Introduction
As men age, male-pattern baldness may become more prevalent, leaving the dome of the head without hair while the hair surrounding the back of the head and the ears may begin to thin. While some people may take supplements or alter their diets in a bid to keep their remaining hair or to improve its appearance, others may undergo hair surgery procedures to artificially restore lost hair.
During these procedures, patients receive grafts consisting of the hair follicles, hair and skin of another person. The results of these surgeries may vary drastically: surgeons may turn away patients whose hair loss is projected to continue at an accelerated rate in the future. Rather than undergoing surgery, some patients may be advised to wear a hair piece or disguise hair loss using hats, bandanas or other covering materials. Treatments for other conditions, such as receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer, may cause hair loss that will reverse when a patient stops chemotherapy treatments. During such circumstances, a surgeon is unlikely to recommend a patient for hair surgery. Surgeons may use a few different techniques to transplant hair.
Typically, patients receive a hair graft from themselves. The hair around the back and sides of the head will usually continue to grow throughout life, even if someone is afflicted with male-pattern baldness. Surgeons remove the hair from the back and side of the head and graft it onto the top of the head. It is also possible for men to receive a hair graft from an identical twin donor.
Generally, the thicker and coarser one's hair is, the more likely it is that hair surgery will be successful. The more closely matched one's skin tone and hair color are, the more likely it is that the transplant will be considered a success. Men may only need to undergo one to two hair surgeries. women typically need three to ten hair surgeries in order to create a restored head of hair. As hair loss continues, however, patients may need to schedule further surgeries in the future to maintain their current appearance.
Hair surgery is not ideal for those who have lost only small amounts of hair, as the trauma from undergoing hair transplant surgery may result in permanently losing the hair you currently possess. Ideal patients for hair transplant surgery are those who have been balding because of male-pattern baldness for many years, whose hair loss has stabilized over the years, and who expect realistic results from surgery. Patients who understand that they may have to return for further treatments in the future make ideal patients. Hair transplant surgery may also be ideal for patients who have lost hair because of accidents or other trauma.
Tips and Comments
Never be afraid to ask a surgeon questions. It is also important to seek the second opinion of another surgeon. Ask to see before-and-after photographs of previous patients, see if you can speak to a previous patient, or ask the doctor about his plan of action in treating your hair loss. If a surgeon ever seems reluctant to allow you to ask someone else for a second opinion, do not undergo treatment through that surgeon.
Ask to see your surgeon's certifications and degrees, and ask how long he or she has been performing hair surgery. Does the surgeon have any concerns about performing the hair transplant surgery on you? Is it unlikely that you will have good results? A surgeon who has such concerns may instead recommend that you wear a hairpiece.
