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Hair Replacement

What is hair replacement surgery?
The interest in hair replacement has significantly increased over the past 10 years. Two out of every three men, and one in five women, suffer from hair loss. For men, the main cause of a diminishing hairline is heredity. Hormonal changes such as menopause can cause both thinning and hair loss in women.

There are a number of hair replacement techniques that are available, although hair replacement surgery cannot help those who suffer from total baldness. Candidates for hair replacement must have a healthy growth of hair at the back and sides of the head. The hair on the back and sides of the head will serve as hair donor areas where grafts and flaps will be taken.

There are four primary different types of hair replacement methods, including the following:
• hair transplantation - During hair transplantation, the surgeon removes small pieces of hair-bearing scalp grafts from the back or sides of the head. These hair replacement grafts are then relocated to a bald or thinning area.
• tissue expansion - In this hair replacement procedure, a device called a tissue expander is placed underneath a hair-bearing area that is located next to a bald area. After several weeks, the tissue expander causes the skin to grow new skin cells. Another hair replacement operation is then required to place the newly expanded skin over the adjacent bald spot.
• flap surgery - Flap surgery is ideal for covering large balding areas. During this hair replacement procedure a portion of the bald area is removed and a flap of the hair-bearing skin is placed on to the bald area while still attached at one end to its original blood supply.
• scalp reduction - Scalp reduction is done in order to cover the bald areas at the top and back of the head. This hair replacement technique involves the removal of the bald scalp with sections of the hair-bearing scalp pulled together filling in the bald area.

Possible complications associated with hair transplantation procedures may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• patchy hair growth - Sometimes, the growth of newly placed hair has a patchy look, especially if it is placed next to a thinning area. This can often be corrected by additional hair replacement surgery.
• bleeding and/or wide scars - Tension on the scalp from some of the scalp reduction techniques can result in wide scars and/or bleeding.
• grafts not taking - Occasionally, there is a chance that the graft may not "take." If this is the case, hair replacement surgery must be repeated.
• infection - As with any surgical procedure, there is the risk of infection.

In addition to the benefits of hair replacement surgery, make sure you understand its limitations.
• Don't expect perfection.
• Have realistic expectations. Hair replacement surgery can reshape your body, but not your life.
• Know the hair replacement risks.
• Don't do it on the cheap. Pay what it takes for safe hair replacements.
• Make sure your hair replacement surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
• Do your homework. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Hair Replacement
• Hair Replacement

As the demand grows for cosmetic hair replacement surgery, consumers must realize that all cosmetic surgery procedures carry risks. If you are thinking about having hair replacement surgery, become an informed consumer about the specific procedure and its risks. Select a qualified doctor. Have realistic expectations about the results and know the benefits and limitations of hair replacements.