CURRENT HAIR TRANSPLANT OPTIONS

Hair transplantation depends on the now, well established principle that transplanted hair follicles–roots moved from their original location to another area–behave as they did in their original site.

For example, even in the most advanced cases of common, male pattern baldness (MPB), a horseshoe-shaped fringe of hair persists. Hair follicles moved from this hairy fringe (the donor area) to a bald or balding area on the same patient's scalp (the recipient area) takes root and grows. Continuing hair growth in such transplants has been observed since 1958, and it is believed that it will continue for the individual's lifetime.

Many less common types of hair loss, in addition to MPB, can be helped by this procedure. These include thinning hair in many women, scarring from prior injuries or surgery, and a number of diseases that sometimes cause hair loss.

Currently, there are numerous options available to people seeking a surgical solution to their hair loss problem. The option or options best suited for you is a choice you should make after a discussion with your physician and after exploring the possibilities listed below.

• Micrografts, Follicular units, Double and Triple Follicular Unit Grafts (DFU and TFU), slot grafts and round grafts.  There is a wide variety of graft options available. Read about each type's advantages and disadvantages as well as how a mix of different grafts can be used to best solve an individual's unique situation.
• Alopecia reduction (AR) is a relatively simple procedure that reduces the size of the balding area. This is ideal for patients whose supply of transplantable hair may not otherwise be sufficient to cover the entire balding area.
• Hair cloning is still in the experimental stages. Although Dr. Unger's initial laboratory results are promising, it will probably be at least 5 to 10 years before such an option becomes available.
• Laser-aided hair transplantation holds great promise. However, after many years of research with lasers, Dr. Unger has concluded that the existing laser equipment cannot be counted upon to produce consistently superior results.