Indeed, both techniques are less and less used. The scalp reduction consists of surgically removing the tonsure or the bald area. The scalp is then stretched to cover the bald spot. The surgery lasts about one hour and gives immediate results. It calls up hair from lateral areas. Moreover, it is quite painful and this surgery leaves a central scar which is visible and the scar can widen in the long term. The orientation of the displaced hair often looks artificial.  For more details, you can have a look on this web page.

Rags. This is another obsolete technique. It consists of displacing large areas of the scalp. The orientation of the hair transplanted does not give a natural effect. This technique could be useful during reconstructive surgery, for example after an accident.

These technique cannot be qualified as surgeries against balding, even more when they are used to redefine the front line as the final result is not natural.