A learning module in hair restoration surgery: A simple and economic method to learn all steps of strip method of hair follicles harvesting and implantation

BACKGROUND: There is a global increase in demand for hair transplant as well as increasing demand for trained assistants and surgeons. It is a fact that permanent donor hair follicles are limited and any loss during learning is permanent and irreversible, so there is no place to learn and/or practice on a patient. OBJECTIVE: To develop a learning module in hair restoration surgery to learn all steps of strip method of hair follicles harvesting and methods of implantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this learning module, the materials used are paper, pencil, plant leaf, foam and thread. The last step is on goat skin. Module has been divided into multiple steps. The first step is training of microsurgery position, the second step is training of movement at wrist using paper and pencil, the third step is strip harvesting and slivering on foam model, the fourth step is learning of follicle dissection on leaf model, the fifth step is thread follicle implantation on leaf bed. After practising on non-living model finally, all steps are practised on goatskin, starting from slivering, follicle dissection and implantation of goat follicles on leaf. CONCLUSION: This is very economical and user-friendly system to learn all steps of strip method of hair follicle harvesting and methods of implantation as well. The materials used are available around us and anyone can learn as well as train his or her technicians in very short time.