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Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is becoming an increasingly popular hair transplant procedure for men who don’t want a linear strip scar.  However, men with advanced hair loss are quickly learning that the available donor hair supply via FUE is typically less abundant than via follicular unit transplantation (FUT).  Thus, follicular unit extraction enthusiasts are turning to body and beard hair for alternative sources of donor hair to fill remaining balding areas.

The idea of using beard hair as a rich source of donor has enticed members of our community.  Though body hair has been notoriously inconsistent in terms of hair growth yield, beard hair is considered a viable and robust source of donor hair.  However, patients are reluctant to make use of this donor source due to risks of scarring on the face.

To learn about the benefits and risks of using beard hair for transplanting, visit “Beard Hair Transplant – Donor Scarring”.  You are encouraged to offer your input.

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
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Technorati Tags: hair transplant, hair loss, donor hair, FUE, follicular unit extraction, beard hair, balding, body hair, hair growth, beard hair for transplanting, Bill Seemiller, Falceros

Our large hair restoration community is made up of thousands of balding men and women searching for real hair restoration solutions and dozens of prescreened expert hair loss doctors. See how we prescreen hair restoration physicians. Many of these physicians regularly contribute their expert opinions and advice on important issues related to hair restoration.

Below, we’ve compiled some of the most recent and vital input we’ve received from leading physician member of our community and presented them below for your benefit.

Feel free to ask your own questions and get answers on our hair loss forum or privately by emailing help@hairtransplantnetwork.com.

Hair Procedures for Women with High Foreheads (Dr. Sheldon Kabaker)

Is Propecia Required after Hair Transplant Surgery? (Dr. Michael Beehner)

When Should I Expect my Hair Transplant to Grow? (Dr. Robert True)

Do Body Hair Transplants Work? (Dr. Cam Simmons)

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair restoration, balding, hair restoration solutions, hair loss, Dr. Sheldon Kabaker, Dr. Michael Beehner, Dr. Robert True, Dr. Cam Simmons

This question was posed by a hair loss sufferer seeking hair loss help on our hair restoration forum and answered by Dr. Michael Beehner of Saratoga Springs, NY.  Dr. Beehner is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians. His professional answer is below.

What’s the deal with scalp reductions? I’ve seen that many recommended physicians on the Hair Transplant Network no longer perform them, and I’ve seen elsewhere that they are frowned upon, but why? It makes sense that if you can reduce the bald area that needs to be covered, you can have a better overall result when you/if you decide to have a transplant.  

I performed my last scalp reduction 10 years ago, but did many of them my first 10 years before that. The one writer is correct.  You felt like a miracle man when you held that “before” Polaroid next to the “after” one and proudly gave the patient copies. But a few months later they always stretched back to some extent. Nine years ago I did a study on 11 consecutive scalp reduction patients and found that the stretchback percentage was around 40%. For example, if you removed a 5cm wide area of bald scalp, a few months later the side-to-side measurement would be as if you only removed 3cm instead of 5cm.

There are several other negatives also. While 80% of them had wonderful scars that were virtually impossible to see later on, the other 20% could shine in the night almost and were devilish to camouflage with grafts.

We receive a number of emails from women looking into hairline lowering procedures due to having a high forehead. Recommended physician Dr. Shelly Kabaker of Oakland, California has become world renown for his excellent forehead lift procedure, which women with naturally high foreheads in particular can benefit from.  We think women with this high hairline attribute would benefit from learning more about this procedure.  The below describes procedures available for women with a high forehead interested in lowering their hairline.  The article is long, but well worth the read. 

Objectives:

To review a technique and to make quantitative analyses of the senior author’s 20-year experience with his preferred technique to correct the high female hairline.

Methods:

A retrospective review of 29 female patients with a high forehead who underwent the hairline-lowering procedure performed by the same surgeon (S.S.K.). We analyzed preoperative and postoperative standardized photographs by taking measurements from the medial and lateral canthi to the anterior hairline. Facial height, from the menton to the hairline, was also measured. We calculated mean values and then used a 2-tailed, paired to test to evaluate for statistical significance. Patients also underwent evaluation for satisfaction, complications, and aesthetic result. We reevaluated the measurements from the profile view and compared them with the original data.

Results:

Given all the interest that Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) for hair loss has generated, we feel it’s appropriate to address this topic again and state our current position on this experimental procedure.

Rumors that Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) may be the next greatest hair loss treatment since Propecia (finasteride) are circulating all over the internet. Thus, dozens of hair loss sufferers appear to be lining up at hair restoration clinics offering the experimental PRP treatment for pattern baldness. But what’s the real deal with this experimental treatment? Is there really enough information available to advocate its use as a viable hair loss solution?

While discussing this procedure on our discussion forum, people tend to fall into two opposite camps. On one extreme, some are so excited by the preliminary results seen on discussion forum topic “First PRP Treatment in New York” that they believe PRP will solve their balding problems forever. Those in this camp are usually men and women just starting their research and looking to grasp onto anything that promises a possible remedy.

