Is a hair transplant the best thing to do for my hair loss? Am I a good candidate for the procedure? Since hair loss is progressive, leading some to experience widespread baldness, hair transplantation might not be the immediate best option for people experiencing hair loss. Even those who are experiencing a reasonable amount of hair loss and are technically feasible to treat don’t always make for suitable patients. The social and psychological aspects of hair transplant surgery – and indeed hair loss itself – should be taken into account.
In this article we will review some of the factors or conditions that make someone an ideal candidate for hair transplantation.
There are a few key variables that any potential hair transplant patient must assess and consider:
Do I have sufficient donor hair of a reasonable quality?
Do I have a good understanding of all the processes involved (e.g. my surgeon is involved in every aspect of the procedure and does not delegate to technicians)?
Does my surgeon understand the current stage of my hair loss (Norwood Scale)?
What are my reasonable expectations?
Do I have a healthy psychological profile, and are free from obsessive or body dysmorphic issues?
In certain cases, unsuitable patients may slip under the radar, which can be problematic for both them and the surgeon. At Modena Hair Institute in Orange County, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas, we would advise any doctor or clinic to spend as much time as possible analyzing and understanding the potential patient before agreeing to carry out any surgical procedures – it’s not a process that should be rushed by either patient or surgeon.
Patients must also need to have frank, honest conversations with their surgeon so they have realistic expectations about their transplant and its results. It’s also the patient’s responsibility to consider all the facts, the procedure itself, and its outcome, so they can make a comprehensive decision about their surgery.
If all these points are addressed and adhered to, the long-term benefits will be greater for all.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
One of the first things a person checks when they notice hair loss is the status of hair loss in their parents or grandparents. When did my father start to bald? What about my grandfather, what was his hairline like? Although examining the hair loss of your ancestry can reveal part of the truth of your own hair loss, it’s only half the story.
A son might begin balding at half the age of his father or he might bald decades later than when his father or grandfather did. If your parents show thinning on the scalp, it does not mean that you will too, but it can be suggestive of your predisposition to future hair loss.
While not the only reason, genetics plays the biggest role in determining whether men will experience hair loss.
Over 95% of men experiencing hair loss will have inherited a sensitivity to DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a sex hormone that causes hair follicles to shrink. The androgen receptor gene is behind the receptor on your hair follicles that interacts with the DHT – and if your receptors are particularly sensitive, it can cause hair loss.
Now, this gene is found on the X chromosome – the female chromosome – which is why it’s assumed that it’s passed down through the mother’s side. There are, in fact, around 200 genes that are involved in regulating hair growth, meaning that DNA does play a big part in pattern baldness, but it’s not just down to one specific balding gene.
There’s no definitive age when male pattern baldness (or androgenic alopecia) will start creeping in – even if your father’s hairline started receding at 20, it doesn’t mean that yours will necessarily follow suit – but around a third of men will experience some hair loss in their thirties, creeping up by around ten per cent for each decade. Hair loss can be extremely gradual, but the biggest giveaway of pattern baldness is a receding hairline and thinning temples.
How to Combat Hereditary Hair Loss
While you can’t change your genetic makeup and hereditary history, if you do start to notice hair loss, you can take strong proactive steps to manage and decelerate loss. There’s no permanent answer to pattern baldness, but it can be countered, reversed and managed.
Treatments for pattern baldness consists of either surgical solutions or medical therapies. Surgical solutions for pattern baldness are permanent and typically classed under two types:
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT/Strip)
The FUE and Strip surgeries are minimally invasive outpatient procedures performed under local anesthesia. Hair transplant surgery uses a patient’s own natural DHT-resistant terminal hairs to restore the thinning or balding areas on the scalp. With the FUE procedure, hair follicles are removed one-by-one from the donor site, then transplanted individually to the thinning or balding areas of the temple or crown. If done by a master specialist, this method leaves no visible linear scar.
With the FUT or strip method, a thin strip of scalp is removed from the back of the head containing numerous hair follicles. These follicles are then transplanted one-by-one into the balding area. This method leaves a very thin linear scar at the back of the head which is rendered non-visible once the hair grows back.
Hair transplants can aesthetically transform your hairline and can be a permanent solution to hair loss. Medical therapies for the treatment and management of pattern baldness may be classified into four types:
Minoxidil (Rogaine)
Finasteride (Propecia)
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) with ACell
GroMD and Nizoral Shampoo
Finasteride is a prescription medication for men that is administered orally. Research has indicated that the majority of men who use the medicine consistently demonstrate a deceleration in hair loss and a re-growth of withering follicles. Minoxidil is an over-the-counter topical medication. Research has indicated that the majority of men who use the medicine consistently demonstrate a deceleration in hair loss and a re-growth of miniaturized follicles.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) with ACell, involves drawing a small amount of blood from the patient’s body and processing it in a centrifuge in order to extract a rich plasma serum. This serum is then injected into various strategic recipient sites on the scalp.
PRP is loaded with growth factors that promote rapid angiogenesis and localized cell growth, which can increase both the size and healthiness of hair follicles that have begun to shrink as a result of androgenetic alopecia.
Lastly, there is the simple and easy-to-use shampoo and conditioner hair restoration systems of GroMD and Nizoral.
