Hair Replacement Surgery

Fills in balding areas with the patient's own hair using a variety of techniques including scalp reduction, tissue expansion, strip grafts, scalp flaps, or clusters of punch grafts (plugs, miniplugs and microplugs).

The most commonly known hair replacement surgery requires taking a strip of hair-bearing scalp from the back of the head. The strip is then divided into several hundred smaller grafts. These grafts are then inserted into tiny slits in the scalp, and must be placed in such a way that hair all grows in the same, natural direction.

While some of the grafts may contain up to five or six hairs, it is sometimes necessary to use a number of grafts containing only one or two hairs to create a natural appearance. This is known as mini- and micrografting.

Skin flap surgery is another efficient technique used to cover balding areas. After a piece of bald scalp is removed, a section of hair-covered scalp is moved and sutured into place. Scars are generally covered by new hair growth.

Bald spots at the crown of the head can be covered by removing the hairless area of skin and then stretching the hair-covered scalp adjacent to the bald spot over the opening. This is known as scalp reduction surgery.

A newer technique involves the use of tissue expanders. This allows stretching of the skin which aids in the reduction of the size of the bald scalp. This procedure works best on men with male pattern baldness after hair loss has stopped.