Hair is much more complicated than it appears. It helps transmit sensory information and creates gender identity. Hair is important to the appearance of men and women. There is hair on all the major visible surfaces of the body but the hair on the head is the most likely to be lost.
Structure of the hair
Before considering the scalp as a whole, it is relevant to consider the structure of the hair follicle. Hair follicles are the prize in hair transplant surgery and the skilful harvesting and replanting of them is the essence of high quality hair transplantation.
The hair follicle
For the above reason, in modern hair transplant surgery for male pattern baldness, great emphasis is placed on the follicular unit as a discrete entity.
About the Author
DR Maurice Collins
Consultant Surgeon
MB, B.Ch, BAO, DLO, FRCSI, FRCS, FRCSEd.
Registered with the Medical Council of Ireland
Dr Collins is Medical Director and Team Principal of Hair Restoration Blackrock. He was educated at Belvedere College Dublin and did his undergraduate medical studies at University College Dublin. After graduating as a doctor he trained in General Surgery and received his Fellowship (FRCSI) in this specialty from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Find out more about DR Maurice Collins and our team of doctors and surgeons.
