Hair Replacement
More than half of all men and women experience hair loss. Every person sheds and regrows hair on a daily basis. When more hairs are shed than grow back the result is hair loss. The methods to replace hair when this occurs include wigs and some oral medications to sustain the hair that is remaining.
The only permanent solution for hair replacement is hair transplantation surgery. The process involves hair being removed from an area of the head that is genetically programmed not to fall out. This area is called the donor hair and is usually found on the sides and lower back of the scalp. A strip of hair is removed from the back of the scalp , which is then sutured together to form a thin scar. The scar generally will not show, as the existing hair will cover this area. The tissue that has been removed is then dissected into minigrafts, micrografts and follicular units. Micrografts are 1-3 hairs, Minigrafts can be from 3-8 hairs and follicular units are groups of hair that grow naturally together. The surgeon makes tiny incisions on the scalp into which the dissected hair follicles are then inserted. Since the scalp is so vascular, a tiny blood clot is formed around the hair follicle, feeding it and the healing process begins. The hair then “takes root” in its new area on the scalp and will begin to grow after a few months. Since this hair is genetically programmed not to fall out the hair is permanent.
Typically more than one surgery is needed to achieve the desired result and cost for the surgery can range from $2,500 - $10,000 nationally. These procedures can take from 2-5 hours to complete per surgery. The transplanted hair will continue to grow throughout the life of the person. |
