What is a hair graft? How many hairs are in 1 hair graft? Hair Transplant FAQ's Explained!
When looking at the various hair restoration solutions available, there are many acronyms, phrases, and medical terms that could cause confusion or might not be fully understood by those who are in their first stage of research, or trying to understand the variety of solutions available. A commonly used term when discussing hair transplants is “hair graft”. A hair graft is a small, naturally occurring group of hair follicles that are removed from the scalp during a hair transplantation procedure. The process of creating a hair graft involves carefully extracting individual hair follicles or small groups of hair follicles from the donor site, and then transplanting them to the recipient site to restore hair growth in areas that have thinned or become bald.
The types of methods to create hair grafts:
There are two main methods for creating hair grafts: Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE).
FUT, also known as Multi-Unit Hair Grafting™, involves removing hair-bearing skin from the scalp. The hair follicles are then divided into individual follicular units (which are groups of 1-4 hair follicles) under a microscope. These units are then transplanted to the recipient site.
FUE, on the other hand, involves removing individual hair follicles directly from the scalp using a specialized tool. The extracted hair follicles are then transplanted to the recipient site.
The choice of which method to use depends on the individual’s needs, the amount of hair to be transplanted, and the surgeon’s preference.
It’s important to note that hair grafts are created to mimic the natural hair growth pattern, and they are transplanted in the same direction and angle as the surrounding hair. This results in a more natural-looking hairline.
The composition of a hair graft can vary depending on the technique used for hair transplantation and the individual characteristics of the patient’s hair.
Follicular Unit Grafts:
Follicular unit grafts are comprised of one or more hair follicles grouped together in a naturally occurring cluster. These clusters typically contain between one to four individual hairs, although some follicular units may contain more under certain circumstances.
Types of Follicular Unit Grafts:
Single Hair Follicular Unit (1-Hair Graft): This type of follicular unit contains only one hair follicle. Single hair grafts are often used for creating a natural-looking hairline and for filling in sparse areas with precision.
Double Hair Follicular Unit (2-Hair Graft): A double hair graft consists of two hair follicles closely grouped together. These grafts are commonly used to add density to areas of the scalp that require more coverage.
Triple Hair Follicular Unit (3-Hair Graft): Triple hair grafts contain three hair follicles within a single cluster. They are utilized to provide even greater density and coverage in areas of significant hair loss.
Multiple Hair Follicular Unit (4-Hair Graft): Less common but still encountered, a multiple hair graft contains four hair follicles clustered together. These grafts are reserved for areas where maximum coverage and density are required.
To calculate the total number of hairs in a hair graft, one simply needs to count the individual hair follicles within the follicular unit. For example, a double hair follicular unit graft contains two hairs, a triple hair follicular unit contains three hairs, and so forth.
Techniques such as Multi-Unit Hair Grafting™ (MUHG) , allow for the transplantation of hair follicles in their naturally occurring groupings, which are known as Multi-Unit Grafts (MUGs). This mimics the natural hair growth pattern, resulting in a more natural-looking hairline. We Grow Hair Indy offers Multi-Unit Hair Grafting™ in order to provide the best, most natural results in one procedure. Typically, only 20% of our patients end up getting a second procedure, and is mainly due to having a very large area that needs to be covered, or wanting even more density.
To learn more about hair transplant procedures, watch this video of our VIP client Dave Furst on his procedure day:
Overall, a hair graft is a small, naturally occurring group of hair follicles that are removed from the scalp during a hair transplantation procedure. There are two main methods for creating hair grafts: FUT and FUE. The choice of which method to use depends on the individual’s needs, the amount of hair to be transplanted, and the surgeon’s preference. With the right approach, hair grafts can help you achieve the head of hair you desire, and boost your confidence.
