Hair restoration surgery.What you need to know.

Hair loss is an extremely common problem. Sometimes hair loss can be treated by non surgical hair replacement. However, in more severe cases, hair restoration surgery may be indicated. Surgical hair replacement is available in a variety of forms, depending on the nature of your hair loss.

Hair restoration surgery could take the form of laser restoration, which is generally considered to be the mildest form of hair restoration surgery. There are two separate types of laser hair restoration. In one form, the hair transplant surgeon will use a pulsing laser to actually remove small punches or grafts of the bald scalp in preparation for a hair transplant. It is believed that this scalp preparation aids the grafting process. This surgical hair replacement is generally considered to be safer and faster than traditional hair restoration surgery, but may cause more bleeding.

The second type of hair restoration uses a non-cutting laser that emits a beam of light. Research has shown that the particular frequency of light used actually encourages blood flow and cellular metabolism. This type of laser hair restoration is only suitable for mild to moderate hair loss and is considered temporary. You may need treatments as often as monthly. However, the procedure is safe and virtually pain free, as well as being much less costly than other forms of surgical hair replacement.

Laser hair restoration is rather controversial. You may have difficulty finding a hair transplant surgeon who will perform either of the laser procedures. Fortunately, other relatively simple options exist.

In a traditional hair transplant, small portions of hair bearing scalp are removed from a donor area and grafted to the bald part of the scalp. This is similar to the first type of laser hair restoration, except that the bald scalp is not first prepped with a laser. This type of hair restoration surgery can be performed by virtually any hair transplant surgeon.

The downside of traditional hair transplant is that the full process is time consuming. You will generally need to have several treatments with healing time in between. Thus, it may take as long as one to two years to see full results. However, if your hair loss is extensive, you will begin to see some results after the first surgery heals. Healing time is fairly minimal, with bandages usually removed after two days and most healing completed within one to two weeks.

Hair transplant requires healthy, high quality donor hair on other parts of your head. If you do not have this donor hair, then you may need to consider flap surgery. This procedure removes a portion of bald scalp surgically and brings together the hair producing sections of scalp. While flap surgery is more extensive than traditional hair transplant, and healing time is longer, you will see results after only one procedure. Expect to be given general anesthesia for this surgery.

Flap surgery is often indicated for those who do not have healthy, high quality donor hair available on other parts of the head. In flap surgery, a portion of the bald scalp is surgically removed and the hair producing sections of scalp are brought together. This is a more extensive surgery than traditional hair transplant and healing time is longer. However, you will see results after only one procedure. General anesthesia is given for flap surgery.

Tissue expansion is a newer form of hair restoration surgery. Originally developed by plastic surgeons for use with burn victims, this type of surgery works well for hair transplant. In tissue expansion, a balloon type device is implanted under the hair producing scalp and slowly filled with saline. The process takes approximately two weeks to achieve full results. Generally tissue expansion must be performed by a plastic surgeon.

Several options exist for hair restoration surgery. Be sure to discuss all of your options with a trusted general practitioner as well as a specialist. Only with their help will you be able to choose the right hair restoration surgery for you.

Click & Add:
Blink
Del.icio.us
Digg
Furl
Google
Simpy
Spurl
Technorati
Y! MyWeb

More on hair restoration surgery