Options for Hair Restoration

Hair restoration is a method to treat hair loss. It is quite an effective way of hair loss treatment in both men and women.

Hair restoration is beneficial hair loss sufferers but it does not work in areas of total hair loss (bald areas) on the scalp. There are several options for hair restoration including surgical and non-surgical restoration.

Non-surgical hair restoration

In this type of hair restoration, the use of drugs is involved. Minoxidil is the primary drug used for this. Another drug named finasteride is also used. 3 to 6 months of regular use of these drugs slows down hair loss and increases stabilisation and scalp coverage. Results can be seen within 1 year of treatment. Dense regrowth is uncommon and no medication can regrow hair in completely bald areas. Treatment must be continued indefinitely to maintain the benefits. If the treatment is stopped, condition return to pretreatment status by 6 months if drug used is minoxidil, and by 12 months if it is finasteride.

Surgical hair restoration

There are a number of techniques used in hair restoration surgery such as flap transfers and single follicular unit grafting. For best results, multiple techniques may be used. Restoration techniques such as micro-grafts, follicular unit transfer, and single unit transfers lend you a fuller, thicker head of hair. These techniques produce a much more natural appearance than older techniques of plug grafting. There are two major divisions of surgical hair restoration.

• Scalp stretching- It involves surgically removing the bald skin and replacing it with skin nearby that is covered with healthy hair follicles.  This is stretched over that portion of the scalp area where the skin has been removed.  
• Hair transplantation- In this technique, smaller graft of hair are taken from the scalp donor areas and transplanted into the balding area.

After surgical hair restoration a person can suffer from numerous side effects such as:

• Swelling.
• Bruising around the eyes.
• Crusting on the "donor" and "recipient" sites of the scalp.
• A lack of feeling or sensation around the "donor" and "recipient" sites of the scalp.
• Itching in the "donor" site.

All these side effects are temporary and fade within 3-4 weeks post treatment.

Hair loss restoration is a very effective technique to get your hair back. But this treatment must be continued indefinitely to maintain the benefit. Do consult with your doctor before undergoing any hair restoration procedure.

Read more articles on Hair Care Basics.