of tools are used to accomplish this goal.

• At SMG, we use custom-cut blades that can be matched perfectly to the size of the graft.
• At SMG, we selectively separate the 1-4 hair grafts so we can distribute them to create more specific density, gradients and natural patterns. The 1-hair grafts are placed in the front for naturalness and the 3-hair grafts in the center for density.
• At SMG, we use True Surgical Loop Magnification to find the space between existing hairs.
• At SMG, we follow the natural angle and direction of hair to mimic natural patterns.
• At SMG, we are experienced in using either Coronal or Sagittal incisions. Our choice depends on the situation.
• At SMG, we are skilled at creating incision densities ranging from 25-50+. The density created will depend on the individual situation.
• At SMG, we do sessions ranging from as small as 500 grafts (eyebrows, for example) to as large as 4,500 grafts. Once again, the size of the session depends on the situation.