History of hair transplants
Thankfully hair replacement surgery has evolved from the unnatural "hair plugs" of the early 1980's to the most natural and undetectable follicular unit hair grafting procedures of today. In the late 1980's hair plugs evolved into bisected and quadrisected hair plugs - essentially like their predecessor only smaller. We also saw the introduction of Rogaine and hair regrowth products. In the early 1990's we welcomed the minigrafting technique which included hair plugs with one, two or three hair follicles each. This led to a more natural looking transplant. However in the mid-1990's we saw the advent of micrografting, the precursor for follicular unit grafting first performed in the late 1990's.
Follicular Units...a new way to do hair transplants
An QCHR Graft employs the latest scientific knowledge about natural hair growth. We now know that hair growth occurs naturally in irregular groupings called follicular hair units of one, two, three or four hairs per unit. When a head of hair retains the integrity of these follicular hair units, hair grows as mother nature intended - so what could be more natural!
The "hair transplant" Process
Many patients ask us if the transplanted hair will ever fall out. The answer requires a brief explanation. Every patient has an area of hair (donor area) that is genetically programmed at birth to resist the hormones that cause baldness. In male pattern baldness these donor hairs are located in a horseshoe-shaped area at the very back of the head. This donor area hair is genetically programmed to grow permanently regardless of whether it remains in the back of the head or is redistributed to another area of the scalp. When grafts are created from the donor area and redistributed an area of hair loss, the grafts retain their properties of hormone resistance to baldness. Therefore, hair restoration ("hair transplants") is permanent. In other words, the location of a hair does not determine whether it will remain or fall out.
Donor Area for hair transplants
Attention to detail is imperative when obtaining grafts from the donor area. The illustration shows how grafts are obtained. While it's important that the grafts need to come from a location of permanent hair growth, the donor area also needs to be closed in a way that no one - not even your hair stylist - will be able to tell you had hair transplants. After all, you want to be able to swim, shower or ride in a convertable with the wind in your hair without the least bit of concern!
A Natural Hair line
Lets look closely at the hair line of an QCHR patient after hair transplants. As you can see, these irregular groupings or follicular hair units are found in abundance at the hairline, which allows a smooth transition from forehead skin to hair-bearing scalp. At QCHR, we isolate these follicular units under the microscope, trim them and place them in a variety of naturally occurring patterns to fill in a receding hair line. Because we trim each graft, we are able to place grafts closer together with less trauma to the scalp.
Undetectable Results
Grafts that retain the integrity of follicular hair units achieve the most natural appearing result. Creating follicular hair unit micrografts allows us to transplant more units and place the units closer together, while improving the viability (survival) of each graft. So if retaining the integrity of follicular hair units is so important, why don't all hair transplant surgeon's use this technique? We don't know except to say that honoring these principles is a more exacting procedure, is more time-consuming, requires more staff and requires greater experience and skill on the part of the surgeon.
Successful Results
Follicular hair units play a key role in a great hair restoration ("hair transplants") result however they are only the foundation. Successful hair restoration ("hair transplants") is dependent on donor area selection, alternating grafts according to density, size and texture, skillful placement with respect to angle of hair growth, and the experience and artistic talent of the hair restoration ("hair transplants") surgeon and staff.
Artistic Talent
Through your research you will learn that designing a hairline is an art. Beyond the knowledge of the dynamics of hair growth, creating a natural hairline takes experience, vision and artistic talent. While every surgeon can learn the basic principles behind hairline placement - 8 cm from the brow or avoiding a horizontal line - there remains an artistic talent on the part of the hair transplant surgeon which enables him to create a hairline that best fits an individual's facial features, age and lifestyle.
Your Research Pays Off!
At QCHR we believe that artistic talent is a gift that can best be evaluated by reviewing Before and After Photos of the surgeon's results and listening to patients who have had successful hair transplant surgery Patient Diary. Our QCHR Surgeons & Staff have years of hair transplantation experience with proven results. The surgeon's consistency with hair transplantation results is your best indicator of your own successful result.
Thanks!
On behalf of the entire QCHR staff, we hope our website contributes to your education about hair transplantation surgery. Our experienced staff of hair consultants, nurses and surgeons would be happy to answers any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you.