Types of Hair Transplant Procedures

Hair loss is a natural part of life, brought on by factors such as hormonal changes, family history and aging, according to the American Association of Plastic Surgeons. Hair transplants are performed by plastic surgeons and can be a drastic yet effective way to look and feel younger.

There are several types of hair transplant procedures available through surgery. Understanding the pros and cons of each will help you and your surgeon decide which is the best option.

Grafts

• Hair transplant procedures are done under local anesthesia. Injections of a numbing agent are made into various locations in the scalp so you won't feel what's next.

  The graft procedure is a common hair transplant in which a surgeon removes a portion of the scalp. Hundreds or thousands of healthy hairs are inserted into this section of scalp, which is kept healthy during the process by periodic saline injections.

  After transplant, the portion of scalp--now with healthy hair attached--is surgically reattached and allowed to heal. Multiple sessions might be required to allow plenty of time for the scalp to heal in between grafts.

Flaps and Tissue Expansion

• Flaps are able to cover a lot of area on the scalp more quickly than grafts. In this procedure, the bald area of scalp is surgically removed. The area with healthy hair is then stretched and "tethered" over the area from which bald scalp was removed. Although more scarring might be involved with flap surgery than with a graft, the hair usually covers most obvious scarring.

  Tissue expansion is a unique procedure that involves the surgeon placing a balloon-like tissue-expander beneath the area of scalp that is still growing healthy hair. Over a few weeks, the tissue-expander is gradually filled with salt water in order to stretch or expand the scalp tissue. The result is an expansion of hair-bearing tissue that can be grafted after sufficient stretching has occurred.

Things to Consider

• One thing to consider before hair transplant surgery is that you must have healthy hair growing on the sides and back of your head. This provides the source of the new hair that will be transplanted regardless of the procedure.

  The National Institutes of Health says infection and excessive bleeding are two common risks to consider. Other risks include potentially unsightly scarring and results that might appear unnatural or different than those for which you had hoped.

  Before deciding to undergo a hair transplant, you should consider only board-certified plastic surgeons, according to the Mayo Clinic. You can ask your family doctor for a reference. It also is a good idea to consider non-surgical methods, such as hair-growth medications, before you undergo a surgical hair transplant.