Tag Archives: hair loss causes

Choosing the Right FUE Hair Transplant Surgeon

Male pattern baldness
The internet is an unparalleled resource for checking surgical reputations and verifying medical truth claims. Medical practices the world over have recognized this shift in patient knowledge capabilities and sought to give the public unfiltered access to their purported talents, surgical history, and client testimony through reputable online forums.
One of the most popular and reputable online forums used by patients and cosmetic practitioners worldwide is the website RealSelf. Listed as one of the top doctors on realself.com, board-certified physician Dr. Amir Yazdan, stresses the importance of patient-physician research when he says: “online consumer review forums like RealSelf are a quick and excellent way for patients to verify a physician’s truth claims. Don’t be seduced by doctors who label themselves as ‘experts’, ‘visionaries’, or ‘leaders in their field’, make sure to check their customer reviews, Q&As, transplant success rate, and most of all, whether they specialize exclusively in hair transplant procedures.”
Realself top doctor
Sites like RealSelf allows users to ask doctors questions, write treatment reviews, and share photos of their experiences.
Finding the best FUE hair transplant surgeon in your area (although sometimes a non-local option will serve you much better) really comes down to effectively researching the hair restoration practice and asking critically relevant questions concerning their procedure, method, and history. A fuller list of questions to ask your hair transplant physician will follow.
At many hair restoration clinics, it’s the technicians or physicians’ assistants who will do most of the actual extraction and transplanting work. This effectively means that patients act as guinea pigs for trainees who are still learning all the particular and complex aspects of the hair restoration craft. Operations of the aforementioned kind often result in aesthetically imperfect, botched, or unnatural-looking hairlines.

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?

Choosing the right hair transplant surgeon comes down to feeling safe and secure with a specialist who has outlined and executed your surgical design thousands of times. Unique assessment of every patient and total oversight during the entire procedure are also imperative. Top RealSelf doctor Amir Yazdan, for example, oversees the entire hair transplant procedure to guarantee proper graft orientation, prevent hair graft loss, and ensure natural hair grouping design.
Go from a place of understanding less to a place of understanding more, check out RealSelf Q&A with Amir Yazdan, MD as well as Dr. Yazdan’s RealSelf Patient Reviews.
For questions or to schedule a consultation, call one of our offices conveniently located in Irvine, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas at 888-717-5273 or contact via our website at contact Modena Hair Link

Are FUE Procedures Safe? It Depends on Your Doctor


The problem with online research and online hair ‘experts’ is how often misleading and false their information is. Many hair restoration practices will wax knowledgeable about the who, what, and where of proper hair transplant procedures, often urging you to contact one of their ‘hair loss specialists’ for guidance. Very often this is a rhetorical ruse, employed to give the illusion of impeccable expertise and time-honored success. The reality is much less spectacular.
Whenever you’re urged to contact a crew of hair loss specialists, beware, plurality signals a lack of expertise. The best hair care treatment you can possibly receive will come from an individualized and personalized consultation with a veteran hair transplant physician or surgeon.
For example, at Modena Hair Institute in Orange County, inquiring clients always meet with board certified physician and specialized hair restoration surgeon, Dr. Amir Yazdan, for a personal solution to their hair loss troubles. A successful FUE procedure at Modena starts with a detailed examination and technical analysis of the patient. Such important background factors as the genetic endowment of the individual, health history, and health of donor site are examined.

countess vaugn hair loss
Dr. Yazdan discusses Traction Alopecia with Countess Vaughn on The Doctor’s TV Show.

The safety of FUE transplant procedures, therefore, heavily depends on the experience and expertise of the guiding physician, their operating method, and the nature of their instrumentation. For increased precision and minimal incision marks, Dr. Yazdan will use a micropunch as small as .7mm diameter in order to extract follicular units out of the donor area and implant them into the hairline gently and with perfect artistry.
Although FUE procedures are known as the safest and least invasive of existing surgical restoration options, tragedy can strike if surgical misapplication and misjudgment caused by poor operative care occurs.
What are the risks associated with having a hair transplant operation done by unlicensed technicians, physicians assistants, or inexperienced FUE surgeons? This list covers only a few:

  • Hair loss
  • Scarring
  • Infection
  • Botched appearance
  • Wrong direction of hair growth
  • Plugged graft look
  • Unnatural looking hair


FUE hair transplantation is usually sought after for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness, but can be a treatment option for many types of hair loss. Follicular unit extraction (FUE), when performed by a master physician skilled in hand-crafted precision instrumentation – not major surgical instruments or automated robots – is a completely safe and confidence-boosting procedure.
Make sure that you do your research, follow the guidelines set out above, and ask critically relevant questions of every hair restoration clinic you survey.
For questions or to schedule a consultation, call one of our offices conveniently located in Irvine, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas at 888-717-5273 or contact via our website at contact Modena Hair Link

Is a Low-Cost Hair Restoration Clinic a Good Choice?

