There is a popular misconception that hair transplants are only for men, and that only men suffer from hair loss. This is simply not true. Women are just as likely to lose hair as male counterparts through illness, genes, stress and the ageing process. As such, there are a variety of products on the market that can be used to cosmetically to cover up the effects of hair loss, as well as surgical and medical solutions to encourage hair growth.

One of the easiest ways to deal with the problem of hair loss is purchasing a wig. In general, hair pieces have not had good press in the past, but new methods that use human hair to make the wigs are much more realistic than former nylon counterparts. The rise in popularity of wearing a wig comes from the improved quality of wigs produced, and when compared to the cost of surgery, are an economic option.

There are also a variety of cosmetics that can be applied to reduce the appearance of thinning hair. A new technique uses micro filaments that match the colour of the hair; each filament builds on existing hair to increase thickness. These types of products are a temporary solution, and work best on mild cases. For more sever hair loss, surgical techniques such as a hair transplant are the preferred option.

Hair transplants can be performed successfully on both men and women, and the techniques used are suitable for use on face and chest as well as the head. It is becoming more popular for people to have hair transplants for eyebrows, beards and chest for cosmetic reasons. This overlap between surgery to treat a hair loss ailment and surgery for cosmetic enhancement reflects the growing success of hair transplant techniques.

Hair transplant procedures plant donor hairs in groups of one to four follicles, which means that there is less chance of rejection, less scarring, and most importantly, the patient is left with a completely natural result. The treatments that used to be available often resulted in a dolls head look as strips of follicles were transplanted.

To make the transplants more successful, the patient is often encouraged to take hair restoration medication. This promotes the growth of the transplanted hair and encourages new hair growth from dormant follicles. However, some of the medications on offer cannot be used by female patients as one of the side effects is stimulated growth of facial hair. For more information on hair transplants and treating hair loss, consult a hair loss specialist.