HX09 A Cut Above: The Hair-Raising History Of Transplantation

The document traces the history of hair transplantation from ancient times to modern advancements. Early attempts, such as those by Hippocrates, were unsuccessful, but significant progress began with Dr. Menahem Hodara's surgery in 1897 and Dr. Okuda's punch hair grafts in 1939. Dr. Norman Orentreich's work in the 1950s introduced the concept of 'donor dominance,' leading to the first successful hair transplant for male pattern baldness. The 1980s saw the rise of follicular unit transplantation (FUT), which was later refined by Dr. Walter P. Unger's 'safe donor zone' concept in the 1990s. The development of follicular unit excision (FUE) in 2003 further improved the procedure by minimizing scarring and recovery time. Despite challenges like high costs and societal stigma, the hair transplantation market is growing, driven by celebrity endorsements, medical tourism, and innovations like stem cell therapies and robotic systems.