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

Several years ago, I underwent a follicular unit transplantation (FUT) procedure that, unfortunately, resulted in a significant “strip scar.” Now, I’d like to undergo hair transplant scar revision and I’m wondering what options are available?

In my opinion, hair transplant scar restoration (currently) breaks down into three categories:

1. Undergoing a scar revision procedure

During a scar revision procedure, the previous “strip scar” is excised in the same manner as strip removal during a follicular unit transplantation (FUT) procedure. After the scar is removed, a secure closure, likely a trichophytic closure, is utilized and the new wound, presumably, heals with less scarring. The most significant “down side” associated with this procedure is the potential for another unacceptable scar if the patient is prone to scarring. However, most talented hair restoration surgeons should be able to create a better closure and greatly improve upon the original scar.

2. Filling in the scar with grafts via follicular unit extraction (FUE)

During this procedure, grafts are extracted (via the follicular unit extraction process) and implanted directly into the scar. Although this procedure does not result in a second FUT scar, implanting grafts into scar tissue (which is generally thick and plagued by poor blood supply) can result in a lower yield and inability to fully camouflage the scar.

3. Camouflaging the scar with scalp micropigmentation (SMP)

Recently, recommended hair transplant surgeon and follicular unit extraction (FUE) specialist Dr. Sanusi Umar shared a presentation about leg hair transplants (body hair transplant) at the 2011 American Society for Dermatological Surgery (ASDS) annual meeting.

As a hair restoration surgeon, Dr. Umar is well known for his ability to successfully extract and implant hair grafts from alternative (non-scalp) sources during extreme hair transplant repairs. Although he’s frequently utilized body hair grafts from the beard, chest, and armpit regions, the ASDS presentation focused on the use of leg hair grafts during hair transplant repairs.

To demonstrate the validity of these grafts, Dr. Umar presented a repair patient who underwent a 1,000 leg hair graft procedure. Utilizing hair solely from the patient’s legs, Dr. Umar repaired a harsh, unnatural hairline created during a previous hair transplant surgery.

Two years after the repair procedure, Dr. Umar showed the leg grafts recreated a soft, natural hairline and permanently transformed the patient’s appearance. According to Dr. Umar’s blog, the leg hair graft’s natural fine caliber and ability to create a “soft,” gradual appearance makes them an ideal choice for transplant repair procedures.

Congratulations Dr. Umar!
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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 hair restoration article was written by recommended hair loss physician Dr. Carlos Wesley, who is recommended on the Hair Transplant Network.

Factors Influencing Postoperative Hyperesthesia (Discomfort)
in Hair Restoration Surgery

Summary

Background While esthetic outcomes in hair restoration surgery (HRS) have improved markedly since the advent of follicular unit transplantation (FUT), various undesirable sequelae persist. We investigated the technical and demographic variables that may contribute to the frequency of postoperative hyperesthesia.

Methods A multicenter retrospective chart review involving 552 patients undergoing HRS from 1999 to 2009.

Results A total of 19 patients (3.4%) reported postoperative hyperesthesia in either the donor or recipient area of their scalp. Although many trends emerged, one variable significantly influenced the rate of this neurosensory symptom. While no patient who had all previous and current HRS sessions performed entirely within the same investigated surgical practice (n = 42) experienced postoperative hyperesthesia, 14% of our patients who underwent prior HRS by a physician outside of the investigated surgical group (n = 35) developed this complication (P = 0.0404). The amount of intraoperative electrocautery to maintain hemostasis (P = 0.0897), degree of tension upon donor wound closure (P = 0.3044), and extent of donor wound edge undermining (P = 0.4420) influenced the frequency of this sequela to a lesser degree.

Conclusion These results suggest that physicians planning repair sessions on patients who have undergone prior HRS by a physician at a different surgical center should include the specific caveat of increased incidences of postoperative hyperesthesia in their preoperative consultation.

Acclaimed hair restoration physician Dr. Alan Feller is a pioneer in the field of modern follicular unit hair transplantation and an esteemed member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians. Dr. Feller is widely known as one of the world’s foremost experts in follicular unit extraction (FUE) and is the inventor of the “Feller Punch“, a tool that has been adopted by many leading hair transplant surgeons around the globe.

Recently, Feller Medical announced the launch of their new, state of the art multimedia website. The new site features a unique, interactive patient results gallery, a patient video gallery, testimonials and more. Balding men and women seeking a solution to hair loss are encouraged to visit their new and improved website at Feller Medical to learn more about their experience, technique and high standard of patient care.

To discuss Dr. Feller’s new website, visit the discussion forum topic, Feller Medical Debuts New and Improved Website.

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David (TakingThePlunge)
Forum Co-Moderator and Editorial Assistant for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.

To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit the Hair Restoration Social Network and Enhanced Discussion Forum

Get Proven Treatments at the Best Prices by visiting our new Online Hair Loss Treatment Shop.

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Technorati Tags: hair restoration, Dr. Alan Feller, hair transplantation, Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians, follicular unit extraction, FUE, Feller Punch, hair transplant, Balding, hair loss

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the facelift, (rhytidectomy), is the sixth most popular elective procedure performed today.

Although the procedure is very common and usually offers significant cosmetic benefit, it is associated with one infrequently discussed side effect: the post-operative loss of “sideburns” and hairline distortion in female patients.  Females who undergo this procedure often consider surgical hair restoration to correct this.

During the facelift procedure, an incision is made in front of the ear (in the temple/sideburn region) and extended into both the hairline region and the area further behind the ear itself. Afterward, the skin is separated from the deeper tissues, tightened, and pulled until taut. Although this maneuver pulls the skin tight and creates a more “youthful” appearance, it also results in an excess of tissue that must be excised.