A cheap hair transplant may prove to be exactly that – a cheap substitute for a very specialized procedure carried out by a suitably experienced and skillful hair loss physician.
The hair restoration industry is growing like wild fire as more and more men and women seek assistance with their hair loss concerns. As the demand for services like hair transplants, PRP therapy, and scalp micropigmentation rises, so does the number of “businesses” offering such services. Some clinics even offer hair transplants and other hair restoration procedures at a bargain, and let us warn you – you don’t’ want to be shopping for a low-cost hair restoration procedure or treatment of any type that’s easier on the pocketbook unless you’re prepared for the unruly results that comes with it that even your top hair transplant surgeons alike Dr. Yazdan are unable to fix – this isn’t the case always but many times, patients with a botched hair transplant must be turned away due to several factors including insufficient donor hair remaining.
Think about it. For most people suffering from hair loss, the decision to undergo a hair transplant surgery is one of the biggest you will ever make. It can change your life for the good – or it can change it for the bad. It’s your responsibility to do your homework and find a reputable surgeon with a dedicated surgical team. For many, a hair transplant procedure is positive and is an extremely rewarding experience. For others that choose to ‘get a bang for their buck,’ well… this can lead to heartache and misery. There are plenty of hair loss forums, videos and threads out there proving this.

Don’t Let Them Take Advantage of Your Sensitive Problem
Hair loss is an extremely sensitive problem for both men and women and people become desperate to get back the hair they once had. They worry about whether or not they can afford such treatments and there are plenty of low-cost “bargain” clinics waiting to take advantage of this. We understand, it takes a lot of courage to seek help when it comes to balding, hair loss, or your hair thinning concerns – these cheap clinics do too, by luring people in with discount hair restoration solutions. Low-cost hair loss clinics are often being ran by immoral or inexperienced individuals who are not licensed or do not have the experience or qualifications to treat patients properly. They can offer cheap hair loss solutions because they cut corners and jeopardize the safety of patients.

The Risky Business
Putting all your trust – and your hair – in one of these unethical clinics is a risky business. There is no way of knowing whether or not an unlicensed or inexperienced physician meets hygiene and safety standards…until its too late and you’re being treated for a scalp infection. Not only that, but your hair restoration treatment often can make you look worse than you did before. Board certified hair restoration specialist and ISHRS member, Dr. Yazdan, has had countless inquiries on hair transplant repairs because of these shameless clinics and we are alarmed by the number of patients we’ve seen who’ve had inferior quality hair transplants performed at outside budget clinics. Whether it’s been odd angling and position of the hair due to bad graft placement, terrible infections, or atrocious scars from an FUT/Strip surgery.
INVEST IN YOURSELF
It may be tempting to jump on a good deal that comes across your computer screen when researching hair restoration surgery, however, be wise and stay far away from these. The last thing you want is to end up looking worse with an uneven hairline or a patchy crown due to physicians cutting corners at the expense of you! Consider a hair transplant as an investment in yourself and opt for a licensed and reputable surgeon who specializes in solely, hair restoration.

At Modena Hair Institute, Dr. Yazdan is a board certified cosmetic surgeon specializing in hair restoration. You may have seen him consult and perform hair loss treatments on shows such as Dr. Phil, The Doctors, and is also a RealSelf top hair restoration surgeon.  Put your ‘scalp’ in the hands of the professionals and you will get the results you desire and deserve. You’ve heard the saying, “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.”

Southern California & Las Vegas Hair Restoration surgeon, Dr. Yazdan, can often give the results patients’ desire in a single FUE or FUT/Strip hair transplant surgery, with future sessions to follow only if necessary. Dr. Yazdan personally performs each hair transplant in Beverly Hills, Orange County and Las Vegas surgical clinics at his surgical center, utilizing a dedicated team throughout the entire process. He is involved in every aspect of the procedure in order to ensure the best possible hair restoration results and is committed to performing only one surgery per day in order to provide patients with the undivided attention they deserve.
For questions or to schedule a consultation, call one of our offices conveniently located in Irvine, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas at 888-717-5273 or contact via our website at contact Modena Hair Link

Does ‘Rogaine for Women’ Work and is it Safe?

Hair loss and thinning can have a dramatic impact on a women’s confidence and self-assurance. While it’s easy for females to feel alone in suffering from hair loss, it is actually quite common. It’s most common in women during and post-menopause, however, it can begin as early as a woman’s 20’s.
The key is to begin treatment or a hair loss regimen the moment you start noticing thinning, as most medications are shown to be most effective at the earliest stages of hair loss – Rogaine is one of them. Women’s Rogaine has the same formula as the men’s, the difference is the percentage of minoxidil (active ingredient) and recommended dosages to accommodate the differences in male and female sensitivity to the product. The American Hair Loss Institute has shown that minoxidil is often much more effective in women than in men – contrary to widespread belief. This means women need less to see growth. Women may also be more vulnerable to the side effects, which necessitate the smaller dosages. Thankfully, side effects are minor, and we will get more into that below.
What does Rogaine do for Women?
The active ingredient in Rogaine for women (and men, essentially) is Minoxidil. Minoxidil widens the blood vessels and opens potassium channels, sending more oxygen, blood flow and nutrients to the hair follicles. This will stimulate the hair follicles, promoting new growth and strengthening the hair. It is most effective at the onset stages of female-pattern hair loss, so try to start treatment as soon as you notice yourself starting to lose more hair than normal or if you start to see parts of the scalp due to the thinning of hair follicles AKA follicle miniaturization.
What is the Active Ingredient in Rogaine?
Minoxidil was originally a drug in pill form called Loniten – used to treat high blood pressure. Patients who were prescribed this medication noticed increased hair growth. By turning minoxidil into a topical solution to be applied directly on the scalp and being introduced in Rogaine in 1992, the product has become FDA approved for over-the-counter use and is now even more potent and effective. It is also the only FDA approved drug for women’s hair loss, also known as female-pattern baldness or female-pattern hair loss.
Rogaine Side Effects
Another popular belief about Rogaine for Women is that you’re going to grow hair in all the wrong places – this is exaggerated to say the least. Yes, some women have stated that they’ve grown unwarranted baby hairs past the hairline or on some parts of the face, but this is very rare and is most likely caused by improper distribution of the product, allowing it to drip down the face while applying onto the scalp. At Modena Hair Institute, we recommend wearing gloves while being very cautious as to where you are applying, only allowing it to reach the scalp and nowhere else, so just be careful. Although rare – other side effects include a dry scalp and minimal temporary shedding of the hair. Before you stop reading, don’t be alarmed… this isn’t only normal, but means it’s working! As the thin lifeless hair falls out, new healthy strands of hair begin to grow in place. Most female consumers find the benefits of having a thick head of hair outweigh the cons or minor side effects that come along with Rogaine. So, if you can withstand 2 weeks of some possible shedding, you’re in for a lifetime of Rogaine’s powerful benefits.

