Micro, mini and slit grafts are the most common surgical methods to restore hair growth. The same principles of pre operative, operative, and post operative care apply to the other procedures as well. What is cut and where it is placed is what varies.

The following steps are those taken in preparation for a transplant procedure:

It is advisable not to drink any alcohol or take medications containing acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) for 10 days before the surgery since these substances encourage bleeding. It is also important to inform the surgeon of other medications you might be taking as these could have adverse effects, particularly with respect to bleeding. If indicated, blood tests may be ordered.

The hair is allowed to grow at least 3 inches prior to the surgery.

The hair is shampooed with regular shampoo the night before or the morning of surgery. Hair spray and other grooming products should not be used once the hair is clean.

The first step is to remove the graft from the donor area, or back and sides of the head:

A row of hair at the back of the head is raised, and taped or clipped out of the way Then the hair to be transplanted is trimmed close to the scalp.

The area is anesthetized locally and narrow bands or strips of skin and hair are removed. The density of the hair in the area will determine the number of grafts that the strips will yield. Two strips will usually yield 200 to 300 grafts of 1 to 5 hairs.

While the donor site is being sutured closed, the strips are cut into mini grafts which are trimmed and spicules of hair (hairs with no roots) are removed. The grafts are then stored in cool saline while the recipient slits are being prepared on top of the head. The taped hair above the donor site is released to hide the sutures.

Once the donor area has been sutured, the recipient area is anesthetized and the slits where the grafts are to be placed are cut. They are approximately 2 to 4 mm long. The recipient slits are generally made in rows following the path of a new hairline.

The hair grafts are then rapidly inserted into the slits so the angle of the hair is in a forward position. The degree of the angle is determined by the extent of hair loss, the hairline adjacent to the transplanted area, and the way in which the hair is combed.

Gentle pressure is applied to the grafts during surgery and subsequently by a turbanlike bandage which covers the donor and the recipient sites and is left in place for 24 hours.

The time the total procedure takes varies according to the physician performing the surgery, the number of grafts, and any complications that may arise. As a general rule, it takes about 2 hours.