Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

This question was  answered by Dr. Michael Beehner of Saratoga Springs, NY.  Dr. Beehner is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians. His professional answer is below.

I am planning to have a hair transplant in November this year.  Unfortunately, I can only take a week off of work post-surgery. In fact, my surgery is on a Tuesday and I return to work the following Monday. Roughly, how long does it take for the recipient area to heal and assume its natural look? By a natural look I mean one can go safely about doing his work without anyone having the slightest clue about the HT. The nature of my work does not allow me to wear a hat to the office. Any pointers on that would be great

There’s a big difference between how a patient looks one or two days after a hair transplant versus how he looks at 7-9 days. However, there are a number of factors to consider when deciding if one week is enough time before returning to work and having every person you bump into stare at your head and start asking questions about what happened.

Most follicular unit scabs have fallen off within the first week but there can be persistent, short stubby hairs just sitting in place. As has been already mentioned, there may also be a slight “pinkness” to both the recipient and donor sites. The issue of recipient sites looking pink is a very individual thing and varies from one patient to another. I find that the vast majority of men don’t have this after a couple of weeks but some of the fair-skinned men do keep it for a few months before it eventually fades.

This question comes from a member of our Hair Restoration Social Community and Discussion Forums:

I’m looking to undergo a smaller follicular unit transplantation (FUT) procedure with minimal scarring. Specifically, I’d like to eliminate the risk of scarring on the sides of the universal donor region by taking a smaller, wider strip strictly from the back of my scalp. Will a smaller, wider follicular unit hair transplant allow for a decent number of grafts while also reducing potential scarring?

Technically, as long as the strip incision is made within the universal safe extraction zone, follicles can be effectively removed from the area. However, it’s very likely that a shorter, wider strip (which would still result in a significant number of follicular units when compared to a longer, thinner strip) would actually create more scarring in general.

In theory, if a hair transplant surgeon is trying to extract and implant a certain number of grafts, he/she can do so by either taking a shorter, wider strip or a longer, thinner strip. If the hair restoration surgeon took the shorter, thicker strip, you would save any potential scarring from the sides of the head, but the closure would involve more tension (because the width of the strip is wider and harder to properly close) than compared to a longer strip that is much thinner. Tension is the enemy of the hair transplant scarring process, and you’re going to experience more tension closing a short, wide wound when compared to a long, thin wound.

In our continuing effort to better serve the members of our community, the Hair Transplant Network is proud to announce several new improvements to our enhanced Hair Restoration Forum and Social Community that debuted in April of 2010.  Special thanks to several dedicated forum members for providing some of these suggestions.

Among the most significant improvements is that our most active members are now displayed prominently on the “Home”, “Profiles and Blogs” and “Search for Members” pages. In addition, members can now send private messages and add friends from within the hair loss forum. The instant messaging feature is now also conveniently accessible from the forum.

These are only a small sample of the many new improvements that our programmers have been developing over the past few weeks in order to deliver a satisfying user experience to every member of our community. We trust that these improvements will help you communicate more effectively with veteran hair transplant patients and expert hair replacement physicians in order to find the best hair restoration solution for you.  You are encouraged to provide us with your feedback regarding these recent upgrades and provide suggestions for further improvement. 

For a comprehensive list of all the latest improvements and to add your thoughts, please visit the following thread, Upcoming Enhancements to our Forum and Social Community

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David – aka TakingThePlunge
Assistant Publisher and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
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As anyone suffering from genetic balding can tell you, this condition is progressive. Despite some very effective treatments for hair loss, most notably Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil), the fight against balding can be quite challenging over the long term since hair loss is progressive and unpredictable. Topical concealers can help by temporarily providing balding men and women with thicker looking hair instantly.

Many men and women swear by these products and have very positive experiences to share. However, while all of these concealers are marketed as being easy to apply, non-messy and virtually permanent until washed out, some users complain of problems including; messy application, running and discoloration when sweating or caught in the rain and staining of hands and pillows.

These concerns led forum member “EpilepticSceptic” to start the thread Will “concealers” evolve and advance further in 5-10 years?, prompting members to share their thoughts and wishes regarding future innovations. Follow the link to contribute your opinions to the discussion.
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David – aka TakingThePlunge
Assistant Publisher and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: balding, hair loss, Propecia, finasteride, Rogaine, minoxidil

Although eyelash transplantation is performed much like a modern hair transplant procedure (and is often practiced by the same hair restoration physicians), finding information on the technique is not an easy task. Because of this, coalition surgeon Dr. Bijan Feriduni wrote a descriptive article on eyelash transplantation. According to Dr. Feriduni:

1. Indications :

Basically, there are two groups, for whom eyelash transplantation is eligible :

A. Women and men – independent of age, skin color, hair color or skin type, because this aesthetic operation is eligible for everybody who would like to have longer or fuller eyelashes;

B. The second group comprises those people for whom the method is used as a reconstructive measure. After an accident or burnings, the eyelash transplant procedure is the only possibility to have ones own eyelashes.

2. Techniques for eyelash transplantation in my clinic :

Harvesting technique – (Follicular unit strip harvesting)

A small strip with long donor hair (I always try to use thick, strong, double hair units ) is harvested from the back of the scalp, the long donor hairs are stereo-microscopically dissected (trimmed as closely as possible with a minimum of surrounding tissue) from the strip and prepared for transplantation.

