Density and Scalp Laxity

In an earlier entry, you were asked to talk about the ability to expand the lower donor scalp. Could you tell me more about why this is important.

The ability to move hair from the permanent zone around the side and back of the head to areas where it may be needed are dependent upon two factors, which are:

• the density of the hair in the donor area. The normal density measures 1250 hairs per square inch. The more the density, the more is the movable hair
• the number of square inches of scalp that can be moved depends upon the looseness of the scalp (something we call Scalp Laxity). The more square inches we can safely move, the more hair we can transplant

The ability to move more square inches of scalp with a strip excision also depends on the ability of the surgical team to place them safely into the area of need. Of course, it is important that the need for hair reflects the size of the bald area. For small bald areas, either less hair is needed or more density is needed. The ability for an experienced and skillful surgical team to place the highest density into the recipient area safely is core to the results that one can expect after a hair transplant. This varies between doctors offices and that is why the wide offerings are promoted on the internet. Some physician teams promote 5000 grafts in a single session in a fairly bald person, while other state that a lesser number is the only safe number. The safe number varies with the skills of the surgical team and nothing else.