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State-of-the-Art Surgical Technique

Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD

Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2003;5:439-444.

The goal in hair restoration is natural-appearing results. Improvements in the field of hair transplantation have developed with this goal in mind. The most recent development is the follicular-unit grafting technique, which relies on microscopic dissection to produce grafts, each containing a follicular unit, the natural bundling of 1 to 4 hairs, with a minimum amount of non–hair-bearing surrounding skin. For patients desiring surgical hair restoration, proponents of follicular-unit grafting advocate the technique for its superior results. Detractors point to the technical challenges of performing the procedure and the need for a staff of trained assistants for the microscopic dissection. What is clear is that this demanding procedure is taking the field of hair restoration the closest ever to its ultimate goal—undetectability.

From the University of Miami, Miami, Fla. Dr Epstein is also in private practice in Miami, Fla.