The preshaving protocol in body hair-to-scalp transplant to identify hair in anagen phase.
BACKGROUND
The use of body donor hair for transplanting to the bald scalp is termed body hair transplant. In recent times, robust body hair has been used as an adjunct to scalp donor hair to augment the donor hair supply. A large percentage of body hair are in telogen and, as single hair units.


OBJECTIVE
To devise a non invasive protocol to identify the body donor hair in anagen phase prior to extraction.


METHODS
Hairs are shaved flush with the skin, four days prior to extraction. On fourth day, the actively growing hair follicles as well as non growing hairs were extracted and phase of hair growth determined.


RESULTS
Nineteen out 22 extracted hair follicles in nongrowing phase were found to be the telogen phase.


CONCLUSIONS
Preshaving the body donor areas is a simple non invasive method of isolating the hair in anagen phase.
Poswal
Arvind
A
Dr. A's Clinic, A-9, 1 Floor, Chitranjan Park, New Delhi - 110 019, India. poswalarvind@yahoo.co.in