Hair Transplantation: Standard Guidelines of Care

The document from 15 years ago provided standard guidelines for hair transplantation, a surgical method of hair restoration. The physician performing the procedure should have completed post-graduation training in dermatology and specific hair transplantation training. The procedure can be performed safely in an outpatient day case dermatosurgical facility. Indications for hair transplantation include pattern hair loss in males and females, and in selected cases of scarring alopecia, eyebrows, and eyelashes. The gold standard method of hair transplantation is follicular unit hair transplantation, which preserves the natural architecture of the hair units. The procedure can be performed in any person with pattern hair loss, with a good donor area, in good general health, and reasonable expectations. Most patients will need concurrent medical treatment since the process of pattern hair loss is progressive. The procedure requires a well-trained team of assistants, and a minimum density of 35-45 units per sq cm is recommended for transplantation.