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.

One of the most important things to decide first, when choosing your hair replacement product, is the type of system or base to use for it. Conventional hair replacement systems use polyurethane coated perimeters with a nylon base. These older style systems have the advantage of being very durable and strong, and they are also very easy to care for usually lasting for a whole year without needing to be replaced. Unfortunately, they don’t give you as natural a look as other systems do and you are rather limited in the style you can wear.

The more popular skin hair replacement system, or second skin membrane system, are made from a very thin co-polymer membrane. Individual strands of hair are either tied to or looped through it, giving this a very natural appearance that can be worn in any style. This base is fairly delicate though, and you would need to replace it two or three times a year, depending on whether you wear it full time or not.

Finally, there is the lace hair replacement system. This is very difficult to see against the skin. Hair is knotted into the lace, giving it the appearance of actually growing out of the scalp. This is particularly useful for front hair pieces, as the hairline is very natural looking. As with the skin hair system, it will need to be replaced several times a year, depending on how much use it gets. Most specialists recommend this type of base, as it is light weight, your scalp can breathe through it very easily and it’s the most natural looking system.

Usually, you will have to send hair samples so that the best match for your hair type can be determined. Unprocessed hair, meaning natural hair where the cuticle is still in the hair root, is the best type of hair replacement. It is more expensive than the processed hair (which is hair which has had the cuticle stripped, and is then chemically colored), but many people prefer spending the little extra to use unprocessed hair when choosing this type of non surgical hair replacement.

Of course, once you have your hair replacement, you will also need to invest in some products that will help you care properly for it. These product include items such as adhesive removers, special shampoo such as moisturizing shampoo or color maintenance shampoos, conditioners and holding sprays. You generally should not use normal products, but will need to invest in products specifically designed for the special care of your hair replacement.

There are a lot of different hair replacement options available today and the key is to find the right one for you.  If you are just starting out I would suggest you get a lot of different opinions on hair systems so you can get an idea of the different options.  One option that a lot of people decide to go with is hair replacement surgery.  This method does work but there are a few problems with it.  First off is the cost.  It is not uncommon for a hair transplantation surgery to cost over $20,000.  This is a lot of money in anyone’s book.  The hair implants cost between $3 and $8 each and it is not unreasonable to expect that you will need 1000 to 3000 hair units implanted if you have a large bald spot.

Nonsurgical hair replacement systems involve getting a covering for your head that is constructed with a base material which has had natural hair or artificial hair tied into it.  There are many options when you are considering this method of hair loss treatment and the all will make a difference in the hair replacement cost.  There are several types of base materials available and you can choose from natural human hair or artificial.

Some of the things to look for when you are considering hair replacement for men is how well the hair of the system matches your own hair in density, color, and texture.  The density addresses how many hair unit you have per square centimeter in your current hair.  Matching this amount will make your new hair system blend in with your existing hair much better.  You don’t want to have a thin amount of hair on the sides of your head and then a bunch of thick hair sticking up on top.

Color and texture are another matter that needs to be taken into account.  You of course want your new hair to match the existing hair exactly.  You also need to be concerned about how much curl your natural hair has and how thick the hair shafts are.  Nothing will give away your hair system faster than a head of hair that is curly on the sides but straight on type or versa vice.

When considering one of these systems for hair replacement for men you also need to give consideration to several matters as far as wear ability goes.  The system needs to be constructed out of a material what will allow the scalp to breath.  There is nothing worse than a lot of sweat built up under your hair piece.  The base materials also need to be thin and light weight so they aren’t noticeable.  Along with this is the ability to be undetectable by touch.  The best system is one that can be touched by others and they aren’t able to tell it is a hair piece.

Lastly, the hair line should be intact so that a person can person can comb their hair straight back and the hair line looks natural.  A person should not be limited to only a few hair styles that look good with the hair system.  He should be able to wear it how ever he wants.

Hair replacement for women has been around for a long time in the form of wigs.  These have progressed to the point that they look natural and really help a woman to deal with hair loss.  Non surgical hair replacement is a great way to get back a head of hair.