As with most things in life, consistency is crucial for optimal results. We like to tell our patients – it’s like brushing your teeth every day, you do it to maintain healthy teeth and gums, right? For most of us that will experience some form of hair loss and/or thinning in our lifetime, we must maintain a hair care regimen for a healthy head of hair!
Please note – while Rogaine works wonders for many women suffering from genetic hair loss, this product is not meant for treatment of other causes of hair loss (i.e. hair loss due to an underlying illness).  We don’t want you to waste money on a product that may not be right for you – we highly recommend seeing a hair restoration specialist to have an evaluation prior to using Rogaine. This will ensure your hair loss is in fact hereditary and just part of the ageing process rather than something more serious.
Still not sure if Rogaine is right for you? Luckily, there are other treatments for women that suffer from hair loss. At Modena Hair Institute, Dr. Yazdan offers treatments such as Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP), Low-Level Laser therapy, and GroMD’s haircare system including a DHT blocking Hair Loss Prevention Shampoo and Follicle Activator Spray.
*Hair Tip: For optimal results and to get your hair back without feeling self-conscious about throwing your hair up in a quick pony-tail – mixing Rogaine with GroMD’s Follicle Activator Spray has worked wonders for both men and women hair loss sufferers.
For questions or to schedule a consultation, call one of our offices conveniently located in Irvine, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas at 888-717-5273 or contact via our website at contact Modena Hair Link

Hair Growth Products VS Hair Restoration Procedures: Do They Compare?

If you’ve been sliding down a slope of thinning hair or a balding crown and have begun your hunt into hair restoration and ways to revamp your tresses, you may realize just how daunting of a subject it can be. Between all the ‘medical’ terminology and companies trying to sell miracle cures, figuring out what really works can feel like looking for a diamond in the rough!
So, what actually works? Are products like Rogaine the answer to all my problems, or is a more natural means to regrow hair viable through vitamins? And how do these methods compare with actual procedures for hair loss such as a hair transplant? If you’re feeling adrift when it comes to hair loss – no need to call a search-and-rescue, Dr. Yazdan and his team of experts at Modena Hair Restoration are here to help.
Hair Growth Products
Despite what you may have read online, there is no “magic pill” for hair growth. Increasing your vitamin intake into your diet or using products like snake oil to cure your balding issues simply have not shown enough proof of their effectiveness quite yet. If stopping hair loss was as simple as taking a vitamin, everyone would have a full head of hair; hair thinning women and balding men walking down the street would be virtually obsolete.
As of today, there are only two products approved by the FDA for treating hair loss; Yes, Minoxidil or better known as Rogaine is one of them and can be found over-the-counter. The second FDA-approved hair growth product is Propecia or its generic name – Finasteride which can be prescribed by a reputable hair restoration specialist, alike Dr. Yazdan. When used in conjunction, these two products are clinically proven to combat thinning hair, prevent future hair loss and are even proven to regrow those luscious locks you once had.

Propecia has shown its effectiveness in many clinical trials to regrow hair in men and some women, while Rogaine can significantly slow down hair loss and can encourage the growth of new hairs. When combined, Propecia and Rogaine can make a noticeable difference for those experiencing mild to moderate hair loss. For those experiencing more severe hair loss or looking for a more permanent solution, hair restoration procedures such as an FUE or FUT/Strip hair transplant may be a better solution depending on your needs and desires to have a thick and full head of hair.
Another product that has shown its effectiveness in fighting off hair loss and even regrowth is GroMD’s DHT blocking Hair Loss Prevention Shampoo and Follicle Activator Spray. No need to add any additional steps in your hair care regimen with this one as the DHT fighting ingredients come in the form of a product we already use daily – shampoo. Read more here on how elevated levels of DHT are the #1 culprit to men and women’s hair loss today.
Hair Restoration Procedures
Opposed to hair growth products, hair restoration procedures including hair transplants do not seek to solve or target the underlying causes of hair loss. Rather, a hair restoration surgery takes your own healthy donor hair – natural hair from the back and sides of the scalp and transplants them in receding hairlines and bald spots of concern. If done correctly and by a highly skilled hair restoration surgeon such as Dr. Yazdan, the results are natural-looking hair that blends in unnoticeably with your surrounding hair. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) are the two most advanced hair restoration methods to date. Dr. Yazdan routinely performs both FUE and FUT/Strip procedures yielding truly transformative results for those experiencing hair loss and in need of a self-confidence boost!


