History of Hair Transplant Surgery
Hair transplant surgery has come a long way since it was first introduced in the 1950s. Back then, Dr. Norman Orentreich started testing a theory that hairs located at the sides and back of the head were genetically “programmed” to resist balding and that when relocated to balding areas, these “donor hairs” would retain this characteristic. It was an idea that was, quite literally, ahead of its time because while the theory was sound, the available surgical techniques were too crude to produce consistently natural-looking results.
The Bad Old Days of Hair Transplantation
In the 1960s and 1970s, hair transplants consisted of removing clumps of donor hairs with a round punch and then transplanting these plugs of hair into regularly spaced rows. Sometimes, if the patient had enough donor hair and dutifully completed all the sessions of hair transplant surgery, a doctor might be able to achieve good coverage, albeit with a very solid-looking hairline and limited ways the patient could style his hair. Too often, however, the patient would run out of donor hair before a good result could be achieved and the result would be the dreaded “doll’s head” look with obvious, evenly spaced plugs of hair. For an entire generation, the words “hair transplant” became virtually synonymous with “hair plugs” and many people, quite understandably, preferred to live with their hair loss than get an obvious-looking hair transplant.
When It Got Better
In the 1980s, hair transplant technique took a giant leap forward with the introduction of smaller grafts. Instead of large plugs of hair, surgeons would excise a strip of hair from a balding-resistant patch and section it into two types of grafts, mini grafts (4-8) hairs and micro grafts (units of 1, 2, and 3 hairs). The mini grafts were placed where fullness was desired and the micro grafts were places along the hairline for a more natural look. More grafts could be transplanted in each session than when surgeons used the “punch” technique and the results were definitely better looking.
When It Got Great
In the 1990s, we finally achieved a truly natural-looking hair transplant method called Follicular Unit Transplantation or Follicular Unit Grafting (FUG) that mimics the way hair naturally grows. The introduction of a new and powerful microscope, called the binocular microscope, made it possible for surgeons to take that same strip of donor hair and section the hairs the way they naturally grow, in units of 1, 2, 3, and 4 hairs. These “follicular units” can be transplanted into very tiny incisions placed very closely together. The result is excellent density, even after just one session. And because the hair is transplanted the same way it grows, there’s never an awkward phase where the patient looks strange or like a work in progress.
A further refinement of the technique, called Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) does away with the strip. Instead, these follicular units of donor hair are removed one at a time using a small circular punch. There is no incision with FUE and the minimally invasive procedure leaves no visible scars. The donor hairs are placed the same way they would be with FUG and the results of both types of procedure are completely natural. When performed by an accomplished surgeon such as Dr. Shelly Friedman, no one—not your hair stylist, not your friends, not your colleagues—will know that you’ve had a hair transplant.
How to Choose Between the Two Techniques
While both FUG and FUE are considered state-of-the-art techniques, there are advantages and disadvantages to each that much be carefully considered. Briefly, although FUE leaves no visible scars (the tiny circular marks where the donor hairs are extracted are usually completely undetectable) and the recovery from the procedure is faster, FUE is far more labor intensive than FUG. Being ore labor intensive has two direct consequences: 1) FUE is more expensive than FUG; 2) Fewer hairs can be transplanted in each session of FUE than FUG. That can mean that more sessions of FUE are required to reach you’re your hair restoration goal than if we used FUG. And finally, the scar left by FUG is typically very well concealed and not visible anyway, possibly negating that benefit for most patients. During your consultation Dr. Friedman will help determine which procedure might best fit your needs.
Hair Restoration Beyond the Scalp
FUE and FUG allow Dr. Friedman to transplant hairs with incredible precision. Donor hairs can be placed at the exact angle and in the same direction as the hair in the native hair in the surrounding area. This means that Dr. Friedman can transplant hair into the eyebrows He can fill in sparse facial hair, adding fullness to beards, mustaches, and sideburns. Even body hair that has been lost to illness, surgery, or trauma can be impeccably restored.
Thanks to advanced technique and Dr. Friedman’s skill, men and women can now get their own growing hair back, wherever it’s missing. The procedure is minimally invasive, the results are beautiful, and it’s more affordable than ever. There’s simply no need to live with hair loss any longer. Call us today.
