Tag Archives: platelet rich plasma

Turkey Hair Transplant Gone Terribly Wrong

Before you embark on a hair transplant in Turkey or anywhere oversees for that matter there are some fundamental questions you need to be asking yourself.
People come in droves because while a hair transplant can cost up to $20,000 in the US, in Istanbul, it ranges from $600-$2,000. Too good to be true? You’ve heard the saying- YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!
Yes, your hair restoration procedure will most likely be considerably cheaper than the US but there are reasons for that. Having a surgical procedure shouldn’t be taken lightly as there are many CRITICAL risk factors involved. Let’s discuss the facts and questions you should be asking yourself before buying a plane ticket to Turkey.

  1. Springing up like rabbits-There are over 500 Hair Transplant clinics in Turkey and of those 500 – only 32 of them are members of the ISHRS-International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery – of those 32, about half are qualified and real hair transplant surgeons. The rest are just “technician clinics” performing your hair transplant despite LEGAL requirements that all transplant operations are performed by a doctor. Not a good sign. (more info on the importance of surgeons being an ISHRS member)
  2. These clinics will stack upward of 15 hair transplant patients in a single room all being operated on at once. Your risk of infection now plummets through the roof. This would never be tolerated in the United States. A Hair transplant requires concentration, focus and attention to detail-how is this possible with 15 other surgeries happening right next to you?
  3. If you’re part of the majority that’s being operated on by under-qualified technicians, your risk of a botched operation increases significantly. Risks include (but certainly not limited to)
  • Skin infections
  • Disastrous scarring on both front and back of the head
  • Ingrown grafts which will require another operation for removal
  • Unnatural results due to inexperience of graft placement and angle
  • Low graft survival rate
  • Zero results

If you are you okay with subjecting your body to these grim risks and the unknown.. then Turkey may just be the place for you, but it is very unlikely.
As you can see in the photo above, this is a fitting example of a gentleman that went oversees to Turkey for ‘what he thought’ was going to be a cheap hair transplant. Only to get back to the states with excessively large ingrown grafts deeply burrowed under the skin at his hairline. How is this caused? By someone that’s inexperienced making recipient sites far too deep resulting in one graft getting placed on top of one another. Now you have a double ingrown hair growing out of one incision. The site depth must always match the length of the hair graft. Finally, you’ve now learned your lesson (unfortunately after the matter) and you’re ready to make an appointment with an ABFM board-certified experienced hair transplant surgeon in order to successfully remove the cyst formations. You’ll need to be put under another local anesthetic while your physician makes an incision into the scalp to remove the infected cysts. You are then stitched back up even furthering your chances of more scarring in front of the hairline which leads to even more complications.
Over the years, Dr. Yazdan has seen and fixed countless botched patients coming to him and his qualified peers for reconstructive surgeries to fix the operation Turkey’s clinics have mishandled. Unfortunately, many reconstructive hair transplant doctors have slowed down accepting patients due to several factors. After a patient has been neglected, it’s extremely hard to repair once the damage has been done and while your reconstructive results may help, its likely you’ll still be less than satisfied with your overall outcome. As professionals in the field, we highly recommend staying within the US, finding an experienced and successful doctor that’s easily researchable via the internet with excellent reviews, before and after photos and is a member of the ISHRS.

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

Treatment for Early Signs of Balding

early signs of balding
The progressive nature of hair loss causes its sufferers to experience a mounting sense of dread and anxiety over their aesthetic deterioration. Responding to early signs of balding is often performed in panic and haste, but we’re here to advise the contrary. Know that tens of millions of men and women worldwide are experiencing hair thinning and loss right now. And that advances in the hair restoration industry in response to this universal phenomenon have been extremely fruitful.

For example, just in the last few years, platelet-rich plasma treatments for women have shown remarkable clinical results in decelerating hair loss.

Medical therapies like PRP and stem cell therapy – solutions which would have seemed unthinkable a few years ago – are now proving to fight hair loss better than ever possible. There are also strong proactive topical treatments like groMD follicle activator spray and groMD shampoo/conditioner, if mixed with finasteride or minoxidil, that can halt hair loss to a large degree.

Signs of Balding
A conspicuous absence of density near the widows peak and front temple are often the first signs of hair loss among men.

Excessive shedding in the shower or after sleep are also beginning warning signs for both men and women.

Loss of density on the crown and on the top of the head among males can often occur before anywhere else.