Today’s hair loss sufferers can choose from a variety of proven treatment methods both surgical and non-surgical. From medications like Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride) to hair replacement systems, concealers and, of course, hair transplant surgery.

For the average victim of hair loss, one or a combination of these treatments may be all they need to restore their confidence and put their fears about balding to bed. However, for a select few, unrealistic expectations, physiology or other factors may conspire to thwart their hairy hopes.

Does there eventually come a time when even the most tenacious follicular crusader should pack it in and learn to accept their hair loss?

After a massive shed, forum member “Steelie17” ponders the notion of stopping non-surgical hair loss treatments and “Throwing in the towel,” Should balding men and women fight their hair loss to the bitter end or cut their losses and give in to nature? Follow the link to add your opinion.

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David – aka TakingThePlunge
Assistant Publisher and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: hair loss, Rogaine, minoxidil, Propecia, finasteride, hair replacement systems, hair transplant, balding

Let’s face it; a hair transplant procedure is a luxury item. For the average guy or gal working to make ends meet, raise a family and prepare for the unexpected curve balls life can deliver, setting aside a few thousand dollars for a cosmetic procedure may seem an unattainable goal. Often, balding men and women desiring to take control of their hair loss simply wait and watch the years pass by hoping for “the right time” to come. Well, the right time may not be as far off as you think.

Some people choose to view surgical hair restoration as not so much an expense but an investment in themselves. If that’s the case for you, then a little financial creativity may have you seriously considering hair transplant surgery sooner rather than later.

Recently, forum member “RCWest” started a thread asking members to share the methods they used to finance their hair restoration procedures. To learn how hair transplant patients faced the high cost of surgery, follow the link, How did you finance your procedure?

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David – aka TakingThePlunge
Assistant Publisher and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: hair transplant, balding, hair loss, hair restoration

The NeoGraft hair transplant machine, touting itself as “state-of-the-art” and “game-changing” has received a lot of press lately with promises to make follicular unit extraction (FUE), a complex and labor intensive procedure requiring a highly skilled surgeon and staff, simpler, faster and more effective. However, NeoGraft has failed to garner the support of many of the world’s expert FUE practitioners (of which there exists only a handful) due to several key concerns.

Consisting of an adjustable, slowly rotating, motorized punch and a pneumatic pressure suction device that allegedly allows each follicular unit to slide in and out smoothly and uniformly, the NeoGraft method of extraction theoretically exerts less force on the grafts than manual extraction. This spinning punch however, while facilitating graft removal, may subject the follicular unit grafts to unnecessary and detrimental torsional forces. In addition, due to the potential for grafts to be wider at one end, there is also a possibility for transection as they are forced through the rotating punch.

Once extracted, the grafts are then sucked through a series of tubes into a collection canister where they are misted to keep them moist while they await implantation. Leading FUE physicians have expressed concerns that the route that the grafts take as they are sucked through the punch and into the collection canister may expose them to further damage. Furthermore, there are concerns that the resulting air flow from the pneumatic pressure may result in rapid desiccation (dehydration) of the extracted follicles. Dehydration of the follicles during surgical hair restoration is one of the primary causes of poor hair growth.

Several years ago, Coalition physicians Dr. Jerry Wong and Dr. Victor Hasson released an educational video detailing and explaining the process of scalp exercises. In theory, scalp exercises help a patient create additional scalp laxity (or looseness) in the universal donor area before a hair transplant procedure. This allows the surgeon to (potentially) remove and implant a greater number of follicular unit grafts.

Although this video was informative, educational, and comprehensive, Hasson and Wong received a myriad of scalp exercise questions and concerns over the past few years. In response to this feedback, the clinic decided to create a new video that answers these thoughtful questions, presents new information, and provides a wonderful overview of scalp exercising.

To view this new video, click here: Hasson & Wong: Scalp Laxity Exercises.

Enjoy!

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Blake Bloxham – aka Future_HT_Doc

Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

Follow our community on Twitter

Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: scalp exercise, scalp laxity, universal donor area, hair transplant, follicular unit grafts, scalp exercising

Recent results published by a joint team of stem cell researchers from Sweden and Scotland may one day offer hope for those suffering from hair loss. The team, led by Professor Yann Barrandon, head of the stem cell lab at the University of Lausanne, had been searching for a way to help burn victims by growing viable skin when they unexpectedly changed one cell type into a completely different one. In the process, they ended up with skin cells complete with working hair follicles.

While testing how stem cells extracted from the thymus of lab rats would perform if transplanted into growing skin, the team discovered that the cells ceased behaving as they did in the thymus and began performing just like healthy skin cells. “These cells really change track, expressing different genes and becoming more potent,” said Prof. Barrandon.  Past attempts to grow skin cells resulted in tissue that lasted only three weeks. The tissue produced in this method has lasted up to one year and includes the precious hair follicles lacking in previous attempts.

It is important to note that these are preliminary results that have only been tested in rats. It is uncertain at this time how this process may work in humans and how it might be implemented in order to restore hair to a balding head. However, it does offer one more avenue of hope to those men and women who have been eagerly awaiting a baldness cure.