Guide to Female Hair Loss Replacement Options

By: Julie Knapp

Whether caused by genetics, diet or illness, women with thinning hair have several hair loss replacement options available to them. While there are procedures that can help a woman reverse the appearance of thinning hair, it is important to do your research and consult a physician to find the best possible treatment for your individual needs.

Grafting is one option for women with thinning hair. Grafting is an outpatient procedure performed by a dermatological surgeon, during which the surgeon removes part of the patient's scalp. That piece of scalp, which has hair growth on it, is cut into small pieces of varying sizes, then put in thinning areas of the scalp to create a natural thicker look.

The procedure is not a quick and easy fix: each session takes about three to five hours. A patient will need to undergo several sessions before she reaches the desired look. Topical anesthetic is applied to the scalp before each session; stitches, which are removed ten days later, are typically covered by surrounding hair. Side effects can also occur, including swelling, bruising around the eyes and itching or lack of feeling around the affected areas.

Scalp reduction is another option. In this procedure, a portion of the balding area of the scalp is removed; the rest of the scalp is stretched in order to spread out the remaining hair growth. Again, the scalp is injected with a local anesthetic, but scalp reduction pain can be more severe than with grafting. Mild scalp tightness may also be experienced for a few months after a scalp reduction procedure. The treatment works best for bald patches on the top and back of the head, rather than problems at the front of the hairline.

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