Hair plugs are a type of hair transplant that has been used since the mid-point of the 20th century. It involves removing large areas of hair and skin from the back of a patient’s scalp and transplanting them into balding areas.
Traditional hair plugs are rarely used nowadays since more effective techniques like follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT) have been developed. However, many people still refer to these newer hair transplantation techniques as hair plugs.
Hair loss is a natural part of life. Men and women have an increased risk of losing some of their hair as they age. It can affect the way they see themselves, but treatments like hair transplants can be used to restore lost hair.
Addressing balding with hair plugs
Hair plugs were one of the first techniques developed to transplant hair to balding areas of a patient’s scalp. The procedure included extracting round sections of hair and skin – called plugs – from the back of the head and transplanting them in bald areas. These plugs are typically around 4 millimeters in diameter.
The old way of transplanting hair is not as effective as modern techniques, and it can create a hairline that looks unnatural. Let us take a closer look at some of the newer ways to transplant hair.
1. Follicular unit transplantation
The FUT technique started replacing traditional hair plugs in the early 2000s. The procedure involves a surgeon cutting out a strip of skin from the patient’s scalp and extracting hair follicles. The skin and follicles are then transferred to balding spots.
Individually transplanting hair follicles leads to a more natural look than what traditional hair plugs provide. FUT is often recommended if the patient has significant hair loss, and it is often the most affordable alternative.
2. Follicular unit extraction
This is a newer approach than the FUT method. It includes removing individual hair follicles from the patient’s scalp instead of cutting out a strip or plug of skin. Patients often have to shave off part of their hair when getting this treatment. FUE is the most commonly used hair transplantation technique nowadays, and it provides a few benefits over FUT and traditional hair plugs like:
- Shorter recovery period after the treatment
- It causes less scarring and pain
- Works well on patients with lower hair density
3. Stem cell hair transplant
A stem cell hair transplant involves taking a tiny skin sample of the patient’s scalp and replicating their hair molecules in a lab. The jury is still out on this approach's effectiveness when addressing baldness, but the technique has lots of potential.
Explore hair transplants
Baldness is one of those things many people deal with as they age, but you do not have to accept it. Modern hair transplantation techniques can be used to restore hair to bald areas of your scalp, improving your appearance. Tired of your bald spot? Give us a call or stop by our Schaumburg clinic to set up an appointment with our doctor.
Request an appointment here: http://dillonhair.com or call Dillon Hair Restoration at (800) 518-9307 for an appointment in our Schaumburg office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Hair Plugs in Schaumburg, IL.
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