Hair Restoration
Hair Restoration is the ultimate decision for hair loss
sufferers.
Below are the must questions to ask your hair restoration
surgeon before you commit yourself.
A) Can your hair transplant doctor provide you with a minimum of
10 sets of before and after photos taken at the same angle, the
same background and the same lighting, to ensure that there is no
possible discrepancies when looking at the cases. Be sure that the
photos provide a clear view of the hairline, as well as the mid
anterior scalp. If possible, ask your doctor to provide you with
photographs of donor scars.
B) Ask for the names and phone numbers of at least 6 patients
that you can contact to discuss their experiences with the hair
transplant physician and staff that you are considering. If
possible, ask to speak with two physicians who have had the
procedure performed by the hair transplant doctor you are
researching. Last but not least, ask to meet patients that have
similar hair and skin characteristics as yourself. It is very
important to view patients with these similar characteristics in
order to assess your hair transplant physician�s ability to provide
you with a realistic and beneficial outcome.
C) If the hair transplant doctor or hair transplant group you
are considering claims to be performing follicular unit hair
transplantation, ask the following questions:
C1) Are the grafts microscopically dissected?C2) Do all the
technicians use stereo microscopes?C3) How long have the
technicians been using microscopes to dissect follicular units?C4)
How many stereo microscopes are being used during a procedure?C5)
Does your hair transplant doctor use a single bladed knife to
excise the donor strip?
D) Contact your state medical board to see if any complaints
have been filed against your hair transplant doctor or hair
transplant group.
E) Consultation. It is imperative that you meet with the actual
hair transplant doctor that will be performing your surgery on the
day of your initial consultation. If you meet with a �medical
consultant� Remember the following:E1) The consultant should be
there to provide you with basic information on the hair transplant
procedure.E2) He/she is most likely not a medical professional and
should not provide you with specific medical or surgical
recommendations.E3) If your hair transplant doctor is not available
for your initial consultation, leave immediately and do not have a
hair transplant performed by that hair transplant physician or hair
transplant group.E4) Consultants do have their place in this field,
but cannot replace a consultation with a medical professional.
F) Is your hair transplant doctor�s practice dedicated solely to
surgical hair restoration? If not what percentage of his/her
practice is?
The above questions are provided with courtesy of The
International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons.
To choose your surgeon, please see our comprehensive list of
hair
transplant surgeons.
BEFORE CONSIDERING SURGERY:
Many men and women do not qualify for hair transplantation because of
unrealistic expectations given their amount of available donor hair.
Increasing in numbers are those who opt for partial transplantation and
a partial hair addition. EXAMPLE: An individual with extensive baldness
who wants to wear his hair straight back. He may opt for a transplanted
front hairline only (due to lack of donor hair available). Behind the
newly transplanted front hairline, the individual might have a hair
addition designed so that he can now comb his own hair straight back
into the hair addition.
COVERAGE OF SURGICAL DEFECTS:
Have you ever seen the results of a bad hair transplant? An individual
who had a poor hair transplant may find his only choice is a hair
addition.
OTHER USES FOR HAIR ADDITIONS
Full Hair Additions/Prostheses: chemotherapy, alopecia totalis,
alopecia universalis, ectodermal dysplasia, lupus, trichotillomania,
telogen effluvium, monilethrix, bums, radiation and other abnormalities
of the hair and scalp.
Partial Hair Additions:
Male pattern hair loss, female pattern hair loss, bums, radiation,
stabilized alopecia areata, surgery defects, traction alopecia, lupus
and other abnormalities of the hair and scalp.
BEFORE CONSIDERING SURGERY:
Many men and women do not qualify for hair transplantation because of
unrealistic expectations given their amount of available donor hair.
Increasing in numbers are those who opt for partial transplantation and
a partial hair addition. EXAMPLE: An individual with extensive baldness
who wants to wear his hair straight back. He may opt for a transplanted
front hairline only (due to lack of donor hair available). Behind the
newly transplanted front hairline, the individual might have a hair
addition designed so that he can now comb his own hair straight back
into the hair addition.