Other options like Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy and Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) have also been shown to make a compelling difference in hair loss and balding in both men and women. Dr. Yazdan performs both PRP and LLLT daily as they have both shown and proven to be two powerful and effective hair loss fighting options without going ‘under the knife.’

How Do They Compare?
In a sense, comparing products vs. procedures is like comparing apples to oranges. They have different effects and solutions in treating hair loss. Hair growth products like Minoxidil/Rogaine, Propecia and GroMD Hair Loss Prevention Shampoo and Follicle Activator Spray can make an impact as you start to notice your hair thinning. The main goals with these 3 products are to STOP and PREVENT hair loss in its earlier stages. These 3 are considered great hair loss regimens. For best results, you’ll want to begin treatment at the onset of hair loss to stop it in its tracks! Hair restoration procedures can restore lost hair by harvesting and transplanting healthy follicles from elsewhere on the scalp but won’t do anything to prevent further hair loss. Both hair growth products and hair restoration procedures are advantageous options for those combating hair loss, but the perfect option for you truly depends on your individual hair loss and your desires.
Southern California & Las Vegas Hair Restoration surgeon, Dr. Yazdan, can often give the results patients’ desire in a single FUE or FUT/Strip hair transplant surgery, with future sessions to follow only if necessary. Dr. Yazdan personally performs each hair transplant in Beverly Hills, Orange County and Las Vegas surgical clinics at his surgical center, utilizing a dedicated team throughout the entire process. He is involved in every aspect of the procedure in order to ensure the best possible hair restoration results and is committed to performing only one surgery per day in order to provide patients with the undivided attention they deserve.
For questions or to schedule a consultation, call one of our offices conveniently located in Irvine, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas at 888-717-5273 or contact via our website at contact Modena Hair Link 

The History of Hair Transplants

Even though the common belief is that the world of hair restoration began in the Unites States, it didn’t. The roots of modern day surgical hair restoration were actually cultivated in Japan in the late 1930’s. It was in 1939 that Japanese physician, Dr. Okuda described in detail his groundbreaking work in surgical hair restoration for burn victims. He created a grafting technique also known as the “punch” technique to harvest round sections of hair-bearing skin (tissue), which were then transplanted into small round holes at the recipient site. The use of this method was used in order to regrow hair in burn victims and the holes were prepared in the scared or burned areas of the scalps of his patients. After the skin grafts healed, they continued to yield hair in the previously bald areas of scalp.
Another Japanese doctor, Dr. Tamura lessened the size of the grafts to 1-3 hairs for better results. Unfortunately, this technique was lost during World War II, but they were soon rediscovered and used in the West.
The issue of baldness has affected humanity as recorded history has made notes about peoples’ lack of hair. No longer did we have to go bald and do nothing about it!
1950’s: A New York physician by the name of Dr. Norman Orentreich performed the first known hair transplant in the US on a man suffering with male pattern baldness (MPB). It was that day that Dr. Orentreich essentially reinvented modern-day hair transplantation. His work demonstrated that the hair from the back and the sides of a patient’s scalp was for the most part – resistant to the balding process. This is called the donor zone and is known to be DHT resistant, these hairs are essentially “protected” and are considered the holy grail for any type of hair transplantation.
According to the research of donor dominance, it was a principle that expressed why transplanted hair would continue to present the characteristics of the hair from where it was taken.  If taken from the side of the scalp, the hair will continue to grow as hair from the side of the scalp, but it would continue to grow in areas of the scalp that were thinning or completely bald.
1960’s: The decade that the industry of surgical hair transplantation had forever found a place in cosmetic surgery! The new views of baldness created a holistic treatment as the complete issue was beginning to be understood in the 1960’s. Surgical techniques focused on moving hair-bearing flaps to bald areas, using tissue expanders to help scalp reconstruction in bald areas and finally using bald reduction scalp surgery to remove part of the bald scalp and replace it with hair bearing scalp tissue. However, these techniques still could not have the desired natural look.
1970’s: Large grafts were used during this era and became known as “hair-plugs.” Hair plugs gave a negative view on hair transplants. Limitations on technology and procedure had drastic, sometimes crude results for Orentreich’s patients, and this created a social stigma associated with hair transplants.
1980’s: By the early 80’s micro-grafts used smaller grafts rather than one long strip resulting in a more natural look. Moving away from easily detected plug transplants, these techniques set the foundations for modern surgical practices that focus on safety and natural looking results. Micro-grafts were an improvement, but they still were not perfect.
1990’s: It wasn’t until the mid-1990’s that surgical hair restoration came out of the dark ages to produce credited and natural looking results. Alas! The advent of follicular unit transplantation (FUT) requires follicular units dissected from a donor strip (i.e. the back of the scalp) for a better result but requires more time and surgical skill.

Mid-2000’s: Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) became the current method of hair transplants that used a very tiny punch from a donor strip until the proper number of follicles were obtained.  FUE became more widely used as it made hair transplantation a virtually undetectable, viable option for many hair loss sufferers.  While technology ‘advanced’ that doesn’t necessarily mean ‘improved’ technology, the Robotic FUE method using an ARTAS Robot has seen more harm than good. FUE performed by the human-hand has made hair transplantation a virtually undetectable, viable option for many hair loss sufferers.

