When you’re looking for hair restoration, it’s important to consider the different options. “Hair transplant” is a general term that can refer to several procedures. A Las Vegas hair restoration clinic may offer various treatment plans or specialize in just one.
Even if you don’t know much about hair restoration, a picture comes into your mind when you think about a hair transplant. Older men might think of the large, obvious “hair plugs” of the old days. But the best option for hair restoration has changed in recent years.
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) is a modern, safe, and natural-looking hair loss treatment.
Hair Loss and Hair Transplants Before Follicular Unit Transplantation
The first hair transplant surgery was designed as early as 1939, described that year by Dr. Shoji Okuda of Japan. The method he envisioned is similar to modern hair transplant processes today. However, the technology of the time was not sophisticated enough for reliable results.
In the 1950s, the “hair plug” method was pioneered by dermatologist Dr. Norman Orentreich. While he was researching the use of scalp grafts to treat various skin conditions, he realized that hair taken from certain areas of the scalp would continue to grow and thrive in bald or thinning areas.
These days, hair restoration surgery provides fuller and much more natural results than Dr. Orentreich’s methods. The tools used to harvest hair follicles for scalp grafts were far too large. Because they would “sweep” follicles from multiple different hair follicle groupings, they rarely looked aesthetically pleasing.
Around 1984, doctors realized they could achieve better results by using much smaller grafts. Each one of the grafts was removed systematically from a single strip of donor tissue instead of being “punched out” from the scalp. This important step opened the door to a great innovation.
The Origins of Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a handful of doctors – most located in Texas, California, or right here in Nevada – took the next step that changed hair restoration surgery forever. They used microscopes to dissect strips of donor tissue. This new view taught them something unexpected.
Under magnification, natural groups of follicles called “follicular units” appear. Individual follicular units could be isolated from the donor site and moved to the target site in incredibly precise ways. Follicular Unit Transplantation led to fuller, thicker hair with a totally natural appearance.
Now, advanced hair restoration clinics can move 2,500 or even more individual grafts in one session. This is known as a “mega session.” In Las Vegas hair restoration and elsewhere, it’s the gold standard – but it should only be performed by an experienced hair loss expert using the latest equipment.
Follicular Unit Transplantation leads to some significant advantages:
- Minimal damage to the skin at the donation site or to the hair follicles themselves
- “Dense packing” of hair follicles leads to full, rich hair growth with superior looks
- Speed and precision of treatment ensures less need for follow-up treatments
Get the Best Hair Transplant Surgery in Las Vegas Today
What makes for a good hair transplant has transformed over the last few years. As a Las Vegas hair restoration clinic at the forefront of the latest techniques, Advanced Medical Hair Institute offers all the expertise you need for amazing results.
Men of any age can benefit from Follicular Unit Transplantation, and the most dramatic results are often experienced by guys in their 40s, 50s, or 60s with severe, long-term hair loss. It’s not too late for a hair restoration solution. To discuss your needs with Dr. Joseph L. Williams, Schedule a Consultation Today.
