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The Importance of Direction and Angling in Hair Transplantation

February 17, 2020 admin Leave a comment

Hair transplant experts pride themselves on creating hairlines which are natural and elegantly undetectable.
Creating such a cosmetically flawless hairline requires mastery of hairline design, something our own Dr. Yazdan has been internationally recognized for. Artistry and care must be used to decide where the grafts are placed. For men, this involves angling the transplanted hair forward and in a pattern that is consistent with the existing hairline.
Dr. Yazdan explains: “The directional growth of transplanted hair is dependent on the direction of the incision and placement of that graft.”
Hairline incisions are made in the exact direction the hair at the frontal hairline naturally grows, which is angled. This will give a natural and undetected appearance. If the incisions are created improperly, it will give a manufactured look.
As such, the surgeon you choose to go with must be a technical expert and follicular artist who is very methodical in the directional placement of each graft. Hair grows at different angles in various areas of the scalp, and it is up to the surgeon to angle the incision appropriately for each area.
For example, when transplanting hair for the crown, recreating a whorl or cowlick will require some of the most technically precise work in hair transplantation. Recreating a cowlick is very careful and exacting work wherein every receptor incision is precisely angled around the spiral axis matching every subtle shift in angulation. See some of Modena’s best examples below:

Anytime there is a whorl such as those that occur in the crown, more scalp shows through because of the natural separation of hairs. Thus, when restoring a cowlick, higher density is required to hide the scalp than if the hairs are all transplanted in the same direction. This all being said, cowlicks, undulations, and widow’s peaks are the ‘elegant’ details of a handsome hairline, and when they are reproduced accurately some of the best-looking hairlines results are achieved.
At Modena Hair Institute in Orange County, Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, we believe that the best hairlines are recreated only by observing the highest artistic principles of graft direction and angulation.

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Hair Transplants for a Thinning Crown

February 12, 2020 admin Leave a comment

The crown region – sometimes referred to as the ‘bald spot’ – is located on the back portion of the scalp and is an area commonly affected by male pattern baldness. In fact, most men begin looking into hair transplants for the first time after noticing balding in this region. First time clients often tell us: “I hate the bald spot on the back of my head, it makes me look so much older than I am!”
So, what’s the matter? Aren’t all types of male pattern baldness equally treatable? Here at Modena Hair Institute we are experts in every type of hair transplant procedure, so is a hair transplant for the crown any different?
Simply put: yes. There are a number of things a patient with a balding crown must consider and talk to with their doctor, such as:
Prioritizing Frontal Hairlines First

While the crown features prominently on the scalp, it’s usually less cosmetically significant than more visible regions like the hairline and frontal scalp. Balding in the crown, because it’s at the back of the head, can be hidden more easily. Most men find it less discomforting than frontal hair loss, which is why we advise working from the front to the back when it comes to hair restoration.
If you’re experiencing hair thinning on the frontal area of the scalp, it’s highly advisable to tackle this area first, before attempting to restore the crown.
Even if you’re seeking to tackle both areas of thinning at once, it’s still usually better to start in the front and work back to the crown. That way if you do run out of grafts, the hairline, frontal scalp, and mid-scalp regions – which are more visible – are restored first. But why does this matter? Is running out of grafts an actual concern? Yes, you and your doctor will need to discuss:
Considering the Health and Strength of the Donor Area

The donor region – the area on the sides and back of the scalp where follicles are harvested for use in a hair transplantation – is limited. This means that a patient may not have enough life-time grafts available to cover the entire scalp if progressive hair loss occurs.
Both FUE and FUT/Strip methods of hair transplant surgery rely on a healthy and sufficient donor area to extract grafts for transplantation. If your donor area does not contain enough healthy, strong follicles to extract, it might result in a limited number of possible hair transplant operations.
When considering a hair transplant for the crown region, you must assess whether there is enough viable donor hairs to cover the frontal hairline in the future. If you fill out the crown area and begin to thin in the front, what will the result look like?
In most cases, the result would look unnatural. No man would like to have a full and thick crown, accompanied by a thin and empty frontal hairline. The opposite, however – men with fuller fronts and thinner crowns – is more natural and therefore more aesthetically desirable. So if you are faced with a limited donor supply, it is better to consider first what can be transplanted to the frontal hairline. An experienced hair transplant specialist should know how to approach splitting up the grafts, and will guide you through the process during the consultation phase.
Now, there are situations where men only thin in the crown and not the front. In this case, donor regions should be assessed differently and strategically. Certainty about how the hair loss will progress is impossible, but the closest approximation should be made. It is always wise to make sure there is adequate donor hair for the front first, as addressing the front first is almost always the safest and most strategic move.
So, should you have a hair transplant in the crown? Well, review your answers to the questions above and see how you feel. If you understand the need for a long-term approach and the idiosyncrasies of crown transplantation, you may be a good candidate. Consult with a clinic experienced with transplants in this region (make sure they can show you multiple examples of crown transplants) and make an informed decision with the above in mind.
Here is an example of a patient who met the criteria above and was able to restore his crown. Maybe you will be next!

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Hair Transplant Specialist or Non-Specialist Cosmetic Surgeon? How to Spot the Difference

