Glossary Of Terms
5 alpha-reductase – Enzyme within hair follicles
ABHRS – American Board of Hair Restoration Surgeons
Alopecia – General medical term for hair loss. Many sub categories of alopecia exist.
Alopecia areata – Hair loss disorder characterized by patchy smooth areas of hair loss on scalp. May affect up to 2% of population. Can occur slowly or with a sudden onset. Believed to be an immune disorder, although the exact cause is unknown, where mistaken signals are sent to the body and the hair is rejected.
Alopecia totalis – Hair loss affecting the entire scalp
Alopecia universalis – Hair loss on entire body. Hair follicles present but devoid of hair.
Anagen phase – Active growth
Androgenetic alopecia – Hair loss related to androgens (testosterone component) and genetic susceptibility. Usually occurs in a specific pattern
CAG’s – Coronal Angled Grafting. Angling the recipient sites to get the most natural growth.
Candidate selection – Determining qualities an individual has that would make them suitable for hair restoration.
Crown or vertex – Mid back or top of the scalp
DHT – Dihydrotestosterone. The by-product of testosterone that is responsible for hair loss in most met and women.
Dissection – Dividing the strip of donor tissue into follicular unit grafts
Donor area – The area in the back of the head from which the grafts are removed.
Donor strip – The narrow segment of tissue removed from the back of the head containing the necessary grafts.
Follicle – Single unit of hair
Follicular unit – A hair graft containing between 1-3 hairs per follicle. The amount of hair per follicle depends on the individual.
Frontal forelock – Isolated area of existing hair in the front hairline where surrounding hair has been lost. Also called an “island” or “frontal tuft”.
Frontal recessions – Frontal loss of hair presenting as deep “V”s in the front hairline
FUE – Follicular unit extraction
Graft – A hair follicle unit containing between 1- 3 hairs
IAHRS – International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons
ISHRS – International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery
Ludwig scale – Typical Female pattern hair loss scale
Microscopes – Devices used to dissect the tissue into follicular unit grafts
Miniaturization – The process of hair loss by which the follicle begins to shrink and the hairs become smaller, finer textured and eventually the follicle dies.
Norwood Scale – Typical Male pattern hair loss scale
Prone pillow – Pillow used during removal of donor tissue. Similar to a pillow used for massage.
Recipient area – Area where the grafts are placed during the hair transplant.
Session – A hair transplant surgery of grafts.
Site – Tiny recipient incision, made with a specialized instrument, into which follicular unit grafts are inserted.
Technician – Medical assistant to the hair transplant surgeon. Duties are varied, but include dissecting the tissue into single follicles and inserting the grafts into the recipient sites.
Telogen effluvium – Acceleration or “shock” loss of hair following a transplant. Diffuse hair shedding. Any condition that shifts the normal distribution of hair follicles in active phase to a higher percentage of hair follicles in the resting phase.
Sudden – Rapid or abrupt onset due to bodily stress or high fever.
Delayed – Following several months of physical or emotional stress, such as illness, childbirth, etc.
Chronic – Occurring over several years or months
Telogen phase – Resting phase
Terminal Hair – Thicker, normal hair not affected by male pattern baldness
Traction alopecia – Hair loss due to tension on scalp from tight braids, ponytails, hair extensions, etc.
Trichodynia – Painful hair. Hair loss associated with painful needle pricked feeling.
Vellus Hair – Small fine textured hairs. Lighter in color, smaller in diameter, finer textured than terminal hairs.