101 Finding and Training Assistants
Book
Editors: Unger, Robin; Shapiro, Ronald
Title: Hair Transplantation
Print ISBN: 9781626236936; Online ISBN: 9781684202737; Book DOI: 10.1055/b000000335
6. Edition © 2023 Thieme. All rights reserved.
Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., New York
Subjects: Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery;Dermatology
Thieme Clinical Collections (English Language)
Summary
Current techniques in hair transplantation often require the preparation and implantation of large numbers of grafts. The increased labor associated with current techniques makes the role of surgical assistants critical. As a group, they substantially affect the patient experience and outcome of every operation. They become an extension of the physician with whom they work, who in turn becomes a manager for the entire surgical team. This chapter addresses those aspects of hair transplantation that relate to surgical assistants.Hair restoration surgery is heavily dependent on well-trained assistants, and physicians entering this field are finding it difficult to get their practice established without the necessary staff. Surgical assistants must know important components of grafts and how to handle tissue correctly, have the dexterity to cut and place grafts, and be able to critically think and handle difficulties in surgery. Even if physicians decide to exclusively perform follicular unit extraction (FUE), assistants must be able to skillfully extract and place grafts. This chapter is intended to instruct physicians on how to find assistants and train them effectively.