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Hair Restoration…
Many men and women are affected by
the loss of their hair. Most notice
increased hair on the pillow in the
morning or increased hair in their
brush or comb as well as around the
shower drain. The loss of hair can
be very disconcerting as hair on the
top of the head tends to be associated
with youthfulness. Statistics show
that 1 in 5 women will experience some
degree of hair loss that is usually
caused from hormonal changes, aging
or illness. It is typical that women
experience a subtle thinning of hair
throughout the scalp while it is most
common for men to lose hair in patches.
Male pattern baldness affects approximately
80-90% of the male population to some
degree. Most men notice recession beginning
in the mid to late twenties yet some
begin to lose their hair as early as
their late teens.
Who should perform hair restoration?
While many different types of physicians perform hair transplantation (dermatologists,
primary care physicians, internists, etc.) having a plastic surgeon perform your procedure provides a different
perspective. Specifically, hair is an aesthetic subunit of the face; plastic surgeons approach hair restoration
as an aesthetic procedure focusing on the hair ability to “frame” the
face.
Why does this happen?
This loss seems to occur in a genetically predetermined pattern. The anecdotal impression is that baldness tends
to be passed down from the mother’s side of the family but the scientific
evidence suggests that baldness is multifactorial.
How is a hair transplant procedure performed?
State of the art hair transplantation is performed by transferring hair as individual “follicular
units” comprised of 1 to 3 hairs.
These “follicular units” can be taken from patient’s own hair
from the back of the head. A strip of hair is surgically removed from the back of the head and grafts if
1 to 3 hairs are carefully prepared to be transferred to the area of concern.
The procedure is usually performed under local anesthetic and can take
anywhere from 1 ½ to 5 hours depending on the number of grafts to be placed
How long is the recovery?
Generally there is some oozing from the graft sites that lasts for approximately
24 hours accompanied by moderate swelling. Most patients do not experience pain but pain medication is prescribed
for the first week of recovery.
How long does a hair transplant last?
Between 90-95% of the transplanted grafts will produce hair. It is important if you are considering hair transplantation
that you understand that the final results from this procedure can take
time, often 6 to 12 months.
How can I find out more if hair transplantation is right for me?
Electing to undergo hair transplantation can be a wonderful way to enhance not only
your appearance, but also your esteem. The doctors at Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery are happy to meet with you
privately to answer questions you may have regarding hair transplantation
and in reaching your aesthetic goal.