Hair restoration has evolved significantly from it’s earliest attempts to treat male pattern baldness. Round grafts represent the earliest form of hair transplants using grafting techniques. Round grafts are groupings of 10-30 hairs placed using punch biopsies in the scalp. Multiple hair punches created the characteristic “pluggy” pattern of thick hair groups surrounding by areas of bald scalp. Round grafts were eloquently termed hair plugs and appear similar to dolls hair. Hair plugs were popular in the 1970s and 1980s when hair restoration was in it’s infancy. Round grafts and hair plugs have no place in contemporary hair restoration medicine.
Many people with hair plugs are surprised and very relieved to know that there are treatments available. The groupings of hair that were placed using a punch biopsy technique can also be excised using a biopsy technique. Dr. Kolstad and his hair team can sometimes section the round grafts into viable micrografts.
As the science of hair restoration evolved the techniques used to create and place hair grafts improved significantly. Round grafts were eventually replaced by minigrafts (groupings of 3-5 hairs) which gave way to micrografts.
Micrografts consist of a single hair follicle, hair shaft and surrounding connective tissue. Micrografts are also called follicular units (FU). Each FU contains a hair follicle, 1-4 hair shafts and surrounding connective tissue. The average number of hair shafts per follicle is 2.4. Micrografts are the most natural way of restoring a hairline and represent the most advance hair transplant technique.
Have more questions about hair transplants in San Diego? Please visit our informational page here. Don’t forget to view Dr. Kolstad’s gallery of Before & After images.
If you would like more information about Hair Plug Treatments and Hair Transplants in San Diego and would like to consult with Dr. Kolstad at his La Jolla Hair Restoration Surgery office. Give us a call at 858.859.2563 to schedule your appointment today.
We are conveniently located in La Jolla between the I5 and I805 freeways. We are dedicated to plastic surgery of the face and neck and enjoy serving men and women in La Jolla, Del Mar, San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach, Encinitas and Southern California.
