Comparison of three strip harvesting technqiues (Haber's, Pathomvanich's and Ahmad's techniques).

BACKGROUND: To compare the three techniques, that is, using tissue spreader, using skin hooks technique, and using sharp scissor techniques. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized study was conducted in 10 patients undergoing hair transplant surgery by strip harvest after informed consent. The marked strip was divided into 3 equal parts to be assigned randomly to one of the harvesting techniques, that is, (a) using tissue spreader technique (A), (b) using skin hooks technique (B), and (c) using sharp scissor technique (C). The total number of hair of the strip margins were counted. The number of transected hair were also counted. The time taken for harvesting for each technique was noted. All the data were analyzed using ANOVA test. RESULTS: The average length of the strip was 27.8 cm. The mean harvesting time was 46.2 seconds (technique A), 174.5 seconds (technique B), and 49.9 seconds (technique C) (P < 0.05). The total hair density was 640.9 vs 664.5 vs 690.0, respectively. The total transection rate was 2.822 vs 2.689 vs 2.465 in technique A, B, and C, respectively. CONCLUSION: Sharp scissor technique is a safe technique which results in lower transection rate and no significant increase in operation time.