Abstract: A punch that is particularly useful for removing curled hair follicles from a donor site comprises a generally tubular body disposed about a generally longitudinal axis between distal and proximal ends, and having a distal cutting end region terminating distally in an opposing pair of distally-extending, generally prong-like members having an anterior notch and a posterior notch therebetween. In one variation, the prong-like members each have a curved anterior cutting edge and a curved posterior edge meeting at a cutting tip. In the preferred embodiment, the posterior notch extends proximally further than the anterior notch and has a generally “V”-shaped distal segment which carries cutting edges together with a generally “U”-shaped proximal segment extending proximally from the distal segment.

Abstract: A punch that is particularly useful for removing curled hair follicles from a donor site comprises a generally tubular body disposed about a generally longitudinal axis and having a distal cutting end region terminating distally in a plurality of distally-extending circumferentially disposed, generally prong-like members carrying distally diverging cutting edges and separated by follicle-accommodating slits. In practice, the punch is oriented during the extraction process at the donor site so that the curled hair root passes into, and is spared from the advancing cutting edge by, a slit as the punch is inserted into and penetrates the tissue. The punch may then rotated slightly so that the cutting edges cut most of the tissue surrounding the follicle without making damaging contact with the follicle.