These doctor-developed DHT-fighting solutions contain a wealth of natural, potent and effective ingredients which restore and reset the scalp environment back to its natural state. With regard to GroMD, their solution is a fortified and expertly refined DHT-blocking formula that is enriched with growth-factor peptides and proteins, as well as anti-inflammatory mediators and anagen growth stimulators.
These shampoo and conditioner systems feed your hair with essential nutrients, providing it with nourishment at the roots so your hair is ready to grow at its optimal speed and length.
We may not be able to predict what the future holds for our hair, but we can help restore it to its former glory. If you want to survey your options and see what hair restoration solutions can help you, contact Modena Hair Institute for a free consultation today.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
Many potential hair transplant patients wonder about the possibility of hair loss following a hair transplant. Specifically, whether their transplanted hair will remain permanently implanted and secure in their scalp.
The answer to this all-too-important concern is: it depends on the caliber and expertise of the surgeon.
If the transplant was performed by an experienced board-certified hair restoration specialist, the chances of post-surgical hair loss is exceedingly rare. Apart from shock loss, which will be discussed later, post-surgical hair loss can occur due to poorly executed surgical work. If the operating surgeon is not using the most advanced surgical techniques, such as a small needle and blade, or creates poor and misaligned recipient sites, then the chances of follicular injury and impermanence run high.
There are many reports of patients from overseas clinics or local clinics using robotics and untrained technicians that show botched scalps and implants with excessive tissue and graft damage.
When you partner with a board-certified hair transplant specialist using state-of-the-art hand-held devices (with very small punch sizes, .7-8mm), scalp incisions will be virtually scar less and invisible to naked eye. More specifically, such a trained surgeon will take care to never damage transplanted follicle and the surrounding tissue.
Apart from poor surgical work, which can result in permanent hair loss and a falling out or deterioration of transplanted hair, patients may experience shock loss. Shock loss is common and effects the native hairs surrounding the area of the transplant (not the newly transplanted grafts). There are many underlying causes for shock loss but ultimately the hair loss is caused by the hair follicles becoming ‘shocked’ or ‘traumatized’ by the surgical event. Any type of invasive procedure or drastic change in environment can cause a shock or trauma reaction in the body. In the case of shock loss, the hair follicles become shocked and fall out.
There are two types of shock loss – temporary and permanent. Temporary shock loss means the hairs are likely to come back during the next hair growth cycle, after a brief recovery time for the hairs. Permanent shock loss means the hairs are not likely to come back. This is often the case when the hairs were very weak prior to surgery, and were likely to fall out soon on their own regardless.
If you’d like to learn more about hair transplantation and see if you’re a candidate, give us call today.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
Name: Collin Question: At the beginning of May this year I underwent an FUE procedure involving roughly 1600 implanted grafts. I was told by my doctor that full results don’t appear until well into the 12-month mark, but I’m barely able to see any growth now, at the 5-month mark. Should I not at least see half the growth since I’m at the halfway mark? Compared to other hair transplant testimonials, mine looks very unpromising at this point. Did my scalp just not accept the implanted grafts? Any help is appreciated, thank you. Answer: There is no need to panic, although most patients will see about 50% growth after 6-7 months, we’ve treated patients who take up to 8-9 months or more to show real signs of hair growth. Each hair has its own unique cycle of growth, and depending on the timing and state of the cycle, it will take more or less time to grow in.
It is usually the case that around month three, patients will see the first signs of hair growth, although much of the area may still appear thin. Around month six is when a fuller follicular picture can be seen, and the transplanted grafts will begin to mature. Some patients do experience delayed growth, and this is need not be due to any shock loss or surgical mishandling.
Every patient has different experiences and reactions to surgical procedures, as all hair and skin types vary, but there is typically more than 10% growth at the 5 months mark. We highly recommend that you be patient and wait another three or four months to watch the growth patterns. If no more growth is forthcoming in those months then we recommend that you consult with a board-certified hair restoration surgeon (preferably the one who performed your procedure) and have them monitor your follicular progress.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
Question: I recently underwent a hair transplant – about one month ago. I’m following up with my hair loss doctor this week and he recommended going in for PRP in two weeks to support and reinforce the work done in my original hair transplant. Is this a good thing to do?
Answer: In our experience, PRP has the potential to promote faster growth following a hair transplant. It may also help keep your existing hair growing (rather than progressing to further thinning). PRP done in conjunction with a hair transplant, or immediately following a hair transplant, leads to longer-lasting results in our clinical experience. We usually recommend PRP after surgery in order to support the non-transplanted hair.
At Modena Hair Institute in Orange County, Las Vegas and Beverly Hills we combine PRP with ACell (a type of stem cell) to better support the newly transplanted hairs. These stem cells secret potent stimulants, otherwise known as cytokines, which stimulate the growth of hair follicles. Scientific studies show that such stem cells may transform into new hair follicle cells.
All in all, our research has found that injections of PRP with ACell directly into the patient’s scalp can increase both the size and healthiness of hair follicles that have begun to shrink as a result of androgenetic alopecia or common genetic pattern baldness. This means that injections of platelet rich plasma can create thicker looking hair by promoting growth if the dormant follicles, slow the progression of some forms of hair loss, and help maintain hair transplantation results.
