STANDARDIZING THE CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION OF FOLLICULAR UNIT TRANSPLANTATION AND MINI-MICROGRAFTING TECHNIQUES

Previous attempts at classifying small graft transplants have focused mainly upon graft size and have not taken into consideration other tec hnical factors involved in graft production that may influence the out come of the surgery. The proposed classification attempts to consider these factors by including various technical aspects of harvesting, di ssection, and placement, all of which impact the quality and quantity of the small grafts used in the procedure. By standardizing the nomenc lature, as well as the description of the other factors involved in th e surgery, communication between physicians and patients may be facili tated. In addition, different procedures may be more accurately studie d and compared. (C) 1998 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surg ery, Inc.