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Only a select group of hair restoration surgeons who regularly produce excellent hair transplant results are invited to join the ranks of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians. To see our demanding standards for the Coalition, click here.

Recently, we sought your input about the potential Coalition membership for Dr. Patrick Mwamba of Belgium. Given the accolades he’s garnered from hair loss forum members regarding his results, we’re not surprised that the majority of the feedback we received regarding his potential inclusion was highly supportive.

To see what our members are saying, visit the discussion topic “Potential Coalition Membership for Dr. Patrick Mwamba of Belgium“.

Dr. Patrick Mwamba performs ultra refined follicular unit hair transplantation (FUT) via strip harvesting and follicular unit extraction (FUE) and has the experience and staff to perform sessions exceeding 3000 follicular units when appropriate for the patient. To see examples of his ultra refined results, visit his recommendation profile on the Hair Transplant Network and the “Results Posted by Leading Hair Restoration Clinics” forum.

Given Dr. Mwamba’s experience and dedication to innovative hair transplant surgery, we’d like to congratulate Dr. Mwamba on becoming our newest member of the Coalition. You can view Dr. Mwamba’s Coalition profile by clicking here.

Thanks to everyone who provided their valuable feedback regarding Dr. Mwamba’s potential Coalition membership. You are encouraged to congratulate him by visiting his potential coalition membership topic above.

Onwards and Upwards,

This question, from a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeons Dr. Ron Shapiro and Dr. Glenn Charles:

During a recent hair transplantation consult, the physician told me that he will create an “irregular hairline” during my hair restoration procedure. However, I’m wondering why he would chose to do that? Wouldn’t a straight hairline look better? Why create an irregular hairline during hair transplant surgery?

The goal of any hair transplant procedure is creating natural, realistic results. A very important aspect of achieving subtle, realistic results is recreating a natural hairline. Though many individuals assume that hairlines unaffected by hair loss are straight and regularly shaped, this is not the case. In fact, in order to create a realistic hairline, hair restoration surgeons must utilize an irregular, “zig zag” design.

In fact, according to Dr. Glenn Charles:

The term we often use to describe the hairline approach is creating a “regular irregularity.” Meaning there has to be a certain degree of randomness to give a natural appearance. However, there also has to be some method to the madness. You could also call this “Zig Zag” hairline design.

Dr. Ron Shapiro agrees, and said the following:

From May 24th through May 26th, 2013 the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) is hosting the second annual Mediterranean Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Workshop in Madrid, Spain. The workshop consists of a series of lectures about important topics in Follicular Unit Extraction, FUE question and answer sessions, FUE discussions and debates, and a series of live Follicular Unit Extraction operations.

Because we recommend a number of FUE innovators and experts, several of our recommended and Coalition hair transplant surgeons are participating in the FUE workshop. According to the official program, our hair restoration physicians are participating in the following activities:

During the first day of the workshop, Dr. Jean Devroye, Dr. James Harris, and Dr. Bijan Feriduni are participating in a debate about the anatomy of FUE grafts. Dr. James Harris is also lecturing about motorized FUE procedures and performing a live, 1,000 graft FUE case on the first day of the conference (and hosting a “Q&A” session after the procedure). On the second day of the workshop, Dr. Devroye is presenting a lecture about motorized FUE and Dr. Feriduni is lecturing about manual Follicular Unit Extraction procedures; both physicians are also performing live, 1,000 graft FUE operations at the end of the day. On the third and final day of the workshop, Dr. James Harris is giving a presentation on automated FUE procedures and the ARTAS Hair Restoration System for automating FUE hair transplant surgery.

Due to its less invasive nature and modern approach, Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair transplant surgery continues increasing in popularity. As patients continue requesting FUE procedures in large numbers, hair restoration physicians have begun explaining their FUE philosophy and describing how they practice the procedure.

Recently, Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. James Vogel decided to take part in this ongoing trend and shared his Follicular Unit Extraction philosophy with our hair restoration community. According to Dr. Vogel:

I have been  performing FUE donor harvest technique for the past three and a half years.  My  philosophy has been never to be the first on the block to try new techniques on my patients; however when a new technique or procedure is proven safe and effective I embrace all new technology in a comprehensive manner.  The development and refinement of FUE is a perfect example. 

