The History of Hair Transplant Surgery
Hair transplant surgery originated in Japan. In 1939, Dr. Okuda, a Japanese dermatologist developed a breakthrough process to restore hair to those who suffered with scalp injuries and for burn victims. He used a punch technique, which involved extracting small sections of hair-bearing skin and implanting these into small holes in the areas where skin had been damaged. Once these grafts healed, they produced hair in areas that were previously bald.
Just a few years later another Japanese dermatologist, Dr. Tamura, improved upon Okuda’s method by minimizing the size of the grafts down to one to three hairs each. He was working with women to restore hair in the pubic area lost to either genetics or trauma. The surgery that Dr. Tamura developed is quite similar to surgeries that are still performed to this day.
Because these innovative developments in hair transplant surgery occurred around the time of World War II, they did not become accessible in the U.S. until many years later.
During the early 1950s, New York dermatologist Dr. Norman Orentreich completed the first hair transplant in the United States for a man who had male pattern baldness. Orentreich faced much criticism for the procedure that he’d developed. His technique was similar to Dr. Okuda’s, and did not render attractive or natural looking results. He did, however, establish that hair on the back and sides of a man’s scalp was not prone to the ravages of DHT and male pattern baldness.
Hair transplant procedures became more common by the 1960s, but because of the less than pleasing results of the early punch graft procedures developed and marketed my doctors like Norman Orentiech, hair transplant surgery developed a negative reputation. It took almost three decades for hair transplant surgeons to develop significant improvements to these early methods.
In the 1990s, follicular unit micro grafting was introduced and changed the field of hair transplants forever. Finally, the old stigmas could be dismissed and hair transplantation could become a viable option for hair loss sufferers who were appopraite candidates.
Today, surgeons continue to improve upon methods for performing hair transplant surgery. Today’s state of the art techniques can produce stunning results and are increasingly embraced by hair loss sufferers.
To learn more about what to look for when considering hair transplant surgery, visit the surgical hair restoration section of the American Hair Loss Association’s website.
Also, to find a qualified hair transplant surgeon check with The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons.
Technorati Tags: American Hair Loss Association, hair loss, hair transplant, history of Hair Transplants, international alliance of hair restoration surgeonsConsidering a Hair Transplant? Avoid Linear (Line) and Round or Square Grafts
Surgical hair restoration is a serious matter. If you’re considering surgery as an option to treat your hair loss, first get up to speed on the many different types of procedures being promoted as legitimate options. The hair loss industry can be difficult to navigate. Most products are little more than snake oils and many advertised procedures lead to increased problems rather than true solutions.
Linear or Line Grafts
Linear or line grafts should be avoided. If a doctor recommends the use of these type of grafts, you would be well advised to seek another professional immediately.
The process of creating a linear or line graft starts with the hair transplant surgeon removing a strip of hair from the side or back of your head. Ideally, the strip would then be divided into follicular unit grafts, but in cases where the hair transplant surgeon utilizes linear or line grafts, larger portions of the strip are used. In order to use these “cut to size” grafts , the hair transplant surgeon must surgically create large trench-like recipient sites in the balding areas where hair and tissue is to be replaced.
This almost always results in an unnatural and manufactured appearance. Cosmetically, the final outcome can look unacceptably fake.
Round or Square Grafts
Originally, round or square grafts were the standard in hair transplantation . Now with the advent of much more refined techniques, these large cut to size hair grafts are considered obsolete and will always result in the dreaded “dolls head” appearance that screams hair transplant.
The procedure involves the use of a hole-punch device, which is used to remove 3-5 mm areas (about the size of a pencil eraser) of hair bearing scalp and to create the recipient sites in the balding areas of the head . The shape of the grafts may be either round or square. Either way, they are far too large and do not resemble natural hair growth at all once they are moved and transplanted to the balding area. In addition, these grafts can impede blood supply. This often results in further hair loss in the middle area of each graft.
Many of today’s lazier or less than ethical hair transplant surgeons are doing a slightly refined but still unacceptable procedure utilizing cut to size mini grafts which still give the appearance of a man made and unnatural hairline.