February 6, 2020 admin Leave a comment

With more and more self-proclaimed hair transplant ‘experts’ joining the industry, the process of weeding out the bad from the good is getting tougher. Selecting an experienced and reputable hair transplant specialist is becoming harder to do based on internet research alone.
As such, we highly advise a more thorough and in-depth investigation of your doctor’s resume, experience and skill. The only guarantee of achieving effective and permanent results is to go with a doctor whose entire career is devoted to hair restoration. The following are a few factors to look for in finding a real expert and specialist in the field of hair transplantation:
They DO NOT Offer Various Cosmetic Services
If a doctor offers rhinoplasty, face-lifts, liposuction and hair restoration, then they are not a hair restoration specialist. He or she is merely seeking to capitalize on marketplace demand and pick up extra business on the side. Go elsewhere and search for a hair specialist whose sole practice is based on hair restoration.
Doctor’s Resume
If you read through your surgeon’s resume, and he or she doesn’t have a great deal of training, industry associations or years of experience exclusively in the hair restoration industry, then chances are they are not a specialist.
Before and After Pictures
If you’re considering going with a certain hair transplant doctor and they don’t have an extensive catalogue of previous patient before/after photos, it’s a bad sign and highly unlikely they exclusively specialize in hair. One thing to look for are pictures that are loaned out to doctors using a specific Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) equipment. If you read the small writing under the picture, it will say it actually belongs to that company instead of the results being of patients from the doctor you’re considering.
Ask Difficult Questions
During your consultation, ask the hard questions and study your doctor’s responses. Who will be harvesting my donor area? Who makes the recipient sites for my grafts? Dr. Yazdan of Modena Hair Institute performs every major part of the hair transplant procedure, employing assistants only for very peripheral tasks.
Is your doctor an actual attending member of ISHRS (International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery)? The ISHRS is a global non-profit medical association where the world’s leading experts in treating hair loss gather to share their most up to date research, techniques, and diagnostic approaches. Dr. Yazdan is a long-standing ISHRS member with deep academic and experimental ties to the organization.
Many doctors pay for membership but never actually attend meetings and lose out on continued education in hair restoration.
If you use the above guideline in your decision-making process, you will assure yourself of choosing the right hair restoration surgeon and assuring yourself of great results.

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Southern California Hair Transplant Clinics – Feat. Spencer Kobren

January 17, 2020 admin Leave a comment

Last year Dr. Yazdan was listed as one of the top 20 hair transplant surgeons in the world. At Modena Hair Institute, quality of care, rigorous technical finesse and patient advocacy are the foundation of our work. Our Southern California clinic specializes in state-of-the-art medical and surgical treatments of hair loss for men and women including, but not limited to: receding temples, crowns, overall thinning, balding, sideburns, beards, mustaches and eyebrows.
Hair transplantation is an immensely exacting and technically demanding operation where thousands of microscopic incisions are created and thousands of hair grafts – full of sensitive tissue – are extracted, dissected and transplanted.
We believe that an FUE procedure from a skilled hair surgeon is the most effective, safe and aesthetically mature hair restoration option for patients suffering from pattern baldness and other forms of hair loss. The great caveat to this statement, however, is that the surgeon’s skill, expertise and clinical team must be operating at the highest technical and artistic level to achieve the right outcome. When it works, it results in stunningly beautiful hair growth and is one of the only methods to permanently combat baldness. When an operation is performed badly, the hair will grow in an unnatural direction and there’s a high risk for skin infection and scarring.
An aesthetically and technically successful hair transplant requires extreme hand-eye coordination, artistic finesse, calculated endurance and years of specialized experience.
At Modena Hair Institute in Southern California, Dr. Yazdan utilizes an extremely fine 0.7mm punch for all extractions. This not only reduces the risk for scarring, but reduces the risk of shock loss in surrounding follicles. Once the follicular units have been isolated and the incision made, the extracted hair is inspected closely and prepared for placement, utilizing only the healthiest and most optimal hairs.

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Botched Hair Transplant Repair – Featuring Spex

January 16, 2020 admin Leave a comment

For the past few weeks, we’ve had the privilege of enjoying the company of Spencer ‘Spex’ Stevenson, who is visiting Southern California to consult with current and potential hair transplant patients on their hair loss experiences.
During one of his many visits to our Newport Beach hair transplant clinic, Spex and his team filmed Dr. Yazdan repairing and revising a patient’s poorly executed hair transplant, clearly performed at a non-specialist practice. The patient under consideration came into our office with a very dispersed and pluggy looking hairline, as a result of excessively large grafts being placed too far apart. The patient’s transplanted area showed gaps and little hair volume.
The patient also displayed numerous instances of ‘pitting’ in the frontal region of the scalp – resulting from grafts which were planted too deep.
Dr. Yazdan’s job was threefold:

Add density to the front of the scalp all the way through to the crown
Add volume through careful and artistic donor extraction
Mask the instances of ‘pitting’ on the frontal region of the scalp

Importance of Choosing the Right Hair Surgeon
The root cause of bad hair transplants is almost always inexperience and non-specialization on the part of the hair transplant surgeon. Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is an extremely delicate procedure that requires a tremendous amount of finesse, dexterity, experience and skill. It is imperative to research and choose a surgeon who only specializes in hair transplantation, and someone who is verified by and affiliated with prestigious hair transplant organizations like the IAHRS and AHLA.
Dr. Yazdan is a member of the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons (IAHRS) and is the only such member practicing in the Orange County and Las Vegas areas.
Remember that repairing and revising a botched hair transplant is a far more difficult process to undergo than a first-time hair transplant.

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Unethically Counting Graft Numbers

January 13, 2020 admin Leave a comment

Last month Dr. Yazdan of Modena Hair Institute returned to appear on Spencer Kobren’s show, The Bald Truth, to discuss the hidden and sinister ways in which some hair transplants cut corners by unethically charging patients for extra grafts which are both unnecessary and harmful to scalp tissue.
If follicular units are divided up into smaller groups, or into individual hairs, the graft numbers will significantly increase (and so will the price of the hair restoration procedure) without any increase in fullness (and probably less fullness due to sub-optimal growth.)
Certain clinics will split four-hair or three-hair grafts into four one-hair grafts or three one-hair grafts in order to charge the patient for more individual grafts. The result is not only a dramatic increase in surgical cost for the patient, but also the newly separated grafts often do not grow as well, as they would need to be spread out over more than the space that a single multi-hair graft would otherwise occupy.
Variations on this technique of graft count manipulation occur ubiquitously, especially at non-specialist clinics or clinics which rely on robotic machinery. If the microscopic dissection (dissection of multi-unit grafts into single grafts) is poor and some of the hair in the follicle is destroyed, the results will be aesthetically disastrous.
To reiterate in plainer language, these clinics both charge clients for extra unnecessary grafts (often resulting in hundreds or thousands of dollars more) and often leave them with poor, non-dense and thin looking hairlines.

At Modena Hair Institute, Dr. Yazdan will never divide up multi-unit grafts, except when very fine incisions are necessary. His focus is quality, density and a natural-looking hairline. To this effect, Dr. Yazdan has developed very fine surgical blades to prepare and insert multi-follicular units into his hair transplant patients’ scalps. He places the hairs carefully so they aligned with the natural direction of the hair, restoring original density and volume.

