Scalp Reduction


This surgery is not technically a hair transplantation surgery as hair grafts are never removed from the scalp. Instead, the elastic skin of the scalp is brought together to cover up bald areas and bring the hair at the front of the head closer to the hair at the back of the head. The procedure involves making an incision across the scalp at the crown, removing any excess bald skin, and then suturing the scalp back together, thus drawing the two sections of hair at the front and the back together.

If the skin was not stretchy enough on its own for the surgery, or there was not enough skin to remove in between the sections of hair, then the surgeon could stretch the scalp before the procedure. This was done by placing a balloon under the skin for several weeks, increasing its size periodically, until there is enough skin to remove. After this stretching procedure, the scalp reduction surgery was undertaken as normal.


Unfortunately for many men who attempted this form of cosmetic hair surgery, scalp reductions often leave large and very visible scars across the back of the head. In addition, this procedure could only help with balding at the crown of the head. This means that as the pattern-baldness continued over time, the front of their scalps at the hairline would lose hair and continue back towards the crown, leaving them with just as much hair loss as before.

In spite of the problems associated with it, this surgery is not completely obsolete. It is still used for some emergency cases if you are suffering from a disease like scarring alopecia. Under these circumstances, scalp reduction can be the only method which can effectively restore some normalcy to the scalp. Aside from these cases, however, many advise not to undergo this particular procedure.

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Guide to Old Methods of Hair Transplantation