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This informative article was written by Dr. Michael Meshkin of Newport Beach, CA who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians.

Ultra refined microscopic follicular unit grafting raises the bar for hair restoration physicians and their staff. This delicate and demanding hair transplant procedure requires more skill and careful attention to be performed properly. The smaller and more tightly packed incisions require closely dissected follicular unit grafts that are carefully trimmed under microscopes. These follicular units are cut under the microscope into their natural state of one, two, or three hairs, and then placed into very small incisions using the lateral slit technique.

Another very important transformation is the size and the angulation of the incisions in the recipient area. These small and densely packed incisions are more difficult to place the grafts into. For these reasons, this procedure requires more careful selection of the doctor and the staff.  The hair transplant clinic’s surgical staff should have been with the doctor for a long time and have highly developed surgical skills and qualifications to perform hair transplants.

A prospective hair transplant patient needs to ask about the doctor’s staff and their qualifications regarding hair transplant experience. These are the questions you may want to ask the doctor or his technicians:

As a well-informed reader of our Hair Loss Q & A Blog, you’re most likely aware of the many surgical innovations that have made hair transplantation the most commonly sought after cosmetic procedure among men in the 21st century. And with a veritable wealth of resources currently available at their fingertips, other tech-savvy individuals now have access to more information about proven hair loss remedies than ever before.

Unfortunately, hair loss sufferers didn’t always have things so easy. Just a few decades ago, there were no authoritative boards, no support groups, and no internet. Needless to say, antiquated surgical techniques left many patients with sub-par results. But thanks to the hard work and dedication of an elite group of surgeons, the modern hair transplant technique has evolved to the point where it can mimic nature seamlessly.

Today, ultra refined follicular unit hair transplantation is the “gold standard” in hair restoration, performed using minimally invasive tools in an extremely safe, clean environment. Naturally occurring follicular units are microscopically dissected and redistributed in the most cosmetically appealing way possible.

Selecting a quality hair transplant surgeon is truly the key component to any successful hair restoration plan. The importance of independent research cannot be overstated. Surgeons recommended on the Hair Transplant Network not only possess complete clinical command of the procedure, but unparalleled artistic mastery as well. Guided by ethical principles and committed to producing consistent results in a variety of patients, members of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians continue to raise the bar with every hair transplant performed. To learn more about our own stringent screening process for recommending hair restoration physicians, click here.

Dr. Jim Harris has been performing state of the art surgical hair restoration and has been recommended on the Hair Transplant Network for many years.  Recently, we added a collection of video interviews featuring his expert replies on hair loss and hair restoration related topics.

To learn more about Dr. Harris, his philsophy on hair transplant surgery and patient care, visit “Hair Transplant Video Interviews with Dr. Jim Harris” on YouTube.

To see all of our videos, visit our Hair Transplant Video Channel on YouTube.

For a few of the video interviews with Dr. Jim Harris that can be found on YouTube, see below.   Your feedback is encouraged and appreciated.

Dr. Harris on Selecting a Quality Physician

What Dr. Harris Enjoys Most About Performing Hair Restoration Surgery

Why Dr. Jim Harris Became a Hair Transplant Surgeon

Dr. Harris on Teamwork and Research

Choosing Dr. James Harris for For Hair Transplantation

Dr. Jim Harris Philosophy on Patient Care

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Managing Publisher of 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 restoration, hair loss, Dr. Harris, hair transplant, YouTube, Dr. Jim Harris, Hair Transplantation, Bill Seemiller, Falceros

If the recipient area is exposed to sunlight (through glass) after a hair restoration procedure, can this damage the grafts or impede hair growth? I sit in front of a window with a thin curtain for about an hour a day.

This hair loss question was answered by Dr. Glenn Charles of Florida who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians. His professional answer is below.

Technically, you can get a sunburn through the window. Too much sun exposure after a hair transplant is not recommended. The recipient area is usually irritated already and sun exposure can only make it worse.

Sunlight through a window with a curtain will not likely cause any damage depending on the thickness of the curtain and the angle at which the sunlight hits the scalp.

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Anthony – Editorial Assistant / Forum Co-Moderator of 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 out Hair Restoration Discussion Forum.
Follow our community on Twitter.
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube.

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

Recently, we added a collection of hair restoration video interviews featuring Dr. John Gillespie, who is recommended on the Hair Transplant Network.

To learn more about Dr. Gillespie, his philsophy on hair transplant surgery and patient care, visit “Hair Transplant Video Interviews with Dr. John Gillespie” on YouTube.

To see all of our videos, visit our Hair Transplant Video Channel on YouTube.

For a few of the video interviews with Dr. John Gillespie that can be found on YouTube, see below.   Your input on any of the below videos is welcome and appreciated.

What Dr. John Gillespie Offers His Patients

Dr. Gillespie on the Number of Hair Transplant Procedures Needed

Dr. Gillespie on Density and Naturalness

Dr. John Gillespie in Choosing a Quality Physician

Hair Replacement Surgeon Dr. Gillespie on Patient Expectations

How Dr. John Gillespie Became a Hair Transplant Surgeon

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Managing Publisher of 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 restoration, Dr. Gillespie, hair transplant, YouTube, Dr. John Gillespie, Hair Replacement, Bill Seemiller, Falceros

I have two questions concerning long-term hair restoration goals. Regarding medications, doesn’t Propecia lose its effectiveness over time? Also, what happens when patients’ donor hair starts to thin? I was told that hair from the “safe zone” eventually becomes susceptible to Male Pattern Baldness. If these things are true, how can anyone guarantee lasting results?

