Hair restoration surgery: pre-surgical considerations and pitfalls

Hair restoration surgery is an increasingly common treatment for androgenetic alopecia and may also address other forms of non-scarring and scarring alopecia. To optimise surgical outcomes, it is crucial to consider key pre-surgical factors and avoid diagnostic pitfalls. This review summarises the diagnostic and differential diagnostic approaches to alopecias, as well as a checklist for holistic patient assessment before hair transplantation.