follicular unit transplant Archives

Articles Tagged with: follicular unit transplant

October 7, 2014

All About Hair Grafts

Surgical hair transplant has long relied on the use of hair grafts to restore areas of balding scalp with natural waves of full, real hair. The history of hair grafts can be traced back to as early as 1930s, Japan. There, scientists experimented with the first primitive hair grafts and hair restoration techniques. It was not until the middle of the century— nearly two decades later— that the practice of hair grafting would first appear in the Western world.

The very first hair graft tools and procedures were introduced to Americans in the late 1950s by a New York dermatologist, Dr. Norman Orentreich. Medical researchers say this marked the onset of the modern era of hair transplant, a movement that ultimately culminates with the invention of advanced “hair transplant robots” that assist in today’s procedures.

Grafting Procedures

Generally speaking, hair grafts are used during most hair transplant procedures. These procedures might be performed in a variety of different ways. To illustrate, let’s examine the 3 most popular types of hair grafting procedures in Miami: Strip donor transplant, follicular unit transplant, and new robotic FUE transplant.

1. Strip donor transplant

The strip donor transplant requires the extraction of a long, narrow strip of scalp from the donor area. Sometimes referred to as a linear graft, this section of scalp is very small and nearly painless to remove after the application of a local anesthetic.

The linear graft produced during a strip donor hair transplant may vary in size according to individual patient needs. Typically, the strip of donor hair contains 30-40 hair grafts. Following extraction, surgeons carefully separate the strip into individual micrografts (clusters of about 3-4 hairs each). These hair grafts are then transplanted by hand to complete the surgical hair restoration procedure. They can be used to create a natural looking hairline, fill in areas around the temples, or reconstruct the crown.

2. Follicular unit transplantation

Like the strip donor procedure outlined above, the follicular unit transplantation procedure requires the extraction of hair grafts from a donor area. Unlike strip donor procedures, however, FUT procedures do not extract a linear strip of donor hair. Instead, a small punch-like instrument is used to extract individual micrografts directly from the scalp. These micrografts contain clusters of 3-4 donor hairs each, which are similarly transplanted by the surgeon to recreate a patient’s hairline, temporal regions, and/or crown.

FUT offers a few key benefits over traditional strip donor procedures, the most notable of which is the ability to leave the donor area nearly scar-free. While strip donor procedures leave a small linear scar that is sometimes visible when hair is cut very short, FUT procedures leave only reddish colored dots at the site of each micrograft extraction. These marks are nearly invisible to the naked eye, allowing the patient to wear his or her hair very short after the procedure is performed.

3. Robotic FUE

The newest trend in hair transplant technology, robotic FUE systems are making headlines for bringing higher speeds and greater precision to the art of hair transplant.

With the assistance of advanced digital imaging and robotics technology, surgeons are now able to identify and extract specific hair micrografts in a more comfortable and minimally invasive way. This reduces trauma to the scalp, speeds the procedure, and ultimately improves patient experience. What’s more, these new hair transplant robots survey the entire donor area to ensure hair grafts are selected in a random fashion that helps to maintain the thickness, density, and scalp health.

Learn more about robotic FUE technology by visiting our ARTAS® Miami page.

Learn More About Hair Grafting

Millions of men and women suffer with the personal and social angst of hair loss every day. If you suffer with thinning, balding, or shedding hair, rest assured you are not alone. Learn more about hair grafting and surgical hair restoration at the Hair Transplant Institute of Miami by calling our clinic directly at 305-925-0222.

September 8, 2014

Baldness in Men

Baldness in middle aged men is more common than you might think. For instance, it’s estimated that roughly 2/3rds of all adult men experience baldness at some point in their life. Take a moment to review the following statistics to learn more about how baldness occurs, and what men of all ages can do about it.

Things to Know About Male Pattern Baldness:

1. Male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is the most common form of hair loss among men. Recent numbers estimate male pattern baldness to constitute roughly 90-95% of all cases.

2. More than 3 out of every 4 men has thinning hair by age 50.

3. Of those men who suffer with male pattern baldness, about 25% will see signs by age 25.

The last statistic is very important. Though it’s alarming to think that 25 year-old men suffer with hair loss, it’s also important to remember that early diagnosis is the key to effective treatment.

Classifying Baldness in Men

If you spend time evaluating your hairline and crown for potential areas of baldness, you can rest assured you are not alone. Most men worry about losing their hair. Moreover, the statistics above illustrate a sobering point: Most men do lose their hair.

