Medications serve an important role in both the prevention and treatment of hair loss. They are particularly useful in the early stages of the balding process. There are two medications often prescribed for the treatment of common hair loss. These are the oral medication Propecia and the topical medication Rogaine (that contains minoxidil).

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Individual hair follicles are extracted from your skin and implanted elsewhere on your body during a follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplant. The hair in the new area will appear thicker as a result.

The “classic” follicular unit transplantation (FUT) technique was to be replaced by FUE. This procedure involved taking an entire piece of skin or scalp, including the follicles, and transplanting the skin to the target area.

FUE has gained popularity over FUT because it is less likely to result in a “hair plug” look, in which sections of skin or hair do not match the surrounding areas. It will also not leave a large scar like FUT.

Someone with thinning or balding hair who still has enough hair nearby to use for a transplant is the best candidate for a FUE hair transplant. If you don’t have enough healthy or thick hair to transplant to the thinning or balding area, you may be ineligible for a FUE hair transplant.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

Follicular unit transplantation, also called “FUT,” is a surgical procedure that involves:

• The removal of a strip of skin from the back of the head without it hurting.
• The hair roots are then taken out by a team of medical techs using microscopes.
• The doctor then puts these roots, called “follicular units,” into tiny cuts he or she makes in the balding or thinning areas of the scalp.
• These roots will grow new hair in about four months, after they have healed in their new places.
• The back of the head where the strip of skin was taken from is stitched shut. This is called the donor area. It heals with a straight scar that is quickly and easily covered by the hair around it. Most of the time, if more hair is needed in the future, this area can be used again.