Hair transplantation
Principle:
The term autologous hair transplantation describes a microsurgical procedure where bald areas of the scalp (e.g. in androgenetic alopecia or after trauma) are filled with transplanted hair from the back of the head of the same person.
Methods:
- Transplantation of so-called micrografts/minigrafts: During this microsurgical procedure a strip of skin with its hair is excised from the back of the head under local anesthesia. From this strip, individual hairs (grafts) are harvested and transplanted to the desired area. By transplanting only few hairs (micrografts: 1-2 hairs) or minigrafts (3-5 hairs) an inconspicuous transition from bald areas to hairy areas can be achieved. Typically, multiple treatments are necessary to accomplish optimal cosmetic results.
- Transplantation of skin patches: Multiple punch biopsies of hairy skin patches are taken from the back of the head and transplanted to the desired area.
- Disadvantage: Cosmetically often not satisfactory, since transplanted hairs grow in groups rather than being distributed equally.
