Glossary of terms used on this site

hair loss caused by inflammatory diseases of the skin (infection, inflammation, tumour, wounds, burns, …) that irrevocably destroy the hair bulb. These illnesses are not contagious nor hereditary.

responsible for secreting a lipid substance : sebum. This oily substance, mixed with sweat will lubricate the skin in order to protect it.

shedding of  existing hairs surrounding the new graft. This can be caused by lack of blood  or either by inflammation of the area during the healing process. Regrowth will occur between 2 and 3 months after the transplant.

graft containing one  follicular unit or 1 to 4 hairs (2 to 3 on average).

is the rather important capability of  suppleness  and stretching of the skull’s skin. Good laxity favours the extraction of grafts by FUE. It allows the extraction of a larger number of grafts without creating too much tension when suturing with the FUT technique.

graft implantation technique using a scalpel that creates a slot which will receive the grafts.

the strip, extracted from the back of the skull will be cut into slices or slivers.

Graft harvesting technique (FUT) where a rectangular strip is extracted by means of a scalpel.

the hair cycle’s rest phase.  It lasts between 5 and 6 weeks. The hair diminishes in size and will be pushed out by new hair in anagen phase. Hair in telogen phase can also be ripped away by brushing or washing the hair.

sudden hair loss, often copious and scattered over the entire skull. The loss of hair isn’t located in specific areas as in androgenic alopecia.

Transverse section of a hair

graft extraction and implant technique by punch  3 to 4 mm in size. Each graft contains 15 to 30 hairs

vasoconstriction is a physiological mechanism that reduces the diameter of the blood vessels.
It normally occurs as an immediate reaction to blood vessel lesions in order to stop the bleeding. It’s the first stage of haemostasis.

Vasoconstrictors (adrenalin) are substances that  narrow the blood-vessels. The clinical use of vasoconstrictors is to increase blood pressure or to locally reduce blood flow.
Adrenalin acts locally by reducing the resorption rate of the anaesthesia and by reducing blood loss.

increases the diameter of the vessels (vaso) through dilatation. This dilatation is  possible through relaxation of the muscles from the vessels walls (arteries and veins).

the upper part of the skull.

indispensable for proper functioning of enzymes. Zinc deficiency can also be associated with alopecia.