ALOPECIA
The medical term for baldness.
ANDROGENIC ALOPECIA
The most typical pattern of balding whereby the balding pattern is controlled by hormones and passed along via heredity.
ALOPECIA REDUCTION
A procedure that involves removal of a strip of balding upper scalp in the crown and vertex areas. The natural flexibility of the scalp is used to stretch the surrounding hairy scalp into place. It can be repeated in certain cases. See also “Scalp Reduction.”
CROWN AREA
The area in the top/back portion of the head which contains a swirl or spiral pattern of hair growth. Also called the ‘vertex,’ it may be the first area where male pattern baldness is noticed.
DONOR AREA
The fringe above the ears and around the back of the head where hair follicles are genetically programmed to remain intact and grow throughout life.
DONOR DOMINANCE
The concept that hair follicles transplanted from the donor area will continue to grow in the recipient area.
FEMALE PATTERN BALDNESS
A hereditary pattern of baldness found in women typically characterized by a diffuse thinning of hair and/or hair loss at the front portion of the scalp behind the frontal hairline. May or may not include a slight recession or thinning in the temples and only very rarely ends in complete baldness at the top of the scalp. Also called “Female Hereditary Hair Thinning.”
FOLLICULAR UNIT
A follicular unit is a naturally occurring grouping of one, two, or three (and rarely, four) hair follicles found in the skin. The average follicular unit contains about 2.4 hairs.
FOLLICULAR UNIT EXTRACTION (FUE OR FOX)
Follicular Unit Extraction is a method of extracting single follicular units, one at a time, from the donor site by using a tiny punch excision. A punch used to extract single follicular units is typically 1mm diameter or less.
FOLLICULAR UNIT GRAFT
A graft consisting of a single follicular unit. In appropriate patients, artistic planning – in addition to the correct angulation, orientation, and positioning of follicular unit grafts – can yield an exceptionally “natural” appearance of the transplanted hair.
FOLLICULAR UNIT MICROGRAFTING
A method by which large numbers of follicular units are harvested from the donor site (usually in a long strip or ellipse) and then microscopically dissected into grafts containing single follicular units.
GRAFTING
A variety of procedures where hair-bearing skin is removed from the lower scalp at the back of the head-the “donor area”-and transferred to thinning or balding areas. The most popular varieties are micrografting (1-2 hairs) and minigrafting (3-8 hairs). A few surgeons selectively use round grafts which have 10-20- hairs each.
HAIR ECONOMICS
A theory that states only a limited or decreasing supply of hair exists, but the demand for hair increases as balding patterns develop.
HAIR FLAPS
Techniques to rotate large portions of hair from the sides and back of the scalp to the front and central areas of the head. Most effective when used with a tissue expander. See also “Scalp Rotation Flaps.”
HAIR FOLLICLE
A strand of hair and its root which is extracted from the donor area and transplanted to the recipient area during hair restoration surgery.
HAIR GRAFTS
Hair follicles that have been harvested from the donor area and are ready for transplantation into the recipient area of the scalp. The numbers of hair follicles per graft vary widely depending upon the transplantation technique used. A graft may contain a single hair follicle, a single follicular unit, multiple follicular units, or even 20 or more follicles (as in a large round graft).
HAIR “PLUGS”
A slang term typically used to describe the large round grafts that were used more commonly years ago.
HAIR TRANSPLANT
A surgical technique that transfers hair follicles from the donor area to the recipient area.
HAIRLINE REFINEMENT
Hairline Refinement or “Hairline Correction” refers to the use of a variety of newer, more delicate grafting techniques to alter, camouflage or soften the “pluggy” looking results of older hair transplant techniques.
MALE PATTERN BALDNESS
An inherited condition in men which is triggered by the hormone Dihydrotestosterone which causes gradual miniaturization (and eventual loss) of hair follicles. Starting anytime after puberty with a recession of the hairline and thinning of the crown areas, it can eventually lead to complete baldness at the top of the scalp. The areas around the sides and back of the scalp are not typically affected by male pattern baldness.
MICROGRAFT
A graft containing 1 or 2 hairs, obtained from the donor area with a micropunch or sliced off from a round graft (see below). A micrograft is typically placed into holes made in the scalp with a microneedle or punch.
MINIGRAFT
A graft containing 3 or 4 hairs (small minigraft) or 5 or 6 hairs (large minigraft). There are many variations of minigrafts derived from round grafts.
MULTI-UNIT GRAFTS (MUG)
Grafts that contain two or more follicular units in a single graft. This term replaces the older “minigraft”. In practice today, MUGs contain 2-6 follicular units per graft.
RECIPIENT AREA
Area where hair loss has occurred and hair follicles will be implanted during a hair transplant procedure.
SCALP REDUCTION
A procedure that removes bald scalp and brings the edges of hair-bearing scalp closer together. Scalp reduction is most often used in patients with crown baldness. See also “Alopecia Reduction.”
VERTEX AREA
The area in the top/back portion of the head which contains a swirl or spiral pattern of hair growth. Also called the ‘crown,’ it may be the first area where male pattern baldness is noticed.