Avoid any hair transplant surgeon or large chain clinic that does not employ the use of microscopes to dissect donor tissue into naturally occurring follicular units.
To learn more about state of the art hair transplantation check out the surgical hair restoration section of The American Hair Loss Association site.
To find qualified hair transplant surgeons in your area contact The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons.
Technorati Tags: American Hair Loss Association, follicular unit hair transplant, hair transplant, international alliance of hair restoration surgeonsSurgical Hair Restoration: What to Look for in Treatment and Hair Transplant Surgeons
If you’re thinking about having surgical hair restoration, you’ll want to get to know your doctor and learn everything you can about the type of treatment you’ve chosen. The procedure is a serious one and if not performed properly it can have damaging effects both physically and psychologically.
Consultation with the Hair Transplant Surgeon
If the doctor who will be performing the procedure can’t or won’t speak with you before the transplantation, then look for someone else. One of the most important steps in any surgery is speaking with the same surgeon who will be doing the procedure beforehand. It will provide you with an opportunity to ask specific questions and also help your comfort level knowing that you’ve met the person who will perform the operation.
Questions about the Procedure
Before your consultation with the surgeon, make sure you prepare a list of questions. You may get nervous or overwhelmed once you’re in the doctor’s office, and having a written list on hand will be extremely helpful. Your doctor will also know that you take your health and the procedure seriously because you’re approaching it with a level of forethought that resembles professionalism.
Formulate Questions Through Careful Research
You’ll have plenty of questions about your surgery. Make sure you understand every aspect of the procedure. One of the most valuable resources in conducting research is The American Hair Loss Association, where you’ll find plenty of articles about hair loss and transplant surgeries. Visit The American Hair Loss Association at americanhairloss.org.
Another invaluable resource is The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons web site. The site features a blog at the IAHRS Information Center, which is packed with news, information, and other details about hair restoration surgery and hair loss.
A Few Final Tips
When you do meet with your doctor for a consultation prior to having your transplant procedure, ask for the following:
- Ask to see at least 10 before and after photos of other hair restoration surgeries the doctor has performed and make sure that the before and after shots are taken at the same angle, with the same lighting, and feature the same subject.
- Ask for references. The doctor should be able to provide you with several contacts, patients that the doctor has treated in the past.
- Ask if hair transplant surgery is an area in which the doctor specializes. Is that the focus of the doctor’s practice? If not, then what percentage of procedures involve hair loss and restoration?
Find out more about what you should look for in hair restoration surgery at the following link:
http://www.americanhairloss.org/surgical_hair_restoration/what_to_look_for.asp
Hair Loss Research Raises Hope for New Treatments
A recent article at SFGate.com explores the use of biotechnology in searching for new hair loss treatments. While not a life threatening disease, hair loss certainly has a devastating effect on sufferers. Kaiser Permanente dermatologist Paradi Mirmirani explains, “”I have tearful patients in my office many times a day. When they lose their hair, they feel like they’ve lost their identity.”
A Multibillion Dollar Industry
Although most health insurance providers don’t reimburse policy holders for hair loss treatments, many individuals are willing to pay out of pocket. Over one billion dollars are spent every years on hair loss drugs and transplants, making it a lucrative industry. The good news for hair loss sufferers is that this kind of revenue motivates pharmaceutical companies and academic researchers to search for more effective treatments.
They’re throwing an arsenal of high-tech tools at the condition: genome studies, stem cell stimulation, gene therapy, a type of tissue engineering often called “hair cloning” and even robotics.
Currently there are only two drugs for hair loss that are approved by both the Food and Drug Administration and The American Hair Loss Association. Those are Merck’s Propecia and Johnson & Johnson’s Rogaine (generic name minoxidil). However, several companies are looking to expand on the number of effective drug treatments for hair loss. They are also looking beyond drugs, to improving transplants and cultivating hair follicles to increase hair growth.
Drugs Under Development
• Pfizer, Inc is developing a drug that works the same way as Rogaine for topical use.
