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For all practical purposes, there are certain characteristics of a person’s hair that need to be taken into consideration when a surgical hair replacement procedure is being considered.  The replacement of lost or thinning hair is a combination of aesthetics and science, but there are certain things that always need to be taken into consideration whenever you are considering this type of procedure.  One of the primary aspects that are considered prior to a hair replacement surgical procedure is scalp characteristics.

Scalp characteristics that are usually considered by the hair replacement surgeon include the following:

• The caliber of the hair – this includes a cross section of the follicle to determine if is thin, medium, or thick.  In other words, the diameter of the hair shaft is measured.

• Geometric hair properties – this includes specific features such as curliness, frizziness, straightness, or waviness.

• Hair color – this includes black, blond, brown, or red and varying shades thereof.

Other features that are taken into consideration prior to prescribing the specific type of hair replacement procedure to perform include features that typically contribute to more unique appearance factors such as:

• Olive-colored skin coupled with dark, wavy hair – this is typically a characteristic of Mediterranean heritage
• Fair skin combined with light, blond hair – a characteristic of Scandinavian people
• Black or dark brown skin with black, tightly curled hair – typical of African-American heritage
• Light brown skin and straight, black hair – characteristic of East Asian heritage

Where hair replacement procedures are concerned, all of the above categories are considered in order to perform the procedure and maintain the person’s unique identity.  The variable degrees displayed by a person’s hair characteristics as well as the genetics involved are key considerations are not always clearly understood, but they are considered as completely as what is known.

When it comes to planning and undertaking the hair replacement surgical, the characteristics of the person’s hair that are noted above are critical considerations and should never be overlooked prior to the procedure being performed.  You should always make sure that the specialists or surgeons performing the procedure are well-versed in this area if you want to experience a successful outcome.  Always check that they are fully licensed and trained in all areas of hair replacement surgery as well as the amount of experience they have at performing successful procedures with their patients.

One of the first things to consider about hair replacement procedures is that they replace so much more than just lost or thinning hair.  Whether you are male or female, these modern replacement techniques restores and enhances a person’s quality of life while at the same time improving their self esteem.  Make no mistake about it.  Men are more prone to having a hair replacement procedure performed because more men typically suffer from lost or thinning hair than what women experience.

Despite this fact, hair loss can be a devastating and emotional experience, especially where women are concerned.  It takes a huge toll on the individual mentally as well as physically, and a hair replacement procedure becomes their only option for restoring their self esteem and improving their quality of life.  The dilemma of lost or thinning hair is worse for women primarily due to the fact that society places such a high value on a woman’s appearance and their hair.

In some cases, hair loss or thinning happens suddenly and completely unexpectedly, especially where women are concerned.  Alopecia is much more apparent and prevalent in females and younger children than what it is with males.  Additionally, there is an autoimmune disorder known as Alopecia Areata which causes one’s hair to start falling out literally by the handful.  In either of these cases, the right hair replacement procedure can solve the issue and correct the problem.

Sometimes during the earlier stages of hair loss and thinning, your physician may recommend that you try a non-surgical replacement method such as Propecia or Rogaine rather than proposing a surgical procedure such as hair transplantation.  However, the opposite extreme holds true where surgical hair replacement is concerned whenever there is not a sufficient amount of healthy donor follicles based on the severity of a person’s hair loss.

Suffice it to say, there are cases where this type of surgical procedure will not benefit the individual.  Unfortunately, the only type of hair replacement that can work for these individuals is the use of a hair system such as a hair piece, toupee, or wig.  The harsh reality of this is that it oftentimes still leads to the individual suffering both emotionally and mentally because these systems do not look natural compared to what hair transplants accomplish.  Hopefully, this is not your current situation and you can benefit from a surgical hair replacement procedure.

A man’s or woman’s head of hair has always been an integral component of their image and self esteem which is one of the primary reasons that hair replacement surgery and treatment have become so popular over the past few decades.  The replacement of lost or thinning hair follicles is typically categorized as either non-surgical or surgical hair replacement methods or techniques.  Additionally, there is currently a variety of these available today.

Non-surgical hair replacement options

These include products like hair systems (hair pieces, toupees, or wigs), prescription medications (Propecia), and topical applications (Rogaine).  Numerous technological advancements with all of these have resulted in their increased popularity and use.

