Hair Systems
A detailed discussion of hair systems, including hairpieces, wigs, and toupees, is beyond the scope of this web site. You may refer to The Patients Guide to Hair Restoration for more information.
The important point to make is that hair systems in men are "high-maintaince". They require frequent, periodic visits to the "center" to adjust or re-attach the appliance and often require the patient to keep a spare. They, of course, will wear out over a few years and need to be replaced. The long-term costs generally far exceed those of surgical hair restoration.
Because hair systems are not your own hair they always present a psychological concern that they will be detected. This becomes magnified in close "social" situations. They are also difficult to keep clean and are often hot and uncomfortable to wear.
The major problems of hair systems are related to the way they are attached. In women, a wig can be loosely clipped to the surrounding hair and be removed at night, causing few problems. However, in those people who want to wear their hair system during sports or other physical activity, this form of attachment is not secure enough. In addition, men often have less hair to attach the system to, and they tend to wear their hair shorter, so they must use other means of attachment.
Attaching the hairpiece with adhesive tape is a simple method, but it leaves a sticky residue and can loosen with sweating and rigorous activity. To have a really secure attachment, the system must be either tied to the surrounding hair, weaved through a mesh network, or attached with glue or another type of bonding. Since these can't easily be removed, they produce constant traction on the patient's natural hair and cause a form of hair loss called Traction Alopecia. When this is superimposed on the natural balding process, the final result may be difficult to repair.
The use of hair systems or artificial fibers that are sewn into the scalp are outlawed in most states in the U.S. However, they are still popular in many countries, including Japan. The following patient wore a sew-on hair system for many years and developed the scarring that is often seen when foreign materials are imbedded into the scalp. Fortunately, this patient still had an adequate donor supply and was amenable to correction using Follicular Unit Transplantation. Please click on Repair Work to see how this problem was managed.
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