Hair transplants have also been coupled with new medications like Propecia/Finasteride and OTC Minoxidil/Rogaine in order to slow or even stop hair loss for optimal results.  In the past 30 years, tremendous advances have been made in stopping hair loss and regrowing hair back.
At Modena Hair Restoration, we want you to make an informed decision when choosing not only the right method that suits your specific needs, in addition – the right surgeon is just as important, so we’ve added a few quick pointers to help you choose a clinic and physician for your next hair restoration procedure.

  • The surgeon specializes in Hair Transplant surgeries with extensive expertise
  • The surgeon performing your procedure is a member of the ISHRS
  • The surgeon only performs 1 surgery per day
  • The surgeon performs the surgery – not allowing his or her technicians to take over
  • The surgeon extracts by hand – not a mechanical robot such as the Artas or NeoGraft 

Southern California & Las Vegas Hair Restoration surgeon, Dr. Yazdan, can often give the results patients’ desire in a single FUE or FUT/Strip hair transplant surgery, with future sessions to follow only if necessary. Dr. Yazdan personally performs each hair transplant in Beverly Hills, Orange County and Las Vegas surgical clinics at his surgical center, utilizing a dedicated team throughout the entire process. He is involved in every aspect of the procedure in order to ensure the best possible hair restoration results and is committed to performing only one surgery per day in order to provide patients with the undivided attention they deserve.
Remember, while a hair transplant is considered minimally invasive, this is still a surgical procedure that takes many years of skill and artistry to make it look natural and undetected by the naked eye. For more information regarding helpful tips, read our blog topic – Hair Transplant: Consultation Questions to Ask Your Surgeon.
For questions or to schedule a consultation, call one of our offices conveniently located in Irvine, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas at 888-717-5273 or contact via our website at contact Modena Hair Link 

Understanding How Hair Transplant “Grafts” Mature into New Healthy Hair

You may have heard the term “graft” if you’ve been considering a hair transplant surgery.  But how does that pertain to hair since ultimately, that is what you’re trying to obtain with this procedure?
A hair “graft” is just a scientific term for a single hair or group of hairs conjoined together in a single unit with the assistance of scalp tissue. For example, in today’s gold standard, follicular units come in groups of 1, 2, 3, and sometimes 4 hairs. Yet, a 4 haired follicular unit is still a “graft” as is a one haired follicular unit graft. In yester years, follicular units could reach upwards of 15 hairs per graft. These were called “plug” hair transplants. Thankfully, todays modern technology has allowed us to harvest much smaller grafts to be transplanted, yielding a much more natural look if done correctly. This can be accomplished using either FUE or FUT/strip hair transplant methods.

Each hair per graft consists of a single follicle below the scalp. When the hair begins to shed after a surgical hair restoration, the follicle remains behind and goes dormant for several months. Three to five months following, those follicles begin producing new hairs that grow just like your natural hair does.
It’s important to note, that waiting until a greater portion of your hair has transferred from your head to down the drain is not the best idea. The average hair transplant patient has an available donor on the back of the scalp of approximately 5,000-8,000 follicular unit grafts. It wouldn’t be possible for patients with a Norwood class 5 or higher to be a suitable candidate for a full hair restoration as there wouldn’t be enough density.

We don’t have an endless supply of donor hair as some may think. Thus, donor hair must be used and transplanted strategically and artistically using the skill and experience of your hair restoration surgeon. An experienced surgeon alike Dr. Yazdan can cover the most ground and add density to your most critical areas. Critical areas typically include reconfiguring a natural looking hairline and the immediate areas behind it along with other areas as defined by the patient’s goals and desires.

Ultimately, patients and hair restoration physicians should discuss all these things prior and work out a suitable hair-game plan the patient will be satisfied with. Short and long-term goals should be discussed, especially since male pattern baldness (MPB) is progressive and subsequent procedures may be desired or needed to meet all existing and future goals.
Southern California & Las Vegas Hair Restoration surgeon, Dr. Yazdan, can often give the results patients’ desire in a single FUE or FUT/Strip hair transplant surgery, with future sessions to follow only if necessary. Dr. Yazdan personally performs each hair transplant in Beverly Hills, Orange County and Las Vegas surgical clinics at his surgical center, utilizing a dedicated team throughout the entire process. He is involved in every aspect of the procedure in order to ensure the best possible hair restoration results and is committed to performing only one surgery per day in order to provide patients with the undivided attention they deserve.
For questions or to schedule a consultation, call one of our offices conveniently located in Irvine, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas at 888-717-5273 or contact via our website at contact Modena Hair Link 
 

Different Types of Hair Transplant Surgeries: The 3 Most Common Methods of the Twentieth Century

Hair loss problems can be caused by a plethora of assorted reasons. While this can seem alarming, in many cases hair loss can be reversible once the problem is identified and a solution has taken place. However, there are many instances in which new hair growth becomes impossible due to permanent damage to follicles of the scalp. For these patients, typical hair treatment tips and tricks just won’t cut it and a more permanent solution is needed.
Thanks to science and modern technology, hair transplant surgery has made hair restoration possible for (almost) everyone! However, if you wish to take the route of a hair transplant, you should first educate yourself on the hair transplant methods that are commonly used today. Leading hair restoration surgeons alike Dr. Yazdan, have even pioneered through the industry by developing tools that offer precision allowing him to yield some of the most natural hair transplant results out there! Now let’s get into the 3 most common hair transplant methods making headway in the twentieth century.
Scalp Reduction
Scalp reduction is one of the earliest hair transplant methods that yielded successful results. In this method, scalp from the balding area is surgically removed. In most cases, this area consists of the crown and the top of the head. Once this area is removed, the scalp area that still bears hair, is then stretched over to cover and replace that shiny bald patch (think Donald Trump). This hair transplant method worked well for patients who had a good amount of healthy donor hair on the back and sides of their scalp. Today, this method is seldom used due to the advancement on hair transplant procedures such as the next 2 we will discuss.

