The Evolution of Hair Loss Treatment

The past several decades have seen a variety of significant technical advancements in the treatment of hair loss. The hair transplant surgeons and specialists at our Institute have prepared this special health report to map the evolution of hair loss treatment since the 1980s.

We’ve come a long way since the days of unsightly “hair plugs”, and it is our pleasure to provide an overview of exciting achievements like micrografting, advanced closure techniques, FUE/FIT transplantation, and the ARTAS® System.

Together, these achievements have helped millions of men and women realize a fuller, natural-looking head of hair where once was only balding scalp.

Micrografting

The development of the micrograft hair transplant procedure represents a significant achievement in the field of hair restoration. Many hair restoration specialists recognize micrografting as an important departure from the old days of hair plugs—pre-micrograft procedures that gained a bad reputation in the 1980s and 1990s for their conspicuous and “pluggy” appearance.

The process of micrografting starts with extracting a very thin strip of donor hair, referred to as the micrograft. Micrografts are thin, precise, and leave a much less noticeable linear scar. Then, individual hair clusters are further divided and transplanted to the restoration sites.

The development of the micrografting technique had two significant implications on the art of hair restoration. First, it meant patients could choose to effectively treat their hair loss with an advanced transplant procedure that would not produce a “pluggy” end-result. Second, micrografting paved the way for additional advancements in closure, transplantation, and restoration techniques, as discussed below.

Trichophytic Closure Technique

The trichophytic closure technique is another exciting achievement in the evolution of hair loss treatment and restoration. While the development of the micrografting technique lead to more precise donor hair removal, the development of the trichophytic closure enhanced the ability of the surgeon to reduce the appearance of the scar left by micrograft extraction.

The ‘Ledge’ Trichophtyic Closure. The “Ledge” Trichophytic Closure is a special technique that was developed by our Institute’s lead hair surgeon, Dr. Paul Rose. Dr. Rose developed this special technique to further mask the appearance of donor area scars by strategically directing individual hairs to grow through it, effectively hiding it from view as the scalp heals.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is another noteworthy achievement in the evolution of hair loss treatment, and it involves separating micrografts (discussed above) into small clusters of 1-4 individual hair follicles prior to transplantation. Once separated, the surgeon has the flexibility needed to restore the patient’s hair while maintaining natural characteristics like hairline undulation, thickness, and density.