This hair loss question was answered by Dr. Cam Simmons of Toronto, Canada, who is a highly esteemed member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.

I know some patients who have taken Propecia (finasteride) since 1997 (before they met me) who feel that they haven’t lost more hair, and some who have had a slow decline.

Some hair follicles in the donor area may be affected by DHT, but most aren’t in most men. Take a look at the seniors you meet or pass in a day. In a few, you can see through their hair on the sides, but not in most. Some men can get generalized thinning of all of their hair in advanced age, called senile alopecia.

I just did a touch-up hair transplant for a 68 year-old man who had 4 sessions from 1976 to 1980 and the transplanted hair was still there. His hair was about 2 inches long, and the rows and rows of punch graft scars did not show. The scars made up about half of his 9mm wide, 30cm long donor strip, but we still managed to get 1408 grafts.

The role technicians play during a hair transplant procedure seems pretty important. How can I make sure prior to surgery that the technicians are skilled and experienced enough to be handling my grafts?

This insightful answer was provided by Dr. William Lindsey of Reston, VA who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians.

The issue of hair transplant technicians placing grafts is certainly an important one. Last year I posted pictures on this network of how we train our techs: first on pickles, then on fruit. Ask your hair transplant surgeon how experienced the graft placers are when you are there for a consultation. Better yet, as we try to do, have your potential doctor show you a case in progress and spend a few minutes watching how the techs place.

Before I had enough skilled placers, I used to place at least half the grafts, then a third, and now I do a few to give breaks and come in at the end to look for empty spots. That’s not entirely because I don’t want to place anymore, but rather I have found a group of small-handed females who are better and faster than me at placing. In the end, I believe the hair transplant patient gets a better result.

Coalition member Dr. Alan Feller has a long history of performing state of the art hair transplant procedures with excellent results.  He also has a strong presence on our hair restoration forum helping to educate hair loss sufferers in the latest and greatest developments in hair restoration, including the popular follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedure.

Recently, we uploaded a collection of  hair transplant video interviews with Dr. Feller on YouTube.  To learn more about Dr. Feller, his experience, skill, and philosophy on patient care, visit “Hair Transplant Video Interviews with Dr. Alan Feller on YouTube“.

To see all of our hair transplant videos, visit our Hair Transplant Video Channel on YouTube.

For a few of the YouTube video interviews with Dr. Feller, see below. Feel free to provide your input on any of these videos.

Dr. Alan Feller on the Future of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Hair Transplant Surgery

Hair Transplant Surgeon Dr. Alan Feller Discusses the Importance of the Donor Area

Dr. Alan Feller on Hair Transplant Density and Naturalness

Dr. Alan Feller in Selecting a Quality Hair Transplant Surgeon

Dr. Alan Feller Approach to Hair Transplant Surgery

Hair Transplant Surgeon Dr. Alan Feller Shares His Own Personal Hair Loss Story

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Managing Publisher of 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

I’ve heard these terms used quite often, but what exactly is the difference between the Pre-Made Incision technique and the “Stick-and-Place” method? Is one better than the other?

This question was answered by Dr. Mike Beehner of Saratoga Springs, New York who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians. Follow the original topic on our Hair Restoration Discussion Forum to also see expert replies from Coalition surgeon Dr. Cam Simmons and our managing publisher,  Bill Seemiller (Falceros).

For myself, the one big advantage of the stick-and-place method, which I take advantage of in certain unique cases, is the fact that it allows the hair transplant surgeon to make the SMALLEST possible incision to place the graft in. This is because, at the instant you withdraw the needle or slit blade, you are immediately placing the graft into the opening before any elastic recoil or shrinkage can occur at the site. The benefits of this fact are two: One, you do the least possible damage to the vascular system of the scalp because of the smaller sites, and two, you can place grafts closer together, because the sites are smaller and more will fit into a cubic centimeter than with a slightly larger site.

The big problem with stick-and-place is that it is not possible for the surgeon to personally perform the whole hair restoration operation due to the time factor (time the grafts are out of the body) and the fatigue/exhaustion factor. He would be there for 16 hours (till the wee hours of the morning) and a lot of the grafts wouldn’t survive because of the time out of the body. So this task has to be delegated or shared with one’s assistants.

Good day. I would like some information regarding the cost of FUE hair transplantation, any possible risks involved with this type of surgery, and where the best clinics are  located. Also, I was advised that I might need around 2,550 grafts or hairs transplanted, but I can’t remember which term was used. What’s the difference exactly?

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a still a relatively new hair transplant procedure. Due to some of the inherent limitations of the technique at this point in time, performing an otherwise standard-sized megasession can be a somewhat risky venture. Safely transplanting 2,500 grafts would most likely take at least two days to accomplish, and could wind up costing twice as much as a FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation). You should also become aware of the distinction between the proposed graft number and final hair count: the former will invariably be lower than the total amount of hairs moved, as naturally occurring follicular units are largely divided down and modified after dissection.

FUE is an extremely delicate, time-consuming process, so yield may be compromised if too much is being attempted too quickly. There is also some degree of scarring associated with the procedure. It won’t produce a linear strip scar, but tiny, feint “dots” may be visible upon close inspection. If an inexperienced hair transplant surgeon uses improper technique, especially with a punch tool greater than .9mm in diameter, the patient could end up with a “moth-eaten” look in the donor area reminiscent of plug extraction, which can potentially be worse than a strip scar. There are other physiological factors/obstacles that may come into play during FUE work, possibly more so than in a traditional strip surgery. Many prominent hair restoration physicians have emphasized the importance of overall scalp “cooperation”.