The surgical technique for hair baldness has seen major advances in recent years. The era of "plugs" or tufts of hairs transplanted with an average of 10 to 15 hair follicles per hole is long gone, and cosmetic results have improved quite significantly.

Unlike what some think, hair follicles do not grow one by one, but within groups of 1, 2, 3 and even 4-follicles called follicular units. The greatest technological advance in hair transplantation surgery has been our ability to microscopically separate these units of 1, 2, 3 and 4 follicles and transplant them into the bald or thinning areas as they were in the donor area, including their attachments and glands.

Today, hair transplant surgery is performed under local anesthesia with mild sedation and takes approximately three hours. The procedure involves removing small pieces of hair-growing skin grafts from the side and/or back of the head.

There are different types of grafts that can be taken :

• 1. Round-shaped grafts usually have about 10-15 hairs per piece
• 2. Mini grafts have from 2-4 hairs
• 3. Micro-grafts have 1-2 hairs each
• 4. Slit grafts, which use a different surgical technique, contain about 10 hairs
• 5. Strip grafts, longer and thinner, contain about 30 to 40 hairs

Sometimes multiple surgeries are needed to attain your desired results. Your hair type will also influence the procedure and affect the results.