Hair Restoration and Replacement

If you are thinking about getting hair replacement surgery there are a few things to think about before you plop down your hard earned money. If I was looking for a hair replacement center today the first think I would do is make a list of all the centers in my area. Most cosmetic surgeons now have websites and I would check those out to see what services they have to offer. Hair replacement surgery is very possibly the most extensive surgery you will have so you want to be sure you are dealing with competent professionals.

Surgical hair replacement is another name for hair implantation, hair transplantation, or hair restoration surgery. They all really mean the same thing. Basically, the doctor will remove living hair implants from one area of the patient’s head and place them into the balding area. A vast majority of the men who have balding issues do so because of androgenic alopecia. This is a genetic condition that causes certain hair follicles to be attacked by a hormone substance called dihydrotestosterone. Luckily for men, the hair loss is usually localized on the top of the head between the forehead line and the crown. This leaves an area of thick hair growth at the back of the head which can be utilized for removal of hair follicles.

The next step is for the surgeon to implant the removed follicles into the balding spot in very small incisions. The direction of the hair growth can be controlled by how the hairs are inserted into the scalp and a skilled surgeon will spend a lot of time making sure they are placed just right so they will match the growth direction of the surrounding hairs. This makes the hairs look natural as they continue to grow.

The hair replacement procedure is done on an outpatient basis at the doctor’s office, clinic, or hair replacement center. Depending on how large the bald spot is the procedure may be done in one day or it may take more than one visit. The procedure is really quite simple with very little pain and discomfort.

Now that you understand the procedure you will understand why the center needs to be well recommended. Cosmetic surgeons live and die by the results of their patients so they are more than happy to show off their work. When you are considering a hair replacement center be sure to ask to see examples of their work. If they don’t have pictures of results then you won’t want to have them experimenting on you.

They will also usually have testimonials from satisfied patients with before and after pictures. This is another good way to check out their work. Before you decide on the clinic check with the Better Business Bureau BBB to see if there have been any complaints against the clinic or the doctor. Often times if a patient is unhappy they will file a complaint with the BBB so if the doctor or clinic is named I would be leary.

You should have a good feel about the doctor and the staff. They should be professional and caring about your issues. Remember, this is a place where surgery is performed so everything should be spotless just like in a hospital. There is not a specialty board for recognition of hair replacement surgeons which means that any trained physician can perform hair transplant surgery without any certification. This is why it is so important to check out references and possible complaints.

Finding the right hair replacement center for you will require that you spend time finding out about different clinics and checking references. This is an important surgery and should not be left to chance.