Everyone loses hair on a daily basis at a rate of approximately 50 to 150 individual hairs per day. Usually the hair will grow back. If the hair follicle is thinned, however, this re-growth does not occur. All men experience some degree of gradual hair loss in their lifetime as a result of natural aging and changes in the male hormone androgen. Women also may experience hair loss.

The ideal candidate for hair restoration surgery has healthy hair on the sides and back of the head. These sites are used as donor areas for the grafts. Men and women with well-defined baldness, thinning hair and those with limited hair loss due to scalp injuries or repeated cosmetic procedures are generally good candidates for hair restoration surgery. The Penn team will advise you of treatment options during an initial consultation.

With the use of local anesthesia and intravenous sedation, discomfort during the procedure is eliminated.

Hair restoration surgery involves removing a small strip of hair-bearing scalp from the back and sides of your head. This donor region contains hair that will grow throughout your lifetime. The area from which the strip is taken is carefully closed, usually resulting in a very fine line completely hidden amongst the remaining hair. Our skilled surgical team then microscopically divides the harvest strip of hair-bearing scalp for replacement in your balding areas. These grafts may be processed into a variety of different sizes, depending on your specific needs and scalp conditions.

The grafted hairs grow much like normal hair and are virtually undetectable. Follicular groupings containing more hairs will be used to obtain more density behind the hairline.

With the use of local anesthesia and IV sedation, any discomfort during the procedure can be eliminated. To complete the restoration, our staff carefully checks that your newly placed hairs will grow together in specific directions to form a hairline that is virtually undetectable from the one that nature might have given you, along with increased overall hair density. How much time is involved for treatment? Multiple sessions at various intervals are usually required. Most patients can achieve a full, natural look with a minimum of procedures. Most successful candidates for micrografting and hair transplantation require one to two appointments, usually several months apart. Each office procedure lasts approximately from three to four hours. What happens after the surgery?

• Most patients can return to work 24 to 48 hours after their hair restoration.

• Hair is washed the morning after each procedure.

• Vigorous physical activity should be limited for five to seven days.

Medication is utilized to minimize swelling which can occur. Some crusting or small scabs may be present for seven to ten days, along with some itching at the treatment sites. Any numbness at the donor or recipient sites usually disappears within several weeks to a few months. Follow-up visits at four to six-month intervals are scheduled in order to monitor progress and assess results.

What results can be expected? Micrografts leave virtually no scaring. They also conserve much of the hair that will be needed for future transplantations. The amount of coverage that is achieved depends on the extent of your hair loss, the density of your donor hair, as well as the number of procedures.

Much of the transplanted hair will shed within a month. Approximately three months later (90 to 100 days), new hair starts to grow and continues to grow at a normal rate. About six months after a hair transplant session, the transplanted hairs begin to take on a natural appearance and will continue to grow for a lifetime. The donor site from which the hair was taken shrinks to a small, barely noticeable incision line that is completely hidden in the surrounding hair. View our online hair transplant gallery ofbefore and after pictures. Are there any complications from surgery?

As with all surgical procedures, there is always some risk. However, complications from the surgical treatment of hair loss are rare and generally minimal. Bleeding and/or infection are infrequent and minor. In general you should avoid aspirin or certain drugs or some herbal remedies before surgery. If you have specific concerns please discuss them with your physician.

You are free to resume work the next day. Please avoid any activities that rub or place

excessive pressure on the donor area for several days. You should be fine to resume

exercise after 3 to 4 days.

The best hair transplant technique for you will depend on your hair type, color, and

desired results. Some methods are more suitable for curly and light colored hair

than others, which is why we encourage scheduling a free consultation to discuss

your unique circumstance.

After a few days, the grafts will blend in with the existing hair.

During the first 1 to 3 weeks, new hairs will appear to be growing quickly.

Typically, hair growth starts within 2 to 4 months. Hair growth occurs in cycles, with

each cycle starting a few days or weeks from the previous cycle.

By 6 months, most people can see the effect of the process, and by 12 months, the

growth and bulk will have reached 90% of its total growth. Hair can, and sometimes

does, continue to mature for as long as another 24 months following surgery.