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Grafts are tiny pieces of skin that contain hair follicles and are used in hair transplants to fill bald or sparsely haired areas on the scalp. These pieces of skin are crucial for the success of a hair transplant, as they form the basis for new hair growth and enable a natural appearance.
Depending on the method, grafts can vary in size and shape and usually contain one to four hair follicles. There are different types of grafts, such as micrografts, which contain one to two hair follicles and provide a natural hair density and line, and minigrafts, which contain three to four hair follicles and are suitable for larger areas that require more hair coverage. Another common method is Follicular Unit Grafts (FUG), which consist of natural hair follicle units and contain one to four hair follicles.
The grafts are harvested using different procedures. In follicular unit transplantation (FUT), a strip of skin is removed from the donor area, usually the back of the head, and prepared into individual grafts. This method leaves a linear scar. The Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) method, on the other hand, removes the grafts individually directly from the donor area, which means there is no linear scar and healing is faster and less noticeable.
The grafts are inserted into tiny incisions in the recipient area of the scalp. This process requires great care to ensure a natural growth pattern and to achieve the desired hair density. The number of grafts required depends on the size of the area to be treated and the desired hair density.
After transplantation, the grafts usually start to grow after a few weeks. However, it can take several months for the new hair to fully grow and for the final result to become visible. During the healing phase, it is important to look after the transplanted area carefully and follow the doctor’s instructions precisely in order to achieve optimal results and avoid complications.