Surgical hair replacement options

There are a couple of surgical options for hair replacement that have become fairly common.  These include:

• minor surgery – micro-grafting, mini-grafting, punch-grafting, slit-grafting, or strip-grafting
• major surgery – flap surgical procedures, scalp-reduction, or tissue-expansion

In general, the former hair replacement procedure involves the transplanting of small grafts or “punches” of hair follicles from a donor area and transplanting it to the balding area of the patient’s scalp.  The latter involves surgically relocating strips of donor scalp to the balding area or removing a portion of the balding area and pulling the scalp together in order to cover the surgically removed portion.

The specific procedure that is chosen by the surgeon is determined by the needs of the client in question and the extent to which the condition has evolved.  Some surgeons may recommend both techniques in order to correct the condition and restore a sense of normalcy for the patient.  Conversely, most hair replacement surgeons will suggest using non-surgical treatments if the condition has not evolved to the extent where surgery is the only alternative.

Duration of the process

The length of time involved in the hair replacement process depends on the individual and can vary from a one-time procedure to a longer process involving several procedures.  A single procedure can take up to 8 hours in the surgeon’s office or their clinic using a local anesthetic.  In a lot of cases, the entire procedure cannot be done in one trip and is carefully planned out over two or three visits space from 90 days to 6 months apart.

On a closing note, you should be careful when selecting a hair replacement surgeon as there are still some out there who are not that reputable.

Nothing is more devastating than being scarred for life by being burned in an explosion or a structure fire.  Oftentimes, the scars are permanent and there is no surgery on the face of the earth that can reverse the damage and psychological trauma that these victims continually endure.  Some burn victims turn to hair replacement procedures in order to correct scalp damage just like trying plastic surgery to correct the damage to their bodies.  However, you should be aware that hair replacement procedures do not always work where the replacement or damaged hair due to burning is concerned.

However, there are a number of factors to be aware of that will influence the failure or success of hair replacement procedures.  These typically include the following factors:

• ability of the burned tissue to start re-growing hair
• condition of the burned and scarred scalp tissue
• severity of the burn (i.e. 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd degree)

Occasionally, there is a higher success rate experienced by burn victims compared to those individuals who are suffering from other types of hair loss such as genetic or hormonal factors and the replacement procedures performed to correct the issue.

Ironically, hair replacement procedures were originally developed and performed by a Japanese dermatologist named Okuda who attempted to treat a person who had lost their hair in a fire.  He first performed the procedure on a burn patient in 1939 by using a punch technique to transplant hair follicles from a healthy scalp area to the area that was burned in the fire.  He actually removed healthier sections of the scalp in the process which contained hair and then implanted it into the burned, hairless areas.

After the patients grafts had healed, there was noticeable growth that occurred in the burned, hairless area.  This single event actually paved the way for future hair replacement technologies and witnessed the evolvement of them to where they are today.  Suffice it to say, this has enabled many burn victims to overcome the trauma that they have endured because of their misfortune.

Procedures today are state-of-the-art and highly effective and have helped many individuals that are burn victims as well as those individuals that are suffering with genetic or non-genetic hair loss recover from their conditions.  If you are a burn victim, you should consult with your physician or a hair replacement professional in order to determine if a procedure will work for you.

Photo via The Maas Clinic

It seems that every year, there are new innovations in the hair replacement industry thanks to research, scientific advancements, and new technologies.  One of these newer replacement techniques for correcting the loss or thinning of hair is the use of synthetic fibers.  It is referred to as fiber hair replacement and it is not so much new technology.  It is witnessing a rebirth of sorts as the increased demand has been steadily depleting the supply of human hair.

The trend towards using human hair versus synthetic fibers began in the 1980’s when patients and their physicians wanted to achieve a more natural look with hair replacement procedures compared to the common hair systems.  During the 1990’s, the demand for human hair really skyrocketed due to the advent of extensions and weaves.  By the time we entered the 21^st century, the supply of human hair had dramatically decreased and the need for using synthetic fibers began to increase.

With this ever increasing demand and the dramatic decrease in supply of human hair, we will no doubt witness the use of synthetic fibers for hair replacement techniques as well as extensions and weaves.  Fortunately, and compared to that technology of the 1980’s, huge advancements in the developmental stages of high tech synthetic fibers are now being used in the men’s hair replacement industry as well as with women’s wigs and other systems.

