In the world of hair transplant procedures, there are 2 methods used today and with the recent rise in hair transplants, people are wondering if there’s a difference and which one is best. Here we’ll discuss the comparison and differences, healing and recovery, and which would better suite your specific needs.
Procedure Similarities and Differences
FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and Strip hair restoration are similar in the sense patients are given a local anesthetic to numb the area that is going to be treated and to help control the bleeding. Both surgeries are performed under high powered magnification in order to allow precise graft placement at the recipient site.
As the name suggests, Strip is performed by cutting a linear strip of hairs from the donor site (i.e. back of the scalp). Incisions are usually only so deep that harvesting the entire follicular unit is possible. Followed by, careful manual dissection of the hair follicles into smaller grafts. These grafts are then placed in the desirable areas where thinning or balding has occurred (recipient area).
While in FUE, tiny punches are made to extract individual grafts containing 1-4 hairs from the donor site therefore, there is no linear scar. Grafts are then cleaned, counted and separated to prepare for transplanting. With good instrumentation and considerable experience, both FUE and Strip can produce very similar growth results.
Healing and Recovery
When it comes to healing and recovery, both FUE and Strip are fairly similar in that the treatment areas usually heal just a few short days after your procedure and you are most likely able to return to work and your normal daily activities the very next day. In Strip, you may have a little more soreness at the donor site due to the incision. Dr. Yazdan recommends no strenuous activity and heavy lifting should be avoided for 14 days or as advised by your surgeon. Having several follow-up appointments with your physician are very important and play a significant role in your healing process and the success of your new head of hair. At Modena, we strongly advise post-ops to be the following day after your procedure, 1^st, 3^rd, 6^th, 9^th, and 12^th months following.

Strip or FUE?
This can depend on many different factors and should be discussed with a well experienced Board-Certified Surgeon with high success rates in hair transplantation for a one-on-one consultation and exam. Based on your medical history and the severity of your condition, you and your doctor can make the best decision considering your specific needs.
In general, if the goal is to get the maximum amount of hair then the traditional Strip method might be the best choice. Strip harvesting is also a great option for patients who wear their hair longer and have good scalp laxity in order to make a large enough incision that it can be properly closed without creating problems such as scars. From a donor scarring perspective, if you ever plan to shave your head in the future or like to maintain a short haircut then you should probably lean towards an FUE transplant.
Ultimately, the results to both are comparable because the harvesting and implantation of the grafts and their survival rate highly depends on the expertise and experience of the physician performing the procedure. Both FUE and strip harvesting are excellent methods of obtaining grafts for hair restoration. Here at Modena, Dr. Yazdan is highly skilled and performs both techniques routinely.
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
 

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) has been around for several decades and has been widely used in skin and wound healing. Hence why you may have heard professional athletes using PRP treatments to expedite their wound healing. As it gains traction, it is now being used extensively in cosmetic surgery, dentistry, sports medicine, and pain management. And yes, if your guilty pleasure is watching an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, you’ve probably seen what the trendy PRP also known as the ‘Vampire Facial’ can do for your face as well!
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is your own blood plasma that is enriched with platelets. A concentrated source of autologous platelets, PRP contains several different and powerful growth factors that stimulate the healing of bone and soft tissue, as well as…you guessed it, hair growth! The human blood contains stem cells and autologous blood products that contain essential and specific growth factors that aid in tissue regeneration and healing.
Dr. Yazdan favors PRP during a hair transplant procedure, whether it be an FUE or Strip transplant, as it helps with healing, accelerates the growth, and stimulates the existing hair follicles. “Think of PRP as fertilizer for the hair when used in conjunction with a hair transplant. It possibly increases the survival rate of the grafts as well as the growth with a decrease in graft shedding after a transplant” says Yazdan.

Evidence supports PRP therapy as a safe, and promising treatment to restore your hair by promoting hair growth. It is a favorable non-surgical treatment for both men and women experiencing pattern hair loss and hair thinning. PRP can be combined with ACell as an additional stimulant for improved results, as it helps facilitate the body’s ability to repair and remodel tissue. In our practice, ACell + PRP has shown very promising results. How is a ‘lunchtime’ PRP treatment performed here at Modena Hair Transplant? Upon arriving, a licensed nurse or surgeon will draw your blood just as though you were having a routine blood test done at your primary care doctors office. The blood is then spun in a sterile centrifuge system, which separates the platelet-rich plasma from the rest of the blood. The highly concentrated platelet-rich plasma is then injected into the scalp area that needs a little T.L.C. and you can be on your way back to work! It’s as simple as that. That is, if it’s not combined with a hair transplant, of course.
