Hair transplants; just the mere mention of it brings to mind the old-fashioned hair plugs. I can remember my first introduction to hair transplant surgery; my stylist in California, in the early 80’s elected to have hair transplant surgery. Every two weeks he would visit the surgeon, and they would surgically remove hair and follicle from elsewhere and then transplant on the top of his head. He was always in so much pain from both the harvesting and the planting. Then, to make matters worse, when he was short on cash, he would have to wait a little longer between procedures, leaving part of his scalp planted and part still bald.

Unfortunately, this is the impression that many people have when the topic of hair transplants is broached. But times have changed and along with it, the process of hair transplantation has changed also. No longer does having a hair transplant come with the “hair plug” stigma.

However, not everyone is a candidate for hair transplantation; if you have experienced hair loss or a degree of balding, education is the first step to understanding what your options are.

The History of Hair Transplants

Hair transplants originated in Japan in the 1930’s. At the time this procedure was only used to treat damaged areas of eyebrows and lashes; the Japanese only used the procedure for the most severe trauma cases and injuries during WWII. Western medicine didn’t start experimenting with hair transplants until the late 1950’s, when pioneer, Norman Orentreich began to treat patients with male pattern baldness. Advances in disease research, and transplant techniques have gained notoriety, and thousands of recipients have enjoyed great success with their transplants.

hair transplant Technique

Hair transplantation is a surgical technique that involves moving small skin fragments containing hair follicles, from one part your body to the balding parts. Basically, your own skin and hair follicles are taken from one area of your body and transplanted in the balding area. Using your own skin and follicles eliminates the risk of rejection. This procedure is primarily used to treat male pattern baldness, but has also been used to restore facial hair as well. Eyelashes, eyebrows, and beard hair have also been common areas for transplantations, just as scars caused by accidents and surgery such as facelifts and previous hair transplants have been successful areas of transplantation.

Hair transplantation and skin grafting are sometimes confused, but are completely different. With a skin graft, almost the entire epidermis and dermis surrounding the hair follicle is harvested and then surgically applied, whereas with transplantation, many tiny grafts, containing usually less than four hair follicles, are transplanted. You would think the skin graft is the way to go; capture as many hair follicles and fewer surgeries; however studies have show that hair naturally grows in follicles, containing groupings of 1 to 4 hairs. With today’s most advanced techniques, surgeons prefer to transplant these naturally occurring 1–4 hair “follicular units” in their natural groupings. Thus modern hair transplantation can achieve a natural appearance by mimicking nature hair for hair. This recent hair transplant procedure is called “Follicular Unit Transplantation“.

Do Hair Transplants Really Work?

Yes. The transplanted hair is removed from one area of the body (donor site), which has been genetically pre-programmed to produce healthy hair for a lifetime. Then using magnification, follicular unit grafts containing one, two, three or four hairs are meticulously transferred called “planting” into the bald or thinning areas the recipient site.

Skill, Artistry, Technique and Teamwork

The decision to take action against hair loss can be, for some individuals, a difficult one. By choosing the most qualified hair restoration expert, the decision becomes an easier one to make.

However, no surgeon can achieve this goal alone. Hair transplantation, perhaps more that any other surgical procedure, depends on the assistance of skilled medical personnel in a ‘team’ framework.