Norman Orentreich, The Father of Hair Transplantation

Norman Orentreich, MD, is recognized for pioneering the field of hair transplantation. In 1952, he performed the first hair transplantation surgery to treat male pattern baldness. His 1959 publication introduced the concept of "donor dominance," suggesting that transplanted hair maintains the characteristics of the donor site. Orentreich's initial technique involved using a hand punch to create large circular grafts, or "plugs," which could result in a "doll's head" appearance due to the need for spacing to maintain blood supply. This led to the necessity for multiple procedures to achieve a natural look, which initially gave hair restoration a negative reputation. Despite this, Orentreich's work laid the foundation for modern techniques such as combination mini-micro grafting and follicular unit transplantation, which have significantly improved the naturalness and outcomes of hair restoration procedures. Additionally, Orentreich founded the Orentreich Foundation for the Advancement of Science and was involved in the development of the Clinique cosmetic brand.