Baldness is often blamed on poor circulation to the scalp, vitamin deficiencies, dandruff, and even excessive hat-wearing. All of these theories have been disproved. It’s also not true that hair loss can be determined by looking at your maternal grandfather, or that 40-year-old men who haven’t lost their hair will never lose it.

There are many things that could be contributing to your hair loss.

• Hair disorders, such as alopecia
• Diseases like anemia and cancer
• Poor diet & nutrition related to things like protein and iron deficiencies and eating disorders
• Hormones and stress, particularly during pregnancy and menopause
• Medications like blood thinners, high-dose Vitamin A, birth control, and steroids
• Overstyling or overuse of hair care products
• Aging heredity

Hair loss is primarily caused by aging, a change in hormones, and a family history of baldness. As a rule, the earlier hair loss begins, the more severe the baldness will become. While there is little you can do to prevent hair loss, there are effective surgical treatments available today to restore hair.

Transplant techniques, such as punch grafts, mini-grafts, micro-grafts, slit grafts, and strip grafts are generally performed on patients who desire a more modest change in hair fullness. Flaps, tissue-expansion and scalp-reduction are procedures that are usually more appropriate for patients who desire a more dramatic change.

When reviewing information about specific plastic surgery procedures, it is important to understand that the circumstances and experience of every individual are unique. If you are considering plastic surgery, please ask your plastic surgeon for further information about the particular procedure and what you can expect.