The days of the "plugs and corn rows" are gone and the age of single hair-, micro-, and
mini- grafting has arrived. Through the use of the these variable sized hair grafts along with
new and improved instrumentation, the accomplished hair transplantation surgeons can create
a natural hair appearance that is appropriate for each individual patient. Single hair-grafts have
the finest and softest appearance. Although they do not provide much density, they do
provide the critical soft hairline that is the transition to thicker hair. Reconstructing a new
hairline is a skill requiring surgical as well as artistic skill. It is critically important to get it right
the first time and thus requires considerable forethought and planning

        Follicular units are distinct groupings of usually
        one to four terminal hairs. The follicular unit is
         thus a naturally occurring physiologic, as well
                                        as an anatomic entity.

Follicular unit transplantation offers the surgeon the ability to transplant the maximum
amount of hair with the minimum amount of non-hair bearing skin. In this way, recipient
wounds are kept small, healing is facilitated, and with proper technique, large numbers of
grafts may be safely moved per session. The use of these units helps to ensure that the
cosmetic result of the transplant will appear completely natural.

In contrast to follicular units, micrografts (1-2 hairs), and mini-grafts (3-6 hairs), are small
grafts cut randomly from donor hair, not specifically as individual intact follicular units. These
multiple units will contain extra skin that will demand larger recipient sites, which, in turn,
causes more wounding to the recipient bed and may limit the number of grafts that can
safely be transplanted in a session.

Although, it is hard to argue the superiority of the follicular unit technique in theory, in
practice, follicular unit transplantation is tedious, demanding on the physician and staff, and
requires a relatively high degree of expertise to be properly performed. Dr. Boden utilize this
technique exclusively and works with highly trained technicians who specialize in this procedure.

The evolution of microscopic dissection and follicular unit transplantation has been that this
procedure can be practical for other parts of the body including eyebrows and eyelashes.
It has also become much more viable as an alternative for female pattern hair loss which is
usually more diffuse.

The side-effects of hair transplantation surgery are relatively minor consisting of mild pain
and discomfort after the operation, swelling which may move down to the eyes, and the
formation of scabs over the grafts which take approximately one week to resolve. Serious
problems of bleeding, scarring, and infection are rare. Modern hair transplantation surgery is
comfortable, predictable, and the results are pleasing to most patients.

Hair loss, however, is a life long process; most men will develop male pattern baldness
(due to male hormones) until approximately 40-45 years of age. After that, the aging
process thins the entire head of hair. Progressive hair loss or the desire for more density
will require more transplant procedures. Modern techniques, however, allow hair transplant
surgery specialists of transplant larger number of grafts, greatly reducing the number of
procedures needed to complete the result.