If you’ve ever undergone surgery, you’re likely familiar with the use of staples for closing incisions. They’ve been around since the early 1900s, and improvements have been made every decade since. Sutures (stitches) have been around since about 150 BC and have dozens of uses.
In hair transplant procedures, particularly Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), staples have become a preferred method over traditional sutures. Understanding the benefits of staples in this context can alleviate concerns and enhance confidence in the procedure.
Strength and Efficiency of Staples
Surgical staples are widely used to close incisions in various surgeries, including those involving the stomach and Cesarean sections. Their strength and ease of application make them advantageous for securing large or complex wounds. Unlike some sutures that dissolve over time, staples require removal after the wound has sufficiently healed. This necessity might lead some to assume that sutures are a better option; however, in the context of hair transplantation, staples offer distinct advantages.
Advantages of Staples in FUT Procedures
In FUT hair transplant surgeries, staples are often favored for several reasons:
- Minimized Scarring: Staples are placed individually, approximately half a centimeter apart. This spacing allows for better blood and oxygen flow to the wound, promoting finer scar formation. In contrast, continuous sutures can trap and damage hair follicles, potentially leading to more noticeable scarring.
- Preservation of Hair Follicles: The individual placement of staples reduces the risk of damaging surrounding hair follicles, which is crucial for achieving a natural and fuller appearance post-transplant.
- Enhanced Healing: The method of staple application allows for natural swelling post-surgery without compromising the integrity of the wound closure, facilitating a smoother healing process.
Considerations and Patient Experience
While staples offer significant benefits, it’s important to acknowledge that they may cause discomfort or itching during the healing process. The timeline for staple removal varies among patients, but typically, some staples are removed seven to ten days after the procedure, with the remainder taken out approximately ten days later. This phased removal helps manage discomfort and supports optimal healing.
Evolving Techniques in Hair Transplantation
Advancements in hair transplant techniques continue to evolve. With every passing year, technology addresses concerns, and research finds ways to perform surgery faster or more efficiently.
This has led to improvements in Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) as well, which involves harvesting individual hair follicles without the need for large incisions. This technique can be recommended if the patient is not a good candidate for FUT. One benefit is that it often reduces the need for staples or sutures, resulting in minimal scarring and a quick recovery.
However, FUT remains a viable and preferred option, especially for patients requiring a larger number of grafts, and surgeons continue to educate potential patients about the use of staples in FUT.
Anti-marketing
In the past decade, there has been an influx of new surgeons in the field. But some have decided if they can’t compete with the quality of experienced doctors, they can quickly “get their numbers up” by performing very inexpensive procedures in high volume. Modern marketers have advised that one way to separate themselves is by trying to give staples a bad rap by saying they are outdated and that using sutures is the modern way.
This is very misleading. It comes down to knowing how to use staples, along with other advancements, to make the scar as minimal as possible. And this is where rookies aren’t able to match the quality work of an expert, so they lead customers to believe statements that aren’t true.
It’s All About Choice
Choosing between staples and sutures in hair transplant surgery depends on various factors, including the specific procedure, the surgeon’s expertise, and the patient’s individual needs. Staples offer notable advantages in FUT procedures, such as minimized scarring and better preservation of hair follicles, contributing to a more natural and satisfactory outcome. Consulting with a qualified hair restoration surgeon can provide personalized insights and help determine the most appropriate method for your hair restoration journey.
Still, every patient heals differently, which is another reason why people gravitate to the personalized attention they get from Dr. Joseph Williams at the Advanced Medical Hair Institute. As one of the premier hair restoration surgeons in the world, Dr. Williams has a surgical touch that is rivaled only by his human touch. You can find out for yourself – and take the first step in this transformative experience – when you schedule a consultation.
