Characterization of the Safe Donor Area in the Indian Population Aged 50-55 Years

Abstract

Introduction: The safe donor area (SDA) in hair transplants has been categorized in various studies. This study was designed to profile and grade the occipital donor area in our patient population of Indian men, aged 50-55, with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Objective: To profile and grade the pattern of receding hair over the occipital donor area among Indian men, aged 50-55 years, with androgenetic alopecia. Methods: A total of 681 Indian men with AGA (grade Norwood III and above, diffuse unpatterned AGA and/or retrograde AGA), aged 50-55 years, were included in the study group. Occipital donor areas were analyzed and photographed with the head in the sagittal plane. A team of two dermatologists graded the hair loss and the pattern of the receding hair over the occipital donor area and devised a method to grade and profile the donor area. Results: Of the occipital donor areas analyzed, according to our scale, 78% were graded 1, 2, or 3 and fulfilled the standard SDA criteria; 22% did not fit well into the standard SDA grading scale. Diffuse thinning and/or reverse thinning of the occipital donor area were also observed. Conclusion: There is no clear-cut defined SDA that can be applied to all patients; therefore, SDA selection should always be conservative and overharvesting of the occipital donor region should be avoided.