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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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Recommended hair transplant surgeon Dr. Shelly A. Friedman recently released a new book titled To Bald or Not to Bald? That is the Question. Although the book is humorously titled, the content tackles important hair loss issues, such as the difference between male and female genetic balding, effective hair restoration treatments, and obtaining state-of-the-art surgical techniques. As Dr. Friedman explains:

Although it is usually an unwanted sign of aging, hair loss may no longer be inevitable. Hopefully, by the time you finish this book you will understand the proven, effective treatment options that have become so popular. In subsequent chapters you will realize that hair loss is a problem that can be solved with new and exciting methods that will be explained in detail as we move along. We live in a new era of medical innovation and possibilities. Advances in medical research, technology and surgical techniques have restored patient’s faith in the field of medical and surgical hair restoration. This books explains the entire process of hair restoration today.

If you would like to get in contact with Dr. Friedman, feel free to visit his recommendation profile at the Hair Transplant Network. Additionally, please visit our online hair loss product shop for information on purchasing your very own copy of To Bald or Not to Bald? That is the Question.

To purchase this book immediately, click here.

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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 member Dr. Jerry Wong of Vancouver, Canada is world renowned for innovating the lateral slit technique and for proving that large hair transplant megasessions exceeding 4000 follicular units when appropriate is not only possible, but can provide patients with world class results with minimal scarring. 

Given his outstanding achievements in the operating room and recognition both from his patients and his peers, it’s no surprise that Dr. Jerry Wong was awarded the Golden Follicle award at this year’s annual 2011 ISHRS (International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery) scientific meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.

Based on the outstanding reviews by patients on our hair loss forum and social community, there’s no question that Dr. Jerry Wong deserves this award.   Congratulations to Dr. Wong for his continued outstanding achievements.

The Golden follicle award is the highest honor given to a leading surgeon in hair restoration by the ISHRS at each meeting. This award recognizes outstanding achievement in clinically-related research in hair pathophysiology or anatomy as it relates to hair restoration.

View the official press release.

Bill Seemiller –  Managing Publisher of  the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum and Social Community

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

Technorati Tags: lateral slit technique, hair transplant megasessions, Golden Follicle, ISHRS, International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery

The following article was presented on our Hair Restoration Social Community and Discussion Forums by forum member “TM”, Marketing Manager for Dr. Melike Kulahci.

Each year, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) invites a member who lives outside of the United States to organize a seminar in order to share his/her own hair restoration clinic’s research. This year, that honor was bestowed upon Dr. Melike Kulahci of Istanbul, Turkey. Dr. Kulahci is an esteemed member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians and ISHRS board member.

The Next Big Thing Conference, hosted by Dr. Kulahci, gathered together many of the most prominent names in the study and treatment of hair loss to share the latest developments in hair transplantation technology including; the latest improvements in follicular unit extraction (FUE) with live demonstrations; hair multiplication or cloning; platelet rich plasma (PRP) and the use of ACell and lasers in hair transplant surgery among other topics.  You can view a video promo of the conference below.

The conference included live surgery demonstrations and presentations by several world renowned hair restoration surgeons including; Dr. Jerry Cooley, Dr. Bessam Farjo, Dr. Robert Haber, Dr. Ron Shapiro, Dr. Jerry Wong and Transmed Medical Director Dr. Melike Kulahci.

With 98 surgeons from 32 countries in attendance, 5 live surgical demonstrations and 9 presentations performed, the TNBT Conference hosted by Dr. Kulahci created a strong platform with which to carry these advances in hair transplantation to the next level.

Recommended hair transplant surgeon Dr. Carlos Wesley is currently recruiting participants for a clinical study investigating follicular unit transplantation (FUT) scar reduction and follicular unit graft survival enhancement.

The “Hair Restoration Surgery Enhancement” study, which is approved by the Investigational Review Board, addresses both donor region scarring and graft survival rates, and hopes to significantly improve implanted growth yields and, according to Dr. Wesley, reduce donor scarring to levels below traditional Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE).

Interested parties must be available for travel to Dr. Wesley’s New York practice and will receive a number of follicular unit grafts free of charge.

Although the details of the investigation have not yet been disclosed, promising updates will be provided as the clinical results unfold.

Are you interested in participating in the Hair Restoration Surgery Enhancement Study? If so, feel free to visit the discussion topic and contact Dr. Wesley directly: Invitation to Participate in HRS Enhancement Investigation.
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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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Get Proven Hair Loss Treatments at the Best Prices by visiting our new Online Hair Loss Product Store

Technorati Tags: hair transplant, follicular unit transplantation, FUT, follicular unit graft, Hair Restoration, Follicular Unit Extraction, FUE, Hair Restoration Surgery

Recently, follicular unit extraction (FUE) expert and recommended hair transplant surgeon Dr. Jim Harris recently became the first physician to purchase the ARTAS Hair Restoration System.  To read more about Dr. Harris’ acquisition of this potentially revolutionary device, visit “Dr. Jim Harris Purchases the First ARTAS Hair Restoration System for Automating the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Hair Transplant Procedure“.

