Power boosting the grafts in hair transplantation surgery - Evaluation of a new storage medium

BACKGROUND. When performing hair transplantation procedures, if is of the f oremost importance to try to obtain the maximum survival rate possible of t ransplanted micrografts. OBJECTIVE. Aim of this study was to evaluate, in ail in vitro model, the ef fects of preserving micrografts, for five hours, in an enriched storage med ium in order to enhance the survival rate of hair micrografts. METHODS. A total of 200 human anagen hair follicles was obtained from ten m ale patients. Follicles were thus randomly assigned to one of the following group: Group A (control; n = 100 follicles), preserved for five hours ill saline, ann Group B (experimental; n = 100 follicles), preserved for five h ours ill a storage medium, containing adenosine triphosphate-magnesium chlo ride and deferoxamine mesylate. Isolated hair follicles from both Groups we re then cultured for 10 days. RESULTS. A statistically significant difference was found between the survi val rate of experimental (98%) ann control follicles (87%). CONCLUSION. In our opinion, a "metabolic preconditioning" of micrografts by means of storing them for 5 hours in the described medium may be of some u tility in augmenting the survival rate of hair grafts when performing hair transplantation surgery. (C) 1998 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.