Dr. Brandon Ross of La Jolla, California provides advice to hair loss sufferers considering hair transplant surgery on how to select a quality hair restoration physician.
Dr. Ross uses a single blade to harvest the donor strip to minimize the risk of follicle transection. He uses the trichophytic closure technique for all hair transplants he performs to minimize the appearance of the donor scar. Dr. Ross typically uses a double layer suture, which he believes reduces the final appearance of the scar by minimizing tension.
To learn more about Dr. Ross, his experience, skill, philosophy and to see examples of his excellent hair restoration results, visit his Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center profile here.
I recently scheduled my hair transplant procedure and was told by the surgeon not to drink alcohol seven days before and several days after my procedure. Is this accurate? How does alcohol usage affect the hair transplantation process?
Let me begin by stating that you should always follow the pre-operative and post-operative instructions provided by your hair restoration clinic. The operating surgeon has likely spent many years creating and adjusting his/her surgical instructions, and following the clinic’s advice will help prevent any potentially harmful mistakes.
Because alcohol thins the blood and can interfere with anesthesia (though this is less of a concern in modern hair restoration surgery), your surgeon probably does not want you to drink before the procedure because of potential bleeding complications.
Anecdotally, I’ve heard Anesthesiologists recommend that 2 days of zero alcohol consumption is enough time to clear the system, but, again, if your hair restoration surgeon said not to drink for seven days before the procedure, I would follow his/her instructions.
Additionally, although alcohol is generally known for dilating (widening/allowing more flow) peripheral blood vessels, it’s actually been shown to constrict the flow of blood to areas like the head/scalp (though the instantaneous and changing patterns are difficult to comprehend), which is not advantageous to proper healing after a hair transplant procedure. Because of the dilation/constriction issues and the potential for excessive post-operative bleeding, most hair transplant surgeons recommend zero alcohol consumption for 3 days after the operation.
I had my hair restoration surgery about 13 days ago and I have my scabs falling off now. But, in some of the scabs that fall off, I see hair attached to the scabs. Is this hair loss due to grafts from my hair transplant that did not adhere to the scalp properly? I am so worried..any advice on this will be great.
In most cases shedding will occur in the first 4 weeks after hair transplant surgery. I suppose a delayed shedding is possible but not very likely. You are right on track.
Try to not think about any hair growth for 3-4 months so you do not go too crazy.
Dr. Robert Bernstein of New York, New York, discusses the history and evolution of hair transplantation to today’s state of the art hair restoration procedures.
Of all the new non-surgical hair loss treatments being researched, tested, and offered (in the preliminary phases) today, one frequently discussed by patients is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections.
Platelet Rich Plasma is a process where a patient’s blood is drawn, separated and concentrated through a process called centrifugation, and re-injected into desired areas of the body. In theory, the PRP process concentrates useful cellular components of the blood and injects them into areas where the body can utilize the additional resources. The practice has been used for many years in wound healing and sport injury therapies, but now its focus is shifting toward treating hair loss.
One of the proponents and practitioners of Platelet Rich Plasma injections for hair loss is Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. Alan Feller. For a number of years, Dr. Feller has offered PRP injections at his New York hair restoration practice and is pleased with the continual results.
Recently, Dr. Feller chose to share an interesting Platelet Rich Plasma case with our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums. In the case presentation, Dr. Feller displays the results of a 35 year old female patient who underwent PRP injections 9 months earlier. According to Dr. Feller:
Only the most talented hair restoration physicians with a proven record of producing excellent results are approved for recommendation on the Hair Transplant Network. In this blog article, we are pleased to announce that after careful review and consideration, Dr. Carlos Wesley of New York, New York has been approved for recommendation by our online community. To learn how we prescreen and recommend hair transplant surgeons, visit the discussion topic, “How We Recommend Hair Transplant Physicians“.
In addition to the extensive private and public prescreening of Dr. Wesley’s work and photos over the last year, we’ve polled a large audience of patients and expert physicians regarding Dr. Wesley’s potential recommendation on the Hair Transplant Network. Given Dr. Wesley’s commitment to high quality follicular unit hair transplantation and his patients, it’s no surprise that the vast majority of the feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive. See the “Potential Recommendation of Dr. Carlos Wesley of New York, New York” to see what some of our members are saying.
Dr. Wesley fellowshipped under Dr. Walter Unger and has been performing high quality hair transplants exclusively at his clinic in New York for over 4 years. He and his full time staff have the skill and experience to perform sessions up to 2500 grafts when appropriate for the patient. Dr. Wesley operates on only one patient per day.
Given the glowing reviews and support we received from patients, forum members and leading physicians recommended on the Hair Transplant Network, we’d like to congratulate Dr. Wesley on being approved for recommendation. To view Dr. Wesley’s recommendation profile, click here.
This question comes from an inquisitive Hair Loss Q & A blog reader:
With the new information coming from Costeralis research study on progenitor cells it would seem like more doctors should be looking into potential treatments or cures using stem cells.
Why haven’t more doctors been trying to inject stem cells of different types into the scalp? Is Acell or Platelet Rich Plasma PRP the answer? What about trying to take active stem/progenitor cells from bone marrow? What do you think?
First, and foremost, I wanted to clarify Dr. Costeralis’ findings during the study on progenitor cells in the scalp:
What Costeralis and his team found, and many wondered about for quite some time, is that contrary to popular belief, balding scalp contains just as many progenitor or follicle stem cells as non-balding scalp. The crucial difference is that the progenitor cells in the balding scalp are “switched off,” and the pathway to recurrent follicle production is blocked. Knowing that these follicles are simply “off” and not dead means there is hope to study ways to turn the cells back on and restart the follicle growth cycle.
As far as physicians/scientists looking into the idea of using stem cell treatments, it’s actually a big “arms race” at the moment (in my opinion) and various researchers, physicians, and biotech companies are looking into ways to understand and utilize stem cell hair restoration therapies.
Rogaine foam, containing the only FDA approved topical ingredient for baldness, has proven effective in slowing down / stopping the progression of hair loss and regrowing hair in many men and women. It’s easy to apply, odor free and doesn’t leave hair feeling greasy like its liquid Rogaine counterpart. The only real disadvantage for many is the cost.
Many manufacturing companies have produced generic versions of minoxidil, the active ingredient in Rogaine, and are available to consumers for a fraction of the cost. But is there a generic version of the highly coveted Rogaine foam?
Recently, Perrigo Company, the largest manufacturer of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals in the United States announced its FDA approval to produce a generic version of Rogaine foam for hair loss. The upcoming availability of this new generic minoxidil foam has many hair loss sufferers very excited.
To discuss this new, exciting hair loss treatment on our discussion forum, visit “Generic Rogaine Foam Coming to Market“. You are encouraged to add your input and personal experience with Rogaine or minoxidil products on this interesting topic.
To purchase Rogaine Foam and other credible hair loss treatments at discounted prices, visit our online hair loss product shop. To see our current special, limited time offers, click here.
In our hair restoration forum and social community, we thoroughly evaluate all surgeons, their staff, technique, and track record before even considering them for recommendation on the Hair Transplant Network. As a part of this review process, you are invited to offer your input. Thus, we’d like your input in the potential recommendation of Dr. Carlos Wesley of New York, New York.
Dr. Wesley fellowshipped under Dr. Walter Unger and has been performing high quality hair transplants exclusively at his clinic in New York for over 4 years. He and his full time staff have the skill and experience to perform sessions up to 2500 grafts when appropriate for the patient. Dr. Wesley operates on only one patient per day.
Dr. Wesley has already received several glowing reviews on examples of his impressive hair transplant results presented on our forum.
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