Hair Transplantation for Men with Advanced Degrees of Hair Loss

January 2003 in “ Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery ”

John H. Epstein

hair transplantation follicular unit grafting frontal forelock donor hair supply finasteride minoxidil male pattern baldness Propecia Rogaine

TLDR Hair transplants using follicular unit grafting can significantly improve appearance for men with advanced hair loss.

In a 2003 study, Jeffrey S. Epstein, M.D., reported on 322 hair transplantation procedures, with 61 (approximately 20 percent) involving men with advanced male pattern baldness. The study found that follicular unit grafting and strategic creation of a frontal forelock led to excellent results and high patient satisfaction. The study highlighted the challenges of treating advanced hair loss, including the importance of maximizing donor hair supply and conserving demand through aesthetic principles. It was noted that complete scalp coverage is not achievable, but a well-planned transplant can provide the best possible outcome. Medical interventions like finasteride and minoxidil were mentioned as having limited effects in advanced cases. The average head has about 100,000 hairs, with up to 12,500 available for transplanting. The study concluded that while advanced hair loss is challenging to treat, recent techniques have significantly improved results.

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