When you are faced with hair loss, you have four options, (1) accept it and do nothing, (2) wear wigs, etc. to cover it up, (3) try medications and topical ointments, and (4) surgical procedures. The medications and ointments can be applied directly to the area, taken orally or by injections. The prescription medications are the most powerful, but can have bad side effects. These usually slow the hair loss, but may not start new growth.

Hair replacement surgeries have been very successful. This involves taking a donor tissue from an area where there is good hair growth, usually on the sides or back of your head, and transplanting it in the bald area. There is a very short recuperation time and you are not faced with a lot of side effects.

They have different sizes of grafts they can do to accomplish this, but the one that most closely matches the natural look will be a small graft holding 1 to 4 hair follicles. The doctors are very careful to follow the angle the hair should be when placing it. A flap is a larger area that is taken, but this one does leave a scar, requires sutures, and the hair angle may not be right.

The holes to place the grafts in can be made with a scalpel or with a laser. There were problems with the laser until they started using the pulsating laser and it is much better. The laser hair replacement causes a decrease in the elasticity of the skin so the grafts have a tendency to fall out and it is relatively bloodless which means a decrease in blood and oxygen to the area. The advantage is it creates slits that look more natural and makes room for more implants.

Hair transplantations have been very successful and the use of lasers is becoming more popular. It usually takes more than one surgery to get the desired effect, but the recovery time is short and there is little to no pain. Choose your doctor carefully and then talk to him about all your options before making your decision