Once the cutting edge of hair restoration procedures, the term hair plugs is hardly used nowadays. Usually, the term hair transplants or hair implants is used and people prefer these names when discussing this kind of hair restoration method. Hair plugs was actually an old term for this medical technique when it was initially used in the 50’s. At present, the procedures used by doctors is very different and very advanced compared to this old method..
It was during the 1950’s when the procedure for transplanting hair was first used in the US. The hair restoration surgeon who was usually a male would have to remove a plug of scalp where there were still living and growing hair follicles. These plugs were often taken from the posterior area of the scalp for a man who had male pattern baldness because the majority of men who have the condition do not lose hair in these areas. This plug would have 10 to 15 living hair follicles that were capable re-growing. The surgeon would make an incision in the bald section of the scalp and would insert the removed plug by sewing. It was a painful, bloody and messy operation and it needed a lot of time to heal and left noticeable scarring. The result of the hair plugs was like that of a cheap doll’s head because these tufts of hair stuck out every which way.
After more than fifty years, due to the modernization of surgical processes, a procedure was developed which is almost painless, cleaner, scar-proof and neater. This is known today as direct hair implantation where the surgeon can now remove hair follicles one by one or by their natural group of two to three. The follicles are then implanted into the bald area without creating any incisions. A special tool is used to allow this kind of manipulation and it also allows the surgeon to be in control when positioning the hair transplants so that the direction of hair growth can be patterned to the surrounding hair and the result is very natural looking. Although hair plug is a misnomer today, the improved method provides a man with male pattern baldness a way to get his full head of hair.
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