Hair Loss Restoration procedure

 Hair transplant for hair Loss Restoration procedure

At an initial consultation, the surgeon analyzes the patient's scalp, discusses his preferences and expectations, and advises him/her on the best approach (e.g. single vs. multiple sessions) and what results might reasonably be expected.

For several days prior to surgery the patient refrains from using any medicines which might result in intraoperative bleeding and resultant poor "take" of the grafts. Alcohol and smoking can contribute to poor graft survival. Post operative antibiotics are commonly prescribed to prevent wound or graft infections.

SurgeryTransplant operations are performed on an outpatient basis, with mild sedation (optional) and injected local anesthesia, which typically last about six hours. The scalp is shampooed and then treated with an antibacterial agent prior to the donor scalp being harvested.

In the usual follicular unit procedure, the surgeon harvests a strip of skin from the posterior scalp, in an area of good hair growth. The excised strip is about 1–1.5 x 15–30 cm in size. While closing the resulting wound, assistants begin to dissect individual follicular unit grafts from the strip. Working with binocular Stereo-microscopes, they carefully remove excess fibrous and fatty tissue while trying to avoid damage to the follicular cells that will be used for grafting. The latest method of closure is called 'Trichophytic closure' which results in much finer scars at the donor area.

FUE harvesting negates the need for large areas of scalp tissue to be harvested and can give very natural results with little or no scarring.

The surgeon then uses very small micro blades or fine needles to puncture the sites for receiving the grafts, placing them in a predetermined density and pattern, and angling the wounds in a consistent fashion to promote a realistic hair pattern. The technicians generally do the final part of the procedure, inserting the individual grafts in place.

Post-operative careAdvances in wound care allow for semi-permeable dressings, which allow seepage of blood and tissue fluid, to be applied and changed at least daily. The vulnerable recipient area must be shielded from the sun, and shampooing is started two days after the surgery. Some surgeons will have the patient shampoo the day after surgery. Shampooing is important to prevent scabs from occurring around the hair shaft. Scabs adhere to the hair shaft and increase the risk of losing newly transplanted hair follicles during the first 7 to 10 days post-op.

During the first ten days, virtually all of the transplanted hairs, inevitably traumatized by their relocation, will fall out ("shock loss"). After two to three months new hair will begin to grow from the moved follicles. The patient's hair will grow normally, and continue to thicken through the next six to nine months. Any subsequent hair loss is likely to be only from untreated areas. Some patients elect to use medications to retard such loss, while others plan a subsequent transplant procedure to deal with this eventuality.

Modern techniquesThere are several different techniques available for the harvesting of hair follicles, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Regardless of which donor harvesting technique is employed, proper extraction of the hair follicle is paramount to ensure the viability of the transplanted hair and avoid transection, the cutting of the hair shaft from the hair follicle. Hair follicles grow at a slight angle to the skin's surface, which means that regardless of technique transplant tissue must be removed with a corresponding angle and not perpendicular to the surface.

There are two main ways in which donor grafts are extracted today: strip excision harvesting and follicular unit extraction.

Strip harvesting is the most common technique for removing hair and follicles from a donor site, most commonly the area at the back and sides of the scalp. A single-, double-, or triple-bladed scalpel is used to remove strips of hair-bearing tissue from the donor site. Each incision is planned so that intact hair follicles are removed. Once removed, the strip is dissected into follicular units, which are small, naturally formed groupings of hair follicles.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) takes place in a single long session or multiple small sessions. FUE is considered to be more time consuming, depending on the operator's skill, and there are restrictions on patient candidacy. The advantages of this technique over the conventional strip harvest are that it does not leave a linear scar, and the procedure produces little or no postoperative pain and discomfort. There are some disadvantages such as increased surgical times and higher cost to the patient. Clients are selected for FUE based on a fox test. There is however some debate about the usefulness of this in screening clients for FUE.

Common Types of Hair Loss

Alopecia universalis: Have you ever wondered how life would be for you if you were born without hair. Not just the hair on your scalp,  no hair in your nose which is to protect you from dirt and hair in your ears which is also for your protection and part of your hearing aid, no eyebrows to prevent dust and eyelashes for the enhancement of your beautiful eyes or all of a sudden all your hair vanishes or is vaporized in this air.  The act of just having this feeling will send some chills along your spine. There are many people living with this Alopecia universalis stigma. Some have managed to cope with it while some are still on the verge of getting the support they need through support groups, their beloved family and friends while some it’s just a dilemma with so many unending questions with very little solutions which are forth coming. Thanks be to God for the technological wonder where you can Google for Alopecia Universalis and all the hair restoration, hair surgeries and hair treatment. But the big questions till remains what if you don’t have the hair to begin with. Having a good family support system around you with all the help and support with Alopecia comlecation is all what you need.

