Hair
Replacement Procedures
Author: Raj Pandey
In
our society, terms like "hair transplant," and "scalp reduction,"
are praised by doctors and advertisements, but they leave consumers
befuddled. Yes, everyone knows these are surgical hair replacement
procedures to attempt to
reverse hair loss. But how do they work? How
are these surgeries performed?
Treatments
vary. Some surgical procedures may take place in a surgeons office.
Others may occur in a outpatient surgical center or a hospital.
Just in case you feel alone, here are some questions that have
been posed by many men just like yourself: Is it going to hurt?
Will I be asleep through the procedure?
To
answer these questions, we'll be blunt. All types of surgery are
uncomfortable. Some men experience extreme sensitivity and tenderness
to their scalp, others experience minor discomfort. There isn't
one specific side-effect that all men experience. Results vary
from patient to patient. Fortunately, these procedures are usually
performed with a local anesthesia as well as sedation. Patients
rarely feel anything while the surgery is taking place.
Different
Types of Surgical Procedures
Hair Transplants This procedure is broken down into sessions to
achieve final results. Patients generally seem satisfied with
the outcome of these procedures, although there is a healing process
which can take months between each session. Results do vary for
men and women, and it may take up to two years to achieve a full
and natural looking head of hair.
Tissue Expansion After the surgeon makes an incision, a tissue
expander (balloon-like device) is inserted beneath the scalp beside
a bald patch. Over
the course of several weeks, the tissue expander inflates; causing
the skin to expand and promote the growth of skin cells. Once
the skin has stretched enough, a surgeon will perform an additional
procedure to relocate the expanded skin to cover the bald patch.
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Scalp
Reduction This technique is designed specifically for patients
who require coverage at the top and back of their heads. Men who
experience baldness and thinning to the front hairline will not
benefit from this procedure.
Final
Results
Unfortunately,
results are rarely final and these treatments are very costly.
As well, they may require a surgical touch-up procedure. This
may take place once the incisions have healed. A surgeon may decide
to fill a hairline or thinning patch by using grafts.
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