Dr. Woods & Dr. Campbell on Auxiliary Hair
Transplantation: "Medical Breakthrough or Messing with
Nature?"
Recent attempt by Dr. Robert Jones to perform auxiliary hair
transplant on one of his patients has triggered quite a debate in
the hair transplant forum. The following is Dr. Woods and Dr.
Campbell's opinions on this topic.
The following is a further explanation of our position
on auxiliary hair transplantation. We have been asked
about it for several years and it was discussed in our Feb 2003 New
York Seminar
The groin/pubic perineal, and armpit are crease areas where the
skin reflects upon itself. These are the skin “wet zones”. It needs
to be this way otherwise dry skin would constantly rub against dry
skin causing severe discomfort, abrasion, rash, and infection. In
these “wet zones”, nature has devised a complex system of unique
and specialized glands attached to the follicular units. Secretions
lubricate and protect the skin, but the full function of the
apocrine gland system to this day is not fully understood. In hot
weather and exercise etc. moisture would accumulate and, because
air circulation and drainage is limited in these “crease” areas
there would be “water logging” of the skin.
Tinea, yeast, fungal and bacterial infections would become a
major factor. But, incredibly it is not usually a problem. However,
In our clinical experience, problems do occur primarily when there
is interference in the nature of the “wet zone”.
People who excessively shave, wax , overuse antiperspirants or have
surgical procedures in these areas are at increased risk of these
infections and boils.
Apocrine glands are unique to these areas. They are a tubular
structure extending from the deep subcutaneous layer and are
intimately connected around the follicle. The “milky” secretions
drain into the follicle near the epidermis. We believe their
existence to be crucial to the normal function of these special
“wet areas”.
In 1998, we looked at the issue and made a benefit–risk
analysis. Attempting to remove armpit hair would result in very
high transection rates. That means a lot of holes but very few
hair. It would be very easy to wipe out entirely ALL armpit hair in
one session. This would achieve one, maybe two hundred hair. Maybe
less. Then of course there is the issue of odor coming out of the
patient's scalp. To overcome this one would need to get rid of the
apocrine glands. Our early experimental work involved the high
power dissection of follicles. What we found out then and what we
know now is that it is almost impossible to remove the
sebaceous gland entirely and attempts to do so render the follicle
terminally damaged. We drew the conclusion that apocrine
gland removal would most likely have similar problems. This means
the yield could be even less
Anyone who has had chest hair transplants knows that a temporary
but common side effect is ingrown hair. If a boil occurs, it is no
major problem. Just squeeze it, and it should drain. However, a
boil in the armpit is much more tender, and infection can spread
much more easily into the lymph nodes. Sweating makes things worse
and cannot be avoided. We believe side effects and complications
would be worse.
Whether you believe in GOD or evolution, neither makes “silly
mistakes” and went to a great deal of trouble giving us specialized
glands or hormones that we don’t need, or for no reason.
Eventually, we find out.
So, rather than resorting to “wet zone” harvesting , our position
is to treat each and every body (and head) hair as precious and
irreplaceable. Every hair that is transected is gone forever and
those who have been scarred and disfigured CANNOT afford
unnecessary wastage. The doctor must go by the rule “if in doubt,
DON’T!!”
As far as beard hair is concerned, we recently spent several days
removing beard hair transplanted to a patients head. It looked, and
felt like barbed wire and made this man's life a misery. Again,
BEWARE.
It is our belief that the hair transplant industry despite creating
so many “experts” has caused more disfigurement, more suffering,
agony, humiliation , negligence, blatantly stupid mistakes and
deception than any other discipline in the history of medicine. And
we want no part of it.
THE DECLARATION OF PATIENT RIGHTS STAYS . There will be no
compromise.
Dr Woods and Dr Campbell