A person with Alopecia universalis is born without eyelashes, eyebrows, hair on the head and as the person grows up well for some people having hair under the armpits would have been a bonus point. How about all those who would have cherished to have their signs of puberty just after that glimpse of pubic hair? This once in a lifetime natural phenomenon would just be a thing of the past.

 As a matter of fact the lack of hair comes from inheritance and very little is there to be done to rectify this kind of hair loss situation. Alopecia universalis is found in both men and women and cuts across all races. Although there re a few cases whereby some hair can come back, it is now known or predicated when the hair falling will start or when there will be a hair regrowth. The only copping skills are for people to put on hoods, caps, hair wigs, bandannas.

Just as Sterling Winthrop went through a lot of pain to discover penadol, there  a lot of people who have contributed happily in terms of making sure that cosmetic hair products are available for those who are in need of them. artificial eyebrows, artificial eyelashes, artificial wigs with human hair, eye pencils, artificial eyebrows stencils, fake eyelashes, eyebrows tattoo procedures are there in plenty to improvise. It only depends on ones pocket otherwise all the products ate there in plenty and for the many who have already managed to cope up with the hair loss situation is to take the bull by the horns and accept that that’s the beauty you are or you were born with.

The moment one finds how special he or she is then the rest we are just like any other next door neighbor and live with Alopecia universalis till the end of time. Its all about having tools at your fingertips and being in control of something which we have no control of and making them work for your benefit to solve the hair loss problem a disease which has no cure as of yet.

Hair Restoration and hair transplantation

Hair restoration and hair transplantation

basically hair restoration and hair transplantation is a surgical technique that involves moving individual hair follicles from one part of the body (the donor site) to bald or balding parts (the recipient site). It is primarily used to treat male pattern baldness. It this case, grafts containing hair follicles that are genetically resistant to balding are transplanted to bald scalp. Likewise, it is also used to restore eyelashes, eyebrows, beard hair, chest hair, and pubic hair and to fill in scars caused by accidents or surgery such as face-lifts and previous hair transplants. Hair transplantation differs from skin grafting in that grafts contain almost all of the epidermis and dermis surrounding the hair follicle, and many tiny grafts are transplanted rather than a single strip of skin.

While hair naturally grows in follicles that contain groupings of 1 to 4 hairs, today’s most advanced techniques transplant these naturally occurring 1–4 hair "follicular units" in their natural groupings. Thus modern hair transplantation can achieve a natural appearance by mimicking nature hair for hair. This hair transplant procedure is called Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). Donor hair can be harvested in two very different ways;

Hair transplantation Aand hair restoration Strip Harvesting - a strip of scalp is removed under local anesthesia, the wound is then sutured back together and this piece of scalp tissue is then cut in to small pieces of tissue called grafts which are then transplanted back in to the thinning area of the patient's head. This method will leave a linear scar in the donor area, which should be covered by a patient's hair (if long). The recovery period is around 2 weeks and will require the stitches to be removed by medical personnel.

Follicular Unit Extraction or FUE Harvesting - individual follicles of hair are removed under local anesthesia; this micro removal uses tiny punches of between 0.6mm and 1.25mm in diameter. Each follicle is then reinserted back in to the scalp in the thinning area using a micro blade. Because individual follicles are removed, only small, punctate scars remain and any post-surgical pain is minimized. As no suture removal is required, recovery from FUE is within 7 days.

 

Hair Loss Replacement causes and the main benefits

The main benefits of hair restoration surgery

Hair loss is a serious issue for both men and women. Losing one's hair can have a profound impact, affecting self-confidence as well as personal and professional relationships. Recent hair restoration treatments--both surgical and non-surgical--have been developed that can slow the progression of hair loss and, in many cases, replace lost hair.

The important hair loss hair restoration clinically approved non-surgical treatments include the drugs Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) and Minoxidil (Rogaine). Although these drugs have been proven clinically successful to different degrees, many individuals turn to hair restoration surgery in order to achieve greater results.

Hair surgery restoration benefits

Hair restoration is not about vanity, but about improving quality of life. There are several reasons people opt for surgical hair restoration, including the following:

Hair loss ways of increased confidence. When you begin to suffer hair loss, you may also suffer from a lack of confidence. When looking in the mirror, you may see yourself differently. This  may lead you to think others see you differently as well. A blow to your self-esteem can be difficult to handle, but hair restoration can restore the confidence you need.

Less worry. Hair loss can also lead to worries about your health, especially if you begin losing hair at a young age. A visit to a hair restoration specialist can help you understand the reasons for your hair loss and rule out any underlying causes, thus easing your concerns about your health.

