Hair Replacements | Find Hair Replacement Surgeons or Doctors

What is hair replacement surgery?
The interest in hair replacement has significantly increased over the past 10 years. Two out of every three men, and one in five women, suffer from hair loss. For men, the main cause of a diminishing hairline is heredity. Hormonal changes such as menopause can cause both thinning and hair loss in women.

There are a number of hair replacement techniques that are available, although hair replacement surgery cannot help those who suffer from total baldness. Candidates for hair replacement must have a healthy growth of hair at the back and sides of the head. The hair on the back and sides of the head will serve as hair donor areas where grafts and flaps will be taken.

There are four primary different types of hair replacement methods, including the following:
• hair transplantation - During hair transplantation, the surgeon removes small pieces of hair-bearing scalp grafts from the back or sides of the head. These hair replacement grafts are then relocated to a bald or thinning area.
• tissue expansion - In this hair replacement procedure, a device called a tissue expander is placed underneath a hair-bearing area that is located next to a bald area. After several weeks, the tissue expander causes the skin to grow new skin cells. Another hair replacement operation is then required to place the newly expanded skin over the adjacent bald spot.
• flap surgery - Flap surgery is ideal for covering large balding areas. During this hair replacement procedure a portion of the bald area is removed and a flap of the hair-bearing skin is placed on to the bald area while still attached at one end to its original blood supply.
• scalp reduction - Scalp reduction is done in order to cover the bald areas at the top and back of the head. This hair replacement technique involves the removal of the bald scalp with sections of the hair-bearing scalp pulled together filling in the bald area.

Possible complications associated with hair transplantation procedures may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• patchy hair growth - Sometimes, the growth of newly placed hair has a patchy look, especially if it is placed next to a thinning area. This can often be corrected by additional hair replacement surgery.
• bleeding and/or wide scars - Tension on the scalp from some of the scalp reduction techniques can result in wide scars and/or bleeding.
• grafts not taking - Occasionally, there is a chance that the graft may not "take." If this is the case, hair replacement surgery must be repeated.
• infection - As with any surgical procedure, there is the risk of infection.

You will want to know that your surgeon is experienced and qualified to perform the hair replacements. Many surgeons have taken special training and passed exams given by a national board of surgeons. Ask if your surgeon is "board certified" in surgery. Some hair replacement surgeons also have the letters F.A.C.S. after their name. This means they are Fellows of the American College of Surgeons and have passed another review by surgeons of their surgical practices.

Most of us have some criteria for making important decisions in life. But suppose that your hair replacement doctor recommends that you consider having an operation. How do you go about finding a qualified surgeon? If you or someone you know is considering elective surgery, you should be aware that there are some ways to objectively evaluate your surgeon. The American College of Surgeons—the largest international organization of surgeons in the world—recommends that you look for the following qualifications:

A good indication of a hair replacement surgeons competence is certification by a surgical board that is approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). In order for a physician to become board certified in hair replacements, he or she must complete the designated years of residency training in that specialty, and then demonstrate his or her knowledge by successfully completing a rigorous examination. When you choose a surgeon who is certified by an ABMS-approved board, you select a physician whose specialty is in surgery.

Before having hair replacements, ask your physician these questions:

What operation are you recommending?
Why do I need hair replacements?
Are there alternatives to surgery?
What are the benefits of having the operation?
What are the risks of having hair replacements?
What will happen if I don't have this operation?
Where can I get a second opinion?
What has been your experience in doing the operation? How many have you performed?
Where will the operation be done?
What kind of anesthesia will I need?
How long will it take me to recover from hair replacements?
How much will the operation cost?

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