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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Salt and Pepper, Silver, Pewter, Charcoal – call it what you want to call it, but gray hair is gray hair! If you’ve come early to the graying game, you may blame genetics…
Not only are vitamins and nutrients essential for a healthy body and bodily function, but they also play a key role in keeping the hair on our heads from shedding. A high-quality multi-vitamin is important and of course, a healthy diet is essential, however, many suffer from nutrient deficiencies due to underlying conditions such as a thyroid problem- both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism and a hormonal imbalance. Some people will require additional supplementation to bring us back up to optimal healthy, luxurious hair.
Men and women who are currently suffering from hair loss, balding and thinning may have ‘thought’ about hair transplantation at one point or another, however, few people have the heart of a lion to undergo such treatment. Despite latest research showing that the hair transplantation market is growing rapidly, many still have false notions about the procedure. This has prevented many balding men and hair thinning women to take the initial steps to restoring their hair and self-confidence. Read on as world-renowned Hair Restoration surgeon, Dr. Yazdan, reveals 6 common myths and the opposing facts related to a hair transplant.
In this day and age, we all strive for perfect skin and a healthy body, free of flaws! However, those accidents, injuries, surgeries, acne and even dog bites can leave you with unpleasant scar formations. If you’ve ever had a wound on your scalp or face, you may wonder how the wound is going to heal and whether or not the scar will grow hair. There’s good news and then there’s the unfortunate news…
While the temperature of your shower may not be the first thought that comes to mind when it comes to hair care, there are pros and cons to washing your hair in both hot and chilly water! Really, which is better comes down to a few key factors to understand:
Unfortunately, our hair is not alike fine wine and does not get better with age…or alcohol! While alcohol itself does not cause hair to fall out, it certainly contributes and depending how much you drink, it can play a bigger role than you think!
With spring in full effect, not only are the flowers waking up for new life but so is your hair. The life cycle of the cells changes which leads to their accelerated revival! Consequently, the skin begins to peel, and hair loss occurs. Don’t worry – there is nothing wrong with you, this is just a natural occurrence. With that said, are there ways to prevent losing those luscious locks before summer? Yes!
For many people whom lose their hair clump by clump, it may seem more like a nightmare than reality. This condition can have a very deep psychological effect on men and women’s lives. It starts with no warning and can be devastating to anyone who must go through this. Some people will get this periodically throughout their life, and some will lose all their hair completely or see patches that appear suddenly and permanently.
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.
Most scalp conditions will eventually lead to some type of skin rash and unfortunately…hair loss! Whether it’s hereditary, malnutrition or an infection, a pesky scalp condition can occur leaving you wearing hats every day or in severe cases, hermitizing in the comfort of your home waiting for your unsettling condition to subside. Here you’ll find a few common scalp disorders and some helpful recommendations to restore your damaged head of hair.
There’s nothing ‘unmanly’ about wanting to look good. Taking care of your skin and hair is just as critical to men as it is to women. “We’re finally at an era where it’s more acceptable for men to pay attention to skin and hair care” says Southern California and Las Vegas hair restoration physician, Dr. Amir Yazdan. Keep your medicine cabinet stocked and get the latest on grooming essentials, skin care treatments for thinning hair and more here in this article.
If you’ve been familiarizing yourself with the diverse types of hair loss conditions out there, you may have read the scientific term “effluvium” pondering on what that word even means; effluvium is the ‘scientifically correct’ term for the outflow, and anagen and telogen refer to the distinct phases in your hair growth cycle.
