Hair Systems-Hair Pieces, Wigs and Caps
Hair Pieces, Wigs and Caps
Although Dr. Lam does not provide actual hair systems, he and his team have an excellent understanding of hair systems so that he can guide you as to how to transition out of your hair system or to have a hair transplant to complement your existing hair system. Also this site is primarily dedicated to hair restoration through hair transplant, and the consumer today should be broadly educated about all hair restoration options, including hair systems (hairpieces) and wigs.
Hair Systems Versus Caps/wigs
Although this site is primarily dedicated to hair restoration through hair transplant, the consumer today should be broadly educated about all hair restoration options, including hair systems (hairpieces) and wigs.* We should first begin by clarifying terminology. Hair systems refer to a partial hair prosthesis, which is more commonly referred to as a hairpiece; whereas a wig refers to a product that covers the entire expanse of the head. A cap is the term used to refer to a wig used by a male wearer, i.e., the product also covers the entire expanse of the scalp like a wig leaving no exposed natural hair.
Call 972-312-8105 or email us to schedule your consultation for hair restoration and to discuss alternatives to your hair system, wig or cap or to understand how hair restoration can complement your current hair system, wig, or cap.
- See more at: http://hairtx.com/hair-resources-dallas/non-surgical-options/hair-systems-hair-pieces-wigs-caps/
We encourage you to learn more about the different hair systems below:
About Hair Systems
Most men wear hair systems as compared to caps to camouflage their hair loss with great strides that have been made toward a more natural appearing look compared with previous “toupees”, which bear a negative connotation. Advanced hair systems that appear much more seamless today are woven through a mesh so that the hairs appear to emanate from the scalp rather than sitting on the scalp like a “rug” in the past. This woven design greatly enhances the naturalness of the appearance of the hair system.
Hair systems can be attached to the scalp through a variety of mechanisms. Tape adhesives are used for daily adherence so that the hair system can be easily removed at nighttime. Glue adhesives provide more durable bonding and oftentimes can keep a system in place for upwards of a month. Similarly, hair weaving uses existing hair to provide anchorage to the hair system through inter-weaving the two together. Weaving can also provide a month of time for a hair system to remain in place before maintenance is required.
Maintenance of a hair system involves cleaning it, at times coloring it, repairing it, replacing it, as well as bonding it back on. Hairstyling requires special sensitivity and technique to provide proper blending and is usually carried out in specialized salons where men who wear hair systems can feel more comfortable in that environment dedicated to their needs.
Benefits And Limitations Of Hair Systems
The benefit of a hair system is that it can provide immediate gratification as opposed to a hair transplant that requires 6 months or beyond to see the result and that may require an additional session(s) to attain the desired level of density. Further in individuals with extensive baldness (Norwood VII) or poor donor hair density, a hair system may be the only method to attain acceptable levels of hair density.
Although the initial cost of a hair system may be less expensive than a hair transplant, the ongoing maintenance fees far exceed a hair transplant after a year or few years. In addition, the time expenditure for maintaining a hair system can be considerably more as well since following a hair transplant the only necessary upkeep is haircutting and hairstyling as you would normally do anyway.
Additionally, no matter how natural a hair system may appear, the wearer is always worried that he may be “found out” and must limit certain activities like swimming or being near flammable objects for fear that the system could be adversely affected or his cosmetic appearance compromised. Also, once a hair system is worn, it is very hard for a wearer to suddenly give it up because of the abrupt transition to baldness, thereby necessitating ongoing expense and maintenance. In a way, the gradual transition to hair growth following a hair transplant can be viewed as a positive attribute since it limits an observer’s detection of the process.
Hair Systems And Hair Transplant
There are two major topics to be discussed herein: individuals who wear hair systems and who are looking to transition out of them with a hair transplant and individuals who want to support their hair system with a hair transplant through temporal point reconstruction.
An individual who is used to the unmatched density of a hair system must be fully aware that the density achieved following a hair transplant may not be comparable to a hair system. Again, this fact is particularly true for an individual with advanced hair loss (Norwood VII) and/or poor hair density. Nevertheless, in most cases of male pattern baldness, hair transplant surgery can provide tremendous density in 1 to 2 sessions.
Secondly, for someone looking to transition out of a hair system, the individual must know how to maintain the hair system in place following the hair transplant procedure. Instead of the aforementioned methods of attachment (tapes, glues, weaving), the hair system must be held in place with specialized clips for two reasons. First, tapes and glues cannot be used over the transplanted hair area. Second, weaving is not allowed since the hair system should be removed at night to allow the transplanted hair to be exposed to the environment for optimal healing and follicular growth.
For those individuals with a Norwood VII pattern, hair transplant to fill the entire bald scalp is not feasible. In those advanced cases of hair loss, the individual may desire the benefits of coverage that only a hair system can provide. However, as mentioned, a hair system addresses only the hair loss along the central zone of the scalp and not the temporal region. Using a full cap may not be aesthetically the most desirable option. In those cases, an alternative is to wear a hair system and rebuild the temporal hair (temporal point reconstruction) to match the hair system. As hair systems continue to be more natural through technological advances, the major problem that remains is matching the temporal hair loss with the hairline hair loss. The usual giveaway for a well-constructed hair system is the fact that it does not match the temporal hair loss. This unnatural pattern looks like the individual is wearing a baseball cap or so-called “lid effect”. Fortunately, for most Norwood VII patients, there is still sufficient donor hair to rebuild the temples to match the position of the central hair system.
At the Lam Institute for Hair Restoration, we are focused on providing superlative hair transplant results. However, we have years of experience in helping patients with hair systems transition out of their system and even discussing other aspects of hair systems that you may have questions about.
