Hair restoration
Encyclopedia
Hair restoration includes the medical and surgical treatment of various forms of hair loss. The most common cause of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia
(AGA), also known as male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness.
, are extracted from the patient's donor site then moved to the area of balding, called the recipient area. Hair restoration surgery, or hair transplantation
has been traditionally used for the treatment of male patterned baldness, but it has gained popularity for treatment of female patterned baldness, eyebrow hair loss, and to restore hair in any part of the body. In addition to cosmetic purposes, hair restoration can be used for treatment of hair loss due to trauma or burn. Hair restoration should be performed by certified surgeons, who specialize in hair replacement
. The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery
is a medical association of physicians who specialize in hair restoration.
(FUT). In FUT, follicular units are extracted from the back of the head, where hair tends to be more permanent, in a strip of skin called the donor strip. Once the strip is removed, the donor area is either sutured or stitched back up, ideally in a way that minimizes scar
ring. If done properly, the remaining scar, called a line scar, will only be visible with short-cropped hair or a shaved head. After the donor strip is extracted, it is dissected into individual follicular units. These are then transplanted into the recipient area in the patient’s balding scalp
where they become viable hair-producing follicles.
(FUE), follicular units are extracted from the back of the head using a surgical punch or other device. A 1-mm punch is often used to make a small circular incision in the skin around the upper part of the follicular unit, which is then extracted directly from the scalp. Once removed, the donor follicles
are transplanted into the recipient area where, as in FUT, they grow hair.
Androgenetic alopecia
Androgenic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss and thinning in humans. Variants appear in both men and women. Androgenic alopecia also occurs in chimpanzees, and orangutans. In humans, this condition is also commonly known as male pattern baldness...
(AGA), also known as male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness.
Medical hair restoration
Propecia (Finasteride) is approved for medical hair restoration for men with AGA. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm?fuseaction=Search.DrugDetails Minoxidil is approved for treatment of men and women with AGA.Hair transplant surgery
Surgical hair restoration is the only permanent technique that can move hair from permanent zone to the balding area. Hair restoration surgery is a procedure where natural groupings of 1 to 4 hairs, called follicular unitsHair follicle
A hair follicle is a skin organ that produces hair. Hair production occurs in phases, including a growth phase , and cessation phase , and a rest phase . Stem cells are principally responsible for the production of hair....
, are extracted from the patient's donor site then moved to the area of balding, called the recipient area. Hair restoration surgery, or hair transplantation
Hair transplantation
Hair transplantation is a surgical technique that involves moving individual hair follicles from one part of the body to bald or balding parts . It is primarily used to treat male pattern baldness. It this case, grafts containing hair follicles that are genetically resistant to balding are...
has been traditionally used for the treatment of male patterned baldness, but it has gained popularity for treatment of female patterned baldness, eyebrow hair loss, and to restore hair in any part of the body. In addition to cosmetic purposes, hair restoration can be used for treatment of hair loss due to trauma or burn. Hair restoration should be performed by certified surgeons, who specialize in hair replacement
Hair transplantation
Hair transplantation is a surgical technique that involves moving individual hair follicles from one part of the body to bald or balding parts . It is primarily used to treat male pattern baldness. It this case, grafts containing hair follicles that are genetically resistant to balding are...
. The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery
International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery is a non-profit medical association of over 800 hair restoration doctors. It was founded in 1993 as a voluntary organization to advance the art and science of hair restoration...
is a medical association of physicians who specialize in hair restoration.
Follicular Unit Transplantation
The gold standard hair restoration surgery technique is Follicular Unit TransplantationFollicular unit transplantation
Follicular Unit Transplantation is a hair restoration technique where a patient's hair is transplanted in naturally occurring groups of 1 to 4 hairs, called follicular units. Follicular units also contain sebaceous glands, nerves, a small muscle, and occasional fine vellus hairs...
(FUT). In FUT, follicular units are extracted from the back of the head, where hair tends to be more permanent, in a strip of skin called the donor strip. Once the strip is removed, the donor area is either sutured or stitched back up, ideally in a way that minimizes scar
Scar
Scars are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin after injury. A scar results from the biological process of wound repair in the skin and other tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natural part of the healing process. With the exception of very minor lesions, every wound results in...
ring. If done properly, the remaining scar, called a line scar, will only be visible with short-cropped hair or a shaved head. After the donor strip is extracted, it is dissected into individual follicular units. These are then transplanted into the recipient area in the patient’s balding scalp
Scalp
The scalp is the anatomical area bordered by the face anteriorly and the neck to the sides and posteriorly.-Layers:It is usually described as having five layers, which can conveniently be remembered as a mnemonic:...
where they become viable hair-producing follicles.
Follicular Unit Extraction
In Follicular Unit ExtractionFollicular Unit Extraction
Follicular unit extraction , also known as follicular transfer , is one of two primary methods of obtaining follicular units, naturally occurring groups of one to four hairs, for hair transplantation. The other method is called strip harvesting...
(FUE), follicular units are extracted from the back of the head using a surgical punch or other device. A 1-mm punch is often used to make a small circular incision in the skin around the upper part of the follicular unit, which is then extracted directly from the scalp. Once removed, the donor follicles
Hair follicle
A hair follicle is a skin organ that produces hair. Hair production occurs in phases, including a growth phase , and cessation phase , and a rest phase . Stem cells are principally responsible for the production of hair....
are transplanted into the recipient area where, as in FUT, they grow hair.