Now for those of you with a more severe condition of hair loss, PRP in conjunction with an FUE or Strip (FUT) hair transplant may be the right option for you and can yield amazing results when combined.
While PRP alone isn’t a magic pill, it is proven to significantly improve the coverage of the scalp where there are large numbers of weaker hair follicles, usually near the hairline and the crown of the head. It has shown excellent results for patients suffering from many forms of hair loss such as androgenic alopecia (or common pattern loss) and alopecia areata.
As a stand alone for hair loss, PRP can slow down hair loss and increase growth however, Doctor Yazdan recommends combining both methods together with medical management for superior results giving you that new head of hair that you always dreamed of!
https://modenahair.com/hair-restoration/prp-hair-loss-therapy/
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

Undergoing hair transplant surgery is a unique and rare opportunity to show off the confidence you gain with your new look! However, there are some tips experts like Dr. Yazdan recommends, ensuring the best results possible. Failure to follow your post hair transplant procedure with the proper care can result in damage to hair and even further hair loss.
Ok, so now you’re getting ready for your hair transplant. How exciting! Here are some great, in depth tips to help you prepare and survive your recovery.
No Smoking and No Alcohol- You should not be consuming any alcohol prior to your transplant surgery and waiting at least 3 days after. Also, smoking is just a bad idea- smoking constricts blood vessels and thus leads to decreased blood supply and poor wound healing by lowering oxygenation in tissues.
Sleeping- Your sleeping situation is crucial, a semi-sitting position for the first several nights is a prerequisite. Feel free to spend the next few nights snoozing away on your Lazy Boy recliner would work just as well. The goal is keeping your head elevated to help reduce any swelling after the procedure.
The Morning After Surgery- Typically, most doctors such as Dr. Yazdan will have you come back the following morning for your follow-up to assess the affected areas. He will then give you ample information on how to care for the grafts during the healing period. Your surgeon should schedule several future appointments for the coming months to ascertain the grafts are healing correctly and ensuring your satisfied with the results. Here at Modena, Dr. Yazdan will schedule your future appointments for the 1^st, 3^rd, 6^th, 9^th, and 12^th months following to keep a close eye on the progress of your new head of hair.
Ice Packs- Make sure to keep several ice packs on hand as you may have some swelling across the forehead, temple or ears. Not to worry-this is completely normal and just a part of the healing process. CAUTION: Never place the ice (or anything for that matter other than gauze) directly on the transplanted area following an FUE or FUT/Strip transplant procedure.
Pain Management (Different from Medical Management)- Generally speaking, most hair transplant patients experience minimal pain (if any) and discomfort is rarely noted. You may feel some tension or burning which will subside within the first week. If you should have some mild discomfort, Tylenol is sufficing to ease any pain you may be experiencing. If that doesn’t seem to do the trick, you can ask your doctor for a prescription for pain relief. Significant pain or discomfort is extremely rare, and you should call your doctor immediately if it persists.
Washing Your Hair- Your physician should supply you with some gentle shampoo, otherwise baby shampoo can be picked up at your local store. Find something with several natural ingredients with the least amount of additives to avoid any irritation of the recipient and donor areas. As a leading surgeon in Hair Restoration, Dr. Yazdan spent many years formulating the perfect hair loss prevention and regrowth shampoo recipe including a proprietary blend of DHT Blockers as part of medical management for all our patients. (for more information on GroMD shampoo please call our office today) Make sure to gently wash the hair as proper hair wash is essential and plays a key role in your outcome- your doctor should explain exactly how to wash your hair, however if you have any questions on proper care- do not hesitate in asking your doctor before proceeding. This is very important! Do not wash your hair or touch the transplanted area for the first 24 hours. It’s vital not to allow running water to flow onto your head at all during this time.
