Evaluation of donor harvesting techniques in hair transplantation

Ultra close-up photography shows that an ideal donor graft in hair transplantation is harvested using a sharp carbon steel punch driven at approximately 5000 rpm by an electrically powered hand engine. Skin distortion at the donor site is minimized by firm infiltration using physiologic saline. Dull punches, hand driven punches, or flaccid donor skin all increase distortion which is detrimental to the harvesting of superior quality donor grafts. Carbon steel punches attain and maintain a sharper cutting edge than stainless steel punches.