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Reparative Procedures

Posted October, 10/15/2009 - 00:00 AM

Question:

If I had a scalp flap procedure 20 years ago that now looks unnatural, what can I do about it to have it repaired?

Answer:

Up until the early to mid 1990s, scalp flaps, when performed properly by qualified surgeons, were reasonable procedures to perform on select individuals - given the less than perfect aesthetic results of micro/minigrafting procedures. Personally, I stopped performing these complex surgical procedures in 1995, after limiting them to only select patients.
Today, it is possible to significantly address and repair the major aesthetic problems that result from scalp flaps. The abnormally solid hairline can be softened. The donor site scarring can be repaired with grafting and/or with scar repairs. The rounded off frontotemporal recessions can be made more receded. As a surgeon who was trained in this procedure, I am able to understand the dynamics of these surgeries, and repair them to their greatest degree.

Posted by Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS

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Tags: Cosmetic Surgeon, Cosmetic Surgery, Hair Loss, Hair Surgeon, Hair Surgery, Hair Transplant, Plastic Surgeon, Plastic Surgery, Reparative Procedures, Scar, Scarring, Thinning Hair

Posted July, 07/06/2009 - 00:00 AM

I visited Dr Epstein a couple years ago regarding a repair procedure. I have significant ridging in the hairline and at the time Dr Epstein had mentioned a surgical procedure to address the ridging problem. He said at that time it was very new/experimental. I was wondering if this procedure has been further advanced or pursued, and if it is a viable option. I have tried a series kenalog injections with Dr XX - went up to kenalog 40 cc - but with no reduction in the ridging.

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Tags: Cosmetic Surgeon, Cosmetic Surgery, Hair Loss, Hair Surgeon, Hair Surgery, Hair Transplant, Plastic Surgeon, Plastic Surgery, Reparative Procedures, Thinning Hair

Posted June, 06/11/2009 - 00:00 AM

Hi Dr.

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Tags: Cosmetic Surgeon, Cosmetic Surgery, FUE, Hair Loss, Hair Surgeon, Hair Surgery, Hair Transplant, Plastic Surgeon, Plastic Surgery, Reparative Procedures, Thinning Hair

Posted February, 02/24/2009 - 00:00 AM

For people who go for a second hair transplant procedure, do you go right into the same donor spot as before or do you go around it?

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Tags: Cosmetic Surgeon, Cosmetic Surgery, Hair Loss, Hair Surgeon, Hair Surgery, Hair Transplant, Plastic Surgeon, Plastic Surgery, Reparative Procedures, Scar, Scarring, Thinning Hair

Posted December, 12/09/2008 - 00:00 AM

Dear Dr. Epstein,

I am considering having my second transplant in the future.

After my first transplant I was concerned that I may have lost some grafts due to wearing a hat (which I require for work) and also I had some concern about loosing grafts while sleeping and washing.

Could you please tell me, If I do decide to have another transplant, at what time do the grafts become totally secure in the scalp? (in how many days/weeks)

Also for what reason do you believe this to be the case?

Kindest Regards

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Tags: Cosmetic Surgeon, Cosmetic Surgery, Hair Loss, Hair Surgeon, Hair Surgery, Hair Transplant, Plastic Surgeon, Plastic Surgery, Reparative Procedures, Scar, Scarring, Thinning Hair

Posted October, 10/31/2008 - 00:00 AM

Question:

If I had a scalp flap procedure 20 years ago that now looks unnatural, what can I do about it to have it repaired?

Answer:

Up until the early to mid 1990s, scalp flaps, when performed properly by qualified surgeons, were reasonable procedures to perform on select individuals- given the less than perfect aesthetic results of micro/minigrafting procedures. Personally, I stopped performing these complex surgical procedures in 1995, after limiting them to only select patients.
Today, it is possible to significantly address and repair the major aesthetic problems that result from scalp flaps. The abnormally solid hairline can be softened. The donor site scarring can be repaired with grafting and/or with scar repairs. The rounded off frontotemporal recessions can be made more receded. As a surgeon who was trained in this procedure, I am able to understand the dynamics of these surgeries, and repair them to their greatest degree.

Posted by Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS

Add new comment | Read more

Tags: Cosmetic Surgeon, Cosmetic Surgery, Hair Loss, Hair Surgeon, Hair Surgery, Hair Transplant, Plastic Surgeon, Plastic Surgery, Reparative Procedures, Scar, Scarring, Thinning Hair

Posted October, 10/29/2008 - 00:00 AM

Question:

I had a not so successful hair transplant. is it possible to remove the transplanted hair and lighten or remove the new hair line that was given? Please respond. Thanks

Answer:

This is a procedure in which I specialize. There are several different options for improving the results of your prior work. I suggest you email some photos for me to evaluate.

Posted by Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS

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Tags: Cosmetic Surgeon, Cosmetic Surgery, Hair Loss, Hair Surgeon, Hair Surgery, Hair Transplant, Plastic Surgeon, Plastic Surgery, Reparative Procedures, Scar, Scarring, Thinning Hair

Posted October, 10/29/2008 - 00:00 AM

Question:

I have already had 2 transplants using hair from back and sides of head and am unhappy with my results. Even the hair on the sides where donor hairs are have been thinned out, partially because of low thyroid function and partially because of the 2 previous transplants. Even the donor area in the back has limited donor hairs as the scalp is tight and the donor hairs have been harvested 2x. Thank you.

Answer:

I am sure that your research has shown you that I have extensive experience in reparative procedures. It is usually possible, even in cases such as yours, to obtain at least enough donor hairs- say 800 to 1200 or so grafts- to create a moderate to significant improvement in appearance. This is because the grafts can be strategically placed so that they provide the cosmetic improvement that makes the biggest difference.

Posted by Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS

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Tags: Cosmetic Surgeon, Cosmetic Surgery, Hair Loss, Hair Surgeon, Hair Surgery, Hair Transplant, Plastic Surgeon, Plastic Surgery, Reparative Procedures, Scar, Scarring, Thinning Hair

Posted October, 10/29/2008 - 00:00 AM

Question:

If I get more than 1 hair procedure, will I have two donor site scars?

Answer:

No, in most cases, Dr. Epstein can simply excise the existing scar and the site heals to as fine line scar, as before. So there will only be one scar even after multiple procedures.

Posted by Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS

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Tags: Cosmetic Surgeon, Cosmetic Surgery, Hair Loss, Hair Surgeon, Hair Surgery, Hair Transplant, Plastic Surgeon, Plastic Surgery, Reparative Procedures, Scar, Scarring, Thinning Hair

Posted October, 10/29/2008 - 00:00 AM

I have had 5 prior hair transplants of 20-300 grafts/session and I have uneven density and a very poor hairline. I hope to fill in the density and have a better hairline. Attached are two photos. My main hope is (i) a bit more natural hairline; (ii) filling in the uneven parts behind the hairline; and (iii) a bit more density over the top as I have lost more hair with age. My scars are not so bad in the back but over my left ear a strip graft was taken and seems to have stretched a little bit.

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