Every patient and every case of hair loss is unique, so platelet rich plasma may not necessarily the right treatment for everyone. At Modena Hair Institute we carefully diagnose the nature of your hair loss so that we can create a customized treatment plan that is right for you.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
Name: Morgan Question: I recently went in for a checkup and my doctor’s tests indicated hormonal changes in my body which has led to fluctuating thyroid levels. I found out that low thyroid can cause hair thinning and loss in certain women. I’m very worried I won’t be able to reverse the damage done to my hair by this hormonal imbalance. Answer: Hormones and hormonal changes are often the cause behind hair loss in women. Whether or not your thinning hair is recoverable depends on the nature of your thyroid and other hormonal imbalances. From a genetic predisposition to birth control pills to menopause, there are natural causes of hormone imbalance and preventable ones.
It also may not be the case that your hormonal fluctuations are the only cause of your hair loss – stress or genetics may be playing a factor as well. Women who have excess testosterone (the male hormone) can develop male-pattern type hair loss (as well as other symptoms like deepening of the voice or hair growth on the chin and face).
Consult a board-certified hair restoration specialist if you have hair loss as there are many potential causes and treatments. Blood tests run at our Modena Hair Institute can easily check levels of male and female hormones. Hormonal hair loss can sometimes be treated with spironolactone in women and finasteride in men. These both have potential side effects and should be used only under the supervision of your doctor. Minoxidil (Rogaine) does not address the hormonal causes of hair loss, but may still be useful is stopping hair loss or regrowing hair.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy is also a very popular and effective solution to slowing down hair loss, decelerating hair thinning, or in some cases, causing hair follicles to return.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
An FUE hair transplant is, on average, the most effective, safe and aesthetically mature transplant option for patients suffering from hair loss. The great caveat to this opening claim, 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. A great double-edged sword for patients who rush into an FUE procedure with practitioners who lack the necessary experience and requisite skill, FUE hair transplants have a higher margin of error than FUT procedures (which removes an entire strip of the scalp as opposed to individual follicular grafts), because of the great technical demands involved.
An aesthetically and technically successful FUE transplant requires extreme hand-eye coordination, artistic finesse, calculated endurance and years of specialized experience.
Advancements in FUE technology has ushered the hair transplant industry into a golden era. The best FUE surgeons today will confine themselves to surgical punches of minimal diameter size to maximize precision and exactness, and so that each graft is transplanted at the exact right angle, depth and location.
At Modena Hair Institute, 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, most optimal hairs.
The premier advantage of FUE over FUT procedures, besides it’s exactness and finesse, is its virtually scar-less and painless nature. The entire transplanting process is minimally invasive and virtually pain free. Patients should experience little to no discomfort on the scalp or forehead, and downtime is highly negligible, lasting only a day or two. The absence of visible scarring allows patients to return to wearing their hair as they’d like, and because the incisions are so small, the donor areas on the scalp will heal quickly and appear almost as normal as their pre-op selves.
Bringing to life a patient’s desired hairline requires an experienced and talented FUE surgeon with great artistic understanding of individual hair growth patterns and follicle distribution. So above all else, consider testimonials and clear before-after photos to assess the surgeon’s design capabilities, and not merely their promised projections.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
Modena patient who suffered cosmetic disfigurations from a previous hair transplant at another clinic
Most hair loss patients are familiar with revision hair transplants and the chance for further hair growth and restoration. A successful hair transplant done at a reputable and specialized clinic should leave no visible scars or marks of disfiguration. Revision hair transplants are often sought after by patients who received their first transplant at general practitioner cosmetic clinics that do not specialize in hair transplants, and who often use outdated techniques and overly rely on machines and assistant technicians.
Dr. Yazdan of Modena Hair Institute is an expert in revision hair transplants and can work with almost any scalp to recreate a natural looking and full-bodied head of hair.
If you have noticeable scarring from past hair transplant procedures (as the patient from the opening of the article shows), particularly a FUT procedure, then revision hair transplant can help minimize the scarring.
Newly transplanted hair grafts will continue growing hair long after transplantation, as any successful first transplant will demonstrate. While hair transplantation surgery can greatly enhance your appearance, it doesn’t cure hair loss. Decades after receiving your first surgery you may notice that your hair no longer looks as good as it did. If that’s the case, a second hair restoration surgery is an option for most people and can revitalize your thinning hair.
