Hair Transplantation: New Concepts in 2005

In 2005, hair transplantation was a procedure that could create natural-looking hair for both men and women. The success of the procedure depended heavily on the initial patient consultation, where realistic expectations were set based on donor hair density, hair follicle caliber, and the rate of hair loss. Adjunctive therapies like finasteride and minoxidil were recommended as they could maintain existing hair and improve the results of the transplant by slowing hair loss and increasing hair caliber. The main limitation of hair transplantation was the amount of donor hair available. Elliptical donor harvesting was the most efficient technique for the majority of patients, allowing for the collection of 1000-2000 grafts in a short time with minimal visible scarring if the hair was longer than 2 cm. Follicular unit extraction (FUE) was an alternative for patients who preferred very short hairstyles or had concerns about scarring, but it was less efficient, yielding 500-700 grafts per session with longer operating times. Overall, the goal was to maximize perceived hair density through transplantation while managing ongoing hair loss with medication.