Many people who have had injuries on their scalp or face find that there is a lack of hair growth where the scar resides. But, why is that?
The scalp is similar to the skin in that it is made up of layers of dermis. When the tissue is damaged as a result of a trauma, the underlying hair follicles that reside in the tissue endure damage as well. This is why individuals who have scars on their scalp often complain of a lack of hair growth in that area.
Over time, as the tissue heals and repairs itself, we can sometimes see new hair growth in the scarred area in some patients. But, this process can takes years, if it happens at all. Unfortunately, what usually happens is the scarred area is left with no hair, which can highly affect the overall appearance of our hair and beard.
This can be particularly upsetting to individuals with large and apparent scars. These scars can be a result of a fall, a poorly done weave, or even an FUT strip hair transplant procedure. The scar is made more obvious due to the absence of hair in that area.
The important thing to keep in mind is that every body heals differently. Some individuals may be prone to deep scar tissue and keloids, while others rarely scar. Additionally, various factors can play a role in the healing process such as the depth and severity of the scar tissue.
Thankfully, there are options for those who are suffering from scar tissue on the scalp or beard. A hair transplant procedure known as scar revision surgery involves transplanting hair follicles into the scarred area. The newly transplanted follicles grow in the scar tissue, coming in naturally and covering the visibility of the scar.
Here at Modena, we’ve seen great results with scar repair surgery. If you’d like to learn more about this procedure, give us a call.
Tag Archives: hair restoration
Using the sauna to promote hair growth
Saunas offer many health benefits such as flushing toxins, boosting the immune system, and aiding in recovery post-work out. But did you know they can also stimulate and promote faster hair growth?
An additional benefit of saunas is that they increase blood flow to the skin. Increased blood flow to the skin also means to the hair follicles. Blood is known as a transporter, meaning it carries nutrients we need such as oxygen and minerals. When there is more blood flowing to our skin and hair providing the nutrients our bodies are craving, we see an increase in hair growth.
One downside saunas may have on our hair has to do with the heat. Extremely hot environments can cause our hair to lose moisture. This means the hair can feel brittle and dry and we can see an increase in breakage. If you are going to use to sauna regularly to stimulate hair growth, you will also want to make sure you’re taking care to retain your hair’s moisture.
To prevent damage to your hair as a result of loss of moisture, consider applying a deep conditioner prior to entering the sauna. The conditioner acts a barrier to the heat while also giving your hair a deep conditioning treatment. When you’re finished with your sauna session, simply rinse out the conditioner.
While saunas may be a great natural way to stimulate hair growth, they are not a miracle cure for hair loss. When we experience progressing or sustained hair loss, our follicles actually die off. Unfortunately, there is not yet a cure to revive dead follicles. When our hair loss gets to this more advanced stage, our options turn to surgical and nonsurgical methods of hair restoration, such as PRP therapy and laser therapy.
If you are experiencing hair loss and would like to learn more about the surgical and nonsurgical options available to you, give us a call. We have over ten years of experience in advanced hair restoration techniques.
Does hair shedding play a role in hair loss?
Hair shedding during brushing, washing and throughout the day is a normal process that happens to everyone.
To understand hair shedding, we first need to understand the hair growth cycle. Hair grows in phases. There’s the anagen (growth), catagen (regression), telogen (resting), and exogen (shedding) phases. It can take months or even years for our hair to cycle through these phases. Once the hair is shed, the process begins again with new growth.
There can be a wide range in the amount of hair loss each individual experiences. Some may experience minimal fall out when brushing while others may experience handfuls of hair falling out each time they wash their hair. Both of these scenarios can be considered normal fall out.
So when does fall out become something we should be concerned about?
Excessive and abnormal shedding could be a sign of progressing hair loss. It can also be a sign of an underlying medical condition. If you are experiencing more than your normal hair shedding for a prolonged period, consider seeing your doctor to rule out any medical conditions. Once those have been ruled out, you should immediately begin maintaining and protecting the hair you have. Dr. Yazdan believes the best way to fight hair loss is to be as preventative as possible.
If you would like to learn more about how maintain the hair you have, give us a call for a consultation. We specialize in alternative methods to protect and keep your hair.
Is hair gel causing your hair to fall out?
