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Wonderful Hair Plugs

By: Tim Vincent Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Hair plugs are a method of transplanting follicles that has been used for a number of years now. Hair transplants involve the taking of hair from the back or sides of the head and then relocating it in a bald or thinning area. This relies on the fact that hair in these areas is genetically organised to carry on growing during a person's whole life. They will carry on growing no matter where they are relocated. These regions of the head are therefore ideal donor sites for getting the hair plugs required for the transplant.

Hair plugs relates to the size and shape of the donor skin area that is cut away in the transplant surgery. During this technique a circular cutting punch called a trephine is used to remove a circular area of scalp complete with viable hair follicles. This is called the plug. It is in reality a circular scalp graft. The grafts are usually between 2 and 5 mm in breadth. Up to 5 or six hundred of these hair grafts can be taken from a single patient. But, during one surgical session it is usual for between fifty and 100 to be removed from the donor site.

A slightly smaller round trephine punch is then used to remove skin in the new area of scalp where the hair plug is to be placed. This ensures that the scalp and graft edges heal together better and leave less scarring. The skill in using hair plug sorts of grafts is in defining their purpose. Firstly they were used in all scalp locations. However, it was found that if they are used near the hair line they give a very unnatural look. This has often been called dolls hair due to it looking like the way in which hair is put into the head of a child's doll. Of course people have been very vocal about their use in this way. It has been decided that they can, however, be used in a useful way on the crown of the head. Here they give bulk to the hair mass and therefore fulfill a very important role. Other methods are then used at the hair line to make the over all transplant appear far more natural.

Hair plugs haven't gone away, they have just been given a name change. They are now refered to as mini grafts. Although these are smaller than the traditional ones they act in essentially the same way and are still used to give that great bulk to the general hair transplant. Littler micro grafts are then used around these larger bulking grafts and in the hair line giving the edges of the transplant with a greater natural softer appearance.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: There are a number of different hair transplant techniques. Only with all of the facts at hand can people be expected to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages without having to just accept sales hype. Further information on the alternatives for people looking into hair replacement and hair treatment can be found on T J Vincent’s web site Hair Plugs