Male Pattern Baldness: Surgical Hair Restoration

Surgical hair restoration has significantly gained popularity with the improvement of technology allowing more natural results. From the times of the “plug” method, the miniaturization of grafts has allowed for improved modern procedures such as follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE). Latest techniques such as FUE can be accomplished manually, semi-automated, or with the assistance of robotic technology. Each of these methods has relative advantages and can be used together as complementary techniques for the best overall outcome. Generally, hair transplantation surgery is a three-step procedure that involves harvesting of grafts, graft preparation, and finally graft placement. Postoperative care is generally limited and centers around wound care. Complications of hair transplantation procedures are typically minimal with proper precautions. Advanced techniques in hair transplantation allow for the creation of body and facial hair using scalp hair. Similarly, body hair can be used to fill in portions of a scalp transplantation procedure. Finally, surgeons are now better able to accommodate all patient types no matter their desired hair transplantation location and hair type. Hair transplantation will continue to evolve with further technological advances and allow for mastery of natural results and improved patient comfort.