Galea Fixation in Alopecia Reduction Surgery

In the document from 2001, Dr. Gerard E. Seery presented findings from over 1000 alopecia reduction surgeries, including 700 from a surgical research project, demonstrating that galea fixation is a simple, safe, and effective technique with minimal complications. The procedure, which involves a midline incision, limited undermining, and deep plane fixation sutures, allows for the removal of approximately 450 mm² of bald scalp per operation and can be repeated multiple times with minimal scarring. The galeal fixation technique was shown to significantly reduce stretch-back, a common issue where the skin stretches postoperatively, to about 10%, potentially offset by biologic creep. The author recommended combining the procedure with immediate hair transplantation and suggested its potential for broader surgical applications beyond treating male pattern baldness.