What is Plug in Hair Transplant Surgery?

"Plugs" in hair transplant surgery refer to an outdated and less refined method of hair transplantation that was used in the past. This technique, known as punch grafting or mini-grafting, was prevalent in the 1970s and 1980s before more advanced and natural-looking methods, such as Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), became popular.

Here's how the "plug" technique worked:

Graft Size: In plug grafting, relatively large circular grafts, often ranging from 3mm to 5mm in diameter, were harvested from the donor area (typically the back or sides of the scalp). Each of these grafts contained multiple hair follicles.

Transplantation: These large grafts were then transplanted into the recipient area (the bald or thinning area) of the scalp. The problem with this technique was that the large grafts did not look natural when they grew, leading to a doll-like or "pluggy" appearance.

Aesthetic Issues: The plugs contained too many hairs for the size of the graft, resulting in an unnatural and artificial appearance. The hair would grow in clusters, which was not how natural hair grows.

Scarring: The removal of these large grafts left noticeable round scars in the donor area.

Due to the aesthetic drawbacks and the advancement of more refined techniques like FUT and FUE hair restoration in Peshawar, the use of plug grafts has become obsolete. Modern hair transplant procedures focus on creating natural-looking results by transplanting individual follicular units, which consist of one to four hairs each, in a way that mimics the natural growth pattern of hair. This approach provides a more aesthetically pleasing outcome with minimal scarring.

If you're considering a hair transplant, it's crucial to consult with a skilled and experienced hair transplant surgeon in Islamabad who uses contemporary methods like FUE or FUT to achieve natural and satisfactory results while avoiding the "plug" look associated with older techniques.