Among women, perceived visibility on the scalp where hair is often parted is usually a first sign of pattern baldness.

Study Yourself in the Mirror
Before rushing to search for remedies online or getting in touch with an expert in the hair restoration marketplace, look in the mirror and pull your hair back from your temple areas. Is there clear evidence of follicle miniaturization on the front ‘V’ pattern of your scalp and widows peak? If so, you are very likely experiencing early signs of balding that may lead to major hairline recession if not treated

Still more detailed, place a mirror above your head and towards the back near the crown, can you perceive areas of the scalp covered with little to no hair? If so, you have likely progressed beyond the early stages of hair loss and are advancing on the Norwood scale.

Treatment Options for Early Signs of Balding
Now that you’ve established that a more-than-normal amount of hair loss is occurring, and that a change in lifestyle or diet will likely fail to halt the progression of your hair loss, it’s time to consider the strongest treatment options to fight early signs of hair loss.

Perhaps the most well-known medical treatment to mitigate hair loss is finasteride. Finasteride blocks dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness. Taking a daily dose of finasteride, in pill form, sold under the brand names Propecia® and Proscar®, has been clinically proven to re-grow hair in 65% of men and slow hair loss in virtually all patients.

A popular and proven topical treatment to fight hair loss is Minoxidil, sold under the brand name Rogaine®. Minoxidil stimulates inactive follicles and decelerates hair loss and follicle miniaturization. Minoxidil is usually applied via liquid or foam.

While finasteride and minoxidil are powerful treatments in helping to slow hair loss, they are costly, require lifelong commitment, and may have negative side effects. GroMD shampoo and conditioner and groMD follicle activator spray is simple and easy-to-use, free of sulfates, parabens, and other harmful chemicals, so everyone can adopt a light daily regimen that prevents hair loss. GroMD’s fortified and expertly refined DHT-blocking formula is enriched with growth-factor peptides and proteins, as well as anti-inflammatory mediators and anagen growth stimulators. Treatment with the groMD system has led to a significant increase in thickness and hair density in some patients.

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.

What is PRP Therapy?

PRP therapy, also known as platelet rich plasma therapy, is an increasingly popular technique for hair restoration. To give some context, a platelet is a cell particle without a nucleus, lacking DNA, and is responsible for proper blood clotting. What most people don’t know, though, is that platelets also contain a significant amount of healing factors and growth proteins. These characteristics, then, make it very effective in treatment for hair loss. This plasma, of course, can only be obtained by extracting it from a patient’s blood.

During a PRP treatment, patients have their blood drawn & stored in small vials. These are then brought to a separate room where they’re placed in a machine & rapidly spun in different directions. This multi-spin technique is a special touch by Dr. Yazdan & Modena Hair Institute, and it means that there’s a near-total extraction of PRP in the end, which is almost unheard of otherwise.

To fully understand PRP therapy, it’s also vital to understand two things: stem cells & ACell.

Let’s start with the former. As far as stem cells go, there are two types: embryonic and adult. The former are extracted from, well, embryos, and have many potential applications in medicine, but in this context we’ll focus on the latter. Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells found throughout the body after development; they multiply by cell division to replenish dying cells, and regenerate damaged tissues in turn. This combination of platelets and stem cells creates a hair growth serum that can quickly promote strong, stable hair growth. As for the other version of this procedure, the additional factor that comes into play is a product known as ACell, which is made out of multiple carbohydrates, collagens, proteins, and other components that facilitate a regenerative process. It, like stem cells, is mixed in with the PRP to enhance efficacy.

While this procedure tends to be considered an option for people who need an alternative to a hair transplant, PRP can also be used in combination with FUE or FUT hair transplant surgery procedures. During an FUE procedure, the PRP is harvested and injected primarily in the donor and recipient zone.  In FUT/Strip procedures, the PRP is injected in the donor scar as well as the recipient area. We have noticed that patients who undergo PRP with their surgery tend to see decreased graft shedding after the procedure, along with faster healing, improved strip scar outcome, and quicker visible results.

The procedure starts with the doctor drawing 100ml of blood, similar to a regular blood draw at the lab. The blood is then put inside of a centrifuge in Dr. Yazdan’s proprietary method which includes multiple spins at different RPM’s to separate the platelet rich plasma from the platelet poor plasma and red blood cells. The PRP is then harvested and injected with a microneedle by Dr. Yazdan in the areas where a patient is experiencing hair loss. The process generally takes about 45 minutes, and there is usually no downtime after having a PRP procedure; many patients are even able to have it done during their lunch break. Patients can sometimes experience some soreness in the scalp for up to 24 hours, which is normal, and resolves by itself.

