hair plugs

Medical technology has advanced to the point where some procedures are no longer popular. When it comes to hair transplant surgery, hair plugs are one such example. Why are hair plugs no longer popular?

Hair plugs have phased out with the advancement of FUE and FUT hair treatments. Inserting plugs involve punching large sections of hair follicles. They are large, appear fake, and pretty damaging.
Below, we will go through the short history of hair plugs. By the end of this article, you’ll understand what they are and why you should avoid them.

What is a Hair Plug?

The term “hair plug” is outdated in the medical world, but it still prevails as a common phrase. A hair plug is a piece of the scalp “punched” out from the back of your head. This scalp piece contains 20-25 individual hairs on average.

These plugs are then inserted into balding areas to make them appear full again, with natural human hair procured through transplants dating back to 1950s methods.

Note that these plugs are not fake pieces of artificial material; they’re made entirely from one’s natural body parts. This created a realistic appearance at the time. It sought to resemble rows upon rows (or clumps) due to their size and spacing between each strand.

Why Do I Still See Hair Plugs Discussed?

When it comes to transplanted hair, there is a lot of internal terminologies. However, many of those terminologies get crossed over when reaching the general public.

When you hear someone discussing hair plugs, they are most likely referring to general hair grafts. However, you may want to ask if they are referring to FUE or FUT transplants.

No modern medical professional who handles healthy hair transplants should use hair plugs. Other procedures are far more effective in moving individual follicles.

Why Are Hair Plugs Not Used Anymore?

In the past, hair plugs were a less effective form of hair transplantation. Today’s procedures are vastly different as they allow surgeons to remove follicles or individual hairs one at a time instead of removing whole clumps.

The hair transplantation process is much more aesthetically appealing and natural than the original follicular unit extraction technique, hair plugs. Modern transplants ensure every area of your scalp gets transplanted with newly grown hairs – not just certain parts because it was easier or less time-consuming for the doctor.

The procedure also has better healing benefits in comparison to plugs; patients will notice their new hair gradually growing back over days instead of weeks while they start feeling like themselves again rather quickly as well!

For pattern baldness, FUT and FEU have proven to be far more effective in encouraging hair growth. They also provide more significant potential for high hair density.