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Case Study – Logan Jillkes

January 3, 2020 admin Leave a comment

The Procedure
An overseas follicular unit transplant (FUT) procedure left Logan with a ‘pluggy’ hairline and a visible scar from temple to temple, so Dr. Yazdan performed a follicular unit strip method, in which hair follicles are taken from a non-balding area of the scalp and then transplanted into the thinning spots. Logan had a second procedure 11 months later to add density and further cover other thinning areas. The surgeries covered Logan’s scar and moved his temple hairline forward two inches.
An Interview with Logan
One of the most athletic and resiliently hardworking professionals we’ve ever met, Logan leads an intense life of structural engineering by day and personal training by night. It’s hard to think of someone who has higher stores of energy than Logan, and his goals and achievements are staggering to behold. Yet for all of his natural talents and energy, Logan has confessed the importance of hair restoration to his overall confidence and success.
Without the work of Dr. Amir Yazdan and Modena Hair Institute, Logan says, “I’d never have the confidence to stand up and do those presentations and solicit the sponsors I need to achieve the career progress I seek.” When Logan began to research hair restoration surgery at the age of 32, he already had a deeply receding hairline. Very unfortunately, Logan’s first foray into the world of hair transplant surgery got him caught in a seductive web of glittering and unreal promises from unspecialized and untrained clinics overseas. His first FUT procedure left him with a large unflattering scar on the back of his head, as well as a pluggy look on his frontal hairline. As we’ve cautioned many times before, when potential patients are researching about hair transplantation, they should not be concerned with price. An exceptional hair transplant which leaves the patient transformed and renewed with authentic confidence is truly priceless. Moreover, most top tier hair transplant clinics today – including Modena Hair Institute – offer extremely afford payment plans.
Unhappy with the scar and his final look, Logan consulted a cosmetic surgeon, who recommended he see Dr. Yazdan at Modena Hair Institute. From the start, Logan says, “I was very comfortable” with the center and Dr. Yazdan. “I didn’t even try to look for a second opinion, I was confident with Dr. Yazdan’s methods and expertise from the first meeting.” Modena Hair Institute not only offered Logan the medical expertise he sought, but also the friendly instruction and personal guidance often lacking in health care. “We all have the right to expect empathetic and welcoming care, but we don’t always get that. But at Modena Hair Institute, the entire process and staff was congenial from the start. Everybody uniformly has been so awesome to me.” Logan credits Modena Hair Institute and Dr. Yazdan with restoring the youthful hairline and natural luster of his appearance. “I’ve had to deconstruct a lot of barriers during this process,” he says. “Overcoming social stigma and pressures from others can be grueling. Hair restoration might seem small in comparison to elite personal training, but it means everything to me in terms of my confidence. And I wouldn’t go anywhere else for hair transplantation.”
Ask the Doctor
Deciding whether hair restoration surgery is the right choice for you may generate a list of questions. Just ask. Dr. Yazdan will personally reply.

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5 Reasons Why Hair Transplants Fail

January 1, 2020 admin Leave a comment

Hair can be a very empowering feature. Rather than feel self-conscious and awkward about receding hairlines or hair loss, we now have the option of hair transplant surgery to feel empowered about hair.
While hair transplants are minimally invasive, low-risk procedures, they still should be taken seriously to ensure the best results possible. There are many instances where transplants can fail, and it’s useful for patients to know exactly what factors can determine a successful or unsuccessful procedure.
Let’s look at why some hair transplants fail and how you can avoid it happening to you.

Inexperienced Surgeons

Inexperienced surgeons are the biggest reason why transplants fail. While the appeal of extravagant advertising or low costs are tempting to clients, inexperienced or unqualified doctors can cause serious damage to the hair and scalp with surgical complications, scarring, or infections.
For example, a common mistake that inexperienced surgeons make is overharvesting. Overharvesting refers to the excessive harvesting of grafts from the donor area. This results in thinning or balding at the donor areas. Choosing an experienced surgeon is vital to avoid overharvesting and ensure the best hair possible for transplant clients.
More experienced doctors understand the safe donor areas for hair transplants. The initial donor area for transplants is the back of a patient’s head, as well as beard or chest hair. Hair used from the proper sites, along with planning and careful transplanting, will give desirable and natural-looking results.

Bad Post-Op Care

While picking an experienced surgeon to perform the hair transplant procedure is crucial, patients also need to take special care in following their doctor’s post-op directions. It is natural for many of us to try to do things “our way” and deviate from professional advice. However, in the case of hair transplants, following a doctor’s post-op care directions can be the difference between successful or unsuccessful results.
The post-op treatment is vital to a successful transplant because of the fragility of the new graft and the scabbed hair shafts. Patients who deal with their hair and scalp gently, heed instructions, and communicate with their doctors are far more likely to have a quick recovery and better results.

Not Being an Ideal Candidate

Not everyone is a suitable candidate for hair transplants. There are a few factors that could disqualify someone.
One of these is unstable hair loss. As the patient continues to lose more hair after the procedure, the hair graft may not be in the proper place or large enough to cover the full balding areas. In this case, it is best to wait until the hair loss stabilizes before seeking a hair transplant.
On the other hand, too much hair loss can also yield unfavorable outcomes. In some cases, the safe donor areas have insufficient follicle numbers to produce a successful graft.If you do not have a sufficient amount of follicles to be extracted from donor areas, the result can be severe thinning in this area.
In some cases, hair loss might only be temporary and thus a transplant would be unnecessary. For example, if your hair loss is due to stress, getting a hair transplant could cause patchy and odd-looking hair in the future as the hair returns.
In any situation, a consultation with an experienced surgeon can help patients determine if they are good candidates for hair transplant surgery.

Dishonest Practices and Misinformation

When considering a hair transplant procedure, patients should research not only different surgeons’ experience levels, but they should also research different clinics and read patient testimonials.
In a ploy to make more money, many hair clinics will push patients to get hair transplants even when they are not good candidates for the procedure. Patients of these clinics are at a much higher risk of having failed transplants. This is why the reputation and patient testimonials of hair clinics should be researched in depth before deciding where to get hair transplant surgery.

