Surgical Procedures
Hair Restoration

Concept - Hair restoration is accomplished by hair transplantation, scalp reduction, tissue expansion and flaps. The most common cause of hair loss is androgenic alopecia. There are other causes, however, including trauma, surgery, tumors and radiation. The procedure or combination of procedures is dependent upon the clinical problem and the desires of the patient.

The majority of patients with androgenic alopecia have "micro-plugs", where only 1 or 2 hairs are transplanted into tiny incisions. This gives a natural result with hair appearing in the proper orientation, without the "plugged" look of older techniques.

When the balding area is secondary to trauma or diseased tissue, excision of the area is required with flap coverage. The process of tissue expansion is applied, stretching hair-bearing scalp, allowing for advancement into the defect. Dr. Dabb has developed at technique of tissue expansion, utilizing a pump and pain pump, that allows for expansion over a long weekend, rather than 6 to 8 weeks.

Surgery – Hair transplantation is performed by our team in the office under local anesthesia. It can take several hours, depending on the amount transplanted. The patient may wash the hair the following day. The final result will be evident in several months.

Tissue expanders are performed in the surgicenter , under anesthesia, with endoscopic technique. After expansion, the balding area is excised at a second operation and the flap of hair-bearing scalp advanced to close the defect.

Recovery – Hair transplantation is relatively painless and requires little down-time. The discomfort of expansion and flaps is managed with the pain pump. Activity is limited during the expansion process.

Return to work – 2 days

Full Activity – 3 weeks

Complications – limited result, inappropriate direction of hair, loss of grafts or flap, infection, scar, extrusion of expander.