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It’s no secret that the number one factor to obtain the best hair transplant results is to select a world renowned hair restoration physician for your procedure. At the Hair Transplant Network, we’ve prescreened and approved a select group of quality surgeons for recommendation based on their outstanding experience, skill and consistency in excellent results. To see an exclusive list of surgeons we recommend, click here. To see our demanding standards for recommendation, click here.

But what can you as the patient do to be sure you’re really getting the most out of your hair transplant? What, if anything, can you do before or after the procedure to maximize your hair transplant experience? Ultimately, careful selection of a quality physician, realistic expectations, time and patience are the primary ingredients for optimal hair growth. But hair transplant patients can assist this process with careful pre-operative and postoperative care.

In the discussion topic “Advice: What Can I Do to Optimize My Hair Transplant“, forum members discuss various approaches and techniques patients can apply before and after their hair transplants to get the most out of their procedure. You are encouraged to read their responses and then provide your input and personal experience.

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David – aka TakingThePlunge
Forum Co-Moderator and Editorial Assistant 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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This following article was written by Coalition hair restoration physician Dr. William Lindsey and posted on our Hair Restoration Social Community and Discussion Forums.

Earlier today, Coalition hair restoration physician Dr. William Rassman announced that his Los Angeles based clinic now offers scalp micro-pigmentation (SMP).

Scalp micro-pigmentation (SMP) is an alternative hair loss treatment where individuals suffering from an advanced degree of baldness undergo special scalp pigmentation treatments (much like a tattooing process) to create the look of a full head of closed cropped hair. Furthermore, hair loss sufferers who have already undergone a follicular unit transplantation procedure can utilize scalp micro-pigmentation to camouflage the resulting “strip scar.”

Dr. Rassman reminds patients that although the results of a well designed scalp micro-pigmentation procedure are impressive, hair must be kept short unless the patient is planning on a hair transplant to cover the pigmented scalp. Additionally, Dr. Rassman states that undergoing a micro-pigmentation procedure will not affect the usage of hypothetical, future treatments like hair cloning.

Because scalp micro-pigmentation has remained a “hot topic” on our Hair Loss Discussion Forums for a number of years, it’s exciting to see established hair restoration surgeons researching, practicing, and offering this minimally invasive technique.

To read the official announcement, review a scalp micro-pigmentation case, and read Dr. Rassman’s description of how one hair loss patient‘s issue was reversed with scalp pigmentation and not the multiple follicular unit extraction (FUE) sessions he would have required, click here: Scalp Micro-Pigmentation – An Alternative to Hair Transplantation
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Blake – 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

Coalition hair restoration physician Dr. Robert Bernstein recently sat down and discussed hair loss, hair restoration, and balding myths with CBS news.

During this interview, Dr. Bernstein discusses and debunks some of the common misconceptions regarding genetic baldness and also offers some relevant advice for men and women currently suffering from thinning hair.

From myths regarding genetic inheritance of hair loss genes and blood testosterone levels to the idea that hats are responsible for hair loss, this article offers an interesting perspective on baldness from the point of view of a true hair restoration expert.

Below are the “10 things” Dr. Bernstein believes you need to know about hair loss:

1. Myth: hair loss genes come from the mother’s DNA (the reality is that genetic hair loss can come from either your mother or father’s genes)

2. Myth: bald guys have a lot of testosterone (in reality, it’s the follicle sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone – DHT that cause baldness)

3. Hair loss does not occur “in patches” and is a result of progressive miniaturization

4. Decreased blood flow to the scalp is not responsible for hair loss (it’s actually a result of the process)

5. It’s a myth that hats suffocate the scalp or cause hair loss

6. Myth: clogged pores cause hair loss (while this may be true for acne, the same cannot be said for baldness)

7. Frequent shampooing does not cause an individual to lose hair or go bald

This question, asked by a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. William Lindsey.

How many hair transplant patients have growth that came in (or appeared) much thicker on one side vs. the other? I am almost at 8 months post-op and the right side of my head seems much thicker. I had just under 2300 grafts in my temple area and behind to compensate for the possibility of future loss. I had 2 techs working on each side and meeting in the middle. Is it possible the one on the right packed the grafts more densely? They appeared about the same right after.

Veterinary researchers working at the University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA) may have accidentally discovered an important key in the search for a permanent hair loss cure. According to Dr. Mulugeta Million, a Veterinarian and animal studies researcher at UCLA, while studying the relationship between gut function and stress in mice, his research team found that inhibiting a certain stress reactive hormone (Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone – CRF) caused hair growth in mice.

Million states that by injecting an agent to block CRF release once daily for five days, his team demonstrated a hair regrowth effect that lasted up to 4 months. Additionally, Million believes the CRF block causes regrowth by activating resting stem cell hair follicles, and by “turning on” these dormant cells, he’s able to cause re-actived hair growth and even prevent future hair loss.

