Hair loss treatments: Comparing replacement and restoration

Hair loss treatments are categorized into hair replacement and hair restoration, which offer different approaches to managing thinning hair or baldness.

Hair replacement typically refers to non-surgical systems, such as custom hairpieces or toupees made of synthetic or human hair. These are bonded to the scalp using adhesives but require maintenance every two to four weeks and generally need complete replacement every three to twelve months.

In contrast, hair restoration often involves surgical procedures like Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) or Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). These methods move healthy follicles from donor areas, such as the back or sides of the scalp, to thinning areas. While surgical results can be permanent, the process requires a sufficient donor supply and a recovery period where new growth may take up to 12 months to become fully visible.