COVERAGE OF SURGICAL DEFECTS:
Have you ever seen the results of a bad hair transplant? An individual
who had a poor hair transplant may find his only choice is a hair
addition.
OTHER USES FOR HAIR ADDITIONS
Full Hair Additions/Prostheses: chemotherapy, alopecia totalis,
alopecia universalis, ectodermal dysplasia, lupus, trichotillomania,
telogen effluvium, monilethrix, bums, radiation and other abnormalities
of the hair and scalp.
Partial Hair Additions:
Male pattern hair loss, female pattern hair loss, bums, radiation,
stabilized alopecia areata, surgery defects, traction alopecia, lupus
and other abnormalities of the hair and scalp.
HOW DO I FIND THE BEST SURGICAL SPECIALIST IN MY AREA?
Although the American Hair Loss Council does not endorse or recommend
any individual firm, we can supply you with a list of AHLC specialists
in or near your specific area. All AHLC members sign a statement that
they will honor our Code of Ethics which is centered around the
protection of you, the consumer. Request the American Hair Loss Council
Source Book.
Click the link above to find a hair replacement specialist near you!
THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS NEEDED
TO ACHIEVE SUPERIOR RESULTS
A. THE PATIENT: Qualified in respect to age; degree of hair loss, type and color of hair, cause of hair loss, his expectations
as well as the ability to afford and endure the multi-sessions often required to obtain excellent results.
B. THE PHYSICIAN: Credentials, experience, aesthetic vision, honesty
and the ability to educate you BEFORE surgery are all important
elements necessary for successful hair transplantation.
C. The experienced, qualified physician will be able to inform you as to being properly qualified for hair replacement surgery.
It is best to consult with several physicians offering hair replacement
surgery before choosing one. Prepare your questions prior to the
consultation.
To insure the that the physician is capable of offering the results you
desire, ask to meet a patient or two that he/she has recently
completed. Seeing the results firsthand helps to insure you are in
capable hands. This is far superior to photos or advertising.
CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR REFERENCES
1. Your city, county and state medical societies.
2. Your family physician or any physician you see professionally or socially.
3. Your local medical library
4. Your hairstylist
5. The Better Business Bureau
Reg FUT / CIT see emails in Dr Cole folder
Hair Transplantation
Hair Transplantation In Alopecia Areata
Dr. Nilofer Farjo
Androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness) is the cause of hair loss in
men and women in over 90% of cases. This is an inherited form of hair
loss that is then triggered by hormones any time after puberty and is
defined as hair loss at the front, top and/or the crown/vertex of the
scalp (non-permanent area). The back and sides of the scalp are spared
and usually grow hair for life (permanent area). Traditional treatments
include medications such as minoxidil and finasteride (men only) and
hair transplantation. There are many other causes for hair loss some of
which may be treated with surgery.
These include alopecia areata (AA), a condition the cause of which we
do not yet know, but which may be autoimmune. The progression of the
condition is usually unpredictable and often does not respond to
treatment. Pattern baldness is so common it often coexists with
alopecia areata.
There are some forms of AA that mimic the same pattern as genetic
baldness so correct diagnosis is important. With hair loss in women in
particular a number of conditions result in the same diffuse pattern in
which the hair over the top and crown of the head becomes thinner
(occasionally the temples will recede too). There is often some
investigation needed to first isolate the cause before working on a
treatment.
Normally we shed an average of 100 hairs per day. Fortunately these
hairs are replaced; but, when these lost hairs are not replaced or when
the daily shedding exceeds the normal, then true hair loss occurs. In
AA the hair loss is often localized to one or more discrete patches
that become totally bald. These patches may go away of their own
accord, may resolve following medical treatment or may stay unchanged
long term. It is those patches that stay long term that we may be able
to treat with surgery.
