Hair Loss & Restoration Article: hair loss & restoration glossary

Hair Loss & Restoration Glossary

ALOPECIA:The medical term for baldness.

ANDROGENIC ALOPECIA:The most typical pattern of balding whereby the balding pattern is controlled by hormones.

ALOPECIA (Scalp) REDUCTION:A procedure that involves removal of a strip of balding upper scalp in the crown and vertex areas. The natural flexibility of the scalp is used to stretch the surrounding hairy scalp into place. It can be repeated in certain cases.

DONOR AREA:The fringe above the ears and around the back of the head where hair follicles are genetically programmed to remain intact and grow throughout life.

DONOR DOMINANCE:The concept that hair follicles transplanted from the donor area will continue to grow in the recipient area.

FEMALE-PATTERN BALDNESS:A pattern of baldness found in women characterized by a diffuse thinning of hair, or hair loss at the front portion of the scalp in a rectangular pattern.

GRAFTING:A variety of procedures where a strip of hair-bearing skin is removed from the lower scalp at the back of the head-the "donor area"- and transferred to the upper balding scalp. The most popular varieties are micrografting (1-2 hairs) and minigrafting (3-8 hairs). A few surgeons selectively use standard grafts which have 10-20- hairs each.

HAIR ECONOMICS:A theory that states only a limited or decreasing supply of hair exists, but the demand for hair increases as balding patterns develop.

HAIR FLAPS:Techniques to transfer large portions of hair on the sides and back of the scalp to the front and central areas of the head. Most effective when used with a tissue expander. Hair flaps represent the fastest and most complete technique to eliminate baldness for appropriate patients.

HAIR FOLLICLES:A strand of hair and its root which is extracted from the donor area and transplanted to the recipient area during hair restoration surgery.

HAIR GRAFTS:Groups of individual hair follicles extracted from the donor area for transplantation into the recipient area of the scalp.

HAIR TRANSPLANT:A surgical technique that transfers hair follicles from the donor area to the recipient area.

MALE-PATTERN BALDNESS:A genetic predisposition to lose hair at the crown or front portion of the scalp, usually caused by the male hormone testosterone. It is prevalent in both males and females.

RECIPIENT AREA:Area of the scalp where hair loss occurs and hair will be added in hair restoration procedures.

SCALP REDUCTION:A procedure that removes bald scalp and brings the hair-bearing scalp closer together. Scalp reduction is most often used in patients with posterior baldness.

SCALP ROTATION FLAPS:A type of procedure that involves the lifting and rotation of a strip of hairy scalp which is placed into an area of simultaneously removed balding skin.

TISSUE EXPANDER:A reconstructive balloon-like device which can be used to enlarge hair-bearing scalp on the sides of the head, providing a larger supply of hair with which to replace the bald areas. Often used in hair flap techniques and scalp reductions.

TISSUE EXTENDER:A device used to stretch scalp. Often used to speed up the process of scalp reductions by stretching the sides of the scalp that contain hair to achieve rapid elimination of bald areas. The tissue extender is temporarily inserted below the scalp and remains in place for a three-week period.