More details can be obtained from your own surgeon or the ASPS.
Indications: This operation is done to replace hair, usually in men but sometimes in women. It can recreate your hair pattern but the new hair pattern is not exactly the same as your hair was before it became thin.
Method: There are several methods of surgery. One is to replace individual hairs or groups of hair. This is called grafting. The surgeon uses small plugs of hair called mini or micro grafts. At any one time 250 to 750 miniature plugs are inserted. Another method is to excise the bald area and replace it with flaps of hair bearing skin. This is scalp skin with normal hair that is moved into a new position. These operations are done under either local anesthetic (you are awake) or general anesthetic (you are asleep). You can choose. Most of the time these are outpatient operations and a stay in the hospital is not needed. Some hair grafts are inserted in the office setting.
Problems: All operations have some risk. It is helpful to divide the risks of surgery into two groups. First those that are seen in all operations and second those that are unique or special for this operation. In the first group, the main risks are swelling, bruising, bleeding, infection, a scar and numbness or change in feeling. The main problems specifically associated these operations are: the need for multiple operations, the scars which can stretch, a poor result and numbness.
Postoperative care: The recovery takes one to two weeks. Most people are back at work within a day or two after hair grafts and week or two after a flap. The recovery is much longer after tissue expansion.
For more information check with your doctor. There are many different ways to do this operation and your best advice comes from your own plastic surgeon.