Scabs and Crusting- While this should stay at minimum, especially with an FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and if your transplant is performed by a skilled surgeon. However, you may experience light scabbing in the days following your hair restoration procedure. It’s important to keep the area moist to reduce any irritation. You may use an ointment such as Aquaphor over the healing areas. Whatever you do- DO NOT pick at any scabs or crusting.
Avoid Strenuous Activity- I know this is a hard one for us Southern Californian’s as working out in the gym is just a natural part of our everyday existence, but this is a big no-no. Patients need to avoid all physical and strenuous activities that will make the heart rate rise above a resting position for at least the first week of recovery. Patients should also be careful getting in and out of their vehicles so that they avoid hitting, rubbing or grazing their heads. The hair follicles can very easily move or dislodge if you’re not careful.
Practicing Patience- The ‘hurry up and wait’ game, some would argue this being the most relevant tip for someone who is enduring a hair transplant recovery to simply, be patient! The first several months the grafts are still in their healing phase. The good news is, once you can get past the first 3-4 months you will start producing all the new hair you so badly desired and you can sit in front of a mirror to watch your hair GROW! Well, not exactly but you get the picture. At your 9-12 month mark your grafts should be finished producing hair and now you can reap all the benefits of looking decades younger! At this point, and with an honorable, well qualified surgeon, there should be minimal evidence that a hair transplant procedure took place. Even upon close inspection, no one will be able to tell without prior knowledge of it.
These are a few healthy tips to help you get through your hair transplant surgery with the best results and a faster recovery and to prevent infection from occurring. Every surgeon has their own regimen and it is always advisable to follow your doctors own post-op instructions.
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
 

As if hair loss isn’t frustrating enough, right?! Planning your hair transplant surgery can be just as difficult. Here are some questions to ask your doctor at the time of your consultation to make you feel at ease when choosing the right doctor for YOU to get the best results possible!
Does an actual Doctor perform the hair transplant surgery?
This is one if not THE most important question to ask. In the U.S. there are strict regulations and it is required that all hair transplants are performed by a physician. While it may seem like the obvious answer would be “Yes”, unfortunately that is not always the case and legal actions may be taken. Most hair restoration surgeons are assisted by highly skilled hair transplant technicians who typically dissect out the hairs under microscopes and help with the planting of grafts. While a patient may want the doctor to conduct the entire surgery, this can be inefficient. Hair transplantation surgery is a team effort. The surgeon will perform the graft excision and prepare the slits in the recipient area where the transplanted hair will be grafted. These slits are what determines hairline design, density, and the growth pattern and should only be done by the doctor. However, placing the grafts in the previously made recipient sites is typically done by an experienced technician yet, there should ALWAYS be an MD present to manage every aspect of the surgery. Dr. Yazdan performs every transplant himself using his artistry and precision by hand and only allows 1 surgery per day in order to take the time for almost 100% accuracy.
Does the “Punch” size matter?
Yes! SIZE DOES MATTER. The diameter of the ‘punch’ affects the size of the wound and how well the wound heals. While most punch sizes range from 0.6-1.3mm, Dr. Yazdan stays far away from the unfavorable wound sizes and scarring that larger punches can create. Staying at the lower end, he uses precise application with a 0.7-0.8mm punch tool. The direct relationship between the diameter of the punch and wound size is rather obvious and needs no further explanation other than, the larger the punch-the greater the risks involved such as scarring, damage to nearby hair follicles and prolonged wound healing. Potentially making scars more visible. Additionally, beware of the robotic Artas that more and more physicians are using as assistance-as the Artas is currently only capable of using larger punch sizes.
What are the doctor’s credentials to perform hair restoration surgery?
Any physician can technically perform a hair transplant. You “technically” only need two things: A medical license and, the desire to call oneself a “Hair Restoration Surgeon”. This is why it is so important to do extensive research and ask these types of questions at your consultations. You should feel completely comfortable asking your doctor for his resume and photographs/videos of his past cases. If a doctor has a high success rate and is proud of their work, he or she should have no problem showing you before and after photos. There’s truth behind the saying, ‘a photograph says a thousand words’. As Doctor Yazdan always likes to say, “my work and results speak for themselves”. Here is a link of our Hair Restoration Before & After photos. https://modenahair.com/photos/
Does the clinic use travel technicians for their procedure?