With patients who are satisfied with the look of their previous transplant, a second treatment is sought out to add a more desired density and thickness. Partnering with the Specialized Hair Loss Experts
Deciding to tackle hair loss for a second or third time can be, for some individuals, a difficult one. By choosing the most qualified hair restoration expert, the decision becomes an easier one to make. Knowledge of technique is obviously not sufficient in itself. That technique must be specifically applied with meticulous attention to detail to produce superior results. And this is the goal of Modena’s clinical practice.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
Prime Culprit: Hormones
The premier cause behind hair loss in both men and women is hormonal. Hormonal changes, deficiencies and excesses are the main cause behind pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia. The male-sex hormone behind pattern baldness in men is DHT. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a by-product of testosterone, which can stimulate the receptors in your hair follicles, causing them to shrink, weaken and eventually stop producing hair altogether. At present there is no final cure for male pattern baldness, but hair loss medications like Propecia and Minoxidil can help arrest further hair loss, and hair transplants offer a permanent solution to the problem. Non-surgical and non-medical hair restoration shampoos like groMD and Nizoral are also known to lessen DHT levels in the scalp and strengthen hair overall. Father Time
Not every person will lose their hair – even if your close relatives have gone bald, there are no guarantees that you will too. However, with age usually does come some degree of hair loss or thinner quality hair. By the age of 60, around two-thirds of men will have some hair loss, and around 70 per cent of women will experience hair loss around the age of 70. Depending on the cause of the hair loss, it may be treatable, so if you have any concerns, get in touch with our Modena Hair Institute team. Stress
You might not have known or even believed this, but high stress, even in short episodes, can directly cause hair loss in individuals with no previous hair loss experience. Telogen effluvium – trauma or stress-induced hair loss – is a result of your fluctuating hormones sending the hair growth cycle into a state of shock, forcing the hair to go into a resting phase. Many follicles can be affected at the same time, which is why it may seem like you’re losing a significant amount of hair. As with post-natal hair loss, it’s usually only temporary, so focus on maintaining good habits with sleep, exercise and diet to keep your stress levels down in the meantime. Harsh Weather and Excessive Sun Exposure
A change in weather can bring a change to your hair condition – and hydration is usually the culprit. Hot summer days or harsh winter nights are not always your hair’s best friend, as harsh weather exposure can damage your hair, making it dry and brittle. The UV radiation of the sun can damage the proteins that the hair is made from, so if you know you’ll be spending a lot of time outside, invest in a good hair follicle spray like groMD. Thankfully, if you do get sunburned on your scalp, although you may lose a few hairs if your scalp peels, the chances are it will grow back.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
Whether on social media or on billboards downtown, you’ve likely come across the now famous beige logo of Hims or the nation-wide ad campaigns of Keeps. Both brands boast of easy and effortless hair restoration solutions, ‘prescribed’ by a certified physician online.
Targeting millennials with sweet-sounding wellness rhetoric and youthful philosophy jargon, many hair loss sufferers think they’ve struck follicular gold.
Nothing could be farther from the truth, as all of the products and items aggressively sold to you by these companies have been on the market for decades. Seductively packaged in hair loss ‘kits’ and hair restoration ‘bundles’, the finasteride, minoxidil, biotin supplements and other items traditionally prescribed in-person by hair restoration specialists, are branded as revolutionary new solutions.
What consumers of such advertisements are unaware of is that Hims and Keeps are bypassing perhaps the most important element of a person’s hair loss experience – the conversations one has with their board-certified hair restoration doctor.
Medical solutions like minoxidil and finasteride have important side effects that must be discussed with a doctor who has conducted a formal evaluation and analysis of a patient’s hair loss history, patterns and physiology.
Such hair loss medications have always been prescribed based on a patient’s particular needs and medical history. Board-certified physicians will often combine such medications with other hair loss modalities in order to maximize the effectiveness of treatment. Online prescriptions deprive patients of the essential component of hair loss reversal and restoration.
An expert specialist will build a thorough understanding of your needs and options, and recommend treatments based on specific variables – things which an online service can never capture.
This relationship between a patient and doctor is an invaluable part of the hair loss treatment process, and one that you will not receive through online medical treatments. If you would like more information about the diagnosis and treatment of hair loss, an excellent resource is www.modenahair.com
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
Either as a result of an unqualified hair restoration surgeon or incapable technician, many hair transplant patients suffer from poor cosmetic outcomes and downright sloppy results. Recently we came across a male patient (early 30s) whose hair transplant left him with misplaced grafts, incorrect growth patterns and an overall unflattering silhouette.
The best hair transplants are an extremely intricate, technical and artistic affair. Only the highest level of expertise, finesse, understanding and experience can perform FUE and Strip procedures to a flawless degree. Some practices not only lack a distinguished and experienced hair transplant surgeon to direct their procedures, but also operate using outmoded methods and instruments which leave plug-like scars on patient’s scalps. What should you do if you have been the victim of a cosmetically unsuccessful hair transplant?
Find a distinguished, experienced board-certified hair restoration surgeon!
Repairing poorly executed hair transplants requires careful effort and finesse, as well as a proper technical strategy. At Modena Hair Institute in Newport Beach, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas, we begin with laser hair removal of poorly placed grafts before conducting a repair FUE that very scrupulously and artistically organizes the direction and design of implanted hairs.
Reversing the unnatural appearance of badly angled follicular units and repairing scars is obviously more involved than using the right technique in the first place, but it can be accomplished in most cases with excellent results. Addressing the repair of existing scars requires expert artistic capability and careful assessment of the problem area as well as the remaining donor supply. Choosing the correct restorative technique is critical as the wrong strategy can make the situation worse.
Different techniques must be weighed up and considered to resolve different problems, and only a reputable specialist will understand which technique is best suited for the repair. Large plugs can be removed, divided microscopically into individually follicular units and placed back into the scalp in a pattern which is much more natural in appearance. Smaller grafts can be camouflaged. Scars that are raised can often be helped with cortisone injections. These can help to decrease the inflammation which is often present in a raised scar. Sometimes excessive scar tissue can also be excised and removed in itself, particularly when associated with poorly positioned grafts of hair.
By doing one’s research and vetting your hair restoration doctor, you will be able to guarantee a job well done.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
The internet is an unparalleled resource for checking surgical reputations and verifying a practice’s skill and success. Medical practices the world over have recognized this shift in patient knowledge capabilities and have sought to give the discerning public unfiltered access to their purported talents, surgical history, and client testimony through their own personal websites and reputable online forums (RealSelf, Bald Truth Talk and others).
