Chapter 1 - Defining a Hair Transplant Chapter 7 - Who gets Transplants? Chapter 2 - Follicular Unit Transplants Chapter 8 - Expecting the Best Chapter 3 - Suggestions for your Surgery Chapter 9 - Corrective Procedures Chapter 4 - Post Surgery Experience Chapter 10 - Learn to be Cautious Chapter 5 - Doing the Research Chapter 11 - Myths and Legends Chapter 6 - Setting Expectations Chapter 12 - Credits

What is Follicular Unit Transplantation?

Follicular Unit Transplantation is a technique, pioneered by the physicians at the New Hair Institute, in which hair is transplanted from the permanent zone in the back of the scalp into areas affected by genetic balding (and some other types of hair loss), using only the naturally occurring, individual follicular units. In order to remove follicular units from the back of the scalp without damaging them, the donor tissue must be removed in one piece. This technique, "single strip harvesting," is an essential component of follicular unit transplantation as it not only preserves the follicular units, but also prevents damage (transection) to the individual hair follicles. It differs dramatically from the minigrafting and micrografting technique of using a multi-bladed knife that breaks up follicular units and causes unacceptable levels of transection of hair follicles.

Another essential component of Follicular Unit Transplantation is "stereomicroscopic dissection." In this technique all of the follicular units are removed from the donor tissue under total microscopic control to avoid damage. Complete stereomicroscopic dissection has been shown to produce an increased yield (as much as 30%) of both the absolute number of follicular units, as well as the total amount of hair. (This procedure differs from minigrafting and micrografting in which grafts are cut using minimal or no magnification.)

A major advantage of follicular unit transplantation (besides preserving follicular units and maximizing growth) is that it allows the surgeon to use small recipient sites. Grafts comprised of individual follicular units are small because follicular units are small, and because the surrounding non-hair bearing tissue is removed under the microscope is not transplanted. Follicular unit grafts can be inserted into tiny needle sized sites in the recipient area, that heal in just a few days, without leaving any marks.

When performed by a skilled surgical team, Follicular Unit Transplantation can produce totally natural-looking hair transplants that maximize the yield from the patient's donor supply to give the best possible cosmetic results. Because the tiny follicular unit grafts (and the very small wounds they are placed in) allow large number of grafts to be safely transplanted in one procedure, the total restoration can be completed in the fewest possible sessions.

Recommended Resources

	Ask questions and get information on Hair Transplants in our Men's Forums and Women's Forums! Information provided courtesy of the New Hair Institute, taken from "The Patient's Guide to Hair Transplantation" William R. Rassman, MD and Robert M. Bernstein, MD