Many times we receive calls from individuals who are ashamed of their hair loss. Those individuals that contact us are embarrassed. They don’t want anybody to know that they contacted US Hair Restoration for advice on their hair loss. We understand that for many people hair loss is a very sensitive subject. Here at US Hair Restoration our goal is to make our patients feel comfortable. We help our patients to not be embarrassed about hair restoration, but to rather think of it as something that they are doing to restore their confidence.

There are many people, both males and females, out there that suffer from different types of weight issues. These individuals join the gym, go on special diets, and they even do the Lap Band to overcome their weight issues. After losing weight these individuals feel so special inside and outside, that they share publicly their story of weight loss because weight loss as hair loss is something that can be seen by everyone.

Hair restoration is not only about beauty from the outside, it is about self-confidence and feeling secure about how you look. Here at US Hair Restoration we use the latest technology in hair restoration. Patients who have a hair restoration procedure with us come back for follow up visits and not only does their hair look great, their faces are glowing as well. Something we get a lot from our patients is

“I went to the hair salon for a haircut and the hairstylist couldn’t even tell that I had a hair transplant.”

These patients recover their self-esteem and are back to feeling positive about life. Overall, we here at US Hair Restoration believe that an individual must do what makes them feel better.

 Updates on Hair Transplant Repair

One of the misgivings people have about hair restoration through hair transplantation is based on results patients received years ago. The old hair transplant surgeries utilized plugs, mini-grafts or micrografts which left undesirable artificial looking results.

Our medical specialty has come a long way in the twenty-first century.  US Hair Restoration is a modern hair transplant medical practice providing patients with natural, proven and permanent results. A hair transplant results that makes them feels better about their selves and brings about big smiles. The techniques and procedures practiced in our centers also allow us to repair the less pleasing results of older hair restoration procedures.

Many patients who have had a bad experience with old technique hair transplant surgeries are unaware of modern hair transplant advantages and are reluctant to seek help. However, those who are well informed on updated repair procedures can enjoy a normal hair line and a quite natural look again.

Today, we are able to revise the abnormal appearance to a perfectly natural and refined hairline which is undetectable from a natural head of hair.  Our goal is to create the most natural appearance for your hair and we succeed.

Follicular Unit Extraction and Scalp Micropigmentation

 Most men will suffer hair loss to some degree in their life. This is because of DHT a male hormone that negatively affects the hair follicles of the scalp; most aggressively at the temples, crown and top of the head. So men bear this change or maturation of male pattern baldness (MPB) well; but many experience the well documented ‘psychological effects’ which culminate in low self image, esteem and confidence.

It is no wonder that hair restoration through hair transplant surgery is  one of the leading medical cosmetic concerns among men.  Today’s follicular unit transplant (FUT) surgery is providing the undetectable and natural solution that patients’ seek.

Nevertheless, some people with advanced hair loss and limited donor hair for the surgery have fewer choices. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) surgery combined with scalp micropigmentation (SMP) offers and innovative approach for men with advanced male pattern baldness (MPB).

A combination of these less invasive procedures can provide excellent results under the skills of today’s leading hair transplant surgeons.  A combined FUE and SMP procedure means:

• Individual follicular units (FUs) will be transplanted for balanced and even coverage
• Individual FUs will be transplanted to created an attractive age appropriate hairline

• will include selection of dermal pigment to match your hair color
• micro injections of dermal pigment to simulate ‘stubble hair’

• to support the development of transplanted hair a short term prescription of Propecia may be prescribed

 These two advanced hair restoration procedures can provide a patient with the option of having a shaved or ‘military type hair style that is attractive and a safe medical solution to their hair loss. s where the entire scalp and hairline frames the face with closely cropped ‘stubble’ hair. A person with limited donor hair can be a prime candidate for this safe and less invasive hair transplant procedure.

Skilled hair restoration surgeons can take individual follicular units (FUs) and create the maximum balanced coverage over the scalp. They can then create further ‘look of density’ by simulating hair stubble with scalp micro-pigmentation (SMP). Los Angeles hair transplant centers are innovative leaders in hair restoration procedures.

