Follicular Unit: Natural groupings of hair that grow together as a group in the scalp and share the same blood supply.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE): Modification of the standard follicular unit transplant where follicular units are removed individually from the donor area.
Follicular Unit Transplantation: An advanced form of hair transplantation in which the surgeon harvests hair in naturally occurring follicular units and grafts them to balding sections of the scalp.
Free Flap: A surgical procedure in which a wide strip of scalp from the side/back of the head is excised and then transferred to the frontal area of the scalp to form a hairline.
Frontal Alopecia: Hair loss at the front of the head.
Gene Therapy: A treatment method that involves the manipulation of an individual’s genetic makeup. It attempts to fix the defective gene which is causing the disease.
Genetic: Pertaining to genes or any of their effects. A gene is the smallest physical piece of heredity. It determines what features we will pass on to our children as well as which ones we have gained from our biological parents.
Grafting: A variety of procedures describing the removal of hair-bearing scalp from the back of the head to a recipient site. The most widely used types of grafting are slit grafts, micrografting, and minigrafting (all outdated). Grafts: Transplanted hair.
Gynecomastia: Excessive development of the male breasts.
Hair Lift: Surgical procedure used to eliminate large areas of bald scalp by lifting and advancing the entire hair-bearing scalp in an upward and forward direction.
Hair Cloning: Currently not available, but cloning hair may make it possible for you to have an unlimited crop of donor hair for a hair transplant.
Hair Integration: See hair weaving.
Hair Intensification: See hair weaving.
Hair Matrix: Region where hair and the structures that compose it (cortex, cuticle, and medulla) are made.
Hair Multiplication: Currently not available; same theory as hair cloning. Individual hair strands will be multiplied or duplicated to create more available donor area for transplantation.
Hair Shaft: Filament (hair) projecting from the epidermis that provides protection and warmth.
Hair Weaving: A process by which a hairpiece (synthetic or human hair) is attached to existing hair on scalp through braiding or another interweaving process.
Hamilton Scale: Method used to rate hair loss. See also Norwood Scale.
Hirsutism: Excessive growth of hair of normal or abnormal distribution.
Hormonal: Pertaining to hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers that are usually carried by the bloodstream. They exert their effects on specific target organs.
Hypertrichosis: Excessive growth of hair all over the body.
Hypothyroid: Deficiency of thyroid hormone normally made by the thyroid gland, located at the front of the neck. Hypothyroidism can result in hair loss.
Inflammatory: Pertaining to inflammation. Inflammation is the process whereby the body reacts to injury or abnormal stimulants.