Non-Surgical Hair Replacement - Hair Loss & Hair Transplant Surgery Guide

Medical treatments for hair loss have developed in recent years and they are now able to offer effective solutions to many men who experience male patterned baldness. Non-surgical does not simply refer to a wig but incorporates a whole range of treatments that aim to help you produce natural looking hair.

This type of treatment involves the application of a membrane to the scalp that is filled with natural hair. Once this has been attached to the scalp it is blended in with the natural hair that already exists to produce a realistic appearance. The hair in the membrane is matched to the existing hair so that it does not look out of place in terms of colour and thickness. The attachment involves using modern bonding materials so it is very secure and means that you can feel confident when wearing it.

How do I have this treatment?

You will initially undergo a design consultation which ensures that the membrane is well matched to your own hair and so will look natural. On average the whole process of the treatment takes 2-3 months as this involves designing and attaching a product that is specifically suited to you. It is possible to buy products that have been previously made but there is the risk that these may not look natural with your existing hair.

After the design it is necessary to select a membrane. There are several types of membrane that are available but the most common are monofilament, polyurethane and lace. Often the decision over which to use will be made according to individual requirements.

• Monofilament is more porous so is advised for people who need their scalp to be aerated.
• Polyurethane is a very discrete membrane as it can barely be seen.
• Lace produces the most natural results and tends to be used in more visible cases of male patterned baldness.

Once the membrane has been chosen it needs to be bonded to the scalp. The current bonding technique is to affix the membrane with a translucent adhesive that is resistance to water and perspiration.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this treatment?

Advantages:

• Medical treatments such as minoxidil do not work for some men so non-surgical treatments provide an effective alternative.
• This treatment does not involve having surgery which can often remove some of your existing hair from a donor area and simply moving it. This can be ineffective as there is potential to then lose hair from the donor area, and so need further surgery.
• Non-surgical treatments do not interfere with your existing hair by removing it.

Disadvantages:

• Treatment requires long term maintenance so that it continues to look natural. This means that when you want to change the appearance of your hair such as having it cut this may involve having the membrane adjusted.
• Over time the membrane wears out so has to be replaced and can sometimes require special products in order to maintain its condition.
• This treatment is not a one-off cost but the maintenance of the membrane will require further payment.

What is the cost?

The cost really depends on which product you choose. For example human hair will be more expensive than synthetic hair and the quality of the membrane can also affect the price. An estimate for the initial cost of non-surgical hair replacement is £600-1000.