• Pfizer is also working on another drug treatment, which will mimic the effect of thyroid hormones.
• AndroScience Corp. is working on a drug that degrades cell receptors for dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone that stops hair follicles from producing new hairs.
Transplant Improvements
• Restoration Robotics is developing surgical equipment that would allow surgeons to perform faster and cheaper transplants.
Follicle Cultivation
• Follica Inc. is working on methods for generating new hair follicles, which is currently seen as high risk and is in extremely early stages of development.
• Aderans Research Institute is looking at ways to multiply key cells from the scalp, which would then be injected or seeded into the scalp to generate new follicles.
The promise for better solutions to hair loss has many hair loss sufferers feeling hopeful that in the near future there will be more choices and better treatments.
You can read the entire SFGate article at the following link:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/06/BU4IVBIV2.DTL&type=tech
A Hair Transplant for a Woman is Not The Same as A Hair Transplant for a Man.
Since 40% of the worlds hair loss sufferers are women, the hair loss industry sees tremendous potential to increase its market share by targeting this extremely vulnerable demographic.
Not only are unscrupulous hair loss treatment marketers taking advantage of these women in an attempt to sell their bogus products, the large chain hair transplant clinics are now heavily marketing surgical hair restoration to women as well.
It’s important for all women to understand that most of you are NOT candidates for a hair transplant. As a matter of fact, less than 5% of all woman who suffer with common forms of hair loss like, female pattern hair loss or traction alopecia make suitable candidates.
Recently, International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons’ accepted member Dr. Robert Bernstein answered a far too common question from a female hair transplant recipient.
If you’re a woman considering having a hair transplant you can’t afford not to read this article.
Technorati Tags: hair transplant, hair transplant surgeon, IAHRS, women hair transplantView Article: Women’s Hair Transplant - Shock Loss
How Young is Too Young for A Hair Transplant?
Many young hair loss sufferers are under the false impression that having a hair transplant will put an end to their hair loss misery. This could not be further from the truth, however thousands of young men undergo hair transplant surgery every year in this country without understanding the long term consequences.
Recently International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons accepted member Dr. James Harris tackled a far too common question posed by a teenage hair loss sufferer considering having a hair transplant.
Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair transplant, teenage hair transplantVeiw article: 17 Years Old and Losing Hair Rapidly - Should I Have a Hair Transplant?
My 17 Year Old Daughter Lost Her Hair After A Car Accident. Should She Have A Hair Transplant?
Hair loss caused by physical injury can be as debilitating to some as the initial trauma itself. While uncommon, a severe blow to the head can cause what’s known as “Anagen Effluvium.” The loss of blood supply to the scalp as a direct result of injury can cause a dramatic shedding of hair that in some cases will not return.
Recently IAHRS Member and IAHRS Info Center Contributing Editor, Dr Jerry Cooley, responded to a question from the mother of a 17 year old girl who suffered with hair loss caused by a car accident.
Technorati Tags: anagen effuvium, hair loss, hair transplantVeiw Article: Hair Los Cause By Car Accident
When a Hair Transplant Goes Wrong
The American Hair Loss Association receives thousands of questions from around the world each and every month. What never fails to amaze us is the complete lack of understanding concerning the scope and potential pitfalls of hair transplant surgery. One of the most outrageous questions that comes to mind was e-mailed by a woman in Los Angeles who wanted to know if it were possible for a hair transplant surgeon to recreate the hairline of Jessica Simpson on her sixteen year old daughter…I kid you not!
READ MY LIPS…Hair transplantation is real cosmetic surgery, and with all surgery comes real risk! Complications can occur and unfortunately most physicians promoting themselves as hair transplant specialists are not good at what they do. Even good candidates for hair transplant surgery will have disappointing results if they choose the wrong surgeon. Be smart, learn about the procedure and never underestimate the importance of choosing the right hair transplant surgeon.
Recently IAHRS Member and contributing editor, Dr Gregory Pistone, responded to a question regarding the repair of botched hair transplant surgery
View Article: Botched Hair Transplant Please Help
With this said, if you do your homework and choose wisely a good candidate for surgical hair restoration can have a wonderful outcome.