A patient of Dr. Yazdan undergoing PRP therapy.

Dr. Yazdan, here at Modena Hair Institute, is one of the few doctors who actually performs the injections and PRP procedure himself, while other clinics will irresponsibly let technicians and assistants carry it out. Technicians may be cheaper and helpful to the doctors who don’t feel like doing their own procedures, but the fact of the matter is that they haven’t undergone the years of education and vigorous training that a board certified physician has. This inexperience can increase the risk of poor results, even including loss of hair after the procedure. It’s imperative to search for a licensed physician, such as Dr. Yazdan, who specializes in hair restoration and hair loss, bringing the experience to help you achieve your desired results.

If you are interested in learning more about PRP procedures, you can find Dr. Yazdan at one of our offices located in Newport Beach, Beverly Hills, and Las Vegas.

What If a Hair Transplant Isn’t an Option?

As hair restoration options grow more effective and varied, FUE & FUT transplants continue to be permanently significant. Yet there are some factors that can limit one’s hair restoration options. For instance, if your available donor areas don’t have enough follicles for your transplant area, you’ll have a hard time getting either type of procedure done. People suffering from alopecia areata, otherwise known as spot baldness, also find themselves unable to receive a transplant due to their condition. These, along with other factors we haven’t mentioned, mean that effective alternatives to a hair transplant are an absolute must.

Thankfully, they’re not only out there, but they’ve already helped scores of people change their life & get their hair back. These treatments, known as PRP hair regrowth therapy, scalp micro pigmentation, and low level laser therapy, are often used as supplements to hair transplants, but they’ve also been extremely helpful as standalone procedures. Let’s go through them one by one so we can show what makes them as important & effective as they are.

PRP Hair Regrowth Therapy

If you aren’t familiar, PRP is short for platelet-rich plasma, which exists as part of one’s blood &  has a wide range of natural healing & growth properties. To obtain its benefits, a hair restoration surgeon like Dr. Amir Yazdan of Modena Hair Institute will begin the procedure by drawing some of your blood & preparing it for PRP extraction. Here at Modena, Dr. Yazdan uses a specialized process unique to his Las Vegas, Beverly Hills & Newport clinics. Specifically, he performs what’s known as the “multiple-spin technique”, which involves rapidly spinning the vial of blood in different directions at high speeds until nearly all the PRP in the sample is separated. From there, proprietary growth factors & activators are added to maximize the growth & healing potential of the plasma.

Once that’s completed, the PRP is lightly injected into the scalp & begins its work to shift follicles from what’s known as the “telogen” phase of their life cycle (when hair loss occurs) to “anagen”, or the growing phase. This, along with the assistance it offers the immune & endocrine systems in tackling hair loss, begins to show in as little as three weeks, fully manifesting in a matter of a few months from there. 

With the combination of our unique extraction system, the state-of-the-art technology at our clinics, and the years of expertise Dr. Yazdan brings to the table, PRP hair regrowth therapy has become a treatment choice for countless Modena patients, whether they’re receiving it on its own or getting it in supplement to a FUE or strip hair transplant.

Scalp Micro Pigmentation

Before & after a SMP procedure at Modena Hair Institute (performed by Dr. Yazdan)

Like PRP therapy, scalp micro pigmentation, known as SMP for short, is quite common as both a standalone procedure & a supplement to others. Unlike PRP though, there’s no drawing of blood involved, and the needles being used are attached to tattoo guns, rather than syringes. 

This is far from a tattoo you could get at a shop across the street, though. How, you ask? Well, simply, it’s medical-grade. With SMP, every aspect, including ink, tools, and the person performing the procedure, falls under the strict supervision of the state’s medical licensing  board, while the inks, processes & tattooers at conventional shops are entirely unregulated from a medical standpoint. Even professional tattoo artists acknowledge infections as a potential danger with their work, and an ink-related infection in the scalp area could be disastrous for future hair growth. Besides that, even just from a cosmetic standpoint, a tattoo artist with no knowledge of hair groupings would be bound to fumble in the pursuit of creating a natural look. In short, not just any tattoo or tattooer will do. Whoever performs this procedure for you needs to know your hair growth pattern like it’s their own first name, along with needing to stick to strict medical codes & keep your safety at the forefront of their mind.

