Hair transplantation: new concepts in 2005

This article will provide a brief review of the current concepts in hair transplantation. Currently, hair transplantation creates natural appearing transplanted hair for men and women. Patient consultation is an essential component of a successful procedure. During the consultation realistic expectations are essential and are based on the patient's donor density, caliber of hair follicle, and rate of hair loss. Alternative and adjunctive therapies such as finasteride and minoxidil should be a basic component of any consultation. The only limit to the procedure is the amount of donor hair each patient has available. For the vast majority of patients, elliptical donor harvesting provides the most efficient technique for harvesting hair. Follicular unit extraction can be a useful technique for a minority of patients.