Technorati Tags: hair transplant, hair transplant surgeonIs An Eyebrow Hair Transplant Right For Me?
Question:
I’ve been hearing a lot of about eyelash hair transplants in the news but I never hear about people having an eyebrow hair transplant. My eyebrows are very sparse from years of plucking. I am forced to basically draw them on now but would love to have an eyebrow transplant if possible. Do all hair transplant doctors do this type of procedure or do I have to find someone who specializes in it? And where do I look? Also can I send digital pictures to your organization for an evaluation?
Thank you for your help.
Answer:
Having an eyebrow transplant is a very good option for those interested in restoring lost eyebrow hair, but remember, the patient has to be very careful when choosing a hair transplant surgeon for this very specialized procedure.
The absence of eyebrow hair is not uncommon and can be due to many factors including, genetics, over plucking, trauma from an accident or surgery, thyroid and hormonal conditions as well as burns.
Like a conventional hair transplant the donor hair is removed from the back of the scalp to be transplanted into the area that needs to be restored. Since the hair that is being transplanted comes form the scalp, it is genetically programmed to grow like scalp hair and will need to be trimmed on a regular basis.
An eyebrow hair transplant is an extremely delicate procedure that takes a significant amount of skill and experience to perform properly. To provide a completely natural appearance the hair transplant surgeon has to place each individual hair with painstaking precision in order mimic the exact angle and direction of naturally occurring eyebrow growth.
Between 50 to as many as 325 individual hairs are painstakingly placed in each eyebrow depending on the level of restoration needed. In most cases the desired result can be achieved after only one procedure.
An eyebrow transplant is usually performed using a mild oral sedative and can take around 2 hours to complete. Most patents report that the procedure is virtually painless and the recovery period is relatively short.
During the first week of recovery the patient will experience the formation of tiny crusts around each transplanted hair. During this period the crusts will fall leaving a slightly pinkish appearance to the eyebrow which usually fades by the end of the first week leaving the patient with a completely normal appearance. The sutures that were placed in the donor area on the back of the scalp are removed at the end of the first week as well.
After about two weeks the transplanted hair falls out and begins to regrow within three months. Once the newly transplanted hairs begin to grow they should continue to grow for a lifetime.
Again, when considering this procedure only consult with a hair transplant surgeon that has extensive experience with eyebrow hair transplantation. Avoid the large chain hair transplant clinics that advertise on TV since experts agree that quality control in these clinics is usually below acceptable standards.
To find an experienced hair transplant surgeon who specializes in eyebrow transplants consult with The American Hair loss Association or contact The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons. Once you decide on who you would like to consult with you can always forward on digital images of yourself to be evaluated prior to a face to face consultation.
Technorati Tags: eyebrow transplant, hair transplantThe Hidden Dangers of Online Hair Transplant Message Boards
Were do you get your medical information? We’ll if you’re living in the 21st century and reading this article the answer is probably the internet. As a matter of fact, the world wide web is the most widely used source for medical information both by medical professionals and the lay public.
Did you ever ask yourself where this information came from or if it’s even accurate?
Well if you’re researching surgical hair restoration you should. Just like any other industry selling a product or service, the hair transplant field is a fiercely competitive business. It is a field of cosmetic surgery that is almost completely unregulated. Any doctor who has a valid medical license can claim that they are an expert hair transplant surgeon and market themselves to the unsuspecting public as a “leader” in the field.
For many years large hair transplant chains have been buying the public’s opinion through advertising on late night television. Now a much less expensive, yet more sophisticated marketing vehicle has been created…the online message forum.
Before we go on, it’s important to note that the internet can be a wonderful source of empowering hair transplant information. Information that just a few years ago was unavailable to the general public. Message forums were originally created to foster the free exchange of information among forum users without the confusion of marketing hype. Perspective hair transplant patients were encouraged to ask questions and engage in discussion about anything and everything concerning hair restoration. However there was one problem: Where and from whom was this information coming from? Read more
Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair translant, message forums