When you come into a Modena clinic, you can be sure that’s exactly what you’re getting. Dr. Yazdan, a licensed physician, has dedicated much of his time to perfecting the SMP procedure, and his patients’ results show that he’s done the necessary work to achieve optimal results in the safest possible way.

Low Level Laser Therapy

Lastly, having become an increasingly popular phenomenon in the past few years, low level laser therapy, known as LLLT or simply “laser hair therapy”, has shown to be very promising for a significant amount of people. So how does it work? Well, as told in the name, in LLLT, a series of low level laser diodes is distributed evenly surrounding the scalp, firing off periodically to kick follicles into the “anagen” stage of their life cycle. This, as we mentioned before, is when hair growth takes place.

As it goes with these promising technologies, not all iterations live up to the hype. For instance, many companies making LLLT devices have cut costs with their products by making them far too weak to be effective. Others are just low quality through & through, merely made to cash in on a rising trend. 

There is one, however, that we’ve found to stick out beyond the rest in a big way. Known as the CapillusRX, its first strength comes in the amount of diodes it boasts compared to the competition. Rather than sticking in the 100-200 range like much of the competition, it comes packed with 312 diodes that cover the entire scalp with little to no blank space. Its second advantage comes with convenience; rather than needing to come into a clinic for treatment, CapillusRX owners can carry out their anti-hair loss therapy in the comfort of their own home, with the device fitting on one’s head like a regular cap. Lastly, this devices rises above the others with the virtue of saving time; patients only have to wear it for six minutes each day, and results start appearing within a few months of starting treatment. 

If you already opened a new tab to order it to your door, slow down. Unlike the standard, less effective alternatives, you can’t order this from a store; it’s only available via licensed physicians who offer it out of their practice. Fortunately for you, Dr. Yazdan offers the CapillusRX out of every Modena location in California & Nevada, and all you need to do is reach out & stop in for a consultation to see whether LLLT is the right hair loss treatment for you. 

Learn more about PRP therapy, SMP, and LLLT, along with the many other services & treatments we offer, by visiting our website.

PRP Hair Loss Prevention Program

hair loss prevention
One of the most fascinating things about studying hair loss and hair restoration is that new discoveries are being made almost every day. From new surgical techniques and equipment to improved hair transplantation results to advanced non-surgical hair maintenance treatments that can help prevent patients from losing hair early in life, Dr. Amir Yazdan at The Modena Hair Institute has been at the forefront of hair restoration research. In that time, he has had the opportunity to experiment with many different treatment methods – one of the most exciting and versatile he has found is the use of platelet rich plasma, or PRP, which relies on the natural healing properties of a patient’s own blood to significantly improve both surgical and non-surgical hair restoration results.
How Does Platelet Rich Plasma Work?
The blood in your body is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which are small, disk-shaped cell fragments that facilitate clotting, promote tissue regeneration, and secrete growth factors that initiate cell regrowth. Platelet rich plasma is created by spinning a sample of the patient’s own blood in a centrifuge to separate out a concentrated solution of platelets and plasma components. Platelet rich plasma contains approximately five to seven times the number of platelets found in normal circulating blood along with bioactive proteins that aid in wound healing and is frequently used to help speed the recovery of patients who have suffered from sports injuries and other forms of trauma.
The Amazing Results of PRP
At Modena Hair Institute in Orange County, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas, we use platelet rich plasma in one of two ways. First, platelet rich plasma serves as an excellent, nutrient rich transport material for donor follicles that are harvested during follicular unit grafting or follicular unit extraction (FUE) surgical hair transplantation procedures. By keeping these follicles in a healthy state we can significantly improve their survival rate and overall hair transplant results.  Moreover, our research has found that injecting concentrated PRP 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 is 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.
Commonly asked questions about Platelet Rich Plasma Treatments:
Q: How long does it take to recover from PRP?
A: Most PRP patients can continue their daily activities immediately following the injections.
Q: How long does it take for PRP to take effect?
A: We recommend a set of three initial treatments that are each six weeks apart, followed by a repeat treatment one year after the first to achieve the best results.
Q: Can PRP grow new hair?
A: PRP has proven effective as a standalone treatment for patients with specific types of hair loss, particularly for genetic pattern hair loss and some forms of traction alopecia. It has even been effective with some cases of alopecia areata, eyebrow hypertrichosis, and chronic telogen effluvium.
Q: How long does a PRP treatment session take?
A: Each treatment generally takes less than an hour.
Q: What are the side effects of platelet rich plasma therapy treatments?
A: Side effects are minimal, with the most common being some pain with the injection, pinpoint bleeding, and redness at the site of injection. Less common, but always a risk with any type of injection treatment, are injury to blood vessels or nerves, infection, calcification at the injection points, and scar tissue.

