New Advancements in Non-Surgical Hair Replacement

As the body ages, many people experience hair loss as they age. This issue affects men and women and can start as early as the teen years or as late as the 80s or 90s. Some people never fully go bald, but most experience some hair loss at some point in their lives. Because of this phenomenon, hair replacement has always been a prominent business. Though surgery has always been an option for hair replacement, other advancements in non-surgical hair replacement have become increasingly popular.

Weaves

Wigs have always been a part of the non-surgical hair replacement market. However, advancements in extensions and weaves have made old-styled wigs a thing of the past. Weaves are external hair-bearing devices that can be attached directly to the scalp, or more commonly are attached to existing hair. The benefit of a weave over a wig is that the hair stays in place by being attached to hair that is already there. Weaves can be made from real or artificial hair. The ability to match your current hair color and type is one of the greatest advancements in non-surgical hair replacement. New technologies allow near perfect matches for hair extensions. Weaves can cost from $750 to $2,500. It is important that hair weaves are installed by professionals as an improperly installed extension can cause severe damage to the hair, promoting greater hair loss.

Vacuum Prosthesis

Another advancement in non-surgical hair replacements is the attachment method for hair pieces. One of these advancements is the vacuum prosthesis. A vacuum prosthesis is a silicon shell that has human hair transplanted into the shell by hand to obtain a real look. A clear co-polyester film is attached to the bottom of the silicon shell, which when applied to the skin creates a strong vacuum seal. The seal keeps the hair piece in place much better than most other forms of attachment. The vacuum prosthesis is also a more reliable option for those with severe burn damage or deformations of the scalp as the piece forms completely to the head, regardless of the shape or smoothness of the head.

Transdermal Membrane Graft

A Transdermal Membrane Graft works similarly to a vacuum prosthesis except it has a much thinner polymer that attaches to the scalp. The polymer is almost as thin as a contact lens and makes it difficult to tell the difference between the polymer and the actual scalp. The hair is also hand injected into the base, creating a realistic look that is hard to differentiate between real hair and the TMG.

Waterproof Adhesives

When deciding on a general wig for your hair-replacement option, there are many new advancements to help with the wearability of the wig. One of the most important advancements in this area is special waterproof adhesives. This allows the user to adhere the hair piece to the scalp without worrying about the adhesive wearing down with sweat. In some cases, the adhesive is strong enough to wear the hair piece while swimming. Before using an adhesive it is important to test the solution on a small area of scalp. This will ensure that your scalp will not have an adverse reaction.

Finding a Specialist

When researching non-surgical hair replacement options it is important to check with a hair replacement specialist to choose the best option for you. You can search for a specialist by contacting the American Hair Loss Council. The AHLC keeps a list of hair specialists who have met the professional and ethical requirements needed to be part of the AHLC. Please visit the AHLC link in the Resources section of this article for additional information.

Resources

• The American Hair Loss Council