Midline Alopecia Reduction Combined With Hair Transplantation

In the 1985 paper by Martin G. Unger and Walter P. Unger, the authors discussed the combination of alopecia reduction (AR) and hair transplantation as a treatment for male pattern baldness. They emphasized the advantages of AR, including the ability to cover larger bald areas, denser transplantation, conservation of donor areas, and improved cosmetic results, especially for those with previous unsatisfactory transplants. The paper described the surgical technique for AR, which involves excising bald scalp tissue and suturing the area, with the possibility of using general anesthesia. The authors recommended alternating between hair transplantation and AR every 6 weeks, with patients typically undergoing two to five reductions. They reported a low incidence of complications from their experience with approximately 2,000 operations and advocated for AR and mini-reductions in properly selected patients. However, the document did not provide specific patient data or outcomes.