My  approach to FUE donor harvest is identical to the way I  manage all aspects of the transplant.  I am  extremely “hands on” and  intimately involved with every aspect of the procedure.  I have  tried numerous methods for FUE harvesting over the past several years. The current FUE device I  prefers to use is the Alpha Graft Unit. This is a simple FUE device that offers easy angulation and  adjustment to enable alignment with the  plane of the follicular unit as they exit the scalp.  Tumescent saline is used in the donor scalp to “straighten” the follicular units to maximize extraction and minimize transection of grafts.  Click here to see a video of my FUE extraction. 

Several months ago, we started a new feature at our hair loss community: the Hair Transplant Patient of the Week.

Each week, we review hair transplant cases posted by patients on our Hair Restoration Discussion Forums and select one particularly excellent result as our Hair Transplant Patient of the Week.

In April, we selected three community members as our patients of the week:

First, was Hypox, who received 2,500 grafts via Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) from Dr. Victor Hasson. After years of trying hair loss medications, traditional Chinese treatments, and Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), Hypox underwent surgical hair restoration in 2009 with a different physician. Ultimately, Hypox decided he required additional grafts, and sought a second procedure with Dr. Hasson in 2011. Recently, Hypox shared a 6 month update with our community, and the results are excellent! To see Hypox’s restored hairline, frontal scalp, and (partial) midscalp, please review the following: 6 Month Update – 2,500 Grafts from Dr. Victor Hasson.

Next was Levrais, who received 5,700 grafts via Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) from Dr. Christian Bisanga.  During a total of 3 procedures, Dr. Bisanga used an impressive 5,700 grafts to restore Levrais’ hairline, frontal scalp, temple points, and part of his vertex. Recently, Levrais shared a 5 month update of his 5,700 graft FUE procedure with Dr. Bisanga, and the results are impressive! To review the procedure, please see the following: Levrais – 5,700 Graft FUE with Dr. Bisanga.

This community recommends only hair transplant surgeons who perform high quality hair transplantation with stellar results. Therefore, we are pleased to announce that after careful review and consideration, Dr. Kyriakos Maras of HDC in Cyprus has been approved for recommendation on the Hair Transplant Network. To learn how we prescreen and recommend hair transplant surgeons, click here.

Recently Dr. Maras, his technique and results were carefully reviewed by our hair restoration forum and social community in consideration for recommendation. The vast majority of the feedback we received regarding his potential inclusion has been supportive. To see what our members are saying, visit the “Potential Recommendation of Dr. Kyriakos Maras of HDC in Cyprus“.

Given Dr. Maras’ dedication to state of the art hair transplantation with excellent results and the positive feedback we received from both patients and physicians, Dr. Maras has been approved for recommendation by our online community. To view Dr. Mara’s recommendation profile, click here.

A special thanks to everyone who provided their valuable feedback regarding Dr. Maras’ potential inclusion. Feel free to congratulate him by clicking on his featured potential inclusion topic above.

Those considering hair restoration surgery in Cyprus and beyond, we strongly encourage you to consult with and consider Dr. Kyriakos Maras for your procedure.

Onwards and Upwards,

Pat, Bill, Dave and Blake – The Hair Restoration Team for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q & A Blog and the Hair Restoration Forum and Social Community

In order to increase the ultimate survival, caliber, and even the rate at which hair follicles grow after transplantation, patients and hair restoration physicians alike are looking for methods to best care for them when they are in the precarious state out of the body (after extraction, but before implantation).  Dr. Carlos K. Wesley will lecture to fellow physicians on “New Frontiers in Surgical Hair Restoration” at the Mount Sinai Medical Center Multi-Specialty Spring Symposium in New York City in which he will discuss the various advancements in hair follicle storage prior to transplantation.

Sentiment in the field of surgical hair restoration is increasingly favoring the use of platelet rich plasma (PRP) as a possible storage solution to achieve the three goals stated above.  Dr. Wesley has even noted the benefit of incorporating PRP into the intra-operative graft storage process as patients appear to produce transplanted hair growth slightly earlier than the standard timeline at which transplanted hairs are normally appreciated.

