Men's Hair Replacement

When to Consider Men's Hair Replacement

Hair loss can occur for a variety of reasons, including:

• Medical Treatment – Many medical treatments have side effects that include hair loss. For example, men undergoing chemotherapy treatments usually lose their hair.
• Trauma – Trauma to the head that results in scarring can also be the cause of permanent hair loss.
• Genetics – More often than not, genetics is the cause for men's hair loss. If most of the men in your family are bald, chances are you will lose some hair as well.

Not every man that loses his hair will choose to have it replaced, but many men are more comfortable with hair than without. For this reason alone, hair replacement may be considered necessary.

Men's Hair Replacement Options

Here is a list of some of the available options for hair replacement. As always, you should research all of the options before deciding. This will give you an idea of some of the possibilities you can choose.

Hair Transplant

Also called hair grafting, hair transplants occur when a qualified surgeon removes hair from the sides or back of the head and places them within the balding area. As with all surgeries, there is a risk of complications; make sure you discuss all available options with your surgeon. Some decisions that might come into play when transplanting hair involve color, texture, and thickness.

Scalp Reduction

Often combined with a hair transplant procedure, a scalp reduction or alopecia reduction as it is sometimes referred to, occurs when a surgeon removes bald scalp, and uses elastic extenders and other such devices to stretch hair bearing scalp to cover where the bald scalp has been removed. This is a very effective solution for many men's hair replacement candidates.

Scalp Flap Surgery

This method involves moving a flap of skin and tissue from one area of the body to another. There are two different types of hair flaps. The first is called a pedicle flap, which is a flap that has been removed from the donor site and moved to the recipient site with an attached pedicle of tissue. The pedicle contains the artery that supplies blood to the flap increasing the odds the flap will survive in its new location. The second type is called a free flap because it does not have the pedicle tissue.

Medication

Many products claim to treat hair loss. The FDA has approved a few hair loss products, including Monoxidil and Propecia. Monoxidil is a topical product that when applied has shown signs of re-growth and stops hair from falling out. Propecia is an oral tablet that treats male pattern baldness on the top and in the middle front of the scalp. Reports vary; some say the medication is very effective, while others say it has no effect at all. As with all medications consult your doctor to see if these drugs are right for you.

Toupees

Toupees have come a long way; technology has revolutionized the toupee business. Many toupee manufacturers can now design a toupee that actually looks and feels like your natural hair.

Wigs

Much like the toupee, the wig will cover your bald area with realistic-looking hair. Wigs have also benefited from technological advances. Manufacturers have stepped up with realistic looking wig design.

The concept of men's hair replacement has grown by leaps and bounds in recent times. No longer do men have to feel ashamed when hair loss begins. Treatments are available for every stage of balding.