Hair replacement surgical options provide a safe and satisfying way for individuals to enhance their appearance by treating hair loss. While there are many reasons for hair loss, permanent hair loss, called common baldness, is often the result of an inherited condition for which there is no medical cure.  Two-thirds of all men and one-fifth of all women develop permanent hair loss.  Men tend to lose hair primarily from the top of their heads, while the sides and back of the scalp are relatively unaffected.  Women tend to lose hair evenly along the scalp. 

Hair replacement has advanced leaps and bounds in recent years, making this plastic surgeon procedure one of the most popular among American men. Nearly 50,000 patients underwent hair replacement surgery in 2004 alone, a 54 percent increase from the previous year. Due to recent medical advances, hair replacement surgery is now facilitated by the use of smaller and more flexible grafts, better pain-reduction methods, high-tech lasers and other innovative tools, and new surgical techniques that make hair replacement safer and more successful than ever before. 

Good candidates for hair replacement surgery are individuals with permanent hair loss who are in good physical and emotional health and have realistic expectations about the procedure. People who are considering hair replacement should have a full medical evaluation to determine the underlying cause of hair loss.  Some medical conditions, medications, infections, and physical stressors can cause hair loss which can be corrected by other means. 

The goal of hair replacement surgery is to improve one’s appearance as much as possible, but there are some limitations of the surgery that should be understood before having this procedure. There are a number of specific techniques that can be used to achieve hair replacement through cosmetic surgery.  Together with a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon, you can determine which procedure would be best for you. Baldness or severe hair loss is not a prerequisite for hair replacement; patients at many stages of hair loss can benefit from hair replacement. 

One common hair replacement technique is called the hair transplant. During this procedure hair bearing scalp from the side or back of the head is sectioned into small grafts and repositioned to areas of hair loss. After the transplanted hair falls out, new permanent hair will grow, providing natural looking hair replacement. Skin flap surgery and scalp reduction surgery are both excellent additional options for people seeking hair replacement. 

Hair replacement surgery is preformed by a qualified plastic surgeon in a hospital, surgery center, or doctor’s office. Recovery time, during which activity may be limited and some discomfort experienced, should be expected with hair transplant surgery.  Overall, hair transplant surgery is an excellent option for patients wishing to enhance their appearance by correcting hair loss.  If you would like to learn more about hair replacement surgery, please contact us to speak with a qualified plastic surgeon near you.