Hair Loss - Surgical Options

We thought we would just sumarise the current surgical option for hair loss on this page as we are often asked our opinion on these, so here goes!

Hair Transplant Surgery/Grafting

Hair from the back or sides of your head are taken out and implanted into the balding areas. If carried out by a recognised surgeon (please visit your GP for a recommendation!) they can be 100% successful. The hair should look quite natural too. There can be scalp numbness though that can take months if not years to go away - the reason being that nerves in the scalp are often damaged during the procedure

Grafting is slightly different; there are micrografts where small grafts containing only a few hairs are placed behind the hair line to aid in an increase in hair density. Then there are mini-grafts which contain 4 or more hairs placed well behind the hairline so that the single hair and micrografts can blend naturally into the density provided by these larger grafts.

Angela Penny of Florence, has been working in the hair industry for 25 years and began performing hair replacement procedures in 1994. She is the owner and operator of International Hair Inc.

She said that for some men, hair loss can be reversed by using a light energy bio-stimulator on hair follicles. This nonsurgical laser procedure takes six to 12 months.

'For those men who have had extensive hair loss that has occurred over many years, perhaps their best solution is a nonsurgical one,' Penny said. 'This laser will help stabilize the thinning process to keep hair in a normal growth cycle.'

Penny explained that a combination of the laser procedure and using natural, botanical alternatives that help break down DHT (the metabolized form of testosterone that is often the culprit for hair loss in men) is a good way to restore natural hair without surgery.

CHL, May 11, 2006