Hair Flap Surgery

Find out about the flap surgery hair transplant

Hair flap surgery, sometimes called scalp flap surgery or hair grafting, is the implantation of a strip of scalp from the back or sides of the head to the top, to replace scalp tissue that won’t grow hair. Flap hair restoration surgery is generally only performed as a way to treat male pattern baldness caused by genetics or hormones. For hair loss caused by illness, medications or stress, flap surgery is generally less successful. It’s also barely used on women since it can only treat the typical receding hair line of male pattern baldness, and not the general overall thinning of the hair, which is more common in women.

For men who are just starting to lose their hair, other solutions, such as laser hair transplants or hair implants may be more effective than hair flap surgery. There are also many options available for female hair transplants.

Flap Surgery Hair Transplants

A flap surgery hair transplant is performed by a professional cosmetic surgeon because it involves making several incisions to both remove the donor hair and graft it onto the area requiring treatment. The new scalp skin acts just as it would in its original position, and the resulting hair looks, feels and grows naturally.

You may experience some discomfort following the surgery, and recovery time is generally a couple of weeks. During your recovery, you should avoid getting your scalp wet and especially stay away from washing your hair. Your doctor will also probably prescribe you some painkillers and antibiotics to avoid infection.

Hair Flap Surgery Surgeons

Your hair flap surgery surgeon should be an experienced professional and you should always ask for referrals before committing to a surgical procedure. An experienced hair loss surgeon will be happy to provide you with references and access to past patients so you can see their results.

Remember that hair replacement treatments such as hair flap surgery can vary in price depending on the patient, the reasons for the hair loss and the amount of hair that needs to be replaced. You should shop around to see what local professionals are charging, but remember that this is a serious medical procedure and you should never sacrifice an experienced professional for a cheap deal.