On the flip side, others believe PRP is entirely worthless and could never cause any significant and lasting hair regrowth. Many in this camp are skeptical due to the unsubstantiated claims and empty promises hair loss companies have made for years.

While members of the first camp are too overly ambitious and it’s completely understandable why members in the second are skeptical, since there is not enough data to support either argument, we’d suggest a more scientific approach to analyzing the PRP procedure.

While most men and women are interested in restoring lost hair to their balding heads, some are interested in adding hair to other areas of their body. Whether you are a woman who’s plucked one too many eyebrows or a man who wishes he could connect his moustache and beard, specialty area hair transplants are becoming more popular thanks to today’s revolutionary surgical techniques.

Using today’s ultra refined tools, leading surgeons can make minimally invasive incisions that control the direction and angulation of each transplanted hair follicle for optimal hair growth, density, and naturalness.

Several hair restoration physicians recommended on the Hair Transplant Network now perform eyebrow and other specialty hair replacement procedures. Examples of these body hair transplants can be found by visiting the “Results Posted by Leading Hair Transplant Clinics” forum and the Hair Transplant Photos section of our website.

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: balding heads, hair transplants, transplanted hair, hair growth, hair restoration, hair replacement, body hair transplants

This question was posed by a hair loss sufferer seeking hair loss help on our hair restoration forum and answered by Dr. William Lindsey of Reston, VA who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians. His professional answer is below.

This question is for hair transplant doctors and their representatives. I would be most grateful for expert medical opinions. I’ve been researching female eyebrow transplants for quite a while and would like to proceed but feel I have received mixed messages.

• Please tell me whether it is possible to achieve a natural, pretty result augmenting existing eyebrows.
• What is the most acute angle possible without compromising hair growth?
• How likely is the possibility of losing native hairs permanently?
• How satisfied have women with existing eyebrows been with the outcome of eyebrow transplant surgery? (I know people without any eyebrows are more likely to be happy.)
• I know the frequency of this hair restoration procedure is increasing but are people thrilled with the natural results the way they are with scalp hair replacement.

I very much appreciate any insight you can provide based upon your experience.

I am a facial plastic surgeon, fellowship trained, previously on faculty at 2 teaching universities, and I have done many eyelid, eyebrow, forehead, and face procedures along with hair which has become my focus. And do you know how many eyebrow transplant cases that I have seen? One. And that was a result of trauma. Now if you have an area disfigured by trauma, then a face doctor like me would be important to get the area prepared for the best outcome from a transplant, and since I can do follicular unit extraction (FUE), I probably can do the entire procedure well.

If you happen to be blessed with as much body hair as a hairy back gorilla, you might be wondering whether or not body hair can be used and transplanted on your balding scalp.  The concept of body hair transplant surgery has been around for some time, but does it really work?  Will body hair grow like scalp hair when re-transplanted?  Will you experience any hair growth?

Dr. Robert True, an elite member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians offers an analysis and presentation of this topic and the types of body donor hair characteristics that are most viable to use for hair replacement surgery.  You are encouraged to contribute your thoughts.  See also this hair loss forum thread and read other and contribute your opinion or experience with body hair transplant procedures.

Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

Technorati Tags: balding, hair transplant, hair growth, donor hair, hair replacement, body hair transplant

Is it possible to transplant hair on areas of my forehead where there has never been any hair growth from birth?   I am very unhappy with my big forehead and want to minimize its appearance.

Yes, this is possible.  Whether or not hair transplant surgery is right for you to lower the hairline to reduce the appearance of the size of your forehead however, is another story.  This will depend on a number of things including your age and whether or not you are currently experiencing or might in the future any hair loss.  I encourage you to consult with one of our Coalition Hair Transplant Surgeons who have proven to be some of the best in the industry to see if this type of procedure is right for you.

Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

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

Is it true that, when transplanted to balding areas of the scalp, that body hair can grow like “head hair”?

Body hair transplant (BHT) surgery does exist and may be a viable surgical option for a select group of patients however; it is often overhyped and there is a lack of compelling evidence that BHT is consistent in quality results for all hair loss patients.  I have heard and seen cases of patients shoveling out tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars with very little if any hair growth, while some repair patients have experienced a significant cosmetically pleasing result.

In my opinion, it is better to consider scalp hair restoration surgery via follicular unit transplantation (FUT) in the hands of a skilled physician which has been proven to highly effective. Follicular unit extraction (FUE) in my opinion has a long way to go to show that all hair loss patients are FUE candidates but some hair transplant clinics seem to be doing some quality work in this area as well.

Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

Technorati Tags: balding, Body hair transplant, BHT, hair loss, hair growth, hair restoration, FUT, FUE, hair transplant