Is Having 3600 Grafts Transplanted in One Procedure Safe?

Hi Drs. Rassman and Pak:

I was concerned about the recent story you posted today (8/9/12) of the guy who had a 3,000 graft transplant that failed. I consulted a very reputable transplant doctor in La Jolla (who will remain unnamed) who was/is prepared to transplant 3,600 FUs in one session on me because I have good scalp laxity and a good donor supply (I’m 54 by the way and never had any hair loss until about age 45 or so).

But now I am worried. Is this safe to do (3,600) in one procedure? Don’t you usually limit your procedures to about 2,000 grafts at a time, give or take (that’s all you did for Jon Gosselin on the TV show that was broadcast)?

Incidentally, and I don’t know if this is important, but I am one of those anti-Propecia people. I want hair, but not at the cost of taking Propecia. Never took it and never will. I’m not trying to stir that pot again, so don’t get me wrong, and I know many people disagree with me and that is fine. But I have made the decision never to take Propecia, ever. It’s just a horrible drug, in my opinion. If other people want to take it, that’s their business, it’s their funeral as far as I’m concerned and I couldn’t care less. Another way of looking at it is it’s none of my business.

So again, is 3,600 FUs all at once over the top, crazy? Risky? You know what the great British entrepreneur, Freddie Laker (of the now defunct Laker Airways fame),once said, “The only way to get ahead in life is to take a little risk and have a little luck.” I think that is very true. True with hair transplants too.

Thanks for the great blog.

We have performed as many as 5400 grafts in one surgery at NHI. That particular patient had an unusually high donor hair density and very loose scalp laxity. In general, a 3600 graft procedure is considered a high number, but along with this high number of grafts comes the price of a longer and/or higher scar. As I’ve written on this site before, I’ve had three strip surgeries totaling 2200 grafts and have a barely detectable scar. If your laxity allows it and your donor supply is good, the 3600 grafts in one surgery might be achievable.

I hope you can realize that every person is unique, and their goals and needs are highly individualized. Some people may not care and want one large surgery to be done with the process. Some people choose to have the procedure in stages (multiple procedures over time). This is why choosing your doctor and having them explain all these options is critical.

I often get emails from patients who are price shopping and care only about the monetary cost involved. They miss the point that cosmetic surgery / hair transplant surgery is not like buying a car where you get the same vehicle at a variety of dealerships.