Hair transplant methods: from strip incisions to follicular unit extractions
Hair restoration technology is continuously providing patients with better options for hair loss treatments. Transplants have come a long way since the 1970's and 1980's, when hair plugs were used to treat hair loss. These hair plugs consisted of grafts with about 15 to 25 hairs in each. These plugs gave the hair transplant a very unnatural and obvious look.
Modern and technologically advanced procedures have been developed in the past decade, which are typically less painful and produce more natural appearing results.
Older hair transplant methods
Strip incisions. Strip incisions were traditionally used to transplant hair before more modern methods existed. The strip incision involves surgically removing strips of skin from the donor area, extracting the hair follicles, and then implanting them on the recipient area. While some surgeons are practicing more modern techniques in hair transplantation, this method of surgery is still effective and quite common.
The strip incision method has now been improved upon by micrografting. Surgeons are switching to this method because it doesn’t involve making any type of incision (scalpel-free). Hair follicles are extracted from the donor area using the micro grafting procedure and transplanted into the recipient area with ease.
Mini-micrografting. Mini-micrografting is similar to follicular unit extraction, with the main difference being that the graft size is determined by the doctor. He or she cuts the donor tissue into the size pieces that they see fit. With the mini-micrografting procedure, surgeons use a multi-bladed knife to quickly generate thin strips of tissue and then use direct visualization (rather than microscopic control) to cut the tissue. The resulting grafts are generally larger than follicular units and since the excess skin is not trimmed away the donor sites (wounds) are also larger.
Scalp extensions. Scalp extensions are dramatic surgeries that cover balding areas with hair-bearing areas by surgically stretching the scalp. It is an older technique that can lead to scarring and today's surgeons traditionally do not perform this procedure.
Today's leading hair transplant methods
While strip incisions, mini-micrografting and, in some cases, scalp extensions are still in practice today, most surgeons rely on two modern procedures: the follicular unit extraction and the follicular unit transplantation. Both are known to produce superior results.
Follicular unit extraction. The follicular unit extraction method uses micro-grafting to achieve unbelievable results. This procedure involves the extraction of individual hair follicles from an area on the scalp, and reinsertion of the hair follicles into the hairline. This type of hair grafting surgery is usually performed using just a local anesthetic.
Follicular unit transplantation. The follicular unit transplantation method is similar to the follicular unit extraction. It involves transplanting follicles from an individual's scalp and then transferring them into the balding area. Traditionally, the surgeon selects a group of hairs, called follicular units, which are one, two, three or four hairs occurring in natural groups.