SMP is a procedure where special surgical needles are used to inject dermal pigments into the scalp or other areas such as eyebrows into the skin.  The color of pigment selected is close to that of the patient’s hair resulting in a cosmetic hair shadow.  SMP is a safe and very non invasive procedure.

Combining FUE and SMP to resolve the challenge of hair loss for people with little alternatives and represents an advancement in modern hair restoration.  This solution is not for everyone but is a welcome choice for some people who previously had limited alternatives to resolve their hair loss problem.

 The Cause and Problem of  Hair Loss

Dihydrotestosterone (5α-Dihydrotestosterone), [DHT] is a male sex hormone, an androgen. Male and female adults can lose hair as a consequence of changes in the metabolism of androgen in the body – men far more commonly than women. Most men experience hair loss from the effects throughout their life. The incidence increase with age; however, some men can experience it even in their adolescent years.

Male pattern baldness, [MBP] is also known as androgenic alopecia or androgenetic alopecia, is caused by the hair follicle’s sensitivity to DHT. The follicles miniaturize [shrink], reducing the lifespan of the follicle resulting in abnormal production of hair. Hair loss is considered to be a legitimate medical problem that in some individuals leads to serious depression.  DHT plays a major role in hair loss.

Female Pattern Baldness, [FPB] also has an androgenic component but can also have some other contributing factors.  The best hair restoration surgeons will order additional tests to isolate that the cause is androgenic. In patients where this is accurate than hair transplant is a natural, proven and permanent solution.

Hair Transplant Surgery is a Great Solution (watch video)

Psychological Considerations

There are many things that can adversely affect a person’s self image and consequently their self esteem. Medical science recognizes with certainty that these two factors directly impact our quality of life. Hair loss affects millions of people men and women. Amongst this  group of people there is a number of individuals who undergo male pattern baldness at a very early age. The emotional impact on these individuals can be even more devastating.. Today we have more insight to the negative consequences of hair loss and that fact it can be prevented in many cases.

Study on Hair Loss Psychological Affects

“Psychology of hair restoration surgery” is a study that was presented in 15th annual scientific meeting of Internal Society of Hair Restoration Surgery in 2007. In this study we sent questionnaires to 200 men who had only one hair transplant in past and we asked them about the psycho-social aspects of their lives following their procedures.  We have compared the responses from the patients with higher classes of hair loss with early stages.  We also compared the changes that younger patients experienced in comparison to the older ones.  We have found a significant improvement in future outlook in younger patients who received a hair restoration as opposed to the older ones. I am attaching the graph right off the presentation I had back in 2007 that compares the impacts of a hair restoration on younger patients vs. older ones.

Advanced Evaluation

Hair transplant surgeons used to have a strict criteria in past as of strictly not perform a hair transplant on anyone younger than 24.  However, today there are more treatment options, as well as, more documentation on the long term effects of hair restoration medications.  Hair restoration doctors did not want to do a hair transplant until they can clearly see the pattern of baldness.  Modern miniaturization study with microscopic evaluation allows for more accurate predictability along with other evaluating factors.  This gives us a reasonably reliable way to predict the activity of hair loss in different areas with some certainty. We can predict the final pattern of male patterned baldness (MPB) utilizing the patient’s miniaturization study in addition to a thorough evaluation of his family hair loss history.

Ethics of Hair Transplant at a young age

I recognize as many people have mentioned that there has been unethical practices in some instances. As medical doctors we must hold to the highest of ethical standards and best practices. Performing a hair transplant when the miniaturization study and the psychological profile does indicate would be a breach of these standards. I appreciate the feedback in this forum and plan to write an article on the indications and specifications of “Early Intervention for Hair Transplant Surgery” soon.

Women’s Hair Restoration and Women Hair Loss Treatments

Parsa Mohebi, MD is among Los Angeles best hair restoration doctors. He notes that hair transplants are increasing among women. This includes scalp hair transplant for balding areas, improving the hairline to better frame the face and eyebrow hair transplants.  As women continue to advance in the competitive workplace self image and confidence are playing an ever more critical role in their life. More and more women are seeking hair restoration options that will improve their self image and confidence that diminished with hair loss.