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.

A Short Guide to Hair Loss for Men in Their 20s


If you’re in your 20s and your hairline is starting to recede, the most likely culprit is something called androgenic alopecia, better known as male pattern baldness. But don’t panic. You are not alone! Male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss and almost 25% of men start seeing symptoms in their 20s.
The bad news is that male pattern baldness is a genetic condition. There is nothing you did to cause it. It’s in your genes. Your family history also affects the age when you begin to lose your hair, how fast you lose hair and, ultimately, the extent of your baldness.
The good news is there have been extensive medical advancements to slow, stop and even reverse the progression of hair loss in certain men. So, if you notice your hair falling out or the early stages of a receding hairline, what should you do?
First things first, we recommend sitting down with a ( ABFM board certified) hair restoration specialist who can properly evaluate your hair shedding or hair loss situation, based on factors like your medical profile, hair loss condition, and stage of shedding. Finding a true expert and specialist of the craft can be tricky, so check out our guide to finding the right one for you.

PRP Procedure at Modena Hair Institute

The initial consultation will be to see how your hairline and hair density has changed and will change in the next few years. Forecasting how your receding hairline or shedding patterns change will grant you and the physician a better understanding of the effectiveness of different hair restoration treatments, be they surgical or otherwise.
The key to slowing hair loss in your 20s is early intervention. Given the relatively young age of the client, ABFM board-certified physician, Dr. Amir Yazdan, may recommend PRP injections mixed with stem cells, alongside a multifaceted program to treat hair thinning and loss. PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) therapy is a breakthrough minimally invasive procedure that has been known to stimulate cell regrowth, slow hair shedding, and aid during the hair restoration process. Modena Hair Institute’s highly advanced version of PRP therapy includes fat derived stem cells which aggressively stimulates hair growth cycles, and helps with hair loss by increasing hair count, thickness, and growth speed.
Moreover, combining over-the-counter minoxidil treatments (Rogaine) with GroMD’s Follicle Activator Spray has shown remarkable results in hair regrowth and density.

GroMD Shampoo, Conditioner, & Follicle Activator Spray

We know intimately the feelings of frustration and defeatism that can stem from early hair loss, many of our patients and colleagues have went through it. But we believe that hair loss is optional.
If hair loss is negatively affecting your quality of life or self-esteem, contact our hair restoration experts at Modena Hair Institute today to learn about your treatment options and take the first step toward restoring your hair and your confidence.
As you continue on your hair restoration journey, know what to look for and what questions to ask. Your hair, your appearance and your confidence deserve to be in the most capable of surgical hands.
For all matters hair contact one of our offices at 888-717-5273 or visit 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, and an advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.

What You Need to Know About Platelet-Rich-Plasma (PRP) Therapy + Acell

PRP therapy
There are many non-surgical treatment options for those who are not looking for serious hair restoration work. Individuals experiencing mild hair loss or shedding often know about minoxidil (popular trade names include Rogaine), scalp micropigmentation (hair tattooing), or hair thickening shampoo and conditioners like groMD.
Less widely known is platelet-rich-plasma therapy, a procedure that employs your own blood to stimulate dormant or transplanted hair follicles.
You may be asking: ‘How can your own blood grow your hair’?
Simple. Blood is primarily made up of two things: red blood cells and plasma (which contain white blood cells and platelets). The platelets in your body – micro blood cells that stop your body from bleeding – contain essential growth factors which can trigger skin cells to function.
But drawn blood itself is not sufficient to act effectively on one’s hair follicles, it must be mechanically spun in a centrifuge so that the red blood cells and plasma are properly partitioned. This spinning and partition process effectively produces a plasma that “contains three to five times the number of platelets found in normal circulating blood and transforming growth factors”.