Follicular Unit Transplantation also known as “FUT” or the “Strip” Method
For the last several decades, FUT has remained one of the most popular and successful hair transplant methods used in our times. This method not only makes the hair look exceptionally natural, but also allows the hairs to function in a natural manner. For this procedure, Dr. Yazdan and his team use high resolution stereo microscopes when dissecting the strip of tissue harvested from the donor area. This largely reduces the risk of hair damage.
Sometimes, the extraction of a donor strip can leave a linear scar on the back of the scalp, which over the years has inclined more men and women to side with the most advanced hair transplant method out there today – the FUE method.
Advantages of FUT:

  • Larger areas of baldness can be covered in fewer sessions
  • The transection rate may be lowered providing superior results. (the transection rate also depends highly on the skill of your surgeon)
  • The survival rate may higher


Follicular Unit Extraction also known as “FUE”
FUE is very similar to FUT. However, the difference here is that FUE does not require the removal of a complete strip of scalp tissue and is much less invasive. In fact, during an FUE hair transplant procedure, each individual hair follicle is extracted from the back and sides of the head using small punch tools and are then grafted to the recipient area where balding and thinning has taken place.
One of the major advantages of FUE is that there is minimal scarring and damage to the donor area when performed properly. There’s no strip of tissue being removed, less bleeding, less risk of scarring, and a natural looking appearance all around! This method has offered our patients over the years with more flexibility over the type of hairstyles they wish to keep.
Advantages of FUE:

  • This method does not involve the removal of a strip of scalp tissue, there are no incisions or stitches
  • There is no linear scar on the back of the scalp

At Modena Hair Restoration, we want you to make an informed decision when choosing not only the right method that suits your specific needs, in addition – the right surgeon is just as important, so we’ve added a few quick pointers to help you choose a clinic and physician for your next hair restoration procedure.

  • The surgeon specializes in Hair Transplant surgeries with extensive expertise
  • The surgeon performing your procedure is a member of the ISHRS
  • The surgeon only performs 1 surgery per day
  • The surgeon performs the surgery – not allowing his or her technicians to take over
  • The surgeon extracts by hand – not a mechanical robot such as the Artas or NeoGraft

Remember, while a hair transplant is considered minimally invasive, this is still a surgical procedure that takes many years of skill and artistry to make it look natural and undetected by the naked eye. For more information regarding helpful tips, read our blog topic – Hair Transplant: Consultation Questions to Ask Your Surgeon.
For questions or to schedule a consultation, call one of our offices conveniently located in Irvine, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas at 888-717-5273 or contact via our website at contact Modena Hair Link 
 
 

Can Wearing Hats Cause Hair Loss?

Is there any truth to the old wives’ tale that says wearing hats can subsequently lead to hair loss? Maybe the rigmarole stemmed from so many balding men that used to wear hats to cover up their hair loss or maybe it/s because people think that hats have a negative effect on scalp circulation? We’re here to tell you in truth – hats do not cause or contribute to your hair loss! No need to hang up your favorite baseball cap, you can carry on wearing hats even on a daily basis without it affecting the amount of hair on your head.
A clear majority of us men and women that bear with balding or thinning issues ‘suffer’ from what’s called androgenetic alopecia – a predisposition for receding hairlines, thinning hair and that pesky bald spot in the center of your scalp. Unfortunately, people with androgenetic alopecia can’t escape the inevitable; it’s in their genes. That is to say, if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen! No matter what, the blocked production of DHT will interfere with the natural hair cycle. It doesn’t make any difference if a person with androgenetic alopecia or “pattern-baldness” wears hats…they’ll still lose their hair. Likewise, a person who doesn’t suffer from male or female-pattern baldness is not going to cause a sudden onset of hair loss by wearing hats frequently. Fortunately now, there are ways you can slow it down with products such as Propecia (Finasteride), Minoxidil (Rogaine) and a DHT blocking shampoo such as GroMD Hair Loss Prevention shampoo.
With that said, theoretically – one of the only ways that wearing a hat could have any affect on hair loss would be due to sebum buildup. Sebum is the thick, oily substance excreted from oil glands that can build up on your scalp in extremely hot, humid and sweaty conditions and can create a stiff “plug” that cuts off the hair follicle’s circulation leading to clogging of the pores in the scalp which can cause hair growth to slow down or even stop. This is completely preventable by simply washing the hair regularly in those warmer temperatures.
Speaking of circulation being conducive to hair growth, couldn’t wearing a hat disrupt follicle circulation? A hat would have to be extremely tight and be worn for a long amount of time before it started affecting the scalp’s circulation. If you’re comfortable wearing hats…we say wear them! There’s no way it will affect your hairs growth.
In contrary, hat-wearing may actually be beneficial to hair growth. Hats offer your scalp and hair protection against the sun – which can cause hair loss. Healthy hair grows quickly, and hair that has spent extensive amounts of time soaking up those harmful sun rays is less likely to be as healthy. Hats also protect the scalp from sunburn, which has shown to lead to slower hair growth.
If you feel so compelled, you can let your friends know who insist that your everlasting Dodger cap is going to leave your head shiny and glistening by the end of your 30’s…that it’s just an old wives’ tale.
If you’d like to find out hair restoration options, we offer both surgical and non-surgical hair loss solutions at our clinics.
For questions or to schedule a consultation, call one of our offices conveniently located in Irvine, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas at 888-717-5273 or contact via our website at contact Modena Hair Link 
 
