Male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, accounts for more than 95% of hair loss in men. Much of this loss occurs at a young age and generally starts in the twenties. A common procedure to alleviate this problem is with the use of plastic surgery, which can renew natural hair growth and initiate hair restoration for men. Even though male pattern baldness is the biggest culprit, by the age of thirty-five, approximately two-thirds of all males will experience some degree of loss from this or other causes. Contrary to common belief, men who suffer from male pattern baldness are extremely unhappy and would do just about anything to change their circumstance. Most men feel, rightly or wrongly, that their hair plays a major role in not only their interpersonal relationships but also in their professional status as well. This is why hair restoration for men using the services of a qualified plastic surgeon is a popular solution to this problem and in such high demand.In choosing this surgical route there are two distinct methods used today, which are the strip technique, or follicular unit transplantation (FUT), and the plug method, or follicular unit extraction method (FUE). Of the two techniques, the plug method is considered to be safer and more effective, not only because it is less invasive to the patient, but also because it offers the patient the most advanced technology in hair restoration for men today. The steps involved begin with the harvesting of permanent hair from the back and sides of the head. These areas are normally used because that is where an extra abundance of hair is usually found in the patient and its removal and transplantation will be less noticeable. Once the hair is harvested, a suture is used to close the donor site and the harvested hair will then begin taking root and growing. The only differences in the two methods of transplantation are in the strip technique, a strip of hair is surgically removed and transplanted, whereas in the plug technique, individual plugs are removed and transplanted.Prior to starting the procedure it is important to have an initial consultation with your plastic surgeon. At the meeting you can discuss the differences in the two methods available to you, what each procedure entails, and what method is most appropriate for your circumstances. This consultation will not only reveal the time involved in restoring your hair but also the details involved in your recovery. As a starting point, a typical procedure using follicular unit transplantation and involving 1500 to 3000 transplants would normally involve a full day of surgery. This surgery can be done on an outpatient basis and most patients involved in the FUT method will arrive in the morning at their surgeon's office and will generally have the process completed by the afternoon.To be covered under any medical plan, restorative plastic surgery generally must be considered medically necessary. Because this is a procedure that can be designated as not being medically necessary, it is important to check with you carrier to determine if it your restoration choice is a covered procedure.