The Donor Region

The donor region in hair transplantation is the only limiting factor in the procedure. It is important that  each patient s donor region be used efficiently and for the maximum cosmetic effect.  During the consultation each patient’s donor area is carefully evaluated.  The density or amount of hair follicles per square cm, will impact the expected number of hair follicles that can be transplanted during the procedure. 

The vast majority of patients have their  hair follicles  removed as a single  thin ellipse in the donor area . The removal of the ellipse of hair follicles  does leave a scar.  A typical scar is 2- 4 inches long and  as wide as a pen line . For most patients,  their exiting hair camouflages  the sutures during the post operative period and permanently camouflages the donor scar.    The only group of patients where it could be a concern is in those that either shave their hair or wear their hair very short .  Patients need to be aware of a visible scar if they do shave their hair. 

For patients that do prefer to wear their hair very short in the back or shave, another donor harvesting technique exists called follicular unit extraction (FUE).  This technique  utilizes  a 1 mm  punch to individually harvest one to three hair follicle groupings in the donor area.  The incisions are so small that, in most cases, there is no perceptible visible scar.  The limitations of this technique include increased  damage  of hair follicles , which may  lead to decreased growth of transplanted hair.