If you’ve considered hair transplant surgery, then you’ve probably either already done a fair amount of research or you are about to get started! Research is an important step when it comes to having any medical procedure done, and we know how confusing hair restoration research can get to those who are not familiar with the language associated with the process. Below, you’ll find a brief list of terms relevant to hair transplantation, so that you can research with confidence and fully understand your hair regrowth options!
Graft
In hair restoration, a graft is a piece of living tissue containing hair follicles that is removed from one area of the scalp and transplanted into another. The size and shape of a graft have changed over the years and depend on the procedure being performed.
Plug
If you have done research at this point, you’ve probably come across this term. A “plug” most commonly refers to a large hair graft that has been punched out of the scalp and contains many hair follicles. Because of their large size, plugs cannot be placed close enough together to simulate natural hair growth, so these types of grafts have pretty much been phased out.
Unit
As hair transplant procedures have evolved, grafts have gotten smaller. A unit, or a follicular unit graft, is a smaller hair graft containing 1, 2, 3, or 4 hairs that have grown naturally together within the donor area (the area from which grafts are taken, usually the side or back of the scalp). Units are smaller and more easily placed to simulate natural hair growth.
Donor Dominance
The donor dominance principle is what makes hair transplantation possible! It refers to the fact that healthy hair that has been transplanted from the donor area to a balding area of the scalp will continue to grow as if it had never been moved.
Are you ready to start regrowing your hair with hair transplantation? Contact our office in Kaneohe, HI!