Best Practices in Hair Transplantation – Insights from Dr. Anastasios Vekris at IMCAS Americas 2024
In April 2024, Dr. Anastasios Vekris, MD—a distinguished plastic surgeon, ISHRS member, and founder of Advanced Hair Clinics—presented an impactful series of talks at IMCAS Americas 2024 in São Paulo, Brazil . His expertise, spanning over 20 years and 20,000+ FUE cases worldwide , guided attendees through cutting-edge techniques and real-world practice strategies. Here’s a deep dive into the key takeaways and best practices he shared.
1. Optimizing Local Anesthesia: Minimize, Don’t Sacrifice Comfort
Dr. Vekris emphasized the importance of using the minimum effective dose of local anesthetic. This approach reduces patient stress, minimizes systemic effects, and speeds recovery.
Best practices include:
Precise understanding of scalp and facial nerve anatomy
Using buffered solutions to lessen injection discomfort
Employing slow injection techniques to distribute anesthetic evenly
2. Scar Reconstruction via FUE
FUE isn’t just for pattern baldness—it’s a powerful tool for restoring hair in scarred areas from burns, injury, or previous surgeries. Dr. Vekris highlighted:
Challenges in recipient site preparation and vascularity
Importance of matching donor graft characteristics to recipient tissue
Strategic planning to overplant and compensate for graft loss
His presentation reinforced FUE’s versatility in scarred zones, even those with compromised skin quality.
3. Building a Successful Hair Restoration Practice
In a talk titled “How to Set Up a Successful Hair Restoration Practice,” Dr. Vekris shared guidance on:
Structuring a multidisciplinary team (surgeons, dermatologists, nursing)
Integrating high safety standards, transparent pricing, and patient education
Leveraging scientific presentations and training workshops to build reputation and clinical leads
4. Clinical Strategies in Focus Sessions
Within a dedicated Clinical Dermatology session, Dr. Vekris again addressed scar reconstruction with FUE, positioning it as a key solution in restorative hair surgery . His repeated focus on scar cases highlights both their prevalence and the refined techniques needed for success.
Why These Best Practices Matter
| Focus Area | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Anesthesia optimization | Enhances comfort and reduces medication use |
| Scar-specific FUE | Expands candidacy to complex cases |
| Practice-building | Ensures sustainability and growth |
Dr. Vekris illustrates that expert hair transplantation lies at the intersection of advanced technique, patient-centric care, and strategic practice development.
Moving Forward: Implementing These Practices in Your Clinic
Train your team on anatomical landmarks and patient communication to reduce anesthetic dosing.
Invest in FUE tools capable of precise graft placement in scarred tissue.
Set up clear pathways for practice growth: workshops, peer-networking, and visibility in professional forums.
Audit outcomes, especially in scar reconstructions, to continuously refine techniques.
Final Thoughts
Dr. Vekris’s presentations at IMCAS Americas 2024 underscore a comprehensive approach: blending refined clinical protocols, innovative surgical strategies, and thoughtful business planning. For practitioners worldwide, these insights reinforce that delivering the best patient outcomes means excelling both on the surgical table and in the clinic’s organizational design.
Curious to explore any of these areas further—whether anesthesia management, scar restoration, or practice optimization? Let me know and I can dive deeper!