Scalp Reduction and Expansion - Hair Replacement Remedy

If you are struggling with hair loss, there are surgical hair replacement options available that may work for you. Scalp expansion, flap transplantation, and scalp reduction surgery can reverse the effects of hair loss by restoring hair-bearing scalp to create a fuller head of hair. Depending on the type and degree of hair loss you are experiencing, follicular unit hair grafting may be utilized in conjunction with these techniques to improve the appearance of the hairline and overall hair growth pattern. When performed by an experienced surgeon, surgical hair restoration provides a proven hair loss remedy that can bring back your hair with remarkably natural results.

Scalp Reduction Surgery

Scalp reduction is a type of hair replacement surgery that involves the removal of a bald section of the scalp. The remaining portions of the scalp are then carefully drawn together like a curtain and sutured to close the incision. Scalp reduction is often combined with micrografting techniques to conceal any scarring and fill in any additional balding or thinning areas.

Good candidates for scalp reduction surgery are those with an adequate amount of hair and healthy follicles surrounding the perimeter of the bald area. When performing scalp reduction surgery, the surgeon must be careful to ensure that the scalp is not pulled too tightly, leading to an unnatural result. Hair loss patients who do not have sufficient hair-bearing tissue to cover the excised portion of their scalp would need also to undergo scalp expansion or flap transplantation.

Patients experiencing male pattern baldness, alopecia, and burn-related hair loss have all been able to achieve good results with this hair loss remedy. A consultation with a surgical hair replacement specialist is necessary to determine whether scalp reduction surgery or another transplantation procedure is right for you.

Scalp Expansion

Some patients do not have enough hair-bearing scalp tissue to complete scalp reduction surgery with good results. In these cases, the surgeon may opt to perform scalp expansion, during which tissue expanders are placed beneath the scalp and slowly inflated, stretching the skin to increase the amount of available hair-bearing tissue for the surgery. The number of expanders and the amount of time they are left in will depend upon the extent, pattern, and location of the hair loss. Once the scalp is adequately expanded, the surgeon can perform scalp reduction surgery, using the excess scalp tissue to provide sufficient coverage for the excised area of scalp tissue.

Suitable candidates for scalp expansion have good hair density around the bald area and good skin elasticity. Burn victims and other hair loss patients challenged by reduced skin elasticity or extensive baldness may be encouraged to undergo flap surgery or other surgical hair loss remedies as an alternative option.

If you are suffering from hair loss and searching for a remedy, a hair replacement specialist can inform you of the many treatment options available. DocShop can connect you with a qualified surgeon in your area whose experience and results you can trust.

Flap Surgery

Flap surgery provides hair loss patients with another hair replacement option. Hair restoration flap surgery utilizes a transplanted flap or flaps of hair-bearing tissue to restore hair in bald areas of scalp. After removing the bald portion of scalp during scalp reduction, the surgeon transplants either a pedicle flap or free flap of the patient's own tissue to restore hair to the area. Once positioned, the flap is then carefully reattached to a vascular supply using microsurgical techniques and then sutured to the surrounding scalp. Scalp expansion techniques may be used to increase the amount of available tissue for transplantation.

The type of flap used to complete this procedure will depend upon the condition of the available tissue. Pedicle flaps, which are used in the majority of flap transplant procedures, still have the main stem of the skin's vascular framework attached to the tissue, whereas free flaps contain more superficial veins and arteries. Both types of flaps can yield good results; however, pedicle flaps have the best chance of survival after transplantation.

In order to achieve good results with flap surgery, the donor site must have a healthy blood supply, good tissue quality, and adequate hair density. If blood supply and tissue quality is poor, follicle micrografting may be the best choice for restoring hair to bald spots. Flap surgery has been a successful hair loss remedy for patients with both genetic and acquired hair loss.

Find a Hair Loss Specialist in Your Area

Are you interested in learning more about the best hair loss remedy for you? Through a consultation with an experienced hair loss specialist, you can find out more about your hair loss and whether hair replacement with scalp expansion, flap transplantation, or scalp reduction surgery can provide you with the results you are looking for. Use DocShop to find a qualified hair replacement surgeon in your area today.