Introduction to the Special Issue on Hair Restoration

In 1997, Dr. Martin G. Unger expressed gratitude for being the Guest Editor of a Special Edition of The American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery focused on hair restoration surgery, acknowledging the contributing authors as highly respected in the field. He highlighted the significant growth in hair restoration procedures, with a 264% increase from 1990 to 1994, reaching over 210,000 surgeries in 1994 in the U.S. due to the 40 million men and 20 million women experiencing significant hair loss. The edition aimed to present various surgical options and techniques, with a majority of articles discussing hair transplantation, but also covering scalp reduction, lifting, tissue expansion, and flaps. Unger emphasized the importance of natural-looking results and patient satisfaction, acknowledging that no single technique suits all patients and that mastering hair restoration surgery requires years of experience.