While these observations related to PRP are promising, the mystery behind this product remains: What is it about PRP that may produce this benefit?  Is there a particular element within the autologous solution that is most critical in the stimulation of hair growth and development?  To shed light on this question, Dr. Wesley collaborated with immunologists at Mt. Sinai Medical Center to investigate the following variables on hair characteristics:

1. The degree of physiologic concentration of platelets in PRP

2. The specific concentration of certain growth factors thought to be involved in the stimulation cascade:

Several months ago, we started a new feature at our hair loss community: the Hair Transplant Patient of the Week.

Each week, we review hair transplant cases posted by patients on our Hair Restoration Discussion Forums and select one particularly excellent result as our Hair Transplant Patient of the Week.

In March, we selected three community members are our patients of the week:

First, was Djjr1, who received 2,500 grafts via Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) from Coalition hair restoration surgeon Dr. Alan Feller. Four years ago, Djjr1 grew tired of his hair loss and decided to seek surgical restoration with Dr. Feller. Recently, Djjr1 proved that quality hair transplantation truly “stands the test of time” by updating the community with his 4 year results. To review Djjr1′s excellent 4 year post-operative update, please see the following: Dr. Alan Feller – Four Years After 2,500 Grafts.  

Next, was Aj29, who received 1,301 grafts via Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) from Dr. Christian Bisanga. Aj29 chose Dr. Bisanga to treat his temporal regions and hairline because of his experience with FUE and his expert use of a manual FUE punch tool. Recently, Aj29 shared a 9 month update on the community, and his decision to seek FUE with Dr. Bisanga clearly paid off! To view Aj29′s 9 month post-operative update, please see the following: Dr. Bisanga – 1,301 Grafts to Hairline.

Only hair restoration physicians who persistently produce the best results are approved for recommendation on the Hair Transplant Network. Thus, we are pleased to announce that Dr. Mike Vories of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina has been approved for recommendation by our online community. To learn how we prescreen and recommend hair transplant surgeons, click here.

Dr. Vories has been performing hair transplant procedures since 2002 and now performs high quality follicular unit extraction (FUE) exclusively at his clinic in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. As a hair transplant patient himself, Dr. Mike Vories is compassionate and empathetic to the needs of balding men and thinning women worldwide.

Dr. Mike Vories, his technique and results were carefully reviewed by our patient community. Visit the “Potential Recommendation of Dr. Mike Vories of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina” to see what our members are saying.

After carefully reviewing his technique, results and all the private and public feedback we received, we’ve decided to approve Dr. Vories for recommendation on the Hair Transplant Network for his dedication to high quality follicular unit extraction (FUE) in South Carolina. To congratulate Dr. Vories on his recent achievement, visit his potential inclusion forum topic above.

For hair loss sufferers considering high quality FUE hair transplantation in South Carolina and beyond, you are encouraged to consider Dr. Vories for your next hair transplant procedure. To learn more about Dr. Vories, his technique and to view his patient results, visit his recommendation profile.

Onwards and Upwards,

Along with finasteride (Propecia), minoxidil (Rogaine) is one of the only medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of genetic hair loss (androgenic alopecia). Although both drugs are proven alopecia treatments, many hair loss sufferers worry about the potential side effects; specifically, the reported sexual side effects associated with finasteride.

Most studies believe sexual side effects occur in approximately 0.3-3% of Propecia users, and agree that most dysfunction subsides after stopping the medication. However, unlike Propecia, the potential for sexual side effects with minoxidil usage has not been extensively studied. So, this leaves many individuals wondering: can Rogaine (minoxidil) cause sexual side effects?

To answer this important question, Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. Paul Rose researched the issue, and published an article about minoxidil and sexual side effects at our Hair Restoration Discussion Forums:

Dr Rose:

In the fall of 2012, researchers at Johns Hopkins University made a startling discovery: finasteride, known most commonly by the brand name Propecia, appeared to cause long term sexual side effects for a number of males who were using the prescription medication to treat hair loss.

Prior to the study, it was well-documented that finasteride could cause a number of sexual side effects during use. After the study, however, a small body of research indicated that males who take the popular hair loss medication could suffer with sexual side effects long after use was discontinued. The study analyzed only a small number of patients, and many hair loss professionals believe rigorous follow-up studies are needed to better understand the long term side effects of finasteride. Nevertheless, the study sparked concern among men and women who suffer with hair loss, particularly those who currently use a non-surgical method of restoration.