Galeatomy Procedure

Dear Dr. Rassman,

The question is in regards to the galeotomy procedure – originally pioneered by Dr. Lars Engstrand out of Sweden – I believe. The procedure was also popularized by the late prolific health writer Paavo Airola in his many writings.

I find this sunbject very interesting and have noticed an increasing interest for this procedure on the hair-loss forums, but very little information exists. I have heard that this procedure is quite effective and yet it seems to be totally ignored (or suppressed) in this country. What do you know about this procedure? Do you think it works? Do you have any first hand experience with anyone who has had it done? Do you, or can you, perform it? Does anyone in the U.S. perform it?

Please take the time to share what you know about this interesting topic.

The galeatomy has been around for years. For those of you who do not know, above the skull lies the periosteum (the living membrane above the bone) and then the galea. Above the galea lies the scalp, which is very mobile (try to move your scalp around and you will see just how mobile it is). The scalp has a clear blood supply coming from the front, sides, and back of your head. The blood supply lies above the galea, so cutting the galea makes no sense. It is not easy to get to the galea unless you cut open the scalp. We have done galeatomies years ago with scalp reductions and today’s hairline lowering procedures, and brow lifts will frequently dissect the galea as part of the mobilization of the scalp. As working below the galea is relatively bloodless, it is a terrific surgical plane to work in. Cutting the galea will not increase the blood supply to the scalp, but will just produce morbidity if it is done in isolation of some good surgical reason to do it.

Competent doctors do not do perform this barbaric procedure for the treatment of hair loss.