It’s not all bad news, however. Physicians say the best way to prevent baldness in men is to learn to recognize the signs of a receding hairline, thinning hair, and balding crown. The sooner the signs are recognized, the more quickly and effectively baldness can be treated with either surgical or non-surgical hair restoration.

To help classify and ultimately treat male pattern baldness, physicians rely on a chart known as the Norwood Classification. The Norwood Classification illustrates the usual progression of baldness in men. Using the scale, physicians can diagnose baldness and help men of all ages plan to treat it before it worsens. Take a moment to review the chart below. For more information, visit our blog article on the Norwood Classification.

Norwood-Classification-for-baldness-in-men

Causes of Male Pattern Baldness

What causes baldness in men? Worldwide, there are countless institutions, researchers, and physicians dedicated to discovering more about this illusive and devastating condition. Below are a few things that researchers have been able to associate with thinning and balding. Though there is still much to learn, the following should provide insight on how baldness develops and progresses.

Genetics. Some men can be genetically predisposed to losing hair at a specific point in life. For example, researchers have identified a specific gene for hair loss on the X chromosome. If a man inherits a dominant form of that chromosome from his mother, the trait will be expressed.

Hormones. Baldness does not have to be hardwired into your genetic makeup, however. Hormonal fluctuations may also cause baldness in men. Specifically, an overabundance of a testosterone derivative called DHT may cause the phenomenon of hair follicle miniaturization. Over time, follicles shrink and become unable to sustain a healthy hair growth cycle. Hair eventually stops growing, the follicle becomes dormant, and to the naked eye, the scalp appears to be bald.

Stress. Another form of baldness might occur after a particularly stressful event shocks the hair follicles into dormancy. This condition is known as telogen effluvium. Baldness has been known to set in after things like surgery, car accidents, and other traumatic events. As the stress is managed, however, hair follicles can regain their ability to grow normal and healthy hair. At that point, the signs of baldness slowly fade away.

Medications. Sometimes, medications may cause baldness in men. Important Note: Never discontinue the use of medications without first speaking with your physician. If you suspect medication might be causing baldness, schedule a consultation with a hair loss specialist or your primary care physician. A hair loss specialist can help diagnose the cause of baldness, and your primary care physician can assist in finding alternative medications for which baldness is not have known side effect.

Treating Male Baldness

Fortunately, men have several options for treating baldness. The major options are detailed below:

Rogaine®. This non-surgical treatment for male hair loss is known to stop the progression of baldness. Rogaine is a topical foam that is applied to the scalp as directed by your hair loss professional. Though it has demonstrated effectiveness as a treatment for baldness in men, it should be noted that discontinuation of Rogaine often results in further hair loss.

Propecia®. Many men find Propecia effective in treating baldness. The prescription medication is a pill that men take daily, as prescribed by a hair loss professional. Like Rogaine, this hair loss drug only prevents future hair loss. In most cases, baldness progresses following discontinued use.

Low Level Laser Therapy. LLLT is a new technology with a wide variety of medical applications. This year, LLLT LaserComb™ was proven effective in stimulating new hair growth in both women and men who suffer with baldness.

Strip-donor Hair Transplant. Strip-donor transplant involves harvesting a micrograft of donor hair from a healthy area of scalp to transplant to the balding area. Learn more about strip-donor hair transplant.

Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT). FUT is a highly refined hair transplant procedure that uses a small punch-like instrument to isolate and harvest individual clusters of hair follicles to transplant to areas of bald scalp. Because the procedure harvests donor hair via punch instrument instead of micrograft, patients can wear their hair shorter with virtually no visible sign that a procedure has been performed. Learn more about FUT hair transplant.

Robotic FUE Transplant. Robotic FUE is the newest and most advanced hair transplant option available to balding men. The procedure is similar to the FUT procedure described above, but uses advanced robotics and digital imaging to select only the healthiest donor hairs for harvest. Learn more about robotic FUE transplant with the ARTAS® in Miami.

Learn More About Male Pattern Baldness

Learn more about male pattern baldness using the resources below:

American Hair Loss Association

International Society for Hair Restoration Surgery

Children’s Alopecia Project

The Bald Truth

Learn More About Treating Male Pattern Baldness

To learn more about treatment options for male pattern baldness, contact our institute online or call or clinic directly at 1-877-443-9070.