FUE and FUT/Strip procedures (the gold standard for hair transplantation) have radically evolved beyond the simple plug and graft techniques prevalent in the 1990s and early 2000s. Yet many clinics, locally and abroad, continue to operate in an outmoded way, putting patients in serious aesthetic and medical jeopardy.
An extensive and detailed scientific study published in the Indian Journal of Dermatology for the National Center for Biotechnology describes the very technical and highly skilled nature of the FUE procedure, and the expert requirements needed to perform the surgery well: “Lack of due diligence while performing such extractions can lead to subluxation of the grafts into the subdermal layer of scalp. Overtumescence of the scalp donor area, use of blunt punches and trying to ‘core’ out the full thickness grafts can all contribute to this.” (Poswal, et al.)
Although it can be tempting to go for a cheap deal at a general clinic (who often have technicians preforming the surgery), choosing the right clinic comes down to exacting research and scrupulous inquiry.
Asking critically relevant questions of the different hair restoration practices you survey is the first major step towards weeding out superficial offers. The key questions to ask a hair restoration surgeon are:
Do you specialize in hair transplant surgery?
How many years of specialized experience do you have performing FUE and FUT surgeries?
How much actual work is done by you during the hair transplanting process?
Are you certified by the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgeons?
The hair transplant surgeon you are considering should be affiliated to a standard-setting organization such as the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (IAHRS). Take a look at their qualifications and further training – do they regularly attend seminars? If so, they are more likely to be up to date on the latest medical technology. Going to a clinic that makes clear the role of the surgeon in the procedure – complete presence from start to finish – is paramount.
A good surgeon will also have a range of before and after photographs of patients to demonstrate their work. Be wary of lighting differences that some sites use to make the transplants look better than they are, such as overly bright before photos and dimly lit after photos. Another misleading aspect is when the photographs are not of exactly the same pose or position completely distorting the before and after difference. The best clinics will show extreme close-ups of their artistic hairline work for close scrutiny, so you can get a better idea of the kind of results the clinic might be able to achieve.
Any reputable surgeon will insist on a face to face consultation on a prior date to that of the hair transplant surgery or treatment. An engaged specialist will conduct a thorough review of your medical history, an examination of your current hair loss, a discussion on available options, the pros and cons of each procedure, what results you can expect, and a clear idea of the costs involved.
At Modena Hair Institute, Dr. Amir Yazdan meets with every potential patient for as long as is necessary to ensure total understanding and satisfaction with procedural expectations. As a top RealSelf doctor and only IAHRS member in the Orange County and Las Vegas area, Dr. Yazdan performs and oversees the entire surgery, beginning with pre-op prep and through to post-op care. No assistant or technician is ever allowed to operate on a patient.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
Through the combination of public-wide media coverage (pioneered by Spex and others), state-of-the-art surgical advancements and general cosmetic awareness among men suffering from hereditary hair loss, the hair transplant industry has seen a remarkable rise in inquiring and passionate patients.
Dermatologists, cosmetic surgeons and other doctors have, as a result, sought to add hair transplantation to their menu of cosmetic and surgical offerings. This is deeply problematic for two reasons:
General cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists very often lack the years of specialized experience and practice required to perform Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT/Strip) properly and with care.
Aware that hair transplantation demands years of rigorous and technical mastery, general cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists will bypass such proprieties by delegating hair transplant surgery to technicians using surgical devices.
It is this second reason, growing more common in American states lacking austere medical laws, with which we are here most concerned. A lack of political and legal monitoring and auditing of such clinics has led to numerous cases of patient abuse, mistreatment and out right cosmetic disaster.
More worryingly, the vast majority of patients undergoing this procedure do not realize they are being treated by untrained, illegal and often dangerous practices. Aside from post-surgical infections and botched scalps, patients’ lives are at stake, as hair transplantation is nothing like the simple cut and plug operation many clinics will have you believe. If a patient has heart disease or other special medical condition, for example, there is a very real danger of serious injury or even death.
An expanding network of unlicensed clinics are opening up across America, Europe and the middle east, under the aegis of indiscriminate surgical device brands and avaricious doctors. These clinics are profiting from visitors with little to no knowledge of the background science, art and proprietary measures of premier hair transplantation.
Hair transplant surgery can only be legally performed by licensed and properly trained surgeons and physicians. The California Medical Board has issued a stern and timely statement commanding the following:
“Companies may be marketing surgical devices to physicians indicating that hair restoration surgery is a delegatable procedure.”
“Physicians may not delegate hair restoration surgery to medical assistants, who are unlicensed individuals with a very limited scope of practice.”
“Medical assistants may not perform invasive procedures such as creating holes or slits in a patient’s scalp with a needle, scalpel, or other device.”
“California’s Business and Professions Code section 2052 prohibits the practice of medicine by unlicensed individuals, as well as aiding and abetting the unlicensed practice of medicine.”
Modena Hair Institute in Orange County, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas has issued numerous warnings for patients to be critically aware of the great risks posed by ill-trained, unlicensed and non-specialist cosmetic clinics.
At Modena’s state-of-the-art facility, Dr. Amir Yazdan limits himself to performing only one hair transplant per day, for the explicit purpose of total operation oversight and meticulous aesthetic success. No assistant or technician is ever allowed to operate on a patient. Dr. Yazdan performs and oversees the entire surgery, beginning with pre-op prep and through to post-op care. Patient safety and patient care are the pillars of our trade, and every precaution is taken to ensure that a person’s scalp is protected and perfectly enhanced.