Hair gel on its own does not cause hair loss. But, not keeping your scalp and follicles clean and healthy can.
If you use hair gel regularly, you should be washing your hair daily. Gel builds up on the scalp and clogs pores. This can constrict the follicles and interfere with the growth process.
To understand how gel interferes with the growth process, we first have to understand the cycle our hair grows in. Each hair grows for several months and years. It then goes into a resting period for a couple of weeks before it falls out. Once it falls out, a new hair grows in its place. If there is gel or sebum build up on the scalp, the follicles can become blocked. This blockage cannot be resolved with regular shampooing methods. Over time, the hair follicle miniaturizes and eventually dies.
Unfortunately, once a hair follicle dies there is no bringing it back to life. This is why its so important to take good care of our hair.
While hair gel does not directly cause hair loss, it can definitely contribute if you’re not taking care of your hair and scalp. Dr. Yazdan believes the best way to fight hair loss is to prevent it. Before you begin noticing build up on your scalp, consider switching to an organic, all natural hair gel or wax. Limiting the harsh chemicals that sit on the scalp will improve the health of the scalp and follicles.
If you are experiencing any type of hair loss and would like to learn more about managing it and re-growing it, give us a call. Here at Modena, we’re experts at utilizing alternative methods to restore and reverse hair loss.
Hair transplants aren’t just for scalps – are you a candidate for a beard transplant?
It’s true what they say – we often want what we don’t have. Luckily, medical advancements have made it easy for us to get the bodies and traits we desire.
Hair transplants aren’t just for scalps anymore. We can use the same techniques done in traditional hair transplant surgeries to create the beard you’ve always wanted. FUE and Strip techniques can be used to extract hair follicles from the donor area. These follicles are then transplanted onto the face in the desired shape to create a nice, full, natural beard. The process is as simple and straight forward as a hair transplant procedure. And the healing time is similar as well.
Beard transplants aren’t just for those who are unable to grow a beard naturally. This procedure is a great and effective solution for those suffering from patchiness and thinning of the beard.
Here at Modena, we have given hundreds of men the beard they always wanted. If you’re interested in finding out if you’re a candidate for this revolutionary advancement in hair transplants, give us a call for consultation.
Is stress causing you to lose your hair?
We’ve all heard that stress can cause our hair to fall out – but is this actually true? According to the Mayo Clinic, yes! There are three types of hair loss that are correlated with high stress levels. They are telogen effluvium, trichotillomania, and alopecia areata.
Telogen effluvium – this condition causes hair follicles to be converted into a resting phase. The affected hairs can then fall out suddenly during brushing and washing.
Trichotillomania – this condition has more to do with hair pulling as a coping mechanism for stress. Some individuals utilize hair pulling as a way of dealing with negative feelings, such as stress.
Alopecia areata – although there are many factors that can cause this condition, severe stress is thought to play a role in some patients. Stress can affect our immune system which then attacks our own hair follicles causing hair loss.
The good news about stress related hair loss is that it isn’t permanent for most patients IF you can get your stress under control. Of course, that’s easier said than done. But, the important thing to keep in mind is that living a healthy lifestyle involves more than just adding vegetables to our dinner and going for a walk occasionally. Our mental health plays a huge role in our complete wellbeing. If we don’t take care of all aspects of our wellbeing, we may find that our bodies are negatively impacted.
Here at Modena, Dr. Yazdan specializes in the medical management of hair loss. Our clientele often face extremely stressful environments. We are skilled in evaluating the condition of your hair loss and determining the exact cause, utilizing tests and lab work. Once we know the cause we can begin working towards correcting the problem.
If you think stress is causing your hair loss and you aren’t sure how to reverse or stop the process, give us a call for a consultation.
Laser therapy for hair loss
Although half of all men experience hair loss, many don’t see a hair transplant surgeon until much of their volume is gone. This is unfortunate because once a hair follicle has died, there is no bringing it back to life. That’s why it’s so important protect the hair we have now.
Dr. Yazdan believes the best way to treat hair loss is to be as proactive as possible. As soon as you start noticing thinning or hair loss you should be taking steps to maintain and protect your current volume and density from future and continued hair loss. Laser therapy can be a great tool to prevent future hair loss, even reversing hair loss and thinning in the right candidates.
