Hair Transplantation

Abstract

Hair transplant as performed today has evolved over the past two decades in to a specialty by itself catching the attention of many specialists including maxillofacial surgeons who deal with defining the esthetics and perfection of the face. The advent of follicular unit micrograft and minigraft has provided a very safe, predictable and reproducible basis for establishing a natural hairline to the satisfaction of the patients. This chapter reviews and introduces the maxillofacial surgeons to the basics relevant to hair science, pathogenesis of hair loss, role of medicines, planning and execution of the two popular techniques of hair transplantation namely the follicular unit transplantation and follicular unit extraction as practiced in contemporary world today. There is an in-depth overview provided to the clinicians on the surgical details of the two popular procedures with their respective advantages and disadvantages; finally the chapter ends with description of complications commonly encountered and why maxillofacial surgeons are naturally selected to perform this highly skilled and gratifying procedure.