General
Formerly, the treatment of hair loss proved to be an almost insoluble
therapeutical problem. But, nowadays for many forms of hair loss it is
possible - with the help of the most advanced technique - to eliminate
it by using hair transplantation. The most frequent form of hair transplantation is the mini- and micro graft technique. A micro graft contains one to two hairs with a diameter of 0.7 to 0.9 mm, a mini graft consists of three to five hairs with a diameter of 1.0 to 1.2 mm. Per session up to 1500 of those transplants can be implanted.
Mini and micro transplants
Since the introduction of hair transplants about 1 milliontransplantations have been implemented. This method isn't experimental anymore,but common practice in operative dermatology. In 1930 a Japanese surgeon, Okuda, implemented the first hair transplantation by transplanting bunches from a hairy toa hairless part of the scalp. This method had been forgotten until 1955, when the American surgeon, Norman Ohrentreich, put it into practice again. Using this methodaccording to Okuda/Ohrentreich, single skin cylinders with a diameter of 3 to 4,5 mm are extracted from donor areas and transplanted to bald areas. These transplants arerelatively large. To avoid necrosis of the transplants, they have to be implanted within a certain distance. Therefore, even after several surgeries they are still visible as tufts.In the 80's the mini-and micro graft method was introduced by Marrit. It was developedfrom the original "skin islet" method by Okuda/Ohrentreich.
A mini transplant has a diameter of 1,0 to 1,2 mm and contains 3-6 hairs. A micro transplant has a diameter of 0,7 to 0,9 and contains 1-2 hairs.
Hair transplantation makes it possible to increase the hair density of the recipient area, at the expense of the donor area. That means that many, but certainly not all of the patient's expectationscan be met.
In order to attain the greatest possible patient satisfaction, his or her expectations have to be evaluated in a detailed interview. For instance, if the bald area is largerthan the donor area it is generally impossible to obtain "youthful" hair density. The face shape as well as density, structure and colour of the donor area furthermore determinethe possibilities and limits of hair transplantation with mini-and micro grafts.
Each individual's hair plays the deciding role in estimating donor capacity. The most unfavourable conceivable course of continued hair loss has to be anticipated. As a consequence,the most important pre-requisit for a long term successful hair transplantation is a consistent therapy plan - which considers both the general aging process and the individual'sform of baldness. This plan has to include a sufficient hair reserve from the start, so possible further advancing hair loss can be corrected by successive treatments. We exclusively practice mini-and micro transplants. Critical areas are the anterior frontal lineor the back vertical area. In these areas we exclusively use micro transplants.
The hair needs to grow in the direction nature intended it to. The density should not be too unequal, but rather should be as homogeneous as possible. The hair line has to match with the proportions offace, brow and shape of the head.
