The Value of Long Hair Preview in Body Hair Transplantation

Abstract Body hair transplantation (BHT) is a technique that has been in use for a long time, and just recently its popularity has increased due to social awareness of its possibilities. Long hair preview hair restoration is a relatively new and innovative technique that has generated increased interest from practicing surgeons and patients. Some studies have shown the benefits of having long hair grafts over short hair because of the ease of the curvature management and the opportunity of previewing a potential final design. We describe specific BHT cases in which the long hair preview technique was used, using three fundamental premises for natural results: 1) hair characteristics and recipient or donor dominance, hair natural curvature and its relationship with skin plane, and 3) achieving coverage through strategic placement and protecting the architecture of the donor area. Long hair grafts obtained from either scalp or other body areas (e.g., eyebrow to eyelash, pubic to eyebrow) were then used to successfully produce natural results in different body areas. Therefore, in my experience, the long hair preview technique should be considered by the physician as it produces high-quality and natural results in BHT.