Laser therapy is a great option for those looking for a treatment with no known side effects and a high success rate. The treatment is extremely easy to use – simply put the laser cap on and let it do its work! Dr. Yazdan likes to use his laser therapy cap while working on the computer or driving to work. Instructions are easy to understand and you can multi-task while getting the treatment.
Perhaps you’re interested in taking a more aggressive course of action towards your hair loss… Laser therapy can be used in conjunction with PRP treatments, medications, shampoos, and even hair transplant surgeries. In fact – it often increases the efficacy of these treatments and procedures.
If you’re interested in learning more about laser therapy for hair loss and want to know if you’re the right candidate for it – give us a call for a free consultation today.
Does it really matter which hair transplant surgeon performs your surgery?
The answer to this question is a resounding – yes! Not all hair transplant surgeons are created equal. The last thing anyone who is seeking a hair transplant surgery wants is to come out of the surgery with a worse situation than before. We’ve seen this time and time again: quality matters. It is much more difficult to fix a botched surgery than it is to do it right the first time. This can happen if you don’t do your due diligence in researching an expert hair restoration surgeon.
So how we can make sure our potential hair transplant surgeon is the right fit?
First and foremost, do your research. A qualified surgeon with expertise will have before and after pictures, plenty of information on their practice, and positive reviews.
Next, ask lots of questions. It is important to know what types of surgeries your doctor performs, if he does them by hand or machine, and what his success rate is. A qualified hair restoration surgeon will be more than happy to answer any questions, making you feel comfortable and confident in proceeding with surgery.
Above all else, utilize your resources. The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons is the leading authority on hair loss. If your potential doctor isn’t a member of the ISHRS, there may be a reason; it’s possible they may not be certified as a hair transplant surgeon.
Dr. Yazdan is not only a member of the ISHRS but he has over 10 years of experience with hair transplants and has conducted thousands of successful surgeries. There are a plethora of case studies, before and after pictures, and testimonials available right here on our website.
While hair transplant surgery is minimally invasive, it is important to realize that is a surgery requiring extensive medical expertise. Protect your hair and appearance and ensure your surgeon is qualified, has had proper training, experience, and certifications.
Do hair growth vitamins really work?
We’ve all seen them on the shelves at our local store as well as advertisements on television. But do hair growth vitamins really help us achieve healthy, longer, thicker hair?
To answer this question we must first educate ourselves on what exactly is in these vitamins. Though exact ingredients and profiles vary brand to brand, most hair growth vitamins contain some combination of vitamin c, vitamin a, vitamin b3, fatty acids, collagen, folic acid, and biotin.
These nutrients are essential to hair growth in humans. According to manufacturers’ claims, these vitamins can stimulate hair growth, prevent hair loss, promote healthy texture, fight dryness and damage, decrease scalp flaking, and prevent breakage.
Sounds great but do they actually work? While there is promising research that these nutrients are beneficial to our hair as well our skin and nails, some of the doses needed to see results are much higher than any found in an over the counter capsule. That being said – they don’t hurt. If there is a vitamin deficiency at the root of your hair problems, increasing your vitamin intake can be a good place to start.
Just don’t be unrealistic about the results. While hair growth vitamins can help some people, they aren’t a miracle cure for hair loss and won’t help in more severe clinical hair loss cases. If you fall into the latter category, we suggest meeting with a qualified hair transplant surgeon who specializes in medical management to figure out where to begin.
PRP – Who benefits from it?
Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP Therapy has been gaining popularity recently. For those who are unfamiliar with the therapy, Platelet Rich Plasma is derived from your own blood. This plasma contains growth factors and healing agents. Using a small amount of blood, the doctor separates the platelets and activates them. These platelets are then injected into the scalp and get to work decreasing inflammation and promoting healing and hair growth.
We know PRP is an effective treatment for hair loss, but who is it most effective on? The great thing about PRP Therapy is that it is effective on both men and women. Unlike certain prescription medications that are reserved only for men, PRP does not discriminate. We have seen amazing results on both our male and female patients. PRP also works on people of all ages. Some of you may have seen Dr. Yazdan on the Doctors TV show performing PRP on an eight year old patient with trauma scarring.