 

When is it time to start considering a hair transplant?

The best way to prevent hair loss is to catch it as early as possible. With information widely available on the internet, we’re getting more patients coming to us earlier in their loss. This is great news – since there’s more options available to treat hair loss the sooner the symptoms are recognized.
If you’re one of the growing number of individuals who have caught their hair loss early, you may be wondering when the right time to consider a hair transplant is. The timing of hair transplantation depends on a variety of factors such as age, stage of hair loss, family history of hair loss, cause of hair loss, and so on.
Below, we break a few of the most common contributors to determining your candidacy for hair transplantation to help you figure out the best time to start investing in your hair.
Age
It is not uncommon for individuals to begin noticing signs of hair loss in their early 20s. For these patients, we begin with exploring what we call medical maintenance options. Examples include laser treatment, PRP therapy, prescription medications, and over-the-counter hair loss solutions which can help protect the current hair, ward of future loss, and even reverse hair loss if its recent. We go to these routes first because starting a patient on hair transplantation at such an early age can cause them to have to get multiple surgeries through out their life to maintain their desired look, costing them lots of money and jeopardizing the health of their donor area.
Stage of hair loss
If hair loss is in its beginning stages, it may not be time for a hair transplant just yet. Hair transplantation is most effective in those patients who are in more progressive stages of hair loss. Those in early stages have many options for hair restoration outside of hair transplantation.
Cause of hair loss
There are many causes of hair loss. While the most common is age and genetics, side effects of medications or diseases are pretty common as well. If it is suspected that a medication or disease may be causing your hair loss, it is best to explore this cause more. In some cases, simply changing medications or treating a disease can eliminate the hair loss.
So, when is the right time for surgery? To determine the best time for hair transplantation it is best to meet with an experienced hair restoration surgeon who can do a full analysis of your hair loss and explore all of your options with you. If you’d like to find out if you’re a candidate, give us a call today.

Hair shedding – what is normal and what should have you calling your doctor

Everyone experiences some degree of hair shedding. In general, hair shedding is considered normal. But what exactly is normal and what should have you calling your doctor?
According to experts, shedding anywhere from 1-100 hairs a day is in the normal range. That being said, 100 hairs may be a lot for one individual, while not a lot for another. What it really comes down to is what each individual’s ‘normal’ is.
If you normally shed 50 hairs a day, then all of a sudden seeing a spike in shedding of 100 hairs a day for a continued period of time, should be alarming. This is outside the normal range for you, at double the amount of shedding you typically see.
This could be a clear sign of something wrong. While it may be the result of a change in diet, habits, stress, or a new medication, it could be a sign of hair loss. Regardless of the cause, you should call your doctor and try to get to the bottom of it.
The benefit of detecting early hair-loss related causes, is stopping hair loss in its tracks. It is much easier to stop hair loss from progressing when you catch it early on, than to resolve it later on. This is because once a hair follicle dies, it is gone forever. If you can catch a hair follicle before it dies, you have a chance to keep that hair.
If you are experiencing hair shedding that is outside the normal range for you, give your doctor a call. This shedding may lead to hair loss that you can stop before it progresses. If you’d rather meet with a hair loss specialist to evaluate the causes and your options, give us a call today.

Medical conditions that cause hair loss

Hair loss can be caused by a variety of sources. Most commonly, hair loss is caused by androgenic alopecia or male/female pattern baldness.
But in some cases, hair loss may be caused by an underlying medical condition. There are many conditions that involve hair loss as a symptom.
In order to treat hair loss, you will first need to know what’s causing it. If a more serious condition is the culprit, you may need to treat the condition before the hair loss can be addressed. In some cases, the hair loss will resolve on its own as the condition is treated. In other cases, the hair loss may need to be treated alongside the condition.
But remember, your overall health and wellbeing is most important. Make sure to give the utmost priority to treating the medical condition, and only treat the hair loss as approved by your doctor.
Below is a list of the most common medical conditions behind hair loss. In most cases, a simple blood test or physical exam with your doctor can provide a diagnosis.
Thyroid disease/hormonal imbalance. Hormones play an integral role in the growth and development of scalp hair. When hormones become imbalanced (through thyroid disease or other causes), hair can thin, fall out, and stop growing.
Alopecia areata. This condition may sound similar to the common hair loss condition androgenic alopecia, but it is in fact much different. Alopecia areata involves the immune system mistakenly identifying hair follicles as foreign bodies and attacking and destroying them.
Folliculitis/infection. The scalp can become infected just like the rest of the body. Infections of the hair follicle (folliculitis) can cause patches of hair loss across the scalp.
Chronic illness. Any ongoing chronic illness can cause hair loss. When the body undergoes long-term damage, it must prioritize body processes. Because hair growth is not a crucial component to body functioning, it is often cut of nutrients first.
Medications. Hair loss is a common side effect of certain medications. Drugs used to treat such conditions as arthritis, depression, heart issues, high blood pressure, and even birth control and been linked to hair loss.
If you think your hair loss may be caused by a medical condition, you should meet with your doctor as soon as possible to be tested for potential diseases. Once a disease has been diagnosed or ruled out, you can begin the process of addressing the hair loss. You’re not alone. Give us a call today.

