TLDR Surgical hair replacement is a viable option for male pattern baldness when done with proper planning and realistic expectations.
The 1993 document outlines the history, causes, and surgical treatment options for male pattern baldness (MPB). It emphasizes that while no non-surgical products have been consistently effective, surgical hair replacement, which redistributes existing scalp hair, is a viable option. The success of such surgeries relies on the availability of donor hair and realistic patient expectations. The document details various grafting techniques, including full-sized cylindrical grafts for the frontal hairline, minigrafts for adding density, and micrografts for a natural hairline transition. It also describes skin flaps, such as advancement and rotation flaps, which can cover larger bald areas. The choice of procedure is influenced by the baldness pattern, donor site, patient preference, and surgeon's expertise, with proper planning leading to satisfactory outcomes.
33 citations,
January 1991 in “The Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology” Incisional slit grafting for hair transplantation gives natural-looking results and has a high success rate.
51 citations,
January 1989 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Men with male-pattern baldness have more androgen receptors in their scalp's oil glands, which may contribute to hair loss.
40 citations,
December 1980 in “The Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology” An improved scalp reduction technique reduces the need for hair grafts and has minimal complications.
68 citations,
March 1965 in “The BMJ” Hormones and genetics affect hair growth and patterns, with some changes reversible and others not.
August 2015 in “Europe PMC (PubMed Central)” Using body measurements can help achieve good results in plastic surgery like reshaping the torso, but it doesn't work for all body types.
32 citations,
July 2011 in “Facial Plastic Surgery” New hair transplant methods offer more natural results and better graft survival, with ongoing research to increase donor hair options.
15 citations,
December 2007 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Hair transplantation has improved with techniques that increase graft survival and patient satisfaction for more natural results.
48 citations,
October 1996 in “Dermatologic clinics” Some treatments can help with hair regrowth in alopecia areata, but results vary and long-term use is often needed without changing the disease's outcome.
26 citations,
January 1994 in “McGraw-Hill eBooks” Many hair loss conditions can be treated.