Expecting Immediate Results

Some patients are quick to say that their transplant was a failure if they do not see the results they want within a few months. This is a misunderstanding.
The actual transplant surgery is only the first step in the journey to fuller hair. The next and longer step is the recovery process where the hair takes time to grow and thrive. This process can take around 10-12 months after surgery.
While it is normal to want incredible results as soon as possible, it’s best to communicate with your doctor about the timeline of your hair transplant results to avoid misunderstanding.
Conclusion
Getting hair transplants can be an easy and comfortable experience by paying attention to these issues before your procedure. Doing your research and locating an experienced hair surgeon and clinic can help you avoid hair transplant failure. If you’re looking for an experienced hair specialist in Orange County, Las Vegas or Beverly Hills that has produced successful hair transplant results, schedule a consultation with Modena Hair Institute to start working towards the hair you deserve.

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How Much Density Will a Hair Transplant Give Me?

December 16, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Perhaps the most pressing concern for potential hair transplant patients, besides the safety and permanence of their procedure, is the amount of density they can achieve. Most men and women want to return to the density they had when they were in their late teens or early 20s. While this is usually an impossible ideal, an experienced and highly skilled hair transplant surgeon can add a great amount of density to give a strikingly full appearance.
When considering the question of density, the amount a surgeon can transplant is determined by many factors. Including the hair thickness and quality, donor density, age and family history of hair loss. A conservative approach to follicle extraction is always best as one should preserve the donor site for future sessions as one ages.
The color of the hair is also important in contrast to the color of the scalp. The more contrast, the more hair is required to achieve optical density. Dark hair on a Caucasian scalp is going to appear thinner or sparser than lighter color hair such as blonde, gray, or white. The same is true of lighter color hair on an African-American or darker pigmented scalp. The quality of the hair is also important for determining density. Hair that is curly or wavy appears to achieve more optical density since it camouflages the skin to a greater extent than straight hair. In the 1970s men would perm their thinning hair to reduce the visual contrast between hair and scalp.
The texture of the hair is one of the most important factors influencing the number of grafts required for a specified area of the scalp. Hair shafts can either be very fine, fine, medium, medium-coarse, or coarse. The difference is in the width of the hair; the wider or thicker the hair, the more optical surface density will be visualized. As follicular unit grafts heal, as in any skin graft, the skin contracts or shrinks to its center. The result of this contraction leads to small gaps between each graft which can be improved during a second surgery to fill in these spaces.
Techniques for density creation vary from surgeon to surgeon. At Modena Hair Institute, Dr. Yazdan utilizes an extremely fine 0.7mm punch and implantation technique that allows for density optimization and a natural looking hairline. This not only reduces the risk for scarring, but reduces the risk of shock loss in surrounding follicles.
Patient Warning
Find a board-certified hair transplant specialist who is highly experienced in adding the kind of density you desire. It is of the utmost importance to conduct thorough research and find an experienced and technically advanced hair restoration specialist to diagnose and treat your specific hair loss situation. A veteran hair transplant physician or surgeon will be able to accurately assess and evaluate your individual hair loss needs and provide the best surgical outcome for you.

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Hair Transplant Surgery Guide: FUE and FUT

December 16, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Information	FUT	FUE
Type of extraction	A small strip of hair is extracted. No trimming of the donor hair region.	Hair at the donor site is trimmed to approximately 1mm and individual hair follicles are finely and carefully extracted directly from the hair extraction zone with a special instrument.
How long does the extraction last?	Around 30 – 45 minutes.	Several hours.
What level of hair density is possible?	A high level of density is possible because the extracted follicles are of high enough quality to ensure a high growth rate.	A high level of density is possible because the extracted follicles are of high enough quality to ensure a high growth rate.
How does the preparation work?	The groupings of hair follicles are individually extracted from the hair strip and prepared and organized with the use of specially designed microscopes.	Each individual hair follicle removed by Dr. Yazdan’s advanced specialty instrument is examined and prepared under a high-resolution microscope. Depending on the scope of the procedure, this process can take several hours.
When will you be ready to go out into the world again?	After a few days. Since the hair doesn’t need to be shaved down, the treatment is barely noticeable after around 3 days.	After a few days. By that point the trimmed hair on the back of your head will have grown back.
When will you be able to partake in sport again?	Approximately 3 weeks after a treatment.	Approximately 2 weeks after a treatment.
How long does a procedure with approximately 2,000 FUs last?	Approximately 4 – 5 hours	Around 6 – 8 hours, although in larger procedures the time-intensive procedure can take more than one day. Viz. more than one session.
Do you need to shave the back of your head?	No	Yes
What scars will be present in the donor-hair area?	One long and thin scar that is cosmetically sutured and usually not visible over time.	Thousands of extremely fine, round scars that close after a brief period of time. Barely visible, if at all.
How long does it take for the donor-hair area to heal? How?	The suture is removed after a week or so.	It heals on its own after a few days. Small raised red bumps will disappear on their own after 1 – 2 weeks.

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Postpartum Hair Loss: Causes and Solutions

December 14, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Everything seems to be going well with life as a new mother, when slowly you begin to notice increased hair loss. It could be extra strands of hair on your pillow or more loose strands during washing, which could progress to hair falling out in clumps. You may change your shampoo or try various hair tonics, but you start to panic about going bald.
As a new mother it’s important not to fall into distress – the above scenario is very common.
Causes
There are many possible causes of hair loss, generally known to dermatologists and hair restoration specialists as alopecia. In postpartum hair loss, we are dealing with a very specific type of alopecia known as telogen effluvium, and it is one of the most common conditions treated by dermatologists.
For the majority of individuals, 5 to 15 per cent of the hair on one’s scalp is in the telogen phase, meaning that these hairs are in their resting phase. Telogen effluvium is triggered when a physiologic or hormonal change causes a large number of hairs to enter telogen at one time. Shedding does not occur until the new anagen hairs begin to grow, which usually takes two to three months. The emerging hairs help to force the resting hairs out of the follicle, which is why most people notice a sudden increase in hair fall a few months after delivery, or after an acute illness. The good news is that the prognosis is excellent and in almost all cases, recovery occurs within six months. Often, no specific treatment is required.
Unlike some other animals that shed hair, human hair growth is asynchronous, which means that there are hairs in different stages of the growth cycle at any one time. Normal hair grows in cycles and goes through three stages:

