Surgical hair restoration, an in-depth look 
Surgical hair restoration is an operation that takes hair from the back
of the head and moves it to the area of hair loss. The fringe (back
and sides) of hair on a balding scalp is known as donor dominant hair
which is the hair that will continue to grow throughout the life of
most men. The transplantation of this hair to a bald area does not
change its ability to grow. Donor dominance is the scientific basis for
the success of hair transplantation. Dr. Okuda of Japan first described
the use of transplanted hair to repair scarred eyelashes and eyebrows.
Unfortunately, the outbreak of World War II prevented his valuable
discovery from reaching the rest of the world for two decades. Dr. Norman
Orentreich published the first widely read report on hair transplantation
surgery in 1959 and modern transplant surgery was born.
Hair restoration surgery has improved in leaps and bounds over the past
decade. The days of the "plugs and corn rows" are gone and the
age of follicular unit grafting has arrived. Through the use of the these
natural hair grafts along with new and improved instrumentation, the
accomplished hair transplantation surgeons can create a natural hair
appearance that is appropriate for each individual patient. Follicular
Unit grafts have the finest and softest appearance. They provide the critical
soft hairline that is the transition to thicker hair. Reconstructing
a new hairline is a skill requiring surgical as well as artistic skill.
It is critically important to get it right the first time and thus requires
considerable forethought and planning.*
In Dr. Parsley's office, first you will be prepped and given a local anesthetic. A donor graft will then be removed from the back of your head, which will then be cut into follicular unit grafts by Dr. Parsley's team of nurses using stereomicroscopes for the most accurate cuts. Dr. Parsley marks the area to receive hair transplants and begins the process of tranplanting each graft, one graft at a time.
The time the procedure will take will be determined by the number of grafts required. Dr. Parsley will schedule surgery time based upon his years of experience with the procedure and you will be advised accordingly.
Many people return to work within a few days of their surgical hair restoration
procedure.
Click HERE to meet Dr. Parsley's surgical team.
Click HERE for more detailed patient information.
*ISHRS 2006