Following a decade of follicular research and technical refinement, Dr. Yazdan has come to be recognized as an innovator in the field of hair restoration. He is also the only surgeon in the Orange County and Las Vegas area to be inducted into The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons (IAHRS). Known as the hair restoration gold standard (FUE), Dr. Yazdan only conducts manual extractions using the smallest possible punch, for purposes of maximum accuracy, aesthetic precision and natural-looking design.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
Traction alopecia is a relatively common condition, but one that is very avoidable. Traction alopecia is caused by the hair being repeatedly pulled, usually by wearing tight ponytails, buns or braids. Hair extensions are also a common cause of traction alopecia, as they can tug tightly on the roots of hair follicles.
Ultimately, anything that tugs repeatedly on the hair can damage the root and lead to hair loss. Only you will know how often and how tight you wear your hair. The tighter the hair is styled and the more often it is compacted, the likelier symptoms of traction alopecia will appear.
The condition is particularly common amongst African-American men and woman, given the cultural dominance of weaves, braids and extensions. Traction alopecia is widely reported as the most common form of hair loss in the African-American community.
In the early stages, traction alopecia can appear as small lesions on the scalp. Redness, itching and soreness on the scalp are key signs of the beginning stages of traction alopecia. Eventually, you’ll start to notice broken and missing hair, typically around the hairline. The good news is, if it’s spotted early, traction alopecia can be treated and reversed.
Wear your hair down as much as possible or wear it in a looser hairstyle – keep changing your hairstyle to avoid putting repeated strain on the same area of the scalp. If you use hair extensions make sure its attached in a minimally traumatic way, or try to wear them for shorter periods of time and give your hair a break between wearing them. It can take some time for the hair to grow back, but if you treat your hair as gently as possible during this period, there should be no lasting damage.
However, if there is significant hair loss, or scarring, it’s worth visiting a medical professional. Treatment for Traction Alopecia
Choosing the right treatment for traction alopecia hair loss will depend on whether or not the damage to the hair follicles is reversible. Upon first noticing the effects of traction alopecia it is necessary to put into practice looser hair styling practices. It is at this stage that we recommend a potent cocktail of Minoxidil and GroMD shampoo and conditioner.
Both of these potent medical therapies serve to block DHT (the hair follicle killer) and enhance blood flow to the scalp.
Minoxidil is an over-the-counter topical medication. Research has indicated that the majority of men who use the medicine consistently demonstrate a deceleration in hair loss and a re-growth of miniaturized follicles.
GroMD products are also boosted with Saw Palmetto, Stinging Nettle and Licorice Root Extract, all DHT blockers found in nature. This product also contains caffeine and menthol to dilate the blood vessels around each hair follicle for improved circulation. Ultimately this therapeutic program will stimulate dormant follicles and allow vital nutrients to reach every hair strand.
If hair follicles are permanently damaged, however, they will no longer be able to grow new hair. At this point, hair transplant surgery is one way to restore normal coverage by transplanting healthy follicles to the areas in need of coverage. You can read more about hair transplants here.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
*This blog is a transcription of a video covering a Modena Hair Institute patient who saw Dr. Yazdan for a body hair transplant and strip scar revision. We’ve included the video below.
Sam has visited Modena Hair Institute in Orange County, California. Before coming to us, he had two strip procedures; one in 2003 and one in 2004, which left him with unacceptable scarring and unfavorable results overall. His scar is uneven, wide, and protrudes from the base of the skull.
In most scar revision procedures, Dr. Yazdan can excise the previous scar and close it with a unique technique that allows hair to grow through the scar, thus greatly minimizing its appearance. However, after some examination, the doctor determines Sam’s donor zone is very poor, leaving only the option of a FUE, or follicular unit extraction procedure.
Sam’s strip scar, before revision.
As the patient would like both the scar repaired & some density added to the crown and midsection of the scalp, it’s decided the plan is to extract grafts by FUE from the back of the head, as well as supplementing with grafts from the beard. The grafts will then be placed inside the scar, as well as in the crown and midsection. After local anesthesia, Dr. Yazdan and his team begin the extraction of grafts from both the posterior scalp and beard.
Because of the unique micropunch used during the procedure, within three to four days after the procedure, there will be no scarring left in any affected areas. This technique allows Dr. Yazdan to perform body hair transplantation with minimal to no residual scarring. After the first phase of the procedure, the 1,029 extracted grafts are processed & examined under microscope while Dr. Yazdan created the graft-receiving zones along the patient’s transplant area. The small diameter of these zones ensures a grouping density that looks as natural as any regular person’s hairline.
Sam’s strip scar, immediately after the procedure is finished.
During the implantation stage, the team works to carefully and efficiently place the grafts with extreme attention to detail. Even in the middle of this process, improvement can be noticed in the scar area, and it even looks presentable at that point. Bleeding is minimal, and protrusion has become a non-issue in turn. With that, the procedure is complete, the donor and recipient areas are washed, a bandage is applied, and he goes home with a follow-up planned for the next day.
Sam’s story might be very similar to yours, or you might be going through a whole different hair loss experience entirely. Either way, we’re ready to welcome you here at Modena Hair Institute. Visit our website to learn more, and be sure to call or book your consultation today.