When it comes to hair restoration, there’s no “I” in teamwork and your surgeon is only as good as his or her staff. It’s all about teamwork. In most cases, when there is a long-lasting relationship between the doctor and their technicians, the work is more efficient and consistent resulting in a successful transplant. Problems or inconsistencies can occur with a clinic that uses travel technicians since the surgeon is not accustomed to working with these technicians and vice versa. A great doctor will run a tight ship and have a dependable team. Dr. Yazdan is no exception to these guidelines and tells us “having an excellent team is mandatory”. His entire staff has decades of experience and his team has remained the same the last 9 years.
Does the graft count matter?
The simple answer is yes and no. There are two different ways to estimate the amount of hair needed. The golden standard is per number of grafts or per number of follicular units and the second way that some doctors use is the number of hairs transplanted. There is a HUGE difference that needs to be understood so expectations (and your pocket book) stay in check. In each hair graft, there may be 1, 2, 3 and even sometimes 4 hairs and depending on the number of hairs in each graft, they are used appropriately in the recipient area. However, it is also good to know how many hairs were actually transplanted. This way you can have an overall idea of how your head of hair will look once the hair grows in. Just be cautious when a doctor tells you he can extract and transplant 5,000 grafts. For example, if 2,000 grafts were all ‘one hair units’ the total number of hairs would yield 2,000 hairs. Let’s say with 2,000 grafts, there was 500 ones, 500 twos and 1000 three-hair units, in this case the total number of hairs would be 4,500 hairs. These numbers can be deceiving, and patients think they’re actually getting 4,500 grafts which certainly isn’t the case. Even though here at Modena, Doctor Yazdan never charges by the graft count, you will find that many doctors do choose to charge patients based on the graft number so make sure you’re understanding the difference before making any final decisions.
Does the doctor attend regular training and medical conferences?
Hair Transplants have come a long way as far as technique is concerned, so having a surgeon who is up-to-date with the latest techniques and tools and has the most advanced technology will play a key role in the success of your hair transplant. Never be afraid to ask your doctor what training and medical conferences they have attended. If your doctor mentions the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), it is highly likely they are involved in the field beyond performing hair transplant surgeries. A hair transplant procedure is a complex cosmetic procedure that craves a certain artistry and skill and requires extensive training, so you don’t end up on a television show like Botched! Dr. Yazdan doesn’t just attend training and conferences such as ISHRS, he is a speaker and educator in all their surgery conferences. Not to mention, a leading consultant for the LA (Los Angeles) Weekly and hit television shows like Dr. Phil and The Doctors.
These are some key questions to ask at the time of your consultation in order to find the right doctor for you and get the best results possible!
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
 

So, you’ve made the decision to enhance your appearance and go for a hair transplant and now you’re hearing all about “graft numbers”. You should know and understand graft calculation to better prepare you for your hair restoration surgery consultations so you’re getting realistic expectations.
Although your main goal is likely having as much hair transplanted as possible in order to look like you did when you were 20, there is a limit to the number of grafts that can be transplanted in one session. Be aware of physicians who offer these outrageous graft numbers as you are likely being scammed and now your intelligence has been insulted as well. They’re either giving you a fictitious number or they are attempting to place too many at one time which carries many risks.
If the follicular units (1-4 hairs) are extracted and then divided up into smaller groups, or into individual hairs, the fictitious “graft numbers” will significantly increase and so will the price of your hair restoration procedure (if the patient is charged by the graft), without any increase in fullness (and possibly even less fullness due to sub-optimal growth). So, more than likely the clinic was counting follicular grouping or hairs and sometimes this can be deceiving because 4,000 hairs may amount to only 2000-2,500 grafts.
For example, if a patient has a 2,000 graft hair transplantation procedure where the 4- grafts were split up into 1- and 2-hair grafts, either through poor dissection or intentionally, the new procedure would now have much more ‘grafts’ with exactly the same number of hairs. Now, more sites would need to be unnecessarily placed into the patients scalp to accommodate these grafts. This in turn would cause the hair to be spread out over a larger area of the scalp, decreasing the potential density in the more important areas such as the front and increasing the cost of your new hair transplant!
That is why Dr. Yazdan does a full exam and consult to discuss this in depth and NEVER charges by the number of grafts. It’s simply unrealistic resulting in unrealistic expectations from the patient.
