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Hair Replacement

A person's head of hair is an integral element of their self-image and psychological well being. Small wonder then that hair replacement is an increasingly popular remedy for premature hair loss. A variety of hair replacement solutions are available on the market today, and involve either surgical or non-surgical methods.

  1. Non-surgical

    • Non-surgical hair replacement systems involve the use of traditional toupees and hairpieces. However, today's hair replacement systems have come a long way from those of our grandparents. With advances in technology, the latest toupees and hairpieces are designed to simulate the look of hair growing naturally from your scalp, even along the hairline. The result is a hair replacement system that is highly undetectable not only by sight but also by touch.

    Surgical

    • Surgical hair replacement methods involve surgically transplanting hair-bearing scalp with its roots to a bald or balding area. In effect, grafts of healthy hair are harvested from areas with dense hair growth and replanted in the thin areas. Its goal is to efficiently distribute healthy hair-growing skin all over the scalp to minimize or eliminate thinning and/or balding areas.

    Techniques

    • A number of hair transplant surgical techniques have been developed for use in hair replacement. These range from minor surgery for individuals who just want a modest increase in hair fullness, to major surgical techniques that literally re-grow hair on bald areas. The specific technique that is used is determined by the individual client's needs. More than one of the techniques may be used to create a desired effect.

    Duration

    • Surgical hair replacement involves a long, complex process. The actual procedure is performed in the doctor's office under local anesthesia, and can take as much as eight hours to complete. The entire surgical procedure is not completed in one visit, but rather is planned out in multiple sessions, three to six months apart.

    Types

    • There are different types of hair replacement surgical procedures, which can be grouped into two categories: minor surgery and major surgery. Minor surgery includes punch-grafting, strip-grafting, slit-grafting, mini-grafting and micro-grafting surgery. Major surgery involves the use of tissue-expansion, scalp-reduction and flap surgical procedures. (See Resources below for more information).

    Gender

    • Women's hair loss patterns differ from those of men. While women and men both suffer from hair thinning, it usually doesn't result in total baldness in women, as it often does in men. For this reason, major surgical procedures are required more often for more men than they are for women.

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