Hair Loss - Surgery

SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS

Surgery to cover bald areas of the scalp may be used to treat hair loss. If successful, surgery may be a permanent treatment for hair loss.

Surgery Choices

The most common types of surgery to treat hair loss include:

  • Hair transplant surgery. During this surgery, your doctor will move small grafts (piecesof skin with hair follicles) from areas of your scalp with full hair to areasof your scalp that are bald or thinning. The grafts may include single hairs orup to 30 hairs in one graft. This is the most common type of surgery used totreat hair loss.
  • Scalp reduction. Scalp reduction involves removinglarge areas of bald scalp from the head. Sections of the scalp with growinghair are then stretched and sewn together to fill in the baldareas.
  • Scalp flaps. Scalp flaps involve moving a large section ofscalp containing hair from the side and back of the scalp to a bald area. Oneside of the flap remains attached to the scalp as the section of scalp withhair is moved to cover a bald area. The complication rate of this procedure ishigher than other procedures because of bleeding, scarring, and infection aftersurgery.

What To Think About

Surgery may be a more permanent solution than medicines to treat hair loss, but it is expensive, it involves surgical risks, and there is a chance that not all hair follicles will remain healthy.

By: Healthwise StaffLast Revised: June 4, 2010
Medical Review: Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology

1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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