Anagen: growing phase
Telogen: resting phase
Catagen: falling phase

Therefore, the effect of normal or physiological hair fall is usually not too obvious because about 80 to 90 per cent of our scalp hairs are in the growing anagen phase at any given moment. Thus, it is normal for a person to lose as many as 50 to 100 strands of hair daily, and these usually show up on a comb, brush or on the bathroom floor, especially after washing your hair.
Solutions
As a first response to excessive hair fall in newly made mothers, supplements are occasionally prescribed and, in some cases, medical topical therapy as well, taking into account whether the mother is breastfeeding or not.
At Modena Hair Institute in Orange County, we generally advise patients to use a doctor-developed conditioning shampoo like groMD, as well as minimize activities that might result in excessive hair loss, such as rough combing and brushing of the hair, or tying it into very tight braids or buns. It’s uncommon for hair loss associated with pregnancy to persist unless there are other medical issues involved such as iron deficiency or thyroid disorders. If symptoms of excessive hair fall continue beyond six months, you should seek medical counsel.
In summary, there are a number of modalities which combat the specific form of telogen effluvium that is postpartum hair loss. Patients may try one modality at a time, beginning with the least involved and add or replace modalities as they see results. Each has positives and negatives and not all will be equally effective. Hair transplantation is the final and most definitive solution, however this should be delayed until you have reached a stable hair pattern. This is due to the fact that the transplanted hair is permanent and if you have not reached a stable pattern you can expect further losses and the need for more grafting to avoid the appearance of a double hairline (grafted hairline followed by losses and the receding natural hairline)
Conclusion
The crucial first step before considering various treatments is establishing the underlying cause. In most cases, as discussed previously, hormonal changes associated with pregnancy are a likely suspect. Given enough time, most of the hormonal effects caused by child birth are transient and will balance themselves out in six to eight months. If no response is noted, a medical workup is recommended. Once these issues have been properly addressed, the mother should consider the above listed modalities and decide where to get on board with the help of a hair restoration specialist.

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The Pinnacle of Hair Restoration

December 2, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Are all hair restoration clinics the same? There are many fantastic providers to choose from, so what makes Modena Hair Institute the right choice for you? We encourage our patients to look around and see what is available. We are confident in our ability to serve hair loss sufferers like no one else. It’s important to research the various hair restoration practices and look at all the factors, not simply price. Dr. Amir Yazdan is a world leader in hair restoration and our clinic is a unique destination for those seeking the very best for their hair.
Specialized Expertise
There are thousands of hair restoration doctors and practitioners in the US alone. Some are cosmetic surgeons, some are plastic surgeons, others are aesthetic specialists. Some practices do the procedures themselves and some let technicians run the entire procedure. We know these things go on and we are on a mission to elevate the entire conversation. Hair transplantation is all we do, and it is all we will ever do. We’re masters at manual transplantation – no machines, technical operators or gimmicks. All of our procedures are led by the expert artistic eye of board-certified Dr. Amir Yazdan. We don’t do nose jobs or breast augmentation. We don’t do teeth whitening or tummy tucks. We do one thing and we do it exceptionally. We help you regain the confidence and robust image you have of yourself through hair restoration. That’s it. It is our mission and our obsession. We’ve seen the change it has made in our patients lives and we are determined to not only remove the stigma from hair restoration, but to continue to push the envelope of what’s possible.
State of the Art Method
Our medical director, Amir Yazdan, M.D., is a pioneer of the shaveless FUE. This is a very special type of hair transplant that leaves the surrounding hair mostly intact. Dr. Yazdan works around the existing hair to remove single follicular units. The hair follicles are then transplanted individually to the thinning or balding areas of the temple or crown. If done by a master hair restoration specialist, this method leaves no visible linear scar.
When every strand counts, shaving parts of your scalp for a procedure can be a deal-breaker. Some other procedures take a strip of scalp from the back of the head (FUT procedure). These other procedures leave a linear scar and larger shaved areas. While this procedure has its place, we believe that shaveless FUE is the current gold standard in hair transplantation, as it is most inviting to newer patients and hair loss sufferers. The patients who come to our practice for an FUE transplant routinely go back to work a few days later with no visible surgical remnants. This cannot be said of many other practices and procedures.
Elite Certification and Honors
Dr. Yazdan is board-certified, a long-standing member of the prestigious International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) and is recommended by The American Hair Loss Association (AHLA). He is also a member of the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons (IAHRS) and is the only such member practicing in the Orange County and Las Vegas areas. Members of the IAHRS are deeply vetted for professional conduct. Members are held to the highest standards of consumer safety and satisfaction. He has served as an expert consultant at prestigious hair transplant seminars and workshops in the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, and the United States. Once you start looking at real credentials, the field of potential providers for your next hair restoration really begins to narrow.
Dr. Yazdan has also made numerous appearances on television and in the media, including: Dr. Phil, The Doctors, The Bald Truth, OC Register, Mogul Insider. His experience, knowledge and skill earned him seats at the 2019 FUE Europe Congress in Manchester, England and the 2018 ISHRS 26thWorld Congress in Hollywood, California, among other distinguished congregations.
Tailored Patient Care
Modena Hair Institute is designed with one person in mind, people fighting hair loss. We care passionately about our patients. Hair restoration, if done well and by the right specialist, has the potential to change a person’s life. That journey begins the moment you walk in our front door. We’d love for you to come by for a tour or free consultation. You will meet with Dr. Amir Yazdan, himself. He will give you a medical evaluation and show you what is possible.

