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Use of adult diaper as an absorbing agent in hair transplant procedure
Corresponding author: Dr. Prashantha GB, Department of Dermatology, Command Hospital, Cantonment, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. pgbderma@gmail.com
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Received: ,
Accepted: ,
How to cite this article: Prashantha GB, Pathania V, Neema S, Kamboj P. Use of adult diaper as an absorbing agent in hair transplant procedure. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. doi: 10.25259/IJDVL_88_2025
Problem
The implantation step of a hair transplant procedure is one of the most critical phases, where harvested hair follicles are placed into the balding or thinning areas of the scalp. This process requires precision and skill to ensure natural-looking results and optimal graft survival. During the implantation procedure, micro bleeding from slit sites is anticipated. A constant stream of normal saline is continuously sprayed over the implantation site to clear up the bleeding. At times, this can create an overflow of saline all over the operating table, commonly seen in patients with bleeding tendencies. There are no effective ways to mitigate this inconvenience.
Solution
We report the innovative use of easily available adult diapers as absorbing pads. Medium to small-sized adult diapers were sterilised in the autoclave before use. The margins of the diapers were trimmed, retaining only the absorbent core. This portion was placed under the patient’s head in supine position and kept in contact with the donor site dressing on the occipital area. [Figure 1]. One to two diapers were required per procedure, depending on the bleeding tendency of the patient. The endpoint of soakage was determined when fluid began leaking from the diaper, after which the diaper was changed.
- Autoclaved adult diaper kept over donor area.
Adult diaper pads provide a practical advantage over smaller absorbent or cotton pads since they offer significantly higher absorbency, effectively managing continuous saline irrigation and microbleeding without frequent replacements [Figure 2]. Their larger surface area and leak-proof design helps maintain a clean surgical field, reducing fluid overflow on the operating table. Made from skin-friendly materials, they remain in place throughout the procedure. Additionally, they are economical, readily available, and easy to sterilize via autoclaving. This innovative use of adult diaper pads enhances efficiency, minimizes interruptions during surgery, and is especially beneficial in resource-constrained surgical settings without compromising on sterility, hygiene or performance.
- Soaked adult diaper after completion of implantation procedure.
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
Use of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technology for manuscript preparation
The authors confirm that there was no use of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technology for assisting in the writing or editing of the manuscript and no images were manipulated using AI.