Currently, there is a significant difference between the mod acrylic fibers of the early years and these more advanced synthetic fibers.  Certain features now make them much more appealing and stylish while at the same time being consumer-friendly.  Typically, these fibers are constructed from products that are nylon or polyester-based in nature.  They are more durable and stronger than the mod acrylic hair replacement fibers and feature a considerably higher heat retention factor.  These are just the primary benefits.

Other key benefits include the fact that these newer synthetic fibers can be styled using professional thermal styling tools without fearing that they will frizz up or melt.  These newer synthetic also maintain their curl patterns much better than the mod acrylic fibers of the 1980’s did.  Additionally, hair replacement systems using these newer high tech fibers hold up considerably longer while maintaining a fresh look in the process.  Despite the durability factor, these newer fibers oftentimes outlive the base of the hair system because they eventually break down.

Photo via tvbuma

There is a common misconception that exists where hair replacement and younger men are concerned in that it is assumed that they will be able to grow a full head of hair once they have gone through a replacement procedure or treatment.  As the amount of donor hair decreases with age, it isn’t always possible to transplant larger amounts of donor follicles during the hair replacement procedure while the patient is still at a young age.

As a result, it is normally customary for smaller units of donor hair to be transplanted in order to create a more natural look.  The hair replacement process continues as they continue to age which enables a more natural and sustainable re-growth pattern.  As they approach the age of 30, their hair appears to be just as full as that of their peers.  Additionally, the transplanted hair remains in tact over a greater period of time.

When younger men are considering a hair replacement procedure and getting ready to visit a clinic, they need to put their desires and expectations to the side and should realize that they may not be able to have the head of hair that they did as a teenager.  The challenge for younger men suffering with hair loss and thinning hair is that they are forced to endure peer pressure as well as the desire to match up to men their own age that have normal heads of hair.

Realistically, the best course of action is to envision the bigger picture in order for a hair replacement procedure to be successful in the long run.  For younger men, the optimum age to consider this type of procedure is during their mid-twenties.  Typically, their donor hair resources have not fully matured and it is never a good idea to remove and transplant follicles that are unstable.  This could result in the procedure having negative or unproductive results.

Other hair replacement options such as Propecia or Rogaine could slow the hair loss and thinning process down in younger patients which is another key reason to wait until they have reached that optimum age where a transplant procedure would be more effective.  Whatever course of action you, the procedure involved for the replacement of lost and thinning hair will be a long-term answer to the problem and will give the younger man an opportunity to regain the hope and the pride that they experienced during their youth.

Photo via the james kendall

There are a number of aspects in one’s life that a hair replacement procedure can either enhance or totally unravel depending on the quality of it.  These include your career, your love life, and most importantly, your self esteem.  However, if the results of that hair replacement procedure do not appear natural, it can have disastrous consequences and you will be miserable.  You will have wasted your money needlessly on a replacement procedure and your hair will not look natural.

You should be able to judge how well a replacement procedure has gone just by looking at the appearance of the hair once the procedure has been completed.  The following will help you to determine whether or not the hair replacement procedure is worth pursuing or not:

Do your homework first – before you do anything else, read reviews and information about hair replacement, search the internet, and talk to family members or friends who have had one of these procedures performed on them.

Read up on the history of hair transplants and other replacement techniques – you’ll quickly discover how quacks in the past have given the whole issue a bad name.  If you realize that numerous advancements and innovations in the technology have occurred, you’ll see why it is such a viable option to pursue.

Determine whether or not the hair replacement professional is using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques – you also want to ensure that the physician or surgeon that is performing the procedure is licensed to do so and has considerable experience in the field.

Read testimonials online and talk with people you know who have had the procedure performed – word of mouth is a powerful tool and individuals who have had good or bad experiences will waste no time letting you know either way.

Look at the pictures that hair replacement websites display – determine if there is a noticeable difference (negative or positive) between the before and after pictures of the hair and scalp.  The most common characteristics of a procedure that was performed by an unskilled surgeon are hair grafts surrounded by noticeable baldness or large plugs of follicles that look out of place or totally unnatural.

Remember that large hair plugs are rarely used in transplant procedures today – unfortunately, many unqualified and unskilled surgeons insist on using this technique, so you want to avoid having them do the procedure.  It is easy to undergo a bad hair replacement transplant procedure if you are not careful.

Photo via Paul Moody