Current Practices and Controversies in Cosmetic Hair Restoration

March 2013 in “ Dermatologic Surgery ”

Kenneth C. Williams

Follicular Unit Transplantation Follicular Unit Extraction FUT FUE hair restoration scalp flaps transection rates hair surgeries natural-looking hairlines automation of FUE hair transplant hair restoration surgery

Studysummary This review discusses the evolution and current practices of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) in hair restoration surgery, reporting comparable patient outcomes to Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), though noting controversies in its adoption. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

In 2013, the document outlined the evolution of cosmetic hair restoration, detailing the advancements from early scalp flaps to the development of Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and the emergence of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). FUE, which harvests individual follicular units, became more popular due to technological improvements that allowed for lower transection rates and the ability to harvest more follicles in one session. The document highlighted the need for more scientific studies to directly compare FUE and FUT, while also addressing the ethical concerns of nonphysicians performing hair surgeries. It concluded by emphasizing the significant progress in creating natural-looking hairlines and the automation of FUE, urging physicians to be well-trained in these procedures and to adhere to ethical and legal standards in hair restoration surgery.

View this study on journals.lww.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

5 / 5 results

research Dr. Shoji Okuda (1886-1962): The Great Pioneer of Punch Graft Hair Transplantation

19 citations , September 2009 in “The Journal of Dermatology”

This article discusses the contributions of Dr. Shoji Okuda to the field of hair transplantation and reports no new research findings.

research A Review of Modern Surgical Hair Restoration Techniques

27 citations , January 2008 in “Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery”

This review examines the progression of hair restoration techniques from early methods to modern follicular unit transplantation and presents no new clinical results.

research The Aesthetics of Follicular Transplantation

67 citations , September 1997 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

This article explores aesthetic techniques in follicular hair transplantation, emphasizing natural-looking results and plans to present a case study, but it reports no new clinical findings.

research Follicular Transplantation

72 citations , September 1997 in “Dermatologic Surgery”

This review discusses follicular transplantation for hair restoration, highlighting the importance of evaluating patient suitability and careful planning to achieve excellent cosmetic outcomes, but reports no new research findings.

research Elliptical Donor Stereoscopically Assisted Micrografting as an Approach to Further Refinement in Hair Transplantation

172 citations , December 1994 in “The Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology”

This study introduces a hair transplantation method combining elliptical excision and micrografting, suggesting it provides significant cosmetic improvements for androgenetic alopecia.