Tag Archives: hair thinning treatments

My Hair Transplant Results After 1 Year

It’s now been 12 months since I had my hair transplant at Modena Hair Institute and Dr. Yazdan and his team kindly asked me if I could detail my thoughts and feelings about the entire process. I happily said yes. If I help just one person feel understood and comfortable with going in for hair restoration I will have succeeded.

First let’s go over cost. 

The number of grafts I had done was around 1,500. The price I paid was close to $8,000. This is alot of money, but if you know anything about hair transplantation, you get what you pay for. I had done plenty of research (believe me, it was a headache) before I chose to go with Dr. Yazdan. My hairline had been thinning and receding for years, and it was going quickly, I knew if I wanted to keep my hair and not go bald, I had to get a procedure that was no-nonsense and highly specialized.

Second, let’s look at the results!

  • Many people ask me, “Ray, are you happy with it? Are you happy with the results after a year?” My answer immediately is, “Yes! Just look at it.” I tell them. Compared to what my hair was like before, the 1,500 or so grafts that Dr. Yazdan spread across the crown and hairline practically revived my masculine look. Compared to what my hairline was like before (see ‘before’ picture below) it wasn’t looking good – it was almost impossible to style and my widows peak was so deep that I couldn’t hide it behind any comb style I could try.

  • As for the new hair transplant, the only downside I would site is it took close to 8 months for my hairline to look like it’s most natural and grown-in self. The results are not instant, but this is hardly a downside considering the results are permanent and gorgeous. You do have to be patient – the truly beautiful results won’t show themselves for 6-9 months afterwards (results may vary).
  • Let’s talk follicles. Going in I had no idea about the importance of what’s called ‘follicular units’. A follicular unit can contain up to five strands of hair. At the lowest count, however, one follicular unit can contain one strand of hair. 

follicular units

Part of the job of Dr. Yazdan during the surgery was so survey which units or grafts had the best and most numerous strands, and how they would best suit my new hairline. I had the impression that FUE hair transplantation was simply taking one unit from the back and placing it in the front. Dr. Yazdan would take the richest follicular units and place them aesthetically and strategically to form the new crown. This is another instance where you get what you pay for. Clinics usually charge per graft, and therefore come to the same rate, but the outcome depends entirely on the strategy, eye and expertise of the surgeon.

  • During my post-surgery consultation, when I asked Dr. Yazdan about the potential for more hair transplants in the future, he assured me that I was safely prepared to have more if I wanted to, because there were plenty of good grafts remaining at my donor site for future harvesting.

Let’s talk about styling

  • Choosing a hairstyle that adds more volume to your hair is always best if you are thinning or bald in any area of your scalp. A common hair style after a hair transplant is combing the hair forward (if you have a large widows peak) or backwards (if the crown is thinning).
  • The longer your hair grows, the more coverage you will have. When hair is combed backward, it can be helpful in covering the thin areas behind the transplanted hairline. Using gel or wax to hold your hair in place is a good choice. Also, finding a hairstyle that involves blow drying your hair is a great way to make it seem like you have more hair than you do. 
  • A great way to add more to your hair thickness is scalp micro pigmentation. I will be returning to Modena Hair Institute next year for a full scalp micro pigmentation session to add the appearance of thickness! (It also alot cheaper than a hair transplant, and requires no recovery time, so I’m excited for the quick tune up).

smp orange county

Finally I want to emphasize: do your research!

  • Make absolutely sure that you’ve gone through both online and offline records for the clinic, their credentials, reviews and look at case studies done by the surgeon who would be treating you.
  • I started by talking about why the high price tag for the procedure (in my eyes) was worth it. I am so happy with the results and with the level of detail and expertise Dr. Yazdan provided. I can’t believe I will feel confident with my hair for another decade to come.

Women: Is Genetic Hair Loss in Your Near Future?

Almost every woman eventually develops some degree of female-pattern hair loss and as many as two-thirds suffer hair thinning or bald spots. It can start any time after the onset of puberty, but women tend to first notice it around menopause, when hair loss typically increases. The risk rises with age, and it’s higher for women with a history of hair loss on either side of the family.
Androgenic alopecia, also known as female-pattern hair loss is characterized by progressive visible thinning of scalp hair or balding in genetically susceptible women. Hair loss often has a more devastating impact on women than on most men considering it’s less ‘socially acceptable’ for them. Alopecia can severely impact a woman’s emotional well-being and quality of life.
The most common type of hair loss in both sexes – in men, genetic hair loss typically begins above the temples forming an “M” shaped receding hairline, often progressing to baldness. Hair loss begins with thinning at the part line followed by increased diffuse hair loss. Fortunately enough for women, in only rare cases does a female’s hairline recede and rarely become bald.
It’s important to note- there are several potential causes of hair loss in women including medical conditions, medications, and emotional stress. Find an experienced hair restoration specialist to determine the cause before proceeding with any hair loss treatments.

Hair Restoration clinics will use the Ludwig classification to describe female pattern hair loss.
Type I – described as minimal thinning
Type II – characterized by noticeable decrease in volume, and noticeable widening of the part-line
Type III – displays diffuse thinning, making a see-through appearance on top of the scalp
FPHL (female-pattern hair loss) or the thinning of hair and subsequent shedding is due to gradual miniaturization of genetically marked hair follicles and represents shortening of the anagen (growth) phase of the hair follicle with an increase in the telogen/anagen ratio of the affected scalp. An understanding of the normal hair follicle life cycle is critically linked to an appreciation of the physiology of hair loss.
At the cellular level, follicle miniaturization is thought to be caused by a reduction in dermal papilla volume, as a consequence of a decrease in the number of cells per papilla. Nonetheless, hair follicles are still present and cycling, even in bald scalps!
While the clinically detected patterns of male-pattern hair loss (MPHL) have been described in the Norwood classification. On the other hand, hair loss patterns in females are typically characterized by preservation of the anterior hairline and diffuse central thinning over the mid-frontal scalp. However, there are exceptions where men will exhibit a Ludwig pattern of loss while some women can display a typical Norwood pattern.
One treatment option for female-pattern hair loss is PRP procedures with ACell. Platelet-Rich Plasma or its acronym PRP, is an injection of a patients own blood plasma containing a concentration of platelets that deliver an abundance of growth factors such as ACell to boost healing and hair growth. Dr. Yazdan has also had great success using Laser Hair Therapy, GroMD Hair Loss Prevention Shampoo, and in more advanced stages of female-pattern hair loss, a hair restoration surgery may be necessary in order to restore your hair. Maintenance is key in keeping the hair you have while producing thicker, healthier hair!
Diagnosing hair loss in females in known to be a little trickier than in male patients. At Modena Hair Restoration, Dr. Yazdan may order a blood test or perform a small scalp biopsy in order to determine the proper form of hair loss. If you feel you’re experiencing unusual or unexpected hair loss, Modena may have the solution for you!

 

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