Another reason for an absurdly high graft count is physicians attempting to plant a large number of grafts in “mega-sessions” which poses its own set of challenges. As the number of hair grafts placed per area rises, so does the risk of vascular compromise (decreased blood flow to the area caused by injury to the scalp) and this can result in sub-optimal graft growth.
For instance, in an FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) transplant, Dr. Yazdan typically recommends no more than a true graft count of 2,000 and for the traditional Strip/FUT method, no more than 3,500 should be harvested in one procedure. Using the FUT technique- a 3,500 hair graft procedure will require an incision greater than 20cm on the back of the scalp consequently excellent scalp elasticity is needed otherwise this could significantly increase the risk of a widened scar. A wide donor scar can potentially create a cosmetic problem and can limit the amount of hair that can be obtained if a future hair transplant procedure is needed.
Another word of caution, in FUT (Follicular Hair Transplantation), microscopic dissection is used to dissect naturally occurring 1-4 hair follicular units from the donor area. If these units are kept intact during dissection, growth will be maximized, and a hair transplant patient will get the greatest possible fullness and density. However, if dissection is poor and some of the hair in the follicles are destroyed, the results will be less than ideal.
To avoid such problems, men and woman in need of a larger hair transplant should take caution when choosing the right surgeon and should only be reserved for the most experienced surgical teams. As you see in the photo above, this is a great example of a physician at an outside clinic who overharvested the donor area while using a much larger punch size than needed.
Because these factors are ‘deep-rooted’ in all hair transplant procedures, it is important that the surgeon focuses on maximizing hair growth, rather than seeking some arbitrarily high target number of grafts.
“What is ultimately critical for the patient is not how many grafts were transplanted, but how many actually grow. My results speak for themselves.” Said Yazdan.
This blog was written as a result of a patient being told that he was receiving a 7,000 graft transplant. See link below.
https://www.realself.com/question/paris-fr-hair-after-7000-hair-transplant#6245220
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 transplant is a surgical process used as a hair loss treatment. If you are suffering from baldness and want to rid yourself from hair loss than a transplant may be right for you.
As with all cosmetic surgical procedures, there is risk involved. Like with many things in life, you need to balance the risk versus reward. Finding an experienced surgeon who specializes in hair restoration will greatly reduce the “risk” factor.
Overall, a surgical hair transplant procedure whether it may be FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) or the Strip method is a completely safe procedure.
Generally speaking, risks are usually limited to:
Swelling – This is your body’s way to heal an area as blood reserves collect in the area. Mild swelling is normal after a hair transplant, but excessive swelling that might result in black eyes requires immediate medical attention.
Bleeding – Similarly to all wounds, bleeding may take place as the body heals. Rarely, a graft might dislodge from the area, which results in excessive bleeding that will require pressure to stop.
Numbness -Some transient numbness is inevitable. Typically, and if any, this is felt at the suture line or graft sites and generally lasts from 3-18 weeks.
Pain -This is actually a good sign for it demonstrates that your body is working to heal itself. Often, over the counter medications help alleviate the symptom, and some patients don’t need anything for pain.
Itching -Another sign of healing as your body adjusts to the new follicles and is usually alleviated with regular shampooing.
Infection -Even papercuts are vulnerable to infections if they are not properly cleansed. After undergoing this procedure, and under the guidance of your physician, it is important to regularly clean the wound site accordingly.
Scarring -Scarring generally occurs in FUT/Strip method plantations and is occasionally seen from the FUE technique with an inexperienced physician.
Every individual varies greatly in their physical reactions and healing abilities. Yet, these associated risks are relatively minimal when you’re looking at the bigger picture of what a hair transplant can do for you and your self-esteem for many years to come.
In hindsight, the ‘biggest’ risk is a bad result or no result from an inexperienced doctor or non-licensed practitioners whom aren’t properly trained to do surgical hair transplants. As long as you feel comfortable that you’re in the hands of skilled, artistic hair transplant doctor, you’re likely to have fantastic results that will look very natural!
Do some extensive investigating to find a well qualified full-time hair restoration surgeon and your benefits will certainly outweigh the costs, these risks are fairly minimal and shouldn’t be a major deterring factor with proceeding with such a life-changing procedure! Having a hair transplant can significantly boost one’s self-confidence and compliment your appearance leaving you with smiles for days, or decades, rather!
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