*This blog is a transcription of a video covering a Modena Hair Institute patient who saw Dr. Yazdan for a FUE hair transplant procedure, also known as follicular unit extraction. We’ve included the video itself here as well*
Mark, an international business entrepreneur from Scottsdale, Arizona, has arrived in Modena Hair Transplant Center in Las Vegas for his first hair transplant surgery. As he tells it, over a year beforehand, his brother came to this same office to have his own FUE transplant surgery done, and he wants to find out what Dr. Yazdan can do with his own receding hairline, which has been steadily getting worse over the past 5-10 years.
In his office, Dr. Yazdan examines Mark’s hair to determine factors such as the condition of his follicles, the density of his hair, and viability; it’s necessary to plan the transplant in extensive detail to ensure the best possible results.
As Dr. Yazdan explains, “In aging patients with typical male pattern baldness & a receding hairline, it’s necessary to restore the hairline in the angles. I think it’ll be sufficient to fill the temporal area & lower the hairline.” Speaking to Mark, he says, “Your hair looks healthy, and your donor zone is perfect. It will take approximately 1,500 grafts to lower your hairline and fill in the sides & temporal area. We’ll use the FUE method, we’ll begin at 8:00 AM, and by 5:00 PM we’ll be finished.” From there, Dr. Yazdan carefully measures & reconstructs the patient’s ideal hairline; it is of the utmost importance to make this hairline natural & optimally dense.
It is not necessary to cut the patient’s hair before hair transplant surgery using the strip (FUT, or follicular unit transplantation) method, but with Mark it was decided there would be follicular unit extraction, which requires the donor area to be shaved before the procedure begins.
After the patient has undergone anesthesia, the doctor extracts the grafts from the patient’s existing hair. Dr. Yazdan has also developed a unique process for anesthesia. The patient feels no pain during the course of the surgery or after, and the area is also not subject to the post-procedure swelling typical at outside clinics.
Mark’s procedure in progress.
Now we see how the extraction of hair takes place. Separate grafts are extracted from the donor zone, one at a time, and accuracy is essential, as is the experience of the surgeon & the tools available. It is crucial to ensure that the grafts are not damaged in the process of extraction. The surgeon’s technique & use of a tiny plug (measuring 0.7mm in diameter), ensure virtually no visible scarring. There are no stitches, and the wound heals within 3-4 days after the procedure.
It’s not only the quality of graft extraction that is essential for a successful hair transplant, but also the quality of their processing. The longer a hair remains out of the human body, it experiences increasingly greater stress, and the likelihood of successful settling goes down. At Modena, to ensure the grafts are processed quickly & professionally, between 3-5 assistants work on graft processing for each surgery. This is a substantially large number of support staff compared to the majority of other clinics, and it enables large procedures to be carried out in a very short period of time, guaranteeing an almost 100% graft survival rate in turn. Grafts are processed by highly skilled personnel with the use of state-of-the-art microscopes. While the surgeon extracts the follicles, the rest of the team works to process the grafts. It’s an extremely laborious task, requiring attention to detail and modern magnifying equipment.
As that happens, Mark takes a break & prepares for the next stage: implantation of the hair. Once the extraction process is completed, the area already looks presentable. The donor zone shows little to no sign of bleeding & is covered by the surrounding hair. In the meantime, the surgeon starts to prepare apertures for the grafts in the recipient zone. At this stage, it’s also important for the surgeon to take the direction of hair growth into account. At Modena, we use the latest precision tools which enable the transplant of grafts in the minimal possible time & the preservation of the direction of hair growth set by the surgeon during aperture creation. Furthermore, their small diameter ensure the natural density of hair in the transplant zone. The hairline, the direction of growth, and the hair density are all carefully calibrated to ensure an authentic, natural look.
Each aperture is counted by a special device, which displays the figures on a monitor & enables the surgeon to check on the accuracy of the apertures in real time. As the procedure is actively carried out, Mark is able to speak clearly to the camera & discuss what’s happening, showing no signs of discomfort or pain. It’s well worth noting that in the course of the procedure, lasting many hours, there is virtually no blood. 4-5 people work to transplant the grafts, as it is of significant importance to keep operating time to a minimum.
On the day after the surgery, during a follow-up appointment, it’s impossible to tell that he had undergone hair transplant surgery the day before. Modena’s techniques also virtually eliminate the risk for an allergic reaction. On the second day, mark comes to the clinic again. Our personnel wash his head, the doctor offers post-care recommendations, and Mark says goodbye to the team.
Mark, immediately after his FUE procedure.
Mark’s story is just one of many in the history of Modena, and you can be the next to reclaim your hairline. We have locations in Las Vegas, Beverly Hills & Newport, and we’re willing to help you make the journey to gain back your confidence. Visit our website to schedule a free consultation, learn about the different services we offer, & feel free to call us at any time during our business hours.
If you’ve done any research on hair transplants in the past, there’s a chance you’ve seen the FUT method, otherwise known as the Strip method, mentioned here and there. In case you aren’t familiar, though, these terms refer to what’s known as the traditional hair transplant procedure method, which countless people undergo every day. For reasons we’ll get into later, even as new methods have come into the picture, it’s remained a popular & vital option for many patients. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the ins & outs of the procedure & help to answer the question of whether it’s a fit for you and your hair.