Dr. Harris’ recent acquisition of the ARTAS Hair Restoration System provided the opportunity to ask a proven FUE specialist and expert surgeon crucial questions about the this robotic FUE machine.  Below, view Dr. Harris’ expert answers regarding the ARTAS and automating at least a portion of the hair transplant procedure.

(Q) 1. What is your philosophy on automating the hair transplant procedure using devices such as the ARTAS Hair Restoration System? 

(A) The answer really relates to what the impact will be on patient results. Powered FUE devices, when used in the right hands, offer greater speed and hopefully better grafts, but not always.  For example, there is a supposed “automated” device on the market right now, but in reality it is nothing more than a sharp rotational punch coupled with a suction powered graft extractor.

Every possible difficulty in using a sharp dissection device still exists with this product because a technician or surgeon is making guesses about the follicle angle/direction and trying to manually make the punch go in the direction and depth that the operator is guessing it should go. All these individual guesses and decisions make for a very unforgiving system.  I believe the Powered SAFE Scribe System for FUE that I developed is more forgiving than a sharp punch system, but it is still subject to the skill of the operator.

Recently, Dr. Jim Harris, who is recommended on the Hair Transplant Network became amongst the first hair restoration physicians to purchase the ARTAS Hair Restoration System, a hair transplant machine innovated by Restoration Robotics in an attempt to automate the follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedure.  But can ARTAS live up to its promise of increased extraction speeds, lower transection rates, increased session sizes, and optimal hair growth yield?

Like previous FUE extraction machines, the ARTAS Hair Restoration System attempts to increase the speed of extraction (allowing for larger single sessions) while automating the surgical process.  Claims that very little skill is needed to use automated devices has  led some marketing giants to mass market their machine to the neophyte hair transplant surgeon and untrained medical professionals.  Since no automated device or machine can adapt or make critical decisions during an FUE procedure, many hair loss practitioners and veteran patients have expressed concerns that many who undergo surgery with a neophyte surgeon using the ARTAS or any automated hair transplant equipment will eventually come forward with less than satisfactory results.

While the concept of automating the FUE hair transplant procedure is impressive, putting such advanced equipment in novice hands may be disastrous.  However, innovative machines like the ARTAS Hair Restoration System in skilled and experienced hands could significantly aid quality physicians and their staff in providing patients with the best results.

According to Dr. Harris:

I acquired the system because it produces great follicular unit grafts at an efficient rate and it will help leverage my resources.

Late last week, hair transplant pioneer and Coalition hair restoration physician Dr. William Rassman announced that he is beginning ACell Matristem hair duplication (formerly known as “autocloning“) trials at his Los Angeles office.

As explained by Coalition surgeon Dr. Jerry Cooley at the 2010 ISHRS (International Socieity of Hair Restoration Surgery) conference, ACell Matristem is a a new, non-invasive therapy that stimulates and amplifies that body’s own healing processes. Although it possesses many medical applications, the one that most excites hair loss sufferers is it’s ability to “auto-clone”  plucked hair follicles, or grow an entirely functional hair follicle from only a portion of an extracted unit.   To see highlights from the 2010 ISHRS Meeting, visit “Highlights of the 2010 ISHRS Scientific Meeting in Boston, MA”.   Also, view Dr. Cooley’s presentation on ACell Matristem and Hair Duplication (formerly known as AutoCloning).

Although Dr. Rassman explains that the issue still requires further research, he is looking for volunteers to participate in the ACell study. If you’re interested in participating, please feel free to contact Dr. Rassman’s clinic. To read about the hair duplicatin trial, click here (for the original announcement) and here (for an update from Dr. Rassman).

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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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Recommended hair restoration surgeon Dr. Shelly Friedman recently appeared on the popular morning news broadcast Good Morning Arizona. During the interview,  Dr. Friedman took the time to answer some difficult hair loss related questions and promote his new book: To Bald or Not to Bald? That is the Question:

If you would like more information on To Bald or Not to Bald, visit our online hair loss store. To purchase the book immediately, click here. To see more hair restoration videos, feel free to visit our Hair Restoration Video Library.

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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

Technorati Tags: hair restoration, hair loss

Several years ago, Coalition physicians Dr. Jerry Wong and Dr. Victor Hasson released an educational video detailing and explaining the process of scalp exercises. In theory, scalp exercises help a patient create additional scalp laxity (or looseness) in the universal donor area before a hair transplant procedure. This allows the surgeon to (potentially) remove and implant a greater number of follicular unit grafts.

Although this video was informative, educational, and comprehensive, Hasson and Wong received a myriad of scalp exercise questions and concerns over the past few years. In response to this feedback, the clinic decided to create a new video that answers these thoughtful questions, presents new information, and provides a wonderful overview of scalp exercising.

To view this new video, click here: Hasson & Wong: Scalp Laxity Exercises.

Enjoy!

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Blake Bloxham – 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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Technorati Tags: scalp exercise, scalp laxity, universal donor area, hair transplant, follicular unit grafts, scalp exercising