Question:
Is there any difference between a hair graft and a micro-follicular unit hair transplant?

Answer:
A hair graft is any type of graft that is used in the process of hair transplantation. A micro-follicular hair transplant consists of only micro-follicular units.

Micro-follicular units can only be dissected using microscopes. When a strip of donor tissue is removed from the donor area, it is placed under the microscope for magnification. There are natural occurring clusters of hairs in groups of either 1, 2, 3 or 4 hairs. During micro-follicular unit transplantation, these little individual groupings are kept intact with the clusters just divided and separated into groups of either 1, 2, 3 or 4 hairs.

In comparison, mini and micro-grafting or regular hair graft surgery is a much quicker process and can be done without the aid of microscopes. Generally, the grafts are much larger in non-follicular unit transplantation surgery and the recipient incisions need to be larger and spaced farther apart.

In my experience a more natural look can be obtained when using strictly micro-follicular unit transplants.

Posted by: Dr. Charles