Dr. Amir Yazdan recommends PRP therapy on “The Doctors” TV Show:


Once this platelet-rich plasma is harvested, it is slowly and methodically injected into the scalp at the level of the hair follicle. The physician injects the plasma-rich shots at every half or quarter inch around the area of thinning or balding hair. These plasma injections “contain platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor (TGF) and other bioactive proteins that aid in wound healing.”
All PRP procedures, however, are not created equal, as the effectiveness of PRP treatments depend heavily on the physician’s expertise and method.
Modena Hair Institute in Orange County, for example, offers a highly advanced version of PRP therapy that is enhanced with a one-of-a-kind propriety protein called Acell. Acell “is a non-crosslinked, completely absorbable, acellular Extracellular Matrix (ECM) tissue proven to have regenerative properties.” The dual stimulating and regenerative effects of A Cell and PRP work to restore communication lines and reverse DHT’s thinning effects.
There are many hair restoration clinics that offer PRP therapy – which requires repeated sessions every two to three months to sustain – but few who offer the more advanced and significantly longer-lasting solution of PRP + Acell. PRP therapy alone does not stop the thinning process, but the combination of Acell and PRP therapy builds your native hair follicles with the aid of the matrix structure.
PRP + Acell therapy is an outpatient procedure performed in a hair restoration clinic, and the entire process takes only about an hour to perform. Happily, there is little if any medical risk and post-op maintenance involved, and the procedure is painless from start to finish.
Medically and scientifically backed, PRP + Acell has been known to stimulate cell regrowth, slow hair shedding, and aid during the hair restoration process. Acell enhanced PRP injections help patients with thinning hair by increasing their hair count, thickness, and growth speed.
Results from the plasma treatment can be seen within two to three months of the operation.
Always remember, however, all hair restoration practitioners are not equal. Research and compare physicians who are experienced in both male and female pattern baldness and in the application of PRP with Acell.

A Virtual Walk-Through of PRP Therapy


For all matters hair or hair loss contact Modena Hair at 888-717-5273 or visit 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, and an advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.

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 ABFM 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. ABFM Board certified  Specializing in hair restoration surgery 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 ABFM board certified physician 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 

Drug-Induced: Is Your Medications Causing You Hair Loss?

Medications are designed to treat a wide range of health conditions, but sometimes they can have unwarranted side effects including changes in our hair. Changes in hair color, texture and you guessed it…even hair loss! Medication-induced hair loss, just like any other form of hair loss, can have a profound influence on men and women’s self-esteem. The good news is – once the medication is stopped, your hair loss most likely can be reversed. Now for the unwelcome news – many of us must take these medications to treat a more fundamental problem (i.e. thyroid problem) creating a vicious cycle of problems and frustration.
So, what do you do? While we don’t recommend you tossing your meds in the trash to save your hair, At Modena Hair Restoration, we would first suggest seeing your doctor who prescribed the medication and ask if there is an alternative without the pesky and unruly side effect of hair loss. If not, you’ll have to find treatments to supplement this bothersome side effect.
Drugs can induce a wide spectrum of hair loss ranging from barely detectable hair loss to irreversible baldness. This is caused by interrupting the normal cycle of hair growth. It’s important to understand the 3 diverse cycles:

  1. Anagen phase – 90% of your hair is in this phase for 2-5 years, the hair grows. This is considered the “active growth” phase.
  2. Catagen phase – which lasts 2-3 weeks, the hair is preparing itself for the final phase of Telogen. This is also known as the “transitional” phase.
  3. Telogen phase – which last about 3 months, the hair rests, older hairs are shed and then replaced by new hairs. This is also known as the “resting” phase.

Medications can lead to two specific types of hair loss:
Telogen Effluvium – being the most common type of medication-induced hair loss, usually appears a few months after starting the medication. This causes the hair follicles to go into their state of rest (Telogen) and fall out prematurely.
Anagen Effluvium – this type of hair loss occurs in the Anagen phase of our hair growth cycle when the hairs are actively growing. It prevents the matrix cells (which assist in producing new hairs) from dividing in a normal fashion. This is a more severe form of hair loss that is mostly seen in patients taking chemotherapy drugs causing them to lose most-if not all the hairs on their head and can even affect the eyebrows, eyelashes and body hair.
Culpable Medications known to cause hair loss:

  • Acne medication (retinol in acne medications)
  • Antibiotics and antifungal medications
  • Antidepressants
  • Oral Contraceptives
  • Anticoagulants or “blood thinners”
  • Immunosuppressant medications

Possible Treatments (dependent on the type of hair loss):

At Modena Hair Restoration, Dr. Yazdan prevents and treats hair loss caused by medications with a custom medical management regimen to fit patients specific needs. By visiting with a reputable specialist alike Dr. Yazdan early, you can make a plan of attack for prevention and treatment. While hair loss may still occur, your preemptive approach can considerably lessen the overall impact.

