Are Donor Follicular Units Unlimited in a Hair Transplant?

When performing a hair transplant, the donor area is extremely important. This is where the follicular units are extracted to repopulate the recipient area affected by hair loss. Therefore, it is important to understand whether follicular units are unlimited.

During the diagnostic and assessment consultation with Dr. Espinosa Custodio, we can calculate, using the HairMetrix by Canfield dermatoscope, the density per square centimetre in the donor area and identify the best areas for extraction. This will always be related to the patient’s degree of hair loss.

As mentioned above, the follicular units available in the donor area are finite. The follicles are extracted from the occipital and parietal regions, and the number that can be harvested depends on the density of these areas. Thanks to the prior assessment carried out by our team, we can determine with great accuracy the number of follicles available for the hair transplant.

In addition, understanding the health of the hair is another key factor in achieving an optimal result. The follicle is living tissue and, once outside the body, it gradually deteriorates over time. The excellence protocol established by Dr. Espinosa Custodio at Instituto Médico del Prado means that no more than 2,000 to 2,200 follicular units are implanted per session. This approach ensures that all follicles survive in the transplanted area and that every graft is placed correctly, taking into account the direction, depth, and position of each one.

Following this protocol, it is common at Instituto Médico del Prado for hair transplants to be scheduled over two separate sessions on different days. During the first session, the focus is on restoring density to the areas affected by hair loss. The second session is dedicated to creating the hairline and frontal area, while also increasing density to achieve the most natural result possible without leaving visible gaps.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do we have unlimited follicular units available for a hair transplant?

No, follicular units are limited. This is because a follicle extracted from the donor area is not replaced. However, this will not have a visible impact on the donor area. The remaining density is usually high enough that it will not appear as though follicles have been removed.

Can follicles be taken from other parts of the body?

Yes, follicles can be harvested from other parts of the body, such as the beard or chest, although this is not a technique that Dr. Espinosa Custodio routinely recommends.

Is the density of the donor area guaranteed after the transplant?

Yes, provided that all the doctor’s instructions are followed. The analysis carried out with the HairMetrix by Canfield system allows us to determine the average density of the donor area and, therefore, calculate how many follicles can be safely extracted.

What is the difference between a follicle and a follicular unit?

A follicular unit is a natural grouping of different follicles and may contain anywhere from one to six individual follicles. A follicle, on the other hand, is the individual hair structure itself. Therefore, what is transplanted during a hair transplant is the follicular unit.

Dr. Espinosa Custodio works at Instituto Médico del Prado, his hair clinic in Madrid, and performs hair transplants in Mexico, twice a year. If you would like to make an appointment, you can contact us on +34 912 468 664, on WhatsApp +34 627 396 322 or on the contact page of our website. From Mexico you can contact us at +52 55 4590 9909.