Q: I have heard that the hair for a hair transplant is taken from the back and sides of the scalp. Where exactly is the best place to remove the hair from? — L.L., Rivington, C.T.

A: You are correct. The best place to put the donor incision is in the mid-part of the permanent zone located in the back of the scalp. As more hair is needed the incision is extended towards the sides.

The vertical position can be found by feeling for the bump in the mid-part of the back of the scalp, also called the occipital protuberance. The strip should lie over this point.

If hair is removed too low on the back of the scalp, there is a greater chance that the wound will heal with a stretched scar from the movement of the underlying muscles. If the incision is too high, the hair will be subject to the same genetic balding and may not be permanent.