Going bald adversely affects most people. Women often find it more traumatic then men.  Hair defines significant quality of life issues for women including:

• her sense of personal beauty
• health and wellness
• sense of success and social status
• her sense of sexuality
• and other aspects of a woman’s self image and esteem.

Women are very devastated by the loss of hair. The best Los Angeles hair transplant centers are increasingly focusing on alleviating this problem for women.  Men embarrassed about hair loss don’t like people to know that they have had a successful hair transplant. Unfair as it might be the social stigma for women with baldness is even greater. Hair loss is also associated with poor health to the general public. The confusion, fear, and anxiety and helplessness that women feel is completely understandable.

Advances in hair restoration technology and diagnosing female hair loss makes it easier to determine who can be successfully treated by a medical hair transplant.

Female Hair Transplant

A hair transplant offers an affordable natural, proven, and permanent solution for some woman. Los Angeles hair restoration doctors specializing in women’s hair loss have developed specific protocols in the management of female hair loss. Summer specials at leading hair restoration center US Hair Restorations makes this a great time to consider hair restoration. The latest and advanced technologies and developments in these medical procedures provide quality low cost hair transplants for women.

Follicular Unit Transplants (FUT) has come of age. This advanced type of modern hair restoration provides patients with a natural, proven and permanent hair loss solution.  Many people do not understand that FUT hair restoration is available in two distinct forms of hair transplant surgeries. They are

1. the ‘Strip Method’ and
2. ‘Follicular Unit Extraction’ method

Both these procedures consist of transplanting hair from the permanent zone. This is the area of the scalp where hair loss does not occur.  The harvesting method in each procedure is different. This blog is particularly devoted to the ‘Strip Method.”

Strip Method Hair Transplants

In this form of FUT hair restoration surgery a donor strip is taken from the back of the patients scalp. The size of the donor strip is determined in the patient’s pre-op consult and microscopic evaluation.  The donor strip is removed by your hair transplant surgeon and separated into naturally occurring follicular grafts of 1, 2, 3 and 4 hairs. These grafts are meticulously and artistically placed in recipient incisions made by your doctor in the balding areas.  Below are some of the advantages that patients who elect the FUT strip method enjoy.

Advantages of FUT Strip Hair Transplant

1. Maximization of the number of grafts that can be harvested in a single hair transplant session.   This advance technique allows for the transplanting of over 3500 grafts. Many patients who have never had a hair transplant can complete their hair restoration in a single surgery.
2. Damaged to hair grafts is minimized. The strip procedure allows the surgical team to harvest and process the grafts under microscope effectively reducing transection (damaging hair follicles).
3. The surgery is less labor intensive then its FUE counterpart and can be elected at a more affordable cost.

I am often asked questions by patients after their hair restoration surgery regarding how many transplanted hair grafts will fall out and never grow back. This question comes as a result of fear based on testimonies they have heard from patients who got a hair transplant several years ago from a different surgeon, at a time when the technology available was not as dependable as it is today. Also at times, they have heard of sad stories from the tabloids of celebrity hair restorations gone wrong.

At US Hair Restoration we pride ourselves on patient satisfaction, quality, up-to-date precise methods, and value. We at times get patients who have had hair loss procedures gone wrong from physicians using much older methods. They come to us to correct their past surgical errors and we gain their trust by giving them results which make them happy.

The fact of the matter is over 95% of transplanted hair grafts should permanently survive based on studies administered using microscopic follicular unit transplanted methods. These studies show anywhere from 95-99% are expected take hold and grow as healthy hairs within only a few months of a transplantation surgery.

Here are a few frequently asked questions we have for your general inquiry:

How do you relocate hair grafts once broken down into follicular units?

The hair grafts (or follicular units) are transplanted based on the individual needs of the patient. The doctor will draw the hairline at your initial consult and right before the procedure and discuss it in detail with the patient. Designing the hairline has to do with the degree of baldness in each area of the scalp and the patients’ preference.

