Hair loss sufferers considering a hair transplant can maximize the results of their procedure by performing scalp laxity exercises in the month prior to surgery. Scalp laxity exercises increase the elasticity of your scalp. An increase in scalp laxity allows more grafts to be transplanted because the scalp area has been stretched providing more real estate on which to house hair transplants. Increased scalp laxity also results in a better closure to the donor area.

Scalp Laxity Exercises

When: In the month or even months prior to surgery.

Duration: 5 minutes twice per day.

Exercise 1: Back of Scalp Stretch

Clasp your hands and place them on the back of your skull, palms down. Find the area on your skull that has the ridge running along the back. Place your palms slightly above this ridge.

Pull your hands toward your forehead and down again in an even tempo (about one up and down movement cycle per second). Repeat the up and down motion without allowing your hands to slide. The palms should only be moving the scalp tissue rather than slipping on the top of the head.

Exercise 2: Side Scalp Stretch

Although the side scalp is not as important as the scalp at the back of the head, good surgeons will define a donor area that does extend into the sides a bit.

To stretch the side scalp, place palms to side of head with the bottom of the palm (where it meets the wrist) just above the ears. Move your palms up and down as far as they will go without allowing them to slip on the scalp. Again, the palms should be riding the moving scalp tissue rather than sliding on the head.

Joseph Tillman,

Hair Transplant Mentor