What is hair transplantation? Where can it be increased and how does it differ from AGA treatment?

Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure that moves your own hair follicles (the roots that produce hair) from the back and sides of your head (occipital and temporal regions) to areas where you are concerned about thinning hair[1]. While you can grow new hair in hairless areas, hair in areas that were not surgically treated may continue to thin in the future. Therefore, thinning hair in areas other than where the surgery was performed requires separate ongoing treatment[2].

Which areas of the scalp can be increased with hair transplantation?

The surgical procedure directly increases hair only in the areas where follicles have been transplanted. Hair follicles are harvested one by one from the donor site (the back and sides of the head where follicles are extracted) and transplanted to areas such as the hairline and crown[1]. The range that can be transplanted is not determined by preference alone. It is determined by the donor hair density, number, and thickness[3].

The difference between AGA (androgenetic alopecia) treatment is whether hair is moved or preserved

Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure that moves hair follicles. AGA medication is a treatment that slows down thinning of existing hair. Since AGA can progress even in areas not treated by surgery, surgery and medication are not an either-or choice[2].

The two main methods of hair extraction are FUE and FUT

There are two representative extraction methods: FUE, which harvests hair follicles one by one, and FUT, which removes a strip of scalp and then separates the hair follicles[3]. The shape of the scar, the area of hair that needs to be shaved, and the amount of hair that can be harvested differ. Research directly comparing which is better is limited[1].

Why does it take time to determine the results?

The transplanted hair takes time to fall out and then regrow. After surgery, most of the transplanted hair will initially fall out. After that, new hair begins to grow from the hair follicles and becomes visible over the course of several months. The final evaluation is generally assessed at around one year post-operation[4]. It is important not to judge whether hair has taken based solely on the appearance at an early stage.

What do you decide together during the consultation?

During the consultation, we confirm the cause and progression of hair thinning, the density and quality of donor hair, and the desired area[3]. We decide together how to divide the limited donor hair between the hairline and crown, and how to continue treatment of existing hair, tailored to each individual.