In 1939 the first hair transplant procedure was performed in Japan. Afterwards, Dr Shoji Okuda, a Japanese surgeon, wrote a series of five papers describing his technique. The surgery he described was remarkably similar to our modern hair transplant procedure. Because of World War II his work was unnoticed until many years later when the papers were translated from Japanese to English.
This year the ISHRS invited Dr Okuda’s grandson to come to Chicago to receive a tribute for his Grandfather’s original work in hair transplant surgery.
Dr. Schwinning was honored to be selected as one of the hosts to escort Dr Okuda and his family to a tribute dinner. During the dinner he related stories of his grandfather and his unbelievable original work on hair restoration. Dr. Schwinning and his wife Angela were also invited to visit Japan to see his home and operating theater. (Click on images below to enlarge to full image.)