Unfortunately, because the initial incision is made in the sideburn and hairline area, the last step of the procedure involves the removal of the excess, hair-bearing tissue from this region. In various cases, this results in a total removal of the sideburn hair and an unnatural appearance of the hairline (which can be caused by scarring or a distortion of hairline shape or height).

Fortunately, although this side effect often discourages post-operative facelift patients, the damage can be reversed and reconstructed with modern hair transplant surgery.

This below question was asked by a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums and answered by Janna, the lead medical technician for Coalition hair restoration surgeons Dr. Ron Shapiro and Dr. Paul Shapiro.

I’m undergoing a hair transplant procedure in the near future, and I’m wondering if I should get a haircut before surgery? Is it best to “shave” my head? How short should it be cut?

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

Technorati Tags: Hair Loss, hair restoration, Dr. Ron Shapiro, Dr. Paul Shapiro, hair transplant, haircut, follicular unit transplantation, FUT

This article was submitted to us for publishing and was partially written by Dr. Carlos Wesley, who is recommended on the Hair Transplant Network. For a complete list of contributors to this article, scroll down to the bottom of this article.

Hair Transplantation Procedures

Overview

Background

Hair transplantation procedures are used to treat various forms and degrees of permanent alopecia in both men and women. Intact hair follicles may be harvested from within the safe donor area of a patient’s scalp by either strip method or follicular unit extraction (FUE); each harvesting method has unique advantages and disadvantages. The refinement of follicular unit transplanting over the last decade has led to markedly improved hair survival and natural-appearing results.

This article provides a broad overview of the techniques used by various hair transplant surgeons throughout the world. Founded on the principal of donor dominance (ie, hair follicles continue to grow in the new recipient area to which they are introduced as long as they would have in the donor area from which they are extracted), the field of hair restoration surgery (HRS) has evolved considerably since its inception in the 1950s. Natural-appearing results are consistently achievable and reflect a surgeon’s technical skill and artistic creativity.

Indications

Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure used for the correction of androgenic alopecia (AGA), cicatricial (scarring) alopecia, or any form of permanent hair loss in both men and women.^[1,2]

Each year, Baltimore Magazine publishes a list of top physicians in the region from more than 101 specialties. We are pleased to announce that, this year, Coalition member Dr. James Vogel was named by his peers as one of the city’s top General Plastic Surgeons of 2011.

Dr. Vogel is very involved in contributing to his profession and sharing hair restoration techniques with his peers. He is the past president of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) and was the chairman of the scientific committee from 1993 to 1999. He remains actively involved in lecturing and writing with many surgical societies and professional organizations.

Adding to his list of accomplishments, Dr. Vogel has recently been asked by The Aesthetic Surgery Journal to serve as their international section editor on hair transplants. The Aesthetic Surgery Journal is the official journal of The International Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Dr. James Vogel is a highly respected member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians and recommended on the Hair Transplant Network. To learn more about Dr. Vogel and his ultra-refined follicular unit hair transplant procedure, click here to view his Coalition profile on the Hair Loss Learning Center.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Vogel by clicking here and adding your comments to the discussion on our popular Hair Loss Forum.

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David (TakingThePlunge)
Forum Co-Moderator and Editorial Assistant for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.

Recently, Coalition member and highly acclaimed hair restoration surgeon Dr. Bessam Farjo of Manchester, United Kingdom was interviewed by the Times of India for a lifestyle article about hair loss.  Topics discussed include advancements made in hair loss research, state of the art hair transplant surgery and hair multiplication (cloning). In the article, Dr. Farjo discusses why he chose to specialize in hair restoration and his role in shaping its future through the ongoing research and development of new techniques.

Dr. Bessam Farjo has a long history of performing state of the art, ultra-refined follicular unit hair transplantation with outstanding results. Along with his wife and colleague, Dr. Nilofer Farjo, he founded the Farjo Medical Centre in 1992. Since that time, the Farjo Clinic has become the UK’s premier center for surgical hair restoration, medical hair loss treatment and research.

Dr. Bessam and Nilofer Farjo are both highly esteemed members of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians and recommended by the Hair Transplant Network. To learn about our criteria for recommending physicians, click here.

Click the image below to see the full article.

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David (TakingThePlunge)
Forum Co-Moderator and Editorial Assistant for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.

To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit the Hair Restoration Social Network and Enhanced Discussion Forum

Get Proven Treatments at the Best Prices by visiting our new Online Hair Loss Treatment Shop.

This insightful hair loss information was posted on our Hair Restoration Social Community and Discussion Forums: by Dr. Jerry Cooley of Charlotte, NC who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.

I hair restoration doctors talk about transplanting the crown border (I am talking about sides and not the bottom of the crown) with less density than the middle of the crown. When I get my crown fixed eventually as it is not all that bad yet, I feel that the center crown would not be all that important to me but rather the outside/sides of the crown would need more density to properly frame the head when viewing from the side. I know the crown side border typically is less dense even in non-balding men so maybe this is the reason?

It is complicated because there are many factors for the hair transplant surgeon to consider including the patient’s age, hair characteristics, current baldness, rate of hair loss, whether they are on Propecia finasteride, donor supply, etc. The goal is to produce not only a look that satisfies the patient in the short term, but also one that will stand up over time. It is best to be evaluated in person to get an individualized recommendation for you.

Dr. Jerry Cooley

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David (TakingThePlunge)
Forum Co-Moderator and Editorial Assistant for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.