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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.

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.

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”.

Dr. Bernardino Arocha has been impressing our community with his ultra refined results since he’s joined the ranks of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.  To see examples of his world class hair transplant results, visit his Coalition profile.  You can also discuss these results by visiting the “Results Posted by Leading Hair Restoration Physicians” forum.

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

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

Below, we’ve embedded a few of the video interviews with Dr. Arocha for your viewing pleasure.  Your feedback is appreciated.  

How Dr. Bernard Arocha Became a Hair Transplant Surgeon

Hair Transplant Patient Success Stories by Dr. Arocha

How Hair Transplantation Restores Confidence by Dr. Bernardino

Getting the Best Hair Transplant Results by Dr. Bernardino Arocha

Hair Transplant Patient Care by Dr. Bernard Arocha

Hair Transplant Surgeon Dr. Arocha Discusses Patient Expectations

Selecting a Quality Hair Restoration Physician by Dr. Arocha

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 recently emailed several of my pictures to a highly recommended hair restoration center and am quite disappointed with their response. They basically told me that I’m not a hair transplant candidate at this time based on my photos and age, but didn’t really bother to elaborate. I’m certainly no expert, but how can anyone make this decision without seeing me in person? I feel like I got brushed off.

Due to the increasingly high demand for online consultations, many of the leading worldwide hair transplant clinics become inundated with emails from prospective candidates, and therefore might not always be able to offer in-depth responses to every patient query. If you are dissatisfied with their reply, I encourage you to schedule an in-person consultation with the hair restoration physician.

Remember, although online evaluations can be a very practical solution for long-distance candidates who might be interested in booking a procedure, they can never truly substitute for a proper, in-office assessment, particularly for patients with indistinct hair loss patterns or ill-defined expectations. If traveling to the hair restoration clinic isn’t a feasible option, I suggest you try to resubmit clear, non-flash pictures of your hair that effectively expose any perceived problem areas, and also take a brief moment to really articulate your concerns and goals. Lack of proper photos and general miscommunication may explain the initial response.

Coalition member Dr. Sharon Keene is well known for her hands on approach to hair transplant surgery and for producing some of the most natural looking hairlines around.   For examples of her exceptional results, visit the “Results Posted by Leading Hair Restoration Physicians” forum.

Recently, we edited and uploaded a collection of hair transplant videos interviewing Dr. Keene on YouTube.  To learn more about Dr. Keene, her experience, skill, and philosophy on patient care, visit “Hair Transplant Video Interviews with Dr. Sharon Keene on YouTube“.

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

A few of the YouTube video interviews with Dr. Keene have been embedded below for your viewing pleasure.  Your feedback is encouraged and welcome.  

Dr. Sharon Keene on Selecting a Quality Hair Restoration Physician

Dr. Sharon Keene on Patient Education

Dr. Sharon Keene and Her Hair Transplant Philosophy

Choosing Dr. Sharon Keene as Your Surgeon

What Hair Transplant Surgeon Dr. Sharon Keene Enjoys Most

How Dr. Sharon Keene 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 transplant, hair transplant videos, Dr. Keene, Dr. Sharon Keene, Hair Restoration, Bill Seemiller, Falceros

Earlier in the week, we began presenting hair transplant video interviews featuring the world’s leading hair restoration physicians on YouTube.  We encourage you to visit the Hair Transplant Network channel on YouTube to view all of our videos. 

Our next round of hair restoration video interviews features Coalition member Dr. Ray Konior. These hair transplant videos have been added to a playlist on YouTube for easy viewing.

To learn more about Dr. Ray Konior, his hair transplant philosphy, experience, and dedication to producing excellent results, visit “Dr. Ray Konior Hair Transplant Video Interviews” on YouTube.

You can also find some hot topic video interviews embedded below.

What Hair Transplant Surgeon Dr. Raymond Konior Can Offer Patients

Dr. Ray Konior Discusses His Medical Background

Dr. Raymond Konor Offers Advice to Hair Loss Sufferers Considering Hair Transplantation

Hair Transplant Surgeon Dr. Ray Konior Discusses His Medical Background

Stay tuned for more exciting hair transplant videos.

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 transplant, hair restoration, hair restoration video, Dr. Ray Konior, Hair Transplant Surgeon, Dr. Raymond Konior, Hair Transplantation, Bill Seemiller, Falceros

Decades ago, men and women suffering from hair loss could do nothing but accept their baldness. Sure, many would cover their bald heads with fancy hats or even wigs.  But regrowing their lost hair was impossible.

Today, thanks to the advancements in surgical hair restoration, hair loss sufferers can restore real natural looking hair in thinning or bald areas. Surgeons dedicated to performing ultra refined follicular unit hair transplantation can now perform even larger densely packed sessions when appropriate for the patient. This minimizes the number of surgeries a patient needs while maximizing both hair density and naturalness.

Below we introduce you to a few of the many men and women who have successfully restored their hair and documented their journey by creating a free hair loss patient website.

Forum member “Crown Royal” was unhappy with the large bald spot that formed in his crown due to male pattern baldness. Wanting to do something about it, researching real hair restoration solutions led him to our community and Coalition member Dr. Alan Feller who introduced him to today’s hair transplant surgery. 14 months after 3500 follicular units were transplanted into the crown; he can officially claim that he is no longer bald. View his hair loss website to see his results and the process he went through to recover his hair.

Below we provide a list of crucial tips for maintaining and restoring your hair in 2010.

Take Control: Information is power. Take control of your hair loss by learning all about the causes of hair loss and the only proven non-surgical treatments to stop baldness

Non-Surgical verses Surgical Treatments: Proven medical treatments like Propecia and Rogaine are great at stopping hair loss from continuing. However, only hair transplant surgery is proven to grow hair in completely bald areas. A combination of both can help maximize the amount of hair you can restore.

Selecting a Quality Surgeon: The skill and experience of hair transplant surgeons varies, as do their results. Time and research can lead you to physicians producing only the best results. At the Hair Transplant Network, we have carefully reviewed many physicians over the last 10 years by gathering patient experiences and visiting their clinics to determine who is worth recommending (view our selection criteria). To see a list of physicians we recommend, click here. You are encouraged to carefully evaluate any clinic you are considering for surgery.

Realistic Expectations: Even a combination of non-surgical and surgical hair loss treatments won’t restore a full head of hair in patients with extensive baldness. Learn how to develop realistic expectations and plan for the long term.

You can search through over 7 plus years of patient posted experiences and photos on our hair hair restoration forum and patient websites. To see a full listing of those physicians we recommend, click here.