For information on medical reasons for acquiring a hair transplant click here.
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 

Facial Hair Loss: Can a Hair Transplant be Performed on a Patchy Beard?

Say bye-bye to patchy facial hair! If you’re one of the millions of sparsely-bearded men on the hunt to fix your patchy beard, it’s important to strive for actual, proven methods. With that said – is a hair transplant one of them? The simple answer is YES, you can now get the beard you always wanted…
You may have heard people saying that “it’s all in the genes” and there’s nothing that can be done to fix a patchy beard, right? Wrong. That certainly isn’t the case and with the evolution of hair transplants and a skilled hair restoration surgeon like Dr. Yazdan, a beard hair transplant is a minor and minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that repairs a patchy beard…or any facial hair for that matter!
“Facial hair loss is an extremely common problem, especially on the area of the cheeks. The cheek area has considerably weaker blood flow than the area of the upper lip and chin, this means that over time less nutrients and our beard-growing hormones – testosterone and DHT – make it to the cheek area, resulting in patchy, thin facial hair” Dr. Yazdan explains.
“The cold, hard truth is that not all beards are created equal. For every Hugh Jackman, there are at least a dozen sad, scruffy Keanu Reeves out there” Yazdan facetiously adds.
Just as with a hair transplant on the head, the donor hair for a facial hair transplant comes from the back or sides of your scalp, and in most cases, using the FUE technique. Depending how much facial hair loss you have and the look you’re going for – the traditional FUT/strip hair transplant may also be recommended. Which site and technique are used generally depends on the amount of hair needing to be transplanted and which part of the donor area Dr. Yazdan feels will yield the closest countertype of facial hair; sometimes it’s the back of the scalp, while other times it’s the sides of the scalp – between the ears. Dr. Yazdan will oftentimes harvest hairs from the very back of the head to match the mustache and goatee region as well as the cheeks while donor hairs from the sides are mostly used for the sideburns and posterior part of the cheeks. Once the grafts have been transplanted, the hairs are permanent and typically grow just like the rest of your facial hair with similar texture and other characteristics. The transplanted hair can be trimmed, shaved, and groomed just as you would other facial hair.

As a well-qualified and experienced hair restoration surgeon, Dr. Yazdan uses modern technology and technique to extract and transplant a combination of single and two-hair grafts in order to optimize density while maintaining a natural look that cannot be detected by the naked eye. It’s also crucial for the surgeon to be tactful in his/her artistry in placing the grafts in the correct angle and direction of your natural facial hair. For our salt-n-pepper patients in which gray hair is also needed, Dr. Yazdan strategically extracts and distributes gray hairs to intermix with your natural hair color in order for a nice, even flow to your new and improved beard.
Tip #1: We understand not everyone is ready and willing to seek a hair restoration physician for their facial hair loss, so we’ve included a non-surgical proven treatment to regrow that splotchy beard – combining the use of Minoxidil (FDA approved for hair loss) with GroMD’s Follicle Activator Spray has shown remarkable results in facial hair regrowth and density.
Tip #2: Just like going to the barber for your haircut, you’re best off bringing in a photograph of the style and shape you desire. This way you and your surgeon of choice are on the same page and you can dictate how you want your new beard to look.
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 
 
 

Can a Hair Transplant Surgery Make Your Forehead Appear Smaller?

It is perfectly normal for us to prefer certain facial features over others. If you find yourself self-conscious about having a large forehead then first of all, don’t worry – you’re not alone! Whether you were born that way or over the years you’ve begun to see one of the tell-tale signs of aging – a receding forehead where the hairline slowly retreats further back onto the scalp – many of us have been there.
If you struggle to love the way your forehead makes you look, there are plenty of beauty tips and tricks both men and women can try. For example, contouring the hairline is a great and simple tip to help create the ‘illusion’ of a smaller forehead – you can use hair shadows, colored dry shampoos etc. to pull this off like a pro. However, some people are looking for a more permanent solution to their hair loss or receding hairline so for the sole purpose of this article we will elaborate on how a hair transplant procedure can dramatically lower the hairline turning your 5-head back into a 4-head!
A much more permanent solution for reducing the appearance of a large forehead is a hair transplant. This is done either using Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) method or Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). Both procedures take place under local anesthesia and the method used would be determined by Dr. Yazdan’s recommendations and what he decides is appropriate for the patient’s specific needs. If your desired outcome is to bring the hairline forward, then the hair follicles would be harvested from a recipient area also known as the donor site (i.e. back of the scalp) and are then transplanted to the front of your hairline, thus, commanding your hairline forward and reducing the size of your forehead. So, in simple to answer the question posed in this article topic – YES, a hair transplant can and will reduce the appearance of a large forehead.