How are the hair grafts placed?

The follicular units must be immersed in a special solution in cold temperature once they are taken from body. When the sites are completed by the surgeon, the hair technician will gently insert the grafts one at a time. This is a very meticulous process and typically takes a few hours.

Does Dr. Mohebi perform the hair transplant surgery himself?

All surgeries are performed by Dr. Mohebi. He will get assistance from a surgical team of hair technicians during dissection and implantation of the follicular unit grafts.

Am I put under sedation while I get the procedure?

You will be put under sedation during the procedure but you will still be conscious. You will become more alert and aware as the surgery goes on, in which you will be sitting in an upright position in a surgical chair most of the time. You can watch a movie, read a book, listen to music or you can sleep (if you choose to) during your hair transplant surgery.

How long before the transplanted area doesn’t look like a procedure has been done?

Redness and swelling after hair restoration surgery is not uncommon and may last a few days following the procedure. Most patients generally recover from surgical swelling and redness after day 4 or 5. A loose fitting hat can be worn to prevent direct sunlight, which will protect the grafts and also keep your swelling or redness from being seen by others, if that is your concern.

Where can I find before and after photos of Dr. Mohebis’ work?

Before and after photos as well as video testimonials of previous hair transplant patients can be found at our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/US-Hair-Restoration/148987321796051, which we will keep updated as much as possible on a regular basis.

Q:

Dr. Mohebi,

I live outside of California and am interested in seeing you for my hair restoration procedure. I have attached my pictures to this email along with a few quick questions that I have in regards to hair restoration. Could you please check them out whenever you have a free moment and let me know what your personal recommendations are?

- What is the approximate number of grafts required to achieve sufficient density (if not a lot) and the approximate cost of the whole process?
- How long will it take me to get back to my work and how soon I will see the results?
- Lastly, please do let me know any other important information that is relevent to the his whole procedure.

Thanks!

A:

Dear Inquirer,

First off, I just want to thank you for your interest in our hair restoration services and let you know that I have forwarded your information and pictures to be included in our patient information system for further review. I also wanted to take a quick moment to look over your photos and respond personally to your inquiries.

Here are my responses to your questions in the order they were received:

- What is the approximate number of grafts required to achieve sufficient density (if not a lot) and the approximate cost of the whole process?

You are a class VI hair loss patient and would require the maximum number of grafts possible in one session to acheive the density you are striving for. The number is generally above 2500 grafts for people who have never had a surgery, but may fluctuate through the range of 2500 to 4000 grafts based on your own scalp laxity and density of hair (to be determined when you are here in our office).

The cost for hair transplants at US Hair Restoration are based on the number of grafts transplanted and the standard charges are as follows for Follicular Unit Transplants:

• $4 per graft for the first 2500 grafts; all additional grafts are charged at half price ($2 per graft).

In addition, your travel expenses will be reimbursed towards 10% of the cost of surgery (up to $500).

In addition to reimbursement on travel, we will book a hotel near our office for you for 2 nights with free transportation between the hotel and our office for your visits.

Lastly, we also have a standby program available for anyone which a flexible schedule and willingness to book their surgery date within 7-10 days of the procedure itself (visit us at www.ushairrestoration.com for more information on that offer).

- How long will it take me to get back to my work and how soon I will see the results?

The procedure for a strip hair transplant takes one whole day (from approximately 7am to 5pm) and you are required to return the day after for your procedure for a hair wash. With these basic requirements, you have the capability to fly back home as early as the day after your surgery and continue all routines as before (aside from hair washing which you will do as instructed for the first 4 days following the procedure). You will be fully functional the first day after surgery, but you may have some swelling for 3-4 days following.

Visible results of your hair transplantation will be seen approximately 6-10 months following the procedure itself and may continue to develope into the year and a half mark.

- Do let me know any other important information that is relevent to the his whole procedure.

You can find more great information about hair transplant methods with US Hair Restoration on our website: www.ushairrestoration.com or our blog: www.ushairrestoration.com/blog