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World-Renowned ‘Spex’ visits Modena in Newport Beach, California Dec. 9th and 10th

November 23, 2019 admin Leave a comment

World-renowned hair transplant advisor Spencer ‘Spex’ Stevenson (spexhair.com) will come to watch Dr. Amir Yazdan perform a live hair transplant procedure and consult with inquiring visitors and potential patients on Dec. 9^th and 10^th at our Newport Beach location.
If you are new to the world of hair restoration, we would love to have you visit for a one-on-one consultation with the best advisor in the industry.
As a dedicated hair transplant advisor known for his extraordinary patient care, Spencer has spent his life helping clinics and practitioners, and educating the public about hair loss. Spencer partnered with Dr. Amir Yazdan in 2019 to promote patient safety and raise awareness about the great virtues and potential vices of modern hair restoration.
In Newport Beach, California on Dec. 9^th and 10^th, Spencer welcomes all visitors and potential hair transplant patients to ask questions, address concerns and provide real guidance.
Guiding potential patients to the very best practitioners in the hair transplant industry, Spencer only partners with the most distinguished surgeons and hair loss specialists. As the only IAHRS member in the Orange County and Las Vegas regions, Dr. Amir Yazdan has consistently upheld the highest ethical and technical standards.
Dr. Yazdan is committed to the continual advancement of the art and science of hair transplantation, and has pioneered sophisticated hair transplant instruments and methods, specifically with regard to the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) procedure.

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I Got a Hair Transplant at 29 – Here’s What to Expect When Getting a New Hairline

November 7, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Story of Jake Gerkalm. Written by Omar F. Najjarine. Note: This article contains images of a surgical procedure being performed.
I was always told I had masculine features. Not to sound vain, but I was always proud of my fit and rugged look. I loved my jawline, nose, eyebrows and the general symmetry of my face. All of this began to change, however, when I began to notice hairline recession at 25. At first I thought I was having a bad week or a bad month caused by poor sleeping habits and unhealthy eating choices. I also had heard that temporary hair loss can be caused from stress. But as the months went by and the hairs around my widows peak began to shrink and fall out in ever growing numbers, I knew further hair loss was inevitable.
My new receding hairline began to really take shape at around the age of 27 and I was devastated. I could no longer hide the fact with comb overs and styling tricks. After my morning showers, I’d catch myself staring at the profile in the mirror with uncomfortable consternation. Whenever I’d meet someone new, I’d fidget sideways or tilt my head upwards so they couldn’t glimpse the full extent of my hair loss. On my 29^th birthday, after two years of living like a shell of my old self, I began researching hair transplantation.

I had recently moved to Southern California for work and began to look up hair transplant clinics in the area. I met with Amir Yazdan, a well-known hair transplant surgeon in Orange County, and immediately felt listed-to and understood. I respected his delicate, conservative approach and appreciated how he spent real time listening to my story and making sure I felt comfortable and properly educated. As Amir explained the basics of the procedure, we began to discuss personal goals and reasonable expectations. He was extremely honest and transparent about what could and could not be done, and what could be done was aesthetically transformative and most importantly, permanent.
Once I firmly made the decision to move ahead with the hair transplant surgery, I told my family. When I told my father the news, he revealed for the first time that he also experienced crippling confidence issues in his late 20s when he began to experience hair loss. He admired my determination and willingness to go through with the procedure and I thanked him for sharing his piece of emotional history with me.
The Consultation
My consultation with Dr. Yazdan set me at ease. We started out talking casually about my hairline – what I liked and disliked about it, any relevant medical concerns, and other usual questions. Then he did an evaluation to see if I’d be a good candidate for a hair transplantation. He conducted clinical tests and analyses to see if I suffered from pattern baldness. He examined the quantity and condition of my donor hair, to see if my healthy hair follicles could be successfully transplanted – they were as strong as they could be.
Then he took a bunch of pictures from different angles and stepped out to review them. A few minutes later, we sat down in his office to go over the images. He showed me three distinct perspectives: front, profile, and from behind. With each photo, he presented a revised image of what my hairline could look like after the procedure – and, wow, what a rush of happiness! It was honestly everything I was hoping for: fuller, wider and thicker.

Dr. Yazdan then laid out his surgical plan for me: He’d perform a follicular unit extraction, or FUE, removing hair follicles one-by-one from the back of my head (called the donor site), as these were the strongest and most DHT-resistant strands, before transplanting each hair into the thinning areas of my scalp. The other surgical option is called follicular unit transplantation (FUT) or the strip method. With the FUT procedure a thin strip of scalp is removed from the back of the head containing those earlier mentioned DHT-resistant follicles. These follicles are then transplanted hair-by-hair into the balding area. This method leaves a very fine linear scar at the back of the head which may be rendered non-visible once the hair grows back.
Dr. Yazdan told me he often prefers the FUE method over the FUT or strip method because the former leaves no visible scar and can result in a finer and more natural-looking hairline.

I began to get excited and wrongly assumed that he could recreate the hairline I had when I was 18 or 22. If it was only a matter of picking hairs from the non-balding parts of my head – for which there was plenty – and placing them into the balding areas, I believed a complete density restoration was possible. Dr. Yazdan corrected my error by informing me that quantity and donor strength is only a part of the solution – I needed to consider future thinning and a conservative, mature-looking hairline. A hairline ‘stuffed’ with news hairs with no regard for angle growth, design and future thinning will look catastrophic.
Before I left his office, Dr. Yazdan took me through some before-and-after shots of some of his hair transplant patients. Many of them had hairlines similar to mine, and their “after” pictures were much like the ones Dr. Yazdan had generated for me. He told me that of all the hair transplants he’d done in his career, not once did he have to return to a patient for a second procedure due to flawed execution or poor design. That clinched it for me: I knew I was in good hands and that my hairline would look sharp and handsome, but not ‘overdone’.

Once we set a date for surgery, Dr. Yazdan advised me to stop any blood thinners and cease all alcohol consumption. There would be very minimal swelling and bruising, he said, and most patients resume normal activity in a day or two. After three months, I’d begin to see my new hair, but the majority of my new hairline wouldn’t be in full bloom until month eight or nine.
The Surgery
The morning of surgery, I was definitely feeling nervous, as the anticipation and buildup of the prior weeks had gotten me pretty anxious. I was mostly nervous about getting everything together and making sure I was as prepared as possible for the recovery and the acceptance of my new self. My biggest worry was not being able to go back. Am I rejecting the real me by going through with a new hairline? How would I look and feel? How would others react to seeing me? Do I really need this? Is this actually going to make me happier and more self-confident?
I took a few deep breaths and remembered everything – all of the anguish and self-loathing at my loss of confidence, my draining masculinity, all of it. I knew if I decided, last minute, to pull the plug on the operation, I’d regret it, because I’d still be unhappy with my hairline – and that realization outweighed all of my fears.
I was on my way to the doctor’s office. After a few final checks, Dr. Yazdan took some more pictures, marked my head with light indicators and told me to lay down in the chair as the procedure was about to commence.

