In hair transplant terminology, the terms graft and root are very commonly used. This is because the foundation of the hair transplant procedure is based on these concepts. Therefore, we need to know what these words mean. The term graft, in particular, will be used frequently both in this article and in other topics we will cover on our website.
What is Hair Follicle and Graft?
Hair exists in bundles called follicular units. Each individual hair within these bundles is called a ‘hair follicle’. The growing part of the hair follicle is called the hair shaft. Each of these follicular units, which are made up of hair follicles, is called a graft.
How Many Hairs Are There in 1 Graft?
A follicular unit, i.e., a hair graft, can contain between 1 and 6 hair follicles. In a hair transplant.
- Single Grafts: Used in the hairline design. This allows for a more natural appearance.
- Double Grafts: Preferred for the areas behind the single grafts.
- Triple and other multiple grafts: Should be used in the areas behind the double grafts and in the crown (vertex) region. This allows for a denser appearance.
The number of hair follicles in 1cm², which determines hair density, can vary from person to person. Let’s explain this with a simple example.
Assume that 1000 grafts are taken from a person for a hair transplant and that the numbers of grafts taken are as in the table below.
1000 greft içinde;
| Number of follicular units | Number of Grafts | Number of hair strands |
|---|---|---|
| Single hair follicle -> 300 | 300 | = 300 ( 300×1) |
| Double hair follicle -> 400 | 400 | = 800 (400×2) |
| Triple hair follicle-> 150 | 150 | = 450 (150×3) |
| Quadruple hair follicle-> 60 | 60 | = 240 (60×4) |
| Quintuple hair root-> 10 | 10 | =150 (10×5) |
| Six-hair follicle -> 5 | 5 | = 30 (5×6) |
| Total number of grafts: 1000 | Total number of hair follicles 1970 |
When we add up the numbers in the table, we will see, for example, that 1000 grafts correspond to 1970 hair strands. Therefore, the Hair Root / Graft average (the ratio of the number of hair roots to grafts) will be 1.97. The higher this ratio is, the greater the hair density. Keep this table in mind. Because the ‘hair root / graft’ ratio we provided as an example for the donor area will also apply exactly to the transplanted hairs. In other words, this ratio is a criterion that directly affects the density of the appearance to be achieved after the hair transplant. Normally, 100 grafts can contain 1.7 to 2.3 times the number of hair strands. That is, 100 grafts correspond to an average of 170-230 hair roots. This average can rarely exceed 2.5.
| Average Hair Follicle / Graft | Graft count | Number of hair strands |
|---|---|---|
| 1,5 -> | 3.000 -> x 1,5 = | 4500 |
| 2 -> | 3.000 -> x 2 = | 6.000 |
| 2.5 -> | 3.000 -> x 2.5 = | 7.500 |
Looking at the two tables above, we can say the following: It is impossible for two people who have had a hair transplant with the same number of grafts to have the same density. This depends entirely on the strength of the person’s donor hair. Because when we say “1 graft,” it sometimes consists of 1 hair follicle, sometimes 2, and sometimes 3 or more. Therefore, even if two people have had the same number of hair grafts transplanted, the result for one person may be only half as dense as the other’s.
How Many Hair Grafts Are Needed?
For a hair transplant to be successful, it must create a sufficiently dense appearance. The primary condition for achieving this density is the number of grafts to be transplanted per square centimeter. Therefore, the number of grafts a person needs must be determined before a planned hair transplant operation.
When determining this number, the following points must be taken into account.
- What is the size of the area to be transplanted: The size of the planned area in square centimeters.
- Donor Area Capacity: The total number of grafts that can be taken from the donor area between the two ears without causing visible deformation.
- The ratio of the total number of grafts to the planned transplant area: In other words, how many grafts will be placed per 1 cm² area?
Based on the answers to these 3 questions, it must be calculated pre-operatively whether the ideal hair density can be achieved.
The Norwood hair scale is very helpful to us in calculating the number of grafts needed. According to the Norwood scale, hair loss degrees are classified between 1 and 7.
The estimated number of grafts according to the Norwood scale is as follows.
| Norwood Scale | Estimated Graft Count |
|---|---|
| 2 | 500-1500 |
| 3 | 1000-2000 |
| 4 | 2500-3500 |
| 5 | 4000 |
| 6 | 5000-6000 |
| 7 | 8000 ve üzeri |
How Many Grafts Can Be Transplanted at Most in Hair Transplantation?
Actually, the answer to this question depends on the donor capacity of the individual. Up to 10,000 grafts can even be taken from a person with a very strong donor capacity. However, it is certainly not correct to extract 10,000 grafts in a single session. Likewise, it would not be appropriate to take more than maybe 1,000 grafts from a person whose donor hair is not strong.
In summary, the maximum number of grafts that can be harvested from the donor area without causing visual deformation is the most ideal number for that person. In other words, the number of grafts is a completely unique number specific to the individual.
How Many Hair Follicles Does a Person Have?
In a healthy individual without hair loss problems, there are approximately 100,000 hair strands on average. This number can vary between 100,000 and 160,000 from person to person. For example, the average number of hair strands for blondes has been calculated as 150,000. For those with black hair, it can vary between 100,000 and 120,000. There can also be rare cases of people who have over 200,000 hair strands.
How Many Grafts Are There in One Square Centimeter?
In a 20-year-old person without hair loss, an average of over 300 hair follicles (hair strands) per square centimeter is expected. However, when calculated as grafts, there are between 100 and 150 follicular units, i.e., grafts, per square centimeter.
What Does Unlimited Graft Hair Transplant Mean?
Do not rely on flashy, nonsense-filled advertisements with captivating words, and be sure not to fall into such a trap. Otherwise, your donor area could be ruined, and you could face disappointment after the hair transplant. This is because everyone has their own unique and limited donor capacity. Therefore, do not rush into deciding on a hair transplant. Research the clinic you are considering for a hair transplant and its history. Examine their results and read reviews from real people about that clinic. Immediately remove from your list any places that make promises like ‘we provide unlimited hair transplants,’ as they are never telling the truth.
How Many Grafts Should Ideally Be Taken in One Session?
The ideal number of grafts to be taken in a single day actually depends on the duration. A hair transplant operation should be completed within a maximum of 7-8 hours. An average transplant of 2000-2500 grafts can easily be completed within this time. If the planned number of grafts is between 4000-5000, the ideal approach is to split this operation over two days.