A technique for hair-grafting in between existing follicles in patients with early pattern baldness.

[BACKGROUND] When using follicular hair transplantation on patients with early male or female pattern baldness, there can be significant trauma to preexisting hair follicles. This becomes especially important in view of the fact that finastride and minoxidil can stop or slow hair loss.

[OBJECTIVE] To develop a system that averts damage to preexisting hair follicles in patients with early male or female pattern baldness.

[METHODS] A Lutex headlight (2.5-3.5x loupe magnification system) is used to make 1.0-1.5 mm spear incisions in between the hair follicles in patients with early male or female pattern balding. Magnification is also utilized during the graft cutting and placement phases of the operation.

[RESULTS] This headlight-loupe magnification system has dramatically decreased the amount of permanent hair loss and anagen effluvium on 144 patients with early male and female pattern baldness. With less permanent hair loss there is greater density observed with each progressive session.

[CONCLUSION] Hair surgeons now have a method to consistently and significantly minimize the amount of damage to preexisting hair follicles in patients in the early stages of male and female pattern baldness. This becomes even more important in light of the fact that more and more patients are using finastride or minoxidil to stop the thinning process. Existing hairs can therefore be preserved.