Modern hair transplant techniques have introduced a new era in the
treatment of hair loss for both men and women. The surgery performed is
called follicular unit grafting. This involves the removal of a strip
of hair bearing scalp from the back of the head then stitching the
area. The hair above the surgery site will disguise the stitches until
they heal. The strip of skin and hair is then dissected under
microscopes to isolate the follicular units (these are small groups of
hair that contain 1-4 hairs). Each follicular unit or graft is then
inserted into a small incision made in the bald area. We normally place
20-40 of these grafts in each square centimeter of bald scalp. The
procedure is done as a day case under local anaesthetic.
The patients with AA that are generally accepted for surgical hair
restoration are those with one or a few small patches that have
remained unchanged and have not been treated medically for several
years. This is usually a minimum of two years. With one operation we
can achieve about 30% of the original density so some patients may
require 2 operations to achieve a thicker look. Unfortunately it cannot
be guaranteed that the hair will be permanent as the disease process
can recur at any time. But for some patients even a temporary return to
‘normal’ hair is acceptable.
Hair Transplantation
A hair transplant is an elective surgical procedure
used to improve baldness. Hair transplantation is the process or
technique in which a physician redistributes hairs from an area of
thick growth to bald areas. This is generally on the scalp but in some
instances it can involve other areas of hair loss. Most hair
transplants are performed in an office setting under local anesthesia.
Generally, only minimal pain should be experienced. After thoroughly
cleaning the scalp, small needles are used to numb an area of normal
hair growth, the donor site, on the back of the scalp. A portion of the
hairy scalp is then removed with a scalpel and set aside while the
surgeon sews the cut scalp closed.
After the donor site is closed, small groups of
hairs, or individual hairs, are separated out from the removed scalp
using a magnifying lens and sharp blade. The area that will receive
these healthy hairs, usually the front of the scalp, is then cleaned
and numbed with additional injection of anesthetic. Finally, tiny holes
are made in the front of the scalp and healthy hairs are delicately
placed in the holes. During a single treatment session, many hundreds
or even thousands of hairs may be transplanted. In patients who are
concerned about their balding, hair transplantation can significantly
improve their appearance and self confidence. Realistic expectations
are important, however. It is important to remember that new hair is
not being created; hair can only be redistributed from the donor site
to a balding area.
Most patients undergoing hair transplantation have
traditional male or female pattern baldness (known as androgenic
alopecia), with hair loss on the front or top of the scalp. Patients
must still have thick hair on the back or sides of the scalp, or there
may not be enough hair follicles to move. In some cases, patients with
hair loss from lupus, injuries, or other medical problems may be
treated with hair transplantation. Patients undergoing hair
transplantation should be otherwise relatively healthy, or surgery is
less likely to be safe and successful. Always discuss your risks and
options with your physician before undergoing any elective
surgery. In addition, the physician should examine and
recognize the underlying cause of the patient's hair loss, and estimate
the effect that time will have on the hair loss process. The patient
must be provided with ample time to ask questions and arrive at a
complete understanding of the procedure, expected outcome, and the
changes that can be expected over time.
As with any surgical procedure, risks exist. The
most common complications of hair transplantation are bleeding,
infection, and scarring. Though the process can be well thought out, it
is possible that the transplanted hair won't look as good as desired.
Older techniques often resulted in unnatural appearing tufts of new
hair growth. With modern techniques, this complication is infrequent.
The transplanted hair usually falls out after transplant, this is an
expected part of the process. Most modern hair transplants result in
excellent hair growth within several months after the procedure.
However, more than one treatment session may be needed to create the
best-looking results. The replaced hairs are usually permanent, and no
long-term care is necessary.
During the recovery period after surgery, the scalp
is often very tender and pain medications taken by mouth may be
necessary for several days. Some type of surgical dressing must be worn
for at least a day or two after the procedure. Some surgeons may also
recommend several days of antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs
following surgery. After this very brief recovery period, no special
treatment is needed.
http://www.ashrs.org.au/ - surgical treatment
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