To provide some initial context, FUT is short for Follicular Unit Transplantation, and “Strip” refers to a main aspect of the process, namely how the follicles being placed in your transplant area are obtained. Starting off the procedure, the hair in the back of the patient’s head is lifted up & taped in place, and the designated “donor area” is shaved, giving the surgeon access to the part of your scalp with the densest grouping of hair follicles. From there, the surgeon administers a local anesthetic & removes a thin strip of skin from the shaved donor area. Given the dense hair grouping, this is able to be neatly stitched up & be amply covered by the taped-up hair once it’s finally let down.
After the strip of skin is removed, a team of assistants removes the follicles from it & processes them to be transplanted. The doctor creates new homes for each follicle in the designated transplant area, and then carefully places them in a dense, natural formation across the scalp. Once this is completed & the donor zone is stitched, the procedure is over. The patient only needs to come in for a follow-up the next day, and a few other times far later on, to start on the path to full results (with the help of some post-op instructions, of course).
Thanks to the process of graft retrieval via skin strip removal, patients can receive up to well over 4,000 grafts in one procedure, while those receiving FUE, or Follicular Unit Extraction procedures, are limited to around 2,500 in one procedure. This point leads us to the big question: who is a candidate for a FUT transplant? There are a few key factors you need to consider, namely the severity of hair loss, the condition of the donor area, and how you decide to wear your hair.
As we just mentioned, FUT procedures are designed to help surgeons obtain a large amount of grafts without putting follicles under extensive stress outside of the head. If your hair loss is approaching the later stages, then, it’ll make sense to opt for the procedure than can get you as close to your old hairline as possible. If you only need to fill in some spots here & there, though, the FUT procedure might be excessive, and a FUE transplant would be recommended instead. No matter what, though, the procedure can’t go on if you don’t have a donor area that can safely yield the needed follicles. If you had an especially botched FUT procedure in the past, for example, there’s a chance that your posterior scalp simply can’t be utilized, meaning that a FUE transplant must be performed instead. In that case, at least, the surgeon will be able to utilize areas like the chest as substitute donor areas. Lastly, although this isn’t an issue for many, you might also want to consider how you wear your hair when deciding what procedure to go through with. For those who wear their hair with a bit of length, the minimal scar is easily & neatly covered. If you prefer a buzzcut, though, or keep your hair similarly short in that area, a thin line might appear along the back of the head, although even this would quickly become unnoticeable as well.
Modena patients before & after their FUT transplants.
We hope you can see why FUT hair transplants have remained a popular & vital procedure for people around the world, especially for those deep in their battle with hair loss. If you believe you’re a candidate for a FUT transplant, the next step is coming down to Modena Hair Institute in Newport Beach, Las Vegas or Beverly Hills to make sure. Once you arrive, from wherever you are, Dr. Yazdan, a board-certified hair restoration surgeon with years of experience, will closely inspect your hair & help guide you in the right direction. He’s also the only one performing his hair transplant procedures, unlike many other clinic operators that solely rely on their assistants. This, combined with his team, technology & knowledge, allow Modena to stand out as one of the most reputable hair transplant centers out there today.
Botched Strip Hair Transplant NOT Conducted at Modena
Contemporary hair loss sufferers are quite spoiled for choices in today’s hair transplant marketplace, as surgical advances in FUE and FUT have resulted in much more refined and natural-looking outcomes. With the exception of black-market clinics, the potential hair transplant patient today faces a renaissance of robust procedural options.
But this was not always the case. Prior to the refined and exacting technical FUE advancements of the 21st century, the ‘plug’ method of hair transplantation was ubiquitously employed in hair restoration clinics across the world.
Hair plugs were widely used until they were replaced by newer transplant techniques in the late 1990s. The plug technique involves small, circular pieces of tissue – each containing 20 or more hairs – being removed from the back of the scalp using a clunky punch tool. Slightly smaller circular sections would then be cut out of the balding areas of the scalp, before the hair plugs were transplanted into the holes.
There were several flaws with this technique. For a start, when the plugs of hair were removed from the back of the head, the patient would often be left with tell-tale circular scars. Worse still, the hair plugs would grow in an unnatural pattern, often clustered together in bunches, not unlike dolls’ hair.
In every case regarding an experienced and skilled hair transplant, the end result ought closely to align with what was discussed during the initial consultation between the doctor and patient. It is also during this time that the doctor will be able to outline any potential issues that could arise due to circumstances unique to the patient. A relative lack of available donor tissue, for example, could make it difficult to deliver the appropriate degree of coverage in the recipient site.
Modena Hair Institute’s Corrective Treatments
The best way to address and repair any problem with a previous hair transplant is to seek out the assistance of an experienced and reputable hair transplant surgeon who possesses a substantial track record of successfully performing hair transplant repairs.
This includes problems associated with a lack of adequate coverage or problems associated with a failed hair transplant in which far too many grafts failed to take root in the patient’s recipient site.
Patients with inadequate coverage but sufficient donor tissue available can easily address their hair transplant issue with additional sessions of FUE or FUT. Needless to say, patients requiring multiple sessions of hair restoration should have been informed of the need for more than one transplant right from the outset during the initial consultation process, but, unfortunately, this is not always the case.
Finally, patients who are dissatisfied with the result of their hair transplant due to the failure of the grafts to take root can also undergo additional sessions to achieve the coverage they initially sought, provided, of course, that there is sufficient donor tissue still available for use in future sessions.
Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.
