Just as fashion and hair transplant surgery have advanced greatly over the past two decades (thankfully!), so has the field of non surgical hair replacement. Hair replacement systems, that is, wigs and hairpieces, have changed so dramatically over the past few years that most go completely unnoticed. The previous norm was a “rug” of thick, ill-fitting, unnatural fibers placed in a variety of odd angles with an abrupt border at the hairline. Today’s quality hair replacement system is so natural looking that it is often very difficult to detect.
An Alternative to a Hair Transplant
Non surgical hair replacement is a good choice for men who want to avoid surgery altogether. They can be used to treat male pattern baldness, that is, the gradual loss of hair from the temples and crown with receding hairline. Hair replacement systems are the superior choice for female pattern baldness which usually occurs over a diffuse area and is not amenable to surgery. Further, non surgical hair replacement is ideal for unexpected and temporary alopecia (hair loss); examples include the hair loss experienced during cancer treatment and the occurrence of specific conditions such as alopecia areata.
Hair transplants can yield a natural looking scalp, but it takes about a year for full effect. This limitation may not be mentioned in marketing material. Hair replacement systems, on the other hand, can be used as a temporary solution while awaiting the growth of transplanted hair.
Do Your Research
While hair replacement systems are the best choice for some people, there are some issues to keep in mind. Hair replacement systems are initially less expensive than surgery, especially the surgery that has emerged as the gold standard: follicular unit transplantation. However, there is a cost to properly maintain and replace hairpieces, which may be overlooked initially.
If the hair replacement system is not of sufficient quality (“discount” or older technology) the hairpiece may look unnatural. Moreover, since the scalp is constantly covered with a hairpiece, sebum and secretions from the scalp build up. These secretions and some adhesives used to affix the hairpiece can create an unpleasant odor (requiring routine hair system maintenance), or even accelerate hair loss.
