There are different types of hair replacement surgery, including scalp reduction, scalp extension (or tissue expansion) and scalp flap surgery. These hair restoration procedures are for men or women who have experienced hair loss or bald spots, due to alopecia, male pattern baldness, female pattern baldness or other reasons.

Scalp Reduction Surgery

In scalp reduction, sections of the scalp with hair get pulled forward to cover the bald portions. Scalp reduction is less appropriate for the top of the head. During a scalp reduction procedure, areas of baldness are minimized. The surgery is done under local anesthesia. A section of the man or woman's bald scalp is removed, then an area with hair is brought up over it. Sutures are used to hold it in place. There can be a lot of pain during this procedure, more so than other hair replacement techniques such as hair grafting. The procedure can also leave scars.

A scalp reduction surgery can cost from $1500 to $4000. This depends on the surgeon, the area of the scalp being covered. It is usually done with local anesthesia as an outpatient. As with other cosmetic surgeries, make sure you use only a qualified experienced surgeon.

Scalp Flap Surgery

In scalp flap surgery, a section of bald scalp is removed, with a flap of skin that still has hair. This then goes over the bald area and is sewn in place. Sometimes the flap stays partially attached to the scalp, sometimes it does not. The surgeon doing this procedure must be a trained specialist with a lot of experience doing this type of procedure. You also need to have areas of the scalp that have healthy hair in place for this to be considered. The transfer usually happens during several procedures, spaced at least a week from each other.

The cost of scalp flap surgery ranges from $1500 to $4000, depending on several factors such as the amount of scalp involved and the particular surgeon.

Scalp Extension / Tissue Expansion Surgery

In scalp extension, a device called an extender is placed just under the surface of the woman or man's scalp. It is then inflated to expand, loosen and stretch the scalp until it can be stretched to cover the bald area. The device is in place for about a month. Scalp extension is a type of flap surgery.

This is considered to be a serious surgical procedure. So really think about whether this is the correct thing for you to do. The price for scalp extension surgery varies from a low of $1500 to four thousand dollars or more, so financing is an issue. It is important that you not choose a surgeon based on cheap price, however, as you want to make sure you have a qualified and experienced surgeon doing any of these procedures. Complications of these hair restoration procedures - scalp reduction, expansion or flap surgery - include pain, infection and scarring. You should also be aware that any type of hair replacement surgeries, including these, are not covered by insurance. Ironically, while someone may have little or no hair where they want it, they may also have unwanted hair and be thinking about laser hair removal. You should look into all optons for hair replacement before deciding on a procedure, including acceptance of being bald or having bald spots, medications such as Rogaine or Propecia, and hair grafting. Hair graft procedures include follicular unit hair transplantation or extraction, as well as mini micrografting.