title: Follicular unit extraction: minimally invasive surgery for hair transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) is performed using large numbers of naturally occuring individual follicular units obtained by single-strip harvesting and stereo-microscopic dissection. Donor wound scarring from strip excision, although an infrequent complication, still concerns enough patients that an alternative solution is warranted.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper is to introduce Follicular Unit Extraction (The FOX Procedure), in which individual follicular units are removed directly from the donor region through very small punch excisions, and to describe a test (The FOX Test) that determines which patients are candidates for this procedure. This paper explores the nuances, limitations, and practical aspects of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE).
  
  
  METHODS
  FUE was performed using 1-mm punches to separate follicular units from the surrounding tissue down to the level of the mid dermis. This was followed by extraction of the follicular units with forceps. The FOX test was developed to determine which patients would be good candidates for the procedure. The test was performed on 200 patients. Representative patients who were FOX-positive and FOX-negative were studied histologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FOX Test can determine which patients are suitable candidates for FUE. Approximately 25% of the patients biopsied were ideal candidates for FUE and 35% of the patients biopsied were good candidates for extraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FUE is a minimally invasive approach to hair transplantation that obviates the need for a linear donor incision. This technique can serve as an important alternative to traditional hair transplantation in certain patients.
authors.affiliation: New Hair Institute Medical Group, A Professional Corporation, Los Angeles, California 90035, USA.
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Rassman
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McClellan
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Worton
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uyttendaele
mesh_terms: D000505:Alopecia / Q000601:surgery*; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D012535:Scalp; D016896:Treatment Outcome