Graft Desiccation

Graft desiccation occurs when extracted hair grafts dry out while outside the body, leading to dehydration of follicular cells and structural damage that can reduce graft viability. Even brief exposure to air, heat, or low-humidity environments increases cellular stress and lowers the likelihood that a graft will survive and produce healthy hair growth.

Preventing graft desiccation focuses on minimizing out-of-body time, keeping grafts moist in appropriate chilled solutions or sterile, moist coverings, maintaining controlled temperature and humidity, and handling grafts gently to avoid mechanical trauma. Efficient surgical workflow, validated storage media, and prompt implantation all contribute to better graft survival and more predictable transplant outcomes.