Old: Plugs
Large 4mm punches of 15–20 hairs transplanted in rows — visible tufting, doll-like spacing, and noticeable donor scarring.
— Hair Restoration · Atlanta Metro
Why hair plugs are a thing of the past.
Per session
1 follicle·
Modern FUE moves individual follicular units, not large plugs.
Flat rate
$6,995·
NeoGraft FUE, up to 3,000 grafts.
Scarring
No strip·
No linear donor scar, unlike old plug and strip methods.
Recovery
~1wk·
Back to normal activity in about a week.
— What Changed
The technology went from punching plugs to placing single follicles.
Classic hair plugs were 4mm punches of scalp — 15 to 20 hairs in a clump — transplanted in rows. They grew, but in obvious tufts with visible spacing, the "doll’s hair" look that made a transplant easy to spot from across a room.
FUE (follicular unit extraction) and FUT made plugs obsolete by working at the level of the natural follicular unit, which contains just one to four hairs. Placing those units one at a time, at natural angles and density, produces a result that reads as your own hair — because, follicle for follicle, it is.
Plugs moved hair in clumps. We move it the way it actually grows.
— Plugs vs. Modern
The difference is the unit.
Modern: FUE
Individual follicular units of 1–4 hairs extracted with micro-punches and placed at natural angles — no linear scar, undetectable density.
NeoGraft Automation
An FDA-cleared automated system extracts and implants follicles efficiently with a no-touch technique that protects graft survival.
ARTAS Robotic
Digital imaging selects the strongest DHT-resistant follicles and harvests them with robotic precision for consistent, natural results.
— Common Questions
Things people ask us, often.
01Do clinics still do hair plugs?
No. Hair plugs were phased out as FUE and FUT transplantation became standard. Reputable clinics, including Bubolo Medical, now move individual follicular units of one to four hairs rather than large plugs, which is why modern results look natural and undetectable.
02What is the difference between hair plugs and FUE?
Hair plugs used 4mm punches containing 15–20 hairs, transplanted in visible rows. FUE (follicular unit extraction) removes and places individual follicular units of one to four hairs at natural angles and density, eliminating the tufted "doll’s hair" look and the linear donor scar.
03Why did hair plugs look so unnatural?
Because they moved hair in large clumps with gaps between them, rather than in the small, irregular groupings hair grows in naturally. The result was visible tufting and a pluggy hairline. Modern FUE mimics the scalp’s natural follicular pattern, so the result blends in.
04Can old hair plugs be fixed?
Often, yes. Visible plugs can frequently be refined with modern FUE — redistributing or camouflaging the tufts and softening the hairline. A consultation and scalp assessment let us tell you what is realistic for your specific case.
05How much does a modern hair transplant cost?
At Bubolo Medical, modern NeoGraft FUE is a flat $6,995 for up to 3,000 grafts, including PRP and a year of aftercare, at our Acworth and Marietta, GA clinics. That replaces the obsolete plug procedure with a natural-looking, scar-minimal result.
— Bubolo Care Shop
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