| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1939 | Dr. Okuda describes the punch graft technique in Japan |
| 1943 | Dr. Tamura uses small 1-3 hair grafts (an early follicular unit concept) |
| 1952 | Dr. Orentreich performs the first modern transplant for male pattern baldness |
| 1959 | The "donor dominance" principle is published — the scientific foundation of hair transplantation |
| 1975 | The 4mm punch graft era peaks (the "hair plug" aesthetic) |
| 1990s | Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) becomes widespread, enabling natural results |
| 2002 | FUE technique is described in the literature and begins gaining popularity |
| 2011 | The ARTAS robotic system receives FDA approval |
| 2010s | Sapphire FUE and the DHI implanter pen enter widespread clinical use |
| 2020s | Turkey becomes the global hair transplant hub; AI-assisted planning tools emerge |
Note: These dates reflect periods of mainstream adoption; many techniques were tested experimentally at small scale before their officially "popularized" date.