The technology used to transplant hair root grafts is only about 60 years old. Compared with facial and body cosmetic surgeries, that’s extremely recent.
Since the first documented procedure in 1952, methods have evolved into the realistic and natural-looking process that is sought after today.
The earlier grafts were roughly the diameter of a pencil. Yikes! Those giant hair plugs could be taken from areas of dense growth that were resistant to the DHT hormone that causes hair loss and then surgically transplanted to balding regions. The results were mixed, both in terms of medical take rate and the aesthetic effects created. This particular “hair plug” technique was the mainstay of hair transplantation all the way up to the 1980s, which is why some people today still cringe to remember rows of hair bunches planted awkwardly on balding heads.
Smaller mini-grafts became more prevalent in the mid-80s and utilized hand-dissected, smaller pieces taken from an excised strip. The smaller grafts containing only a few hairs did wonders for increasing the aesthetic success of the procedure, but the trade-off was a long, visible scar at the back. Because removing scalp tissue results in a tighter scalp, sometimes this tension on the healing surgical incision also leads to a widening and challenging scar.
Multiple attempts to improve on this technique have promptly failed on all fronts. They include laser implant site creation and the surgical transplantation of large sections of scalp. The strip method remained the procedure with the most pros and fewest cons until recent years. The old follicular unit extraction technique was perfected to allow the tiniest micro-follicle extractions and to implant them in micro-slits. With punches being quite superficial and as small as 0.8mm wide, the resulting trauma is greatly minimized, and the procedure can be done so skillfully that no sign of injury results.
Style matters
The implantation of grafts following the natural direction, density, and pattern of real hair is also incredibly important. This is one reason why micro-extractions should be carried out by a certified hair transplant surgeon, not an unlicensed technician. An artistic eye is essential to avoid creating scars and visible donor depletion. A realistic-looking hairline depends on it. Your surgeon should possess plenty of direct experience and understanding of progressive hair loss so that treatment accounts for the long-term changes you expect. It’s not enough just to choose FUE in Toronto. A hair transplant that ages well is possible only with a well-established, top hair transplant clinic.