Smoking and hair loss

A new study claims that smoking can cause hair loss. While many have heard of the health dangers of smoking, many may not know about the link between smoking and hair loss.
Serious diseases and medical conditions such as cancer and heart disease are shown to be caused by tobacco use. New studies reported in the BMJ Journal have shown you can add hair loss to that list.
The many toxins in cigarettes are believed to be partly to blame. These toxins harm follicles, cause premature graying, and accelerate hair loss. This exact cause is believed to be due to the toxins’ damaging effect on hormones key to the production and health of your hair.
The reduction in healthy blood circulation is also to blame. Blood carries all of the nutrients your body needs. It transports nutrients to extremities and organs. When you smoke, your blood does not circulate as efficiently. This means extremities and organs don’t get the full nutrients they need. Scalp and hair follicles included.
While more research needs to be done, it’s clear that smoking isn’t good for your hair. In a study which evaluated hair health in smokers and nonsmokers, smokers reported having more thinning, graying, and hair loss than the nonsmokers did.
If you didn’t have enough reasons to put down the smokes, consider doing it for the health of your hair. For both men and women, healthy hair means higher self-confidence and a more youthful appearance.
If you’re wondering if smoking may be causing your hair loss, you should meet with an experienced and certified hair restoration surgeon. They can help you determine the cause of your hair loss through a comprehensive scalp analysis and biopsy.
The most important take-away: you have options. Give us a call today for a hair loss consultation.

I’m only 19, why am I balding?

This is a common question we receive here at Modena Hair Center. Many individuals, men in particular, wonder why they are experiencing balding in their teenage years or early 20’s.
Balding at an early age can cause confusion and embarrassment. While most men experience balding as they mature into their 30’s and 40’s, it is not uncommon for men to experience balding as soon as they become adults.
The age at which men experience balding is highly influenced by genetic factors. If the men in your family experienced early balding, you are likely to suffer the same fate.
While genetics play a big role, it is still possible for you to bald at an early age without having a family history of the trend.
Luckily, noticing your hair loss early on is beneficial. Men are more likely to notice and deal with their hair loss if it impacts them at an earlier age. Dealing with hair loss at the first sight of symptoms is the best way to reverse hair loss while also preventing continued and future hair loss.
Dealing with hair loss in the early stages
When hair loss is noticed in the early stages, it is more likely to be reversed. Additionally, the individual’s effort is more likely to prove successful at warding off future hair loss.
When you notice hair loss right away, you have likely caught the condition before the hair follicles have died. This is great news because once a hair follicle dies there is no bringing it back to life. That means that once that hair follicle dies, that hair loss is permanent.
If you catch the hair follicles before they have died, you can utilize medical management methods to restore your hair, reversing the hair loss. Examples of effective medical management tools are medication, topical solutions, specialized shampoos, laser therapy, and PRP therapy.
These medical management tools can not only help to reverse recent hair loss, but will prevent future hair loss as well. This prevention will be the key to maintaining and protecting your hair.
If you’re experiencing hair loss and would like to find out more about your options, give us a call for a consultation today.

Is anemia causing your hair loss?

Anemia is a medical condition in which you do not have enough iron in your blood. Iron deficiency can be caused by a variety of things but the most common is not consuming enough iron-rich foods. Illness, pregnancy, and loss of blood can also cause anemia.
While anemia is a blood condition that mainly effects our body’s functioning, did you know that iron plays a big role in the health and development of your hair?
Ferritin, a type of stored iron, produces the protein in our hair’s cells. This stored protein is crucial to healthy hair development.
When we’re low in iron, our body pulls ferritin from non-essential tissue like our hair and pushes it to essential tissues like our heart.
This pulling of ferritin causes hairs to shed and in turn, causes a disruption in the hair growth cycle.
Without the proper stores of ferritin in our hair’s cells, our hair lacks the essential protein needed to grow healthy, strong, hair.
If you think you may be anemic, your first task is to contact your doctor and let them know you’d like blood work done to test for anemia.
The test is very simple. Iron levels are analyzed and results are show to be within or outside of the healthy range.
If you discover that you are in fact anemic, don’t worry. Thankfully, you have many options available to you through diet and supplementation to restore proper iron levels in your blood.
Below is a list of iron-rich foods that are great for people with anemia. Remember to always follow your doctor’s advice. Anemia is very treatable and most often involves the use of both supplementation and a healthy diet.

  • Red meat
  • Dark leafy greens
  • Whole grains
  • Legumes
  • Lentils
  • Peaches
  • Prunes
  • Potato skins
  • Nuts

If you are experiencing hair loss and have ruled out anemia as a cause, give us a call for a medical management consultation today. Here at Modena, we are able to conduct tests and biopsies to find the root cause of your hair loss.