Lowering the hairline or a forehead reduction procedure via a hair transplant can be quite tricky and takes an exceptionally skilled surgeon who takes the necessary time it requires in order for the patient to get NATURAL looking results. For example, this type of procedure requires ultra-refined microscopic surgery with dense packing of grafts using some of the smallest punch tools – Dr. Yazdan is known for using some of the smallest size punch tools to yield hair transplant results that go non-detected by the naked eye. The needle size, incisions, the direction in which the sites are made on the forehead as well as the artistry your surgeon uses to draw out the shape and form of the hairline all come together and are equally as important as the next for an unrecognizable new and improved hairline!

At Modena Hair Institute, we understand that surgical procedures may not be for everyone, and it is paramount to feel confident and comfortable with not only the process, but the surgeon of your choice. Do bountiful research prior to jumping the gun and making any decisions. Here at Modena, 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.
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 
 
 

The “Art” of Hair Restoration

It’s paramount to keep in mind that hair restoration is a medical ‘art.’ Medical art combines medical knowledge, mastery of advanced surgical skills and techniques as well as a keen eye enabling the accurate reproduction of what occurs naturally. Unfortunately, many prospective hair restoration patients assume that artistic ability is a given resulting from education and practice of established surgical techniques. Art and surgery are separate skills, and this must be taken into consideration when evaluating a doctor for your hair restoration surgery.
Unfortunately for patients, a substantial portion of Dr. Yazdan’s practice consists of repairing patients who have fallen victim to doctors with little or no artistic sensibilities.
With a hair restoration strip surgery (FUT), the strip is removed, dissected and the unused tissue is discarded. Nothing is placed back in the donor area and the edges are drawn tight and sutured. Even if there were no scar at all, this procedure causes distortion of hair direction and a loss of the naturally occurring gradation of hair shaft diameter. This gets worse as strip surgeons boast of “mega-sessions” above 5,000+ grafts. This requires the removal of a wider strip which results in even greater cosmetic problems for the donor area.
For example, if you watch the video below, you’ll see this patient came to us for a strip scar repair surgery after receiving two hair transplants performed at another clinic. This left him with an oversized linear scar and illustrated unsatisfactory results. With his head shaved down, these cosmetic problems become unmistakably obvious. FUT/Strip surgery often does an exceptional job of providing grafts for balding areas of the scalp – given the patient seeks a skillful and artistic hair restoration surgeon alike leading Southern California and Las Vegas hair transplant specialist, Dr. Yazdan. After examination of the scalp, Dr. Yazdan observed the patient has a poor donor supply which led him to use his artistic abilities in an FUE procedure utilizing hair from the back of the scalp as well as supplementation of the beard. The grafts were then placed inside the scar which requires meticulous skill of the physician and his team as the grafts have experienced a considerable amount of stress. Precise angulation and depth is critical, so the hair grows back in a very natural and organic way. (read more on how to avoid unnatural results)

Hair transplant tools and associated technologies have moved forward considerably over the last decade. FUE in the right hands with the finest surgical tools provides great and numerous advantages for the patient undergoing hair restoration. Dr. Yazdan has paved the way for developing his own set of tools and techniques that deliver advanced results for both men and women suffering from hair loss and balding.

For absolute superior hair restoration results, PRP + ACell or a Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) can be performed in conjunction with an FUE or FUT/Strip method procedure. When used in conjunction with an FUE or Strip procedure, PRP + ACell have demonstrated quicker healing, accelerated new hair growth, and donor hair regeneration at the donor sites. Once healed, SMP can be added down the line for added density and to conceal any thinning or balding spots.

You now should have a better understanding of the importance in finding an artistically skillful and experienced hair restoration physician. Use your best judgment and you will be pleasantly surprised of what a hair transplant can do 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