Hair Replacement Surgery

While many patients choose to undergo cosmetic procedures that are gender-specific, both men and women may suffer from areas of thin or no hair on their scalps. Various hair transplant procedures exist for individuals who suffer from forms of alopecia (often hormonal or genetic) they wish to correct.

When considering options, the surgeon will consider several factors based on each individual. These factors include hereditary history, such as genetic baldness patterns, donor fringe density, hair and skin color, hair texture and scalp laxity.

The Surgical Process

All forms of hair replacement surgery are performed on an outpatient basis and take about four hours to complete. Both local and topical anesthetics are often used.

Three surgical options exist for patients wishing to undergo hair replacement.

• In the Strip Harvesting with Mini- and Micrografting technique, a scalpel or multiblade knife is used to remove small grafts of hair-bearing scalp. The removed sections of hair are then divided into minigrafts and are transplanted into small holes or slits within the scalp. Finally, micrografts, as well as single-hair grafts are placed along the front of the hairline to achieve a more natural appearance.
• When a flap surgery is performed, a section of bald scalp is first removed. A flap of hair-bearing scalp is then lifted from the surface of the scalp while still attached at one end. While remaining attached to the original blood supply, the section of hair-bearing scalp is then brought into position where the section of bald scalp was removed.
• Using the tissue expansion technique, a balloon-like device is inserted under the hair-bearing scalp near the area of non-hair-bearing scalp. Over a period of several weeks, the device is inflated with salt water causing the skin to expand and grow new cells. After the skin has been adequately stretched, the hair-bearing scalp is used to cover the adjacent bald area.

Life After Hair Replacement Surgery

Following hair replacement surgery, the patient will have dressing applied for approximately two days. Three days after the surgery, the patient will then be allowed to shampoo their hair. Stitches used in the surgery will be removed ten days following the procedure.

The patient should expect some swelling or bruising in the surgical site and cold compresses may be recommended. Newly transplanted hair will likely fall out within six weeks of the surgery and new hair should grow in six to twelve weeks. Hair growth should stabilize about one year after the surgery. The patient will likely need touch-up procedures to realize the desired result.

When undergoing hair replacement surgery, the patient has a risk of developing/experiencing a hemorrhage, lidocaine toxicity and pain. Post-operation complications may include hemorrhage, infection, scarring, arteriovenus fistula, poor hair growth and unnatural hairline.