Hair loss and hair restoration for youthful appearance. Many people believe the younger they look, the more opportunities they can find, both in their personal and professional life. Hair restoration surgery can produce results that put you back on the path toward personal and professional success.

What to expect from surgical hair restoration

Traditionally, the safest and most effective hair transplant surgery involves taking grafts (hair follicles, skin and tissue) from donor sites on the patient's head and transplanting them to the balding region. Typically conducted on an outpatient basis, professional hair transplants may require several sessions to meet the patient's goals.

Hair loss and hair restoration unlike other surgeries, hair restoration surgery--in many cases--can provide immediate results. Surgical hair restoration also differs from other transplant operations because the hair follicles traditionally come from the patient's donor sites, not from someone else. Therefore, there are no anti-rejection drugs needed. Although there are other hair restoration procedures available such as hair flaps, scalp reductions or line grafts, most of them are considered outdated and are not recommended by the American Hair Loss Association.

Hair loss treatment

Treatment of Hair Loss

If hair loss is caused by a temporary situation such as medication, stress or insufficient iron, however, however, the hair loss will stop when its cause ends. Hair loss due to infection may require oral antibiotics or antifungals. Alopecia areata can be treated with injections of steroids such as triamcinolone into the area. For all of the causes, early treatment works the best.

For hair loss caused by androgenic alopecia, there is no cure, although many treatments are available. Finasteride (Propecia) is a prescription hair loss treatment that is prescribed for men only. Minoxidil (Rogaine) is rubbed directly onto the scalp and works for both men and women. It usually works best for hair loss at top and back of the scalp, where there is still some remaining hair. This is available over the counter at most pharmacies.

Well chosen hairstyles can often hide hair loss effectively. Partial hairpieces or wigs are recommended if hair loss is severe.

Finally, hair transplantation has improved dramatically over the last several years. During a hair transplant, healthy hairs are harvested from an area of the scalp with normal hair growth. Individual hairs are then placed into areas of hair loss. When done well, the result is extremely natural appearing.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Hair Loss

What is causing the hair loss?

Is this due to a temporary cause that will correct itself?

Is it related to any medication I currently take?

How can the problem be corrected?

Is it diet related?

If so, what needs to be changed in the diet?

How can the hair damage be repaired?

Should I consider taking medication?

3. Hair loss for Children

2. Hair loss for Women

Hair Loss for Men

Causes of Hair Loss in Men

Causes of Hair Loss in Men

By far the most common cause of hair loss in men is androgenetic alopecia, also referred to as “male pattern” or “common” baldness. It is caused by the effects of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on genetically susceptible scalp hair follicles. This sensitivity to DHT is present mainly in hair follicles that reside in the front, top, and crown of the scalp (rather than the back and sides) producing a characteristic and easily identifiable pattern described by Norwood (see Norwood Classification).

It is frequently stated that “hair loss comes from the mother’s side of the family.” The truth is that baldness can be inherited from either parent. However, recent research suggests that the reasons for hair loss and balding may be a bit more complex than originally thought. Factors on the x-chromosome have been shown to influence hair loss, making the inheritance from the maternal side of the family slightly more important than the paternal one (Markus Nothen, 2005).

The identification of an androgen receptor gene (AR) on the x-chromosome helps to explain why the hair loss pattern of a man resembles his maternal grandfather more often than his father. However, this is clearly not the whole story since a direct inheritance of baldness from the father is observed as well. An autosomal (non-sex) linked gene would explain this type of transmission – but this gene has not yet been found.

DHT is formed by the action of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase on testosterone, the hormone that causes sex characteristics in men. DHT causes male hair loss by shortening the growth, or anagen, phase of the hair cycle, causing miniaturization (decreased size) of the follicles, and producing progressively shorter, finer hairs. Eventually these hairs totally disappear.

In the patient below, we see a close-up of the side of his scalp where the hair is not affected by DHT. We see mostly groups of full thickness hairs (called terminal hairs) and a few scattered fine, vellus hairs. This is normal.

In the area of thinning most of the hair has been miniaturized, although all of the hair is still present.

In the region that is balding  there is extensive miniaturization and some, but not all of the hair has disappeared.

What this shows is that the initial appearance of balding is due to the progressive decrease in hair shaft size, rather than the actual loss of hair – in early hair loss, all the hair is still present. This is the reason why hair loss medications, such as finasteride (Propecia) work in early hair loss (since they are able to partly reverse the miniaturization process) but don’t work in areas that are totally bald. It is also the reason why men’s hair restoration surgery, if not planned properly, can result in hair loss due to the shedding of surrounding miniaturized hair.