He began applying the anesthesia and in a few minutes the procedure was underway. I felt Dr. Yazdan extracting the follicles from my donor zone, one at a time, in a highly meticulous and systematic fashion. The longer the extracted grafts remain outside the scalp, the greater likelihood of its being damaged or ruined, so quick processing time is essential. To ensure 100% graft survival rate, Dr. Yazdan had a dedicated team of 3-5 assistants to quickly process every extracted graft. Within two hours the extraction was complete, and it was on to the next phase. Dr. Yazdan began preparing apertures for the extracted grafts to be implanted into the recipient zone. Like clockwork, the same meticulous process occurred during graft implantation. I was amazed at how little bleeding occurred during all of this.

The Recovery
When I got home that afternoon, I felt completely fine physically and mentally. With a fully wrapped and bandaged head I needed to exert very little energy and generally take it easy. I talked with my brothers for a bit and watched some TV, then I took a short nap. The procedure had taken a total of six hours and I needed to recharge my batteries after such an intense day. Post-op recovery instructions were plain and simple according to Dr. Yazdan. Do not scratch or pick at your scalp and wait a full 48 hours before showering. The same instructions given to me pre-op applied post-op with regard to alcohol and blood-thinners – stay away from them.

With each passing day, I felt more and more excited. My surgery was on a Monday, and by Wednesday afternoon I was back to work interacting with coworkers and writing emails. On Friday night, I went to see a movie, and it felt so exciting to be out with my transformed look. Even though no new hair was growing, the comfort of knowing that it was there was indescribable joy.
Three Months Post-Procedure
I see my new hairline growing in, if ever so slightly, and I’m so grateful and happy. I think about the days when one glance in the mirror would turn into an entire internal monologue berating the passage of time and the follicular genes I was so ashamed of. The days when I would simply try to survive a night out without dates or friends who would stare at my patchy and balding hairline.
This experience has been life-changing. My new hairline is absolute perfection, and I haven’t experienced a tinge of regret. I’ve felt so completely taken care of by Dr. Yazdan and his team, and have received so much support from my friends and family. My father and brother continue to ask for before and after pictures, as they can’t believe the transformation I’ve underwent.

When you’re in the thick of waiting for your new hair to come in, it seems like you’re going to look and feel that way forever. But honestly, I moved through it so quickly. Each day that went by, I looked considerably different from the day before, which is strange – you really can’t get too attached to any one image in the mirror because you know it’s still evolving.
Before surgery, friends and family would say they didn’t see anything wrong with my hairline, but to have something that’s so personal and integral to you feel so wrong, it’s exhausting and disheartening. Today I not only feel more confident and handsome, but also much more comfortable in my own skin, and that is truly priceless.

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What Happens During a Hair Transplant Consultation?

November 4, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Many potential patients want to know what happens during a hair transplant consultation. Well, when we see a patient for a consultation, one of the things we have to consider most carefully when considering their suitability for a hair transplant is how much more hair they are likely to lose. Hair loss is a progressive condition that does not strike in one fell swoop. We will often refer to the Norwood Scale to easily pinpoint what stage of hair loss a man occupies.

If a man comes to us at too young an age – in his early twenties, for example – in most cases we’d advise him that it’s best to abandon the desire for a transplant for a few more years. Otherwise, due to the progressive nature of hair loss and more hair rapidly being lost, a hair transplant today will not cover the hair thinning that could occur a year from now. Instead, for young men and women, we would recommend starting with medical management, by way of finasteride and minoxidil, to control shedding and decelerate hair loss.

Hair restoration shampoos like groMD can also help reduce shedding and protect and nourish the scalp. Other options include platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, a breakthrough non-surgical hair restoration treatment that has been known to stimulate cell regrowth and reduce the effects of pattern hair loss.

There are various things that we look for when we see a patient to determine the cause of the hair loss. However, as the majority of cases that we see relate to male pattern baldness (MPB), a condition that upwards of 70 percent of men will experience in their lifetime, we employ a state-of-the-art genetic and chemical testing kit to examine all aspects of a person’s androgenic alopecia.

Two small swabs are rubbed against the inside of the patient’s cheek and packed off to a lab for analysis. The results will tell us whether the patient has a particular genetic combination which makes it more likely that he’ll lose hair. Of course, it goes without saying that there is room for error in the test, and the results should never be taken as gospel, but it can give us a pretty good indication of what the future looks like for your hairline.

Combined with a careful examination of the patient’s locks, and a chat about their family history of hair loss, we can determine how much more hair the patient is likely to lose, and where the hair is likely to recede. The test can’t be used to conclusively prove that a patient will or will not lose his hair, but it’s a good, additional indicator that proves we’re on the right track in our consultations.

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How to Conceal Hair Transplant Scars

October 28, 2019 admin Leave a comment

**Top left:** Patient with wide donor scar performed overseas **Top Right:** Closer look at right side of donor scar **Bottom left:** donor scar after SMP at Modena **Bottom right:** Right donor scar after SMP at Modena.

Hair transplantation is a common way hair loss patients introduce coverage around thinning areas of the scalp to recreate a fuller and more youthful looking hairline. Hair transplants come in different forms and are executed using different techniques. Strip excision (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE) are the two most popular and effective hair transplant techniques used today. Although certain procedures can leave scars, some are significantly more noticeable than others.
The strip method is a method of obtaining follicular units from a donor strip taken from an area of the scalp at the back or sides of the head, removing the grafts from the strip using a microscope, and then transplanting the grafts in the thinning areas. This is a method of obtaining grafts from the donor area whereby a strip of skin is removed from the donor area. The donor site incision is finally stitched closed.
A long and possibly wide linear scar is created with this technique (FUT), which can be noticeable for those who prefer shorter hairstyles. Fortunately, if you have a linear scar from a past hair transplant there are a few options you can use to conceal your scar.
Concealing Hair Transplant Scars: FUE Transplant and Scalp Micropigmentation
FUE procedures can help hide scars from previous hair transplants. The FUE technique removes the hair follicle directly from the scalp using sharp instruments such as punches and forceps. These hair follicles are then placed on to or near previous scars to help hide their appearance.
FUE does not produce any additional linear scars. It can also be performed so that growth of hair follicles are preserved in the donor region. This will help to maintain good coverage in the donor area as you wait for your hair to grow back.
Scalp micropigmentation (SMP) is another technique that can be used to cover scars. SMP involves medical grade tattooing of the scalp to replicate tiny hairs. Micro-dots approximately the size of a ball point pen and the color of the patients’ scalp are meticulously placed in a pattern similar to previous hair density. This procedure can be used either to fill in between thinning hairs or to add the impression of more hair between transplanted hair.
These are just a few of the techniques that can be helpful to hide scars.

