What is the differences between Grafts and Hair Follicles?

Both play crucial roles in the success of a hair transplant, but they serve different functions and have distinct characteristics. Here's a simple comparison between grafts and hair follicles:

Grafts:

• Definition: In the context of a hair transplant, a graft refers to a tissue containing one or more hair follicles that are harvested from the donor area (typically the back or sides of the scalp) and transplanted into the recipient area (where hair loss has occurred).

• Composition: A graft may contain one or multiple hair follicles, along with surrounding tissue, blood vessels, and supportive structures. The number of hair follicles within a graft can vary depending on factors such as graft size and the technique used during extraction.

• Unit of Transplantation: Grafts are the units of transplantation during a hair transplant procedure. Each graft is carefully extracted from the donor area and transplanted into tiny incisions made in the recipient area to restore hair growth.

• Types of Grafts: Grafts can be categorized into different types based on the number of hair follicles they contain. Common types include single follicular units (containing one follicle), double follicular units (containing two follicles), and multi-follicular units (containing three or more follicles).

• Role in Hair Restoration: Grafts serve as the vehicles for transferring hair follicles from the donor area to the recipient area, where they take root and grow to produce new hair. The distribution and placement of grafts play a crucial role in achieving natural-looking results.

Hair Follicles:

• Definition: A hair follicle is a small, tube-like structure found in the skin that houses the hair root and provides nourishment for hair growth. Each hair follicle produces a single hair shaft that grows from the scalp.

• Anatomy: A hair follicle consists of several layers, including the hair bulb (located at the base of the follicle), the dermal papilla (which supplies nutrients to the hair bulb), and the sebaceous gland (which produces sebum to lubricate the hair shaft).

• Lifecycle: Hair follicles undergo a continuous cycle of growth, rest, and shedding. This cycle, known as the hair growth cycle, consists of three phases: anagen (growth phase), catagen (transitional phase), and telogen (resting phase).

• Sensitivity to Hormones: Hair follicles can be sensitive to hormones such as dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can contribute to male and female pattern baldness by shrinking the hair follicles over time.

• Role in Hair Transplantation: Hair follicles are the primary targets of hair transplant procedures. During the transplant process, intact hair follicles are carefully extracted from the donor area and transplanted into the recipient area to stimulate new hair growth and restore hair density.

In summary, while grafts serve as the carriers of hair follicles during a hair transplant, hair follicles are the fundamental units responsible for producing hair growth. When considering a hair transplant procedure at Formedi in Antalya, Turkey, understanding the difference between grafts and hair follicles is essential.