Hair Loss Advisory

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Hair Loss in Children
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Hair Transplants
How Restoration Works
Strip Incision
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Finding a Doctor
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FAQ

What is a hair transplant?
Basically, a hair transplant involves taking hair from the side or back of your head where you have more than you need and surgically implanting it into the front or top of your head where you need it.

Does it look real or does it look like "corn row"?
Hair transplants today look and feel as natural as your own hair. "Corn row" or "doll's hair," are what hair transplants were referred to in the early 1950's, when the procedures were still experimental. Today, the procedure is absolutely perfect, with no visible scarring, patches or clumps of hair that look odd, or out of place.

Will there be any scarring?
There is always some slight scarring immediately following the surgery, as with any cutting of the skin, but after the healing process has taken place, there should be no signs of visible scarring.

Does Rogaine or Propecia work?
The manufacturers themselves, from both products state that their products are not effective in the frontal area, which is the most common place for hair loss. If you are one of the lucky few, it may actually grow some very light fuzz, only on the crown. You can check out our Alternatives page for more information about these products.

Why do some people go bald while others don't?
It is all a part of genetics. The common cause of hair loss is inheritance. Myths that wearing a baseball cap or having long hair causes baldness are simply not true. The DTH or dihydrotesttosterone and other gene factors decide if you will lose your hair or not.

Since my hair loss, my self-confidence is at an all time low. Will a hair transplant restore my confidence?
A hair transplant will give you back the confidence you need to get back into society, whether it's for work or pleasure.

How much do hair transplants generally cost?
It depends on the extent of the hair loss. Hair transplants are more expensive than a toupee or a bottle of Rogaine, but considering that the results are permanent, most people consider them a good investment in themselves.

Hair transplants are painful aren't they?
On the contrary, most people are surprised at how little pain there is during the procedure. There might be some slight discomfort when the anesthetic is injected into the scalp, but once the skin is anesthetized, there is no pain. If the numbness wears off during the surgery, another injection is given to re-anesthetize the area.

Do hair transplants really work?
The short answer is yes. The transplanted hair follicles are removed from one area of the body and grafted onto another area. The transferred tissue is not rejected as it would be if it were "foreign." The transplanted hair maintains its own characteristics; color, texture, growth rate, and curl, after transplantation and regrowth. The vitality of the grafted follicle is maintained by the rich blood supply to the scalp. Originally, large circular grafts containing 15-20 hairs were transplanted resulting in noticeable and unnatural results. Over the years, these techniques have been refined so that doctors can now achieve a truly natural result by transplanting small grafts very close together.

How many grafts will I need?
The number of the grafts you need depends on several factors: 1.) the area of scalp to be treated 2.) the number and size of grafts used 3.) the "hair density" you desire and 4.) the individual characteristics of your hair, i.e. coarse hair will provide a denser look than fine hair. The exact estimate of grafts needed can be discussed during consultation with your surgeon.

What can I expect after my surgery?
Expect to find small scabs on the scalp at the graft sites. These however, generally disappear in 4-7 days. The suture used in the donor area will be undetectable as it is completely covered by your existing hair. Typically, the grafted hair will shed in 2-4 weeks and the new growth will begin in 3-4 months. Its length will increase approximately 1/2 inch per month.

What is FUE?
Follicular Unit Extraction. It is the individual removal of hair follicles in their naturally occurring groupings of 1-4 hairs. A special tool is used to create about a 1mm incision and the hairs are removed with forceps.

Why is FUE more expensive than strip incision?
FUE is labor intensive and highly specialized. Each hair must be individually removed. With strip, all that is needed is an excision of anywhere from 500-3000 grafts and dissection by techs. A typical strip surgery takes about 3-4 hours. A typical FUE procedure takes from 8-12.