July 10, 2012

The Hair Transplant Procedure: What to Expect

Perhaps you are part of the two-thirds of all men who experience male pattern baldness. Or, maybe you are one of the 20 million women who suffers with hair thinning or balding. Male or female—you are not alone. Hair loss affects a vast majority of Americans and may lead to serious personal, social, and professional setbacks. Hair loss may profoundly affect the way we feel about ourselves and others, making our self-image, confidence, and quality of life suffer. Fortunately, treating hair loss has never been more effective. Today, hair transplant procedures create beautiful results that look and feel identical to your original hair.

It is our pleasure to welcome you to our website, and we invite you to get to know us a little better. If you are considering a hair transplant procedure with the Hair Transplant Institute of Miami, here’s what to expect:

Initial Transplant Consultation

In the initial consultation, Dr. Nusbaum explains in detail the nature of the procedure and answers all your questions. He examines the pattern of your hair loss and reviews the hair growth patterns of your family members. Dr. Nusbaum also offers an honest evaluation of whether or not he considers you a good candidate for hair restoration.

During a discussion of your expectations, Dr. Nusbaum addresses the feasibility of meeting your personal goals. He provides an estimate of the number of grafts required to complete the transplant and how much time to set aside for the procedure. The overall timeframe for the treatment is based on such factors as your age and lifestyle as well as the type and quality of your hair.

You will also receive a cost estimate based on the number of grafts needed to achieve your desired goals. After performing thousands of successful hair transplants, Dr. Nusbaum’s estimate is generally very close to the final cost.

The Actual Hair Transplant Procedure

Your comfort is our top priority. Once you arrive at our Institute, you will be escorted to a private room where the actual transplant will take place. Dr. Nusbaum will explain each step of the procedure once more, and Dr. Rose will begin to outline the area on your scalp to which hair will be transplanted. This is all done in accordance with the plan set forth by Dr. Nusbaum in the Initial Transplant Consultation (above), and the transplant procedure continues only after you give final approval.

Next, you will be given medication to help you relax and a surgical gown to wear while the procedure is performed. Then, your scalp will be prepped in a relaxing manner that minimizes anxiety and discomfort. A technician will implement a special massaging technique that uses the principles of acupuncture to relieve the scalp of tension, pressure, and pain. This technique has been developed by Dr. Nusbaum and does not involve the use of any needles. Rather, the massaging creates a vibration that works in conjunction with the anesthesia to minimize any discomfort associated with the procedure.

While your scalp is anesthetized, the grafts are surgically removed from the donor strip at the back of your head and transplanted to the chosen sites. The amount of pain felt during this portion of the procedure is minimal. Most patients say the pain experienced is subtle and on par with a visit to the dentist.

Sophisticated Technology: No More “Plugs”

Dr. Nusbaum is a proponent of follicular unit transplantation, a refined and proven procedure in the field of hair restoration. Follicular unit transplantation represents a huge departure from the plugs that were grafted years ago, both in technique and, most importantly, results.

During the procedure, the donor strip area is carefully evaluated under the microscope. Small, specifically sculpted follicular-unit grafts are removed and implanted into the recipient area, one at a time. Tiny openings no larger than a pinprick are made in the recipient area to receive each unit.

To learn more about the advanced technologies and results of this procedure, please visit this guide to Choosing a Hair Transplant Procedure.

Post Procedure

Your hair transplant procedure may take 3 to 6 hours from start to finish, depending on the number of grafts required to achieve desired results. You will be ready to leave our clinic after a brief rest period. We advise all patients to make arrangements for a driver to take them home safely, as there is a mild sedative used during the procedure that may have a lingering effect afterward.

Most patients return to work the following day and resume full activity, including their fitness and sports regimen, within a few short days. In most cases, evidence of the transplant goes undetected by others until months later when they notice your fuller, natural looking head of hair.

Many patients opt for a second or third procedure to optimize their opportunity for a full head of hair. Procedures can be done as gradually or as frequently as you wish provided favorable medical conditions for prime hair growth are taken into account.

Learn More about Hair Transplantation

Our friendly staff includes South Florida’s finest hair transplant surgeons, microscopists, technicians, and registered nurses. We understand the agony and frustration that accompanies hair loss, and we are committed to helping you develop a customized plan that will create natural results.

To learn more about Miami hair transplant procedures at the Hair Transplant Institute, please contact us online or call us directly at 1.877.443.9070.