In 1505, newly-elected Pope Julius II hired the renowned sculptor Michelangelo to create a funerary monument (a series of 40 statues to be placed near the Pope’s tomb after death). This project was to be completed in 5 years but was delayed for many years due to Michelangelo’s availability, among other setbacks. (It was completed 35 years after the Pope’s death on a much smaller scale than originally planned). One of those projects that delayed his time turned out to be one of the most famous in the history of art.
In 1508, anxious to beautify Rome, Michelangelo was asked by the same Pope to paint a fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (named after his uncle, the late Pope Sixtus IV) in the Vatican City. The problem was obvious to Michelangelo, but not to the Pope.
Goliath or Bust
Michelangelo was, first and foremost, a sculptor. It was his passion to take a large block of marble and chip away at it, creating so much detail that the finished product would appear lifelike. He was known as the sculptor who could summon the living from stone (and also bronze). He had established himself by this time, having completed the 17-foot-high statue of David, which brought him a high degree of prominence.
So what was the problem? First, he wasn’t an established painter and didn’t particularly like painting. Second, he had never painted a fresco before. A fresco (Italian for “fresh”) is a form of mural painted directly on fresh, wet lime-based plaster using earth tones. When the pigment and plaster dries, a chemical process bonds them together. The benefit of this technique is vibrant colors and longevity. Some frescos are as old as 2000 years.
The plaster dries within hours, so only a small area is prepared that can be finished within that timeframe.
Twisted Arms
Michelangelo had refused this commission at first and then, through political channels, was “convinced” to take the job because it was such a high honor. His original commission was for a much smaller area of the church, but he shared his vision with the Pope, who agreed he should paint the entire ceiling.
He designed an intricate system of scaffolding in order to stand and paint all day (and so church services could continue uninterrupted). He did not lie on his back, as portrayed in some movies. Paint would drip onto his face, and he would end up with terrible back pain and problems with his vision for the rest of his life.
It took 4 years for him to complete the ceiling, which measured a whopping 118 feet by 46 feet. It is most noted for one of the murals entitled “The Creation of Adam,” in which God’s finger is reaching out to Adam. The fresco contains over 300 biblical figures from the Old Testament.
So how did someone who had never painted a fresco end up painting the most famous and awe-inspiring one that has lasted over 500 years? Did he have a magic paintbrush?
No, not at all. As a matter of fact, he used the normal tools of the day: round paintbrushes. The flat brushes, with a crimped metal band, had not been invented yet.
Not many people in history have been able to accomplish what he did with his Sistine Chapel. He used the right tool for the job, but it was his talent that made the result special.
We here at Advanced Medical Hair Institute don’t make outlandish claims to be in the same realm as Michelangelo by any means. We are in a different discipline, but we do take inspiration from the same beauty that he did. We use the best available modern tools to get the best results. And like Michelangelo’s attitude towards sculpting, we thoroughly enjoy our work. It is our first passion as well.
Here are some of the tools used in our trade, but I wanted to touch on a particularly overlooked one today – microscopes. There are some hair restoration clinics claiming to perform both FUE and FUT transplants, but they do not use microscopes in both of those procedures. When they most certainly should.
Why Microscopes?
FUT – Also known as a “strip procedure,” a Follicular Unit Transfer is one in which a strip of hair is removed from a donor site rather than individual follicles. The removal site on the scalp is then closed with stitches, and the grafting process begins. In the grafting process, the removed strip of hair is separated into pieces; how many depends on the surgeon and the patient’s needs. One strip of hair could produce thousands of grafts, with each graft containing between one and four follicles.
A microscope is highly necessary for exacting those individual follicles before placing them into the target area. It places no stress on the grafts and allows them to be perfectly trimmed. It also removes unwanted excess tissue and allows the follicle and its glands and attachments to remain intact, which gives better results.
FUE – Follicular Unit Extraction is a type of hair restoration surgery that involves the extraction of individual hair follicles (instead of a strip) from a donor site, which is typically the back or sides of the head. The removed hair follicles are then implanted into the balding areas. Because special microsurgical tools are used for this procedure, only tiny puncture scars are left behind when performed by a skilled doctor. As this procedure involves individual hair follicles, it tends to be more time-consuming than FUT.
While FUE can technically be performed using simple loupes and magnifying glasses, it is only done so by those offices wishing to save money on equipment and give subpar results. Microscopes are able to help classify, evaluate, and prepare the FUE grafts, ensuring better quality and a higher chance for growth in the target area.
Yes, microscopes are expensive, but they are a necessary tool to perform hair transplants at a high level. They eliminate guesswork and are helpful in cutting precise individual hair follicles, increasing the odds in your favor for an unnoticeable transplant.
Like Michelangelo’s craft, hair transplant is an art and is meant to last a long time, making the recipients happy when they see the final product.
Make sure the team you choose is experienced in using microscopes for hair transplants in both FUE and FUT procedures. Otherwise, it’s like trying to fingerpaint the Sistine Chapel.