While PRP Therapy can be used in conjunction with hair transplant surgery, it is also a great solo tool for those who may not be ideal surgery candidates. You are an ideal PRP candidate if you are experiencing ANY thinning or hair loss, even if just a small amount. PRP decreases inflammation around thinning hair follicles which leads to thicker and denser hair. In addition, it prevents the dying off of follicles, which means PRP can actually save your hair and stop hair loss in its tracks, thus making it an ideal treatment for anyone who is just beginning to notice hair loss and thinning.
So, what can you expect after starting your PRP Therapy at Modena Hair Institute? Results begin to be visible after about three weeks and gradually increase over the following months. Dr. Yazdan recommends patients do at least four sessions to see desirable results. You can also increase results at home by utilizing dermal rolling.
Dr. Yazdan believes the best defense in fighting hair loss is preventing it. So start fighting back against your hair loss and give us a call, today!
How often should you wash your hair?
There are a lot of differing opinions on this topic for both men and women. There are many factors that contribute to how often you should wash your hair. For example, if your hair is curly vs straight, long vs short, thin vs thick. Further, how often you sweat and what products you use can also play a role in how often you wash your hair.
There are benefits to washing your hair everyday as well as washing your hair less frequently. If you are using gels, hairsprays, and other products, washing your hair everyday can be beneficial. Letting these products sit on your scalp can cause irritation and dryness since they clog your pores.
If you sweat often or exercise daily, you may also want to wash your hair daily. Sweat contains lactic acid and DHT which can cause hair loss in some people.
If your hair is naturally oily, this would also be ideal for daily washing. Oils or ‘sebum’ can build up on the scalp and clog the pores. Sebum also contains DHT, the potential hair-loss causing hormone.
The type of hair you have (curly, long, thick, etc.) can determine how sebum moves through and builds up on your hair. Straight, thin hair often shows oil more significantly.
So now we know when we should wash our hair, but can washing it too frequently be bad for us?
Yes. The oils our hair secretes are our body’s way of naturally conditioning our hair. If we’re constantly stripping our hair of its natural oils it can dry out and appear frizzy and unhealthy.
Additionally, if we’re not using quality shampoos, we can be stripping our hair of its nutrients. Many cheap shampoos contain harsh chemicals such as sulfates. These chemicals are known to cause hair and scalp problems.
If you are experiencing any hair loss, considering investing in a good shampoo and washing more often. Ease up on the gels and products that can clog our pores and constrict the hair follicles. Here at Modena, we stand by prevention as the best way to fight hair loss. If you have begun noticing hair loss or thinning and would like to learn more about ways to protect your hair and prevent future hair loss, give us a call for a hair loss management consultation.
Are women good candidates for hair transplant surgery?
Women can experience hair loss similar to men. It is often genetic and known as female pattern baldness or FPB. This often occurs during hormonal changes, like during menopause.
The difference between male and female hair loss is that women’s hair loss appears differently. Men often experience receding hair lines and balding of the crown. Women often experience diffuse thinning, meaning, the hair becomes very thin throughout the entire scalp. This can make it difficult to transplant hair follicles. If all the hair follicles (including in the donor area) are thinning and becoming weak, they are not going to be strong enough to sustain transplantation.
There is another type of hair loss that women commonly experience. It is known as traction alopecia. This is a fancy term to describe hair loss as a result of tension. This tension can be caused by braids, weaves, and hair ties. The constant tension created by pulling on the hair causes strong new hairs to not grow back. Unfortunately, this damage is permanent. But the good news is, hair transplant surgeries are effective on this type of hair loss.
If you are a woman experiencing diffuse thinning hair loss, you may not be the best candidate for surgery. Thankfully, here at Modena Hair Center, Dr. Yazdan is skilled in utilizing alternative methods of hair growth, specifically for women experiencing hair loss. We have seen fantastic results with PRP therapy and laser therapy on our female patients. If you would like to learn more about how to reverse your hair loss, give us a call today.
Does hair coloring damage men’s hair?
Hair dying is extremely popular among both men and women. In fact, the Huffington Post states “it drives the beauty industry.” But what is hair dye really doing to our hair?
In order for hair dye to effectively color your hair, ammonia is used to lift up the hair’s cuticle (the protective covering around your hair’s shaft). Peroxide is then used to destroy the current color of the hair. This is when the damage begins. You’ve lost your protective covering and harmed the hair. Then the dye is placed. Once it’s been placed your hair begins absorbing it and the cuticle seals again.
