Use of Micrografts and Minigrafts in Hair Restoration

In 2005, Dr. Alfonso Barrera's paper discussed the use of micrografts and minigrafts in hair restoration, a technique that had become preferred for covering large areas of hair loss. The author reported transplanting up to 2500 grafts in a single session and emphasized the importance of maintaining follicular units intact to increase graft survival and hair growth. The paper noted that hair loss may slow after 40 years of age but never stops completely, necessitating a preoperative plan for natural-looking long-term results. The technique was also used in reconstructive cases like restoring sideburns, temporal hairline, eyebrows, mustache, beard, etc. Over nine years, the author treated over 500 patients without infection or hematoma, though some initially had ingrown hairs and small inclusion cysts, prevented by leaving the grafts' epidermis slightly superficial to the recipient scalp's epidermis. The author concluded that micrografting and minigrafting provided high patient satisfaction.