Fundamentals

The document from 2018 provides an overview of hair restoration surgery, defining key terms such as hair follicle (HF), follicular unit (FU), hair density (HD), and follicular density (FD). It explains that a HF produces a single hair, while an FU consists of one to four hair follicles that function together. The term "graft" is discouraged due to its lack of specificity. The document details androgenetic alopecia (AGA), the most common form of hair loss, influenced by genetics, androgens, and age, and describes the Hamilton-Norwood classification for male AGA progression. It suggests that androgens may play a less significant role in female AGA, with estrogen and aromatase activity being more relevant. For male AGA, finasteride and minoxidil are recommended as combination therapy. The document also covers the principles of hair transplantation, including the retention of DHT insensitivity in transplanted hairs and the similar process of graft placement across different transplantation methods. It concludes that finasteride and minoxidil are effective treatments for male AGA with minimal side effects and stresses the importance of patient education on these therapies.