The surgical methods used include hair transplantation, where patches of skin with hair are moved from one part of the head to another. Another method is scalp reduction, where parts of the scalp are removed, the skin is stretched over the area that had been removed, and everything is stitched back together. Hair transplants generally cause scarring, sometimes severe, which may be especially visible if hair loss continues over the rest of the scalp.

Hair multiplication (future treatment)

Stem cells have been discovered in hair follicles and some researchers predict research on these follicle stem cells may lead to successes in treating baldness through hair multiplication, also called hair cloning within three or four years (as of November 2004). This treatment is expected to initially work through taking stem cells from existing follicles, multiplying them in cultures, and implanting the new follicles into the scalp. Later treatments may be able to simply signal follicle stem cells to transmit chemical signals to nearby follicle cells which have shrunk during the aging process, which respond to these signals by regenerating and once again making healthy hair.

Stem Cell Research Update (March 2004) - Covers a study by Dr. George Cotsarelis and his team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania.

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