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The Tools Used by Hair Transplant Surgeons

October 23, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Hair transplant surgeons use a wide range of instruments and utensils during a hair transplant operation. The primary instrument hair transplant surgeons use is the punch tool. Punches can be manual, robotic, suction-assisted, motorized, or take other forms. Depending on the sharpness, shape and size, the punch will exhibit different capabilities and executions.

It is our expert opinion that the manual punch is the most accurate and effective of the surgical punches due to its very small diameter aperture (Dr. Yazdan uses the smallest size for maximum detail, 0.7 millimeter) and tremendous free-from aesthetic capability. By free-form capability we mean that it is capable of handling extremely difficult angles (associated with curly hair for example) and skin types (whether loose or tight). A manual punch – when under the direction and usage of a master transplant surgeon – can create high quality grafts and a most natural-looking hairline.

The punch incises the skin surrounding the hair follicle (follicular unit), freeing it from the surrounding tissue in order to be implanted safely in the scalp.

Dr. Yazdan’s State-of-the-Art Instrumentation
Dedicated to research and improvement in the field, Dr. Amir Yazdan is one of the foremost innovators of specialty FUE utensils and devices. Over the span of a decade, Dr. Yazdan has engineered punches that are the sharpest in the world and made from the highest quality materials. Dr. Yazdan’s micro punches boast a unique design to minimize scars and have a transection risk rate of below 2.5%, the lowest in the industry.

Moreover, Dr. Yazdan only conducts manual extractions using the smallest possible punch, for purposes of maximum accuracy, aesthetic precision and natural-looking design.

Manual vs. Robotic FUE Hair Transplants
Based on clinical experience and a study of the various hair transplantation methods and instruments, Modena Hair Institute maintains that manual FUE operations done by hand from start to finish result in the most natural and symmetrical hair line. No machine or robotic device (yet developed) can mimic the artistic finesse and pure design of the work done by the hand of an expert hair restoration specialist.

Even as many come to understand that high tech machines and surgical devices are simply neutral tools which provide no guarantee of even half-way decent results, many hair clinics continue to market FUE machines like the NeoGraft and Artas as immediate routes to excellence and success. Yet usually the opposite is true, based on our clinical experience. Any hair restoration practice that markets a machine more than a surgeon is cause for suspicion and concern, as only a highly competent and skilled surgeon can use a robotic instrument successfully – and even then there are no guarantees or special advantages to using a machine.
On average, based on the repair clients we have received and deep

knowledge of the technical advancements in hair restoration over the last decade, hair follicle/transection damage can be higher when using robotic devices as opposed to manual extraction by an experienced surgeon. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of manual and robotic punches below:

Smaller incisions when done manually, due to small diameter punches
Smaller scars when done manually
Larger incisions and deeper punches when done robotically, which can mean larger scars
The vacuum suction of certain robotic machines can damage the follicle and dry out the graft
Larger grafts require larger recipient site incisions which can mean lower density and unnatural appearance

Robotic Devices and Unskilled Technicians
We’ve discussed the disadvantages associated with the method and application of robotic devices, but there exists another great area of concern: such devices are operated – many of the time – by poorly trained and outsourced technicians who are often performing the surgery without a doctor present.

Why would manufacturers of state-of-the-art robotic devices market their product to doctors and clinics with little to no hair restoration experience? The answer: to gain a bigger return on their investment. It has been reported that since the NeoGraft company markets primarily to physicians with no prior hair restoration experience that the physicians can hire teams of hair transplant technicians who often perform the entire procedure for the physician.

The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) has issued a consumer alert regarding this practice. Many hair transplant surgeons simply found no need or advantage in purchasing such surgical devices, and so these companies began to advertise and sell to doctors with little to no hair restoration experience.

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Finasteride Side Effects

October 22, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Many have fell for the scare mongering online or in newspapers about the side effects of Propecia ® (Finasteride). Most recently, numerous headlines concerning Donald Trump taking the drug for hair loss management and experiencing libido deficiency, have taken the hair restoration industry by storm.
For those who don’t know, Finasteride is a DHT-blocking medicine that decreases the influence of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) on male pattern baldness. Research has indicated that approximately 65% of men who take Finasteride medication consistently experience a reduction in hair loss and even re-growth of miniaturized hair.
For those reading that Finasteride or Propecia causes sexual dysfunction and reduces libido consistently, know that this is simply untrue. It is widely recorded that a very exiguous fraction of Finasteride users, around only 1% in fact, relate experiencing such side effects. The most common side effects are sexual, specifically decreased libido or difficulty with getting or maintaining erections. However, these side effects, thoroughly researched and tested clinically, are not ‘consistent’ or ‘persistent’ as most tabloids will describe.
It’s commonly known in the field of hair restoration that normal sexual function ought to return to normal 2-7 weeks after stopping use of the drug. Moreover, if a patient decides to persevere with Finasteride, the body has a 60% chance of getting rid of any side effects without stopping use of the drug.
At Modena Hair Institute we’ve prescribed Finasteride for over 10 years – it’s one of the most common drugs that we recommend to suitable patients – and we have yet to receive a strong complaint regarding its side effects. Finasteride and minoxidil form an effective course for preventing further hair loss and promoting regrowth; supplementary hair growth products like groMD can also be used to manage hair loss.
We’re very much aware of the potential side effects and always advise patients accordingly before prescribing the medication. As we mentioned above, the reported negative side effects of Finasteride are limited to no more than 1% of patients, which include a drop in libido and occasional erectile dysfunction. If a patient experiences these side effects, we usually suggest taking half the dose, although this is rare.