The shifting preferences of patients and physicians in nonsurgical hair loss treatment.

Background: There are multiple etiologies for hair thinning and loss, including genetic, hormonal, immune, scaring, and infectious. Hair loss treatment involves both surgical intervention and nonsurgical therapies such as pharmaceuticals, haircare products, vitamins, and low-level laser therapy (LLLT). While pharmaceuticals have been extensively researched, the efficacy of other therapies remains inconclusive.

Minimizing injury to the donor area in follicular unit extraction (FUE) harvesting.

Background: Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is considered to be a minimally invasive procedure, and the injury to the donor area caused by a sharp punch may result in dermal fibrosis and clinically observed hypopigmentation.

Objective: To evaluate with advanced image processing the efficacy of using 0.9% normal saline in minimizing the injury to the donor area in FUE donor harvesting.

Ergonomics in hair restoration surgeons.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are potential sources of morbidity in hair restoration surgeons (HRS). This is particularly true for those who perform follicular unit extraction (FUE).

Objective: To describe the nature, prevalence, and extent of ergonomic or work-related MSDs among HRS.

Current practices and controversies in cosmetic hair restoration.

Background: Hair restoration surgery has evolved into a scientifically based cosmetic surgical discipline over the last half century. A recent hair surgical technique to evolve, Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), is a donor harvesting technique removing single "follicular units "one unit at a time" with a small round punch.

Objective: Describe the origins, current practices and controversies in hair restoration surgery; and challenges in adopting donor harvesting with the FUE technique.