Million explained that the stress response and its impact on hair follicles is a widespread and complicated phenomenon, but isolating a molecule to block the CRF release in skin could affect hair loss/growth in humans as well. However, according to Dr. Million, this type of human application is quite far away and requires much more research.

Click here for the original publication.

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Blake – 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

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This question was asked by a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums:

I recently consulted with a hair transplant surgeon and noticed that he suffered from a significant degree of hair loss. It made me curious, do hair restoration surgeons frequently undergo hair transplant surgery themselves?

Interesting topic! I actually think quite a few hair restoration physicians either discovered the field of medical hair restoration while seeking a solution for their own hair loss, or underwent a procedure after performing hair transplantation for a period of time and realizing the potential it could have on their own scalp.

I seem to remember an interview where one recommended hair transplant surgeon discussed his own hair transplant procedure and a procedure he performed on a colleague. Additionally, I recall an  interview with a well known, bald hair transplant surgeon who was met with puzzled questions regarding his chosen career path and own level of hair loss.

Would you like to follow this discussion topic further? If so, feel free to visit the thread: Which Hair Transplant Surgeons Have Undergone Hair Transplantation Themselves?

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Blake – 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

Get Proven Hair Loss Treatments at the Best Prices by visiting our new Online Hair Loss Product Store

Only an elite group of surgeons who regularly perform ultra refined hair transplants with outstanding results are invited to join the high ranks of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians. To see our demanding standards for the Coalition, click here.

Recently, we sought the input and opinions of the hair restoration patient community about potentially inviting Dr. Melike Kulahci to join the ranks of the Coalition. In addition to the positive responses we received by her patients on the discussion topic “Potential Coalition Membership for Dr. Melike Kulahci of Istanbul, Turkey“, several forum members and leading hair restoration physicians expressed their public and private support for her inclusion.

The forum topic about her potential membership also includes numerous examples of her ultra refined large sessions. To see additional examples of her ultra refined results, visit the “Results Posted by Leading Hair Restoration Clinics” forum.

Given Dr. Kulahci’s dedication to providing her patients with only the best results and the public and private support we received from patients and other leading hair transplant surgeons regarding her inclusion, we’d like to congratulate her on becoming our newest member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians. You can view Dr. Kulahci’s Coalition profile by clicking here.

A special thanks to everyone who provided their valuable feedback regarding the potential Coalition membership for Dr. Kulahci. Feel free to congratulate her by visiting her featured potential coalition membership thread above.

In the hands of a skilled and experienced hair restoration physician, today’s ultra-refined follicular unit hair transplants can produce thick, natural looking results. However, many factors can affect the appearance of fullness. Among these factors include scalp and hair characteristics. In fact, the relationship between the hair and scalp are a key element in hair transplant surgery.

While a hair transplant surgeon’s artful placement of follicular unit grafts can enhance the look of transplanted hair leading to a thicker and fuller appearance, the following characteristics play an important role in creating a desirable result:

• The Number of Grafts: This number depends on the hair transplant patient’s available donor hair density and scalp elasticity.   The larger the numbers, the fuller and thicker the result will appear.

• Hair Shaft Diameter: Thicker hairs can lead to an aided appearance of fullness.

• Hair/Scalp Color Ratio: Patients with a lower hair to scalp contrast ratio typically experience a thicker looking appearing result than those with a high hair to scalp contrast ratio, even if all other variables are the same.   However, this additional appearance of fullness is just an illusion.

• Degree of Hair Loss:  The more hair loss a patient has, a greater number of grafts will be necessary to achieve the same results as someone with lesser degrees of balding.

To read more about this topic and contribute your thoughts and experience, join the discussion thread, What is the Best Type of Hair for Hair Transplant Surgery started by Hair Restoration Forum member “Newhairplease”.

This following article was written by recommended hair restoration physician Dr. William Lindsey and posted on our Hair Restoration Social Community and Discussion Forums.

I had the old style “plugs” back in the 90′s and had some repair work years after (2 sessions) but the hairline was not natural. Then, I had a plug reduction in 2007 by a well known hair restoration doctor. I still have some plugs on each side that are noticeable that I would like reduced as well as to add some grafts via follicular unit extraction.

None of the grafts that were taken from the reduced plugs grew in all the areas where the plugs were broken down but I noticed some grew in the virgin parts of the scalp. Also, when looking at some old pics, I could swear that I lost some of the other transplanted hairs in the area. So, I am wondering if the trauma to the scalp caused the old transplants to fall out as well as the new ones not to grow. Could this be due to a lack of blood flow?

Depending on how big your plugs are, taking them out via FUE, excising them, or even including them in your new hairline are all options to be discussed. I often favor the latter and just pack hair around the plugs. While not “virgin scalp”, this hair transplant technique has been very reliable for me.