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Our Toronto Hair Transplant Surgery Team Highlight Old Vs. New Procedures

May 18, 2017 by in Patient Resources

Our Toronto Hair Transplant Surgery Team Highlight Old Vs. New Procedures

Hair Transplant

In reviewing the evolution within hair transplants in recent years, it’s useful to take a look at the progress we’ve made in the types of procedures now being completed on patients around the world. Our experts have many years’ experience within the hair transplant surgery Toronto marketplace. In this post, we’ll introduce some of the changes that have taken place while comparing older and newer forms of hair transplant treatment for Toronto patients.

Donor Dominance

The concept of donor dominance was first established in the 1950s when Dr. Norman Orentreich established that donor hair retained the characteristics from the donor site when it was moved to the new site on the patient’s head. However, transporting hair and using large grafts as part of the surgery often led to unsatisfactory results for the patient.

Plug Transplants

Hair plugs were used up until the 1990s. The earliest incarnation of the procedure involved removing small pieces of tissue with a punch tool and then removing hair from the back of the head. Plugs generally contained 20 or more hairs, which were removed in rows from the scalp. The surgeon would then remove additional circular pieces of tissue, creating small holes in the balding area. The holes were slightly smaller than the hair plugs, which would then be transplanted into the holes to give the impression of natural hair. The surgeon would finally stich the wounds to complete the procedure.

One of the more common issues with this type of hair transplant treatment was that the hair didn’t have a natural appearance. The hair would grow unevenly, and patients were often required to go back to their specialist in a short timeframe to have the procedure redone. And patients were sometimes left with off-putting scars that not only made the surgery work more noticeable but also diminished any net benefits from having the procedure.

Newer Procedures Supporting Superior Results

To mitigate the scarring and dishevelled appearance associated with having plugs placed in the patient’s head, specialists began devising new transplant techniques. In 1995, FUT (follicular unit transplantation) was devised by Drs. Bernstein and Rassman. The technique involves harvesting hair from a donor strip using stereo microscopic techniques. While initial results from the work showed promise in providing patients with natural-looking hair, some scarring was still visible on transplant patients who cut their hair short.

This eventually led to the development of the FUE (follicular unit extraction) technique. FUE involves the individual extraction of each follicular unit without removing a strip of tissue. The process allows for a shorter recovery time than with FUT treatments and, in some cases, a lower level of post-operative discomfort.

Choosing An FUE Treatment

The new FUE treatments offer hair transplant patients the best chances for success in re-growing their natural hair. But there are many considerations to make before choosing the ideal FUE treatment for you. These considerations might include:

Treatment Timeframes

How long does the treatment require, and will you have to take time away from work to recover? Any time away could add to the cost of the treatment.

Scarring

Most skilled professionals can now help patients through the FUE process with very limited scarring. But it’s important to look at the specialist’s past results to determine their skill level.

Cost

Work with your specialist to ensure you have a clear understanding of the price of the hair transplant, including any follow-up treatments.

Our Toronto Hair Transplant Clinic team is here to guide you on your latest hair loss treatment options. To learn more, call us today at 647-351-0061 and schedule a consultation with Dr. Torgerson, one of the top hair transplant surgeons in Toronto.

Brian Kessler

Brian is the manager of the Toronto Hair Transplant Clinic. He is experienced in managing different businesses and people. After the loss of their house in the fires of Fort McMurray, Brian and his family relocated to Toronto. Brian has not only moved to a new city, but also into a new position where he enjoys being able to help others who struggle with hair loss. He is also a patient of the THTC and a hair transplant recipient of 2,200 grafts.

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Brian Kessler
Brian is the manager of the Toronto Hair Transplant Clinic. He is experienced in managing different businesses and people. After the loss of their house in the fires of Fort McMurray, Brian and his family relocated to Toronto. Brian has not only moved to a new city, but also into a new position where he enjoys being able to help others who struggle with hair loss. He is also a patient of the THTC and a hair transplant recipient of 2,200 grafts.
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