But for most people, the damage has been done. The longer the cuticle is lifted the more dried out the hair becomes. The peroxide actually strips your hair of its nutrients. When someone has hair that feels brittle and straw like, it is often the result of a bad dye job. Not as common, but still a situation that happens to some individuals who dye their hair, is hair thinning and hair loss. This can occur when the chemicals come in contact with the scalp and cause a reaction.
So what is the solution? If you are concerned about your hair and are sensitive to treatments and dyes, it may be best to avoid hair coloring all together. For those who don’t want to give up hair coloring just yet, there are some things you can do to ensure the health of your hair through the hair coloring process. Many salons now offer options to add protein treatments to the hair coloring process. These proteins (often keratin) work to add nutrients back into the hair while the cuticle is open. This reduces the amount of harm hair coloring can have and can leave your hair feeling nourished, soft, and shiny.
It is important to take care of and protect our hair to the best of our ability. Dr. Yazdan believes the best way to treat hair loss is to prevent it. The things you do now to take care of your hair will influence your future hair’s health and appearance.
Should your hair transplant be done by a machine or by hand?
Anyone who has researched hair transplant surgery has probably heard of the ARTAS and NeoGraft. Simply put for those who are unfamiliar, the Artas and Neograft are devices meant to assist physicians with hair transplant surgery. These products claim to provide a minimally invasive procedure with a high graft extraction rate that produces a natural look.
Sounds great, right? But, upon further research and evaluation we see why hair transplant surgery by a machine may not yield the best results.
The NeoGraft utilizes an electrical power punch and suction to extract grafts. This is particularly concerning as this suction is believed by experienced hair transplant surgeons, including Dr. Yazdan, to damage the fragile hair follicles. If these follicles are damaged, they will not survive once transplanted. The power punch utilized by the NeoGraft is rather large compared to the hand held instruments developed by Dr. Yazdan, and a larger punch size means an increase in the risk of scarring.
The ARTAS is deemed to be the robotic method of hair transplantation. The device utilizes a computer and is very expensive for physicians and patients alike. According to FDA trials, the ARTAS showed no superiority to the hand held FUE method by an experienced hair transplant surgeon.
The most important thing to remember when researching your hair transplant surgery is to consider quality over quantity. Although you may hear claims of high graft extraction rates from the above devices, this number is irrelevant if the grafts do not survive due to damage. In addition, large punch size can cause scarring which negates one of the great things about the FUE method of hair transplant surgery which is minimal scarring. Here at Modena, Dr. Yazdan has developed his own hand tools to ensure the best results possible. If you’re interested in finding out more about his method, give us a call today.
How many grafts do you need for your hair transplant surgery?
This is a question that is often asked on the message boards and over the phone by potential patients. Unfortunately, this question cannot be answered without a consultation with an experienced hair transplant surgeon. The reason is: everyone’s case is different.
There are many factors that go into the graft number. The stage of hair loss, the quality of the donor area, the number of follicles that can be received from the donor area, the goals of the patient, and the medical history all play a role in the estimated graft number. During a consultation, the doctor can evaluate the scalp and these various factors and develop an estimated graft count for surgery.
Sometimes, a very high number of grafts is needed to achieve the patient’s goals. In this case, the doctor may suggest multiple surgeries.
An important thing to keep in mind when getting graft quotes from hair transplant surgeons, is that not all grafts are created equal. Some doctors (or machines) boast of high graft extraction numbers. Having an excessive amount of grafts is of no benefit if the grafts have been damaged during extraction (such as when they are suctioned out). Damaged grafts do no grow once transplanted.
If you would like to find out more about the hand extracted methods of surgery used at Modena Hair Center, give us a call today.
“The Doctors” Ask Dr. Yazdan to Help Women with Eyebrow Hair Loss
The Doctor’s TV show and Celebrity Plastic Surgeon Dr. Ordon call’s Dr. Amir Yazdan from the Modena Hair Transplant Institute to seek help for an audience member on the show who had lost her eyebrows and her hair. After the show the patient was seen by Dr.Yazdan. Stay tuned for the followup show to see what happens to Porsha.
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