New aspects in hair transplantation for females.

[BACKGROUND] In the overall spectrum of plastic surgery, hair transplantation for females still plays a marginal role. Previously applied standard methods (standard grafts) could not produce aesthetically satisfying results, so that many female patients who could have benefitted from an operation were discouraged from doing so. It was not until the method of using minigrafts exclusively to cover large areas of androgenetic alopecia in men was developed that acceptable treatment possibilities were also made available to women.

[OBJECTIVE] The main applications of hair transplantation for females are: androgenetic alopecia, hereditary changes in the hairline, traumatic alopecia, and cosmetic indications.

[METHODS] Since 1986 all female patients were exclusively treated with mini- and micrografts in one to two or three sessions.

[RESULTS] Performing hair transplantation calls for a high degree of sensitivity on the part of the surgeon with respect to the woman and her expectations.

[CONCLUSION] With the mini- and micrograft technique new aspects in hair transplantation for females can be offered.