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Hair
Transplant
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What causes hair loss?
There are many reasons for hair loss but some
95% of all cases are due to a condition called "androgenetic
alopecia." In men, this is commonly referred to as "male
pattern baldness." The onset of this condition is due
to several factors including: 1) a genetic predisposition
to lose hair; 2) the presence of the male hormone, dihydrotestosterone;
and 3) age.
It is normal for an individual to lose approximately 100 hairs every
day, but these hairs then regrow several months later. When the hair
loss exceeds new hair growth, baldness results. Once it starts, hair
loss is progressive and often continues for a lifetime.
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How effective is medication against
hair loss?
Several medications have FDA approval for the
treatment of androgenetic pattern hair loss. Minoxidil (brand
name Rogaine) is a topical medicine for men and women that
must be applied twice daily. Finasteride (Propecia) is a
pill only for men to be taken once daily. These medications
have limited effectiveness, slowing down or stopping altogether
the progression of hair loss in the back of the head in less
than two-thirds of all men. The only permanent remedy for
hair loss is surgical hair restoration, or hair transplantation.
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What is hair transplantation?
Hair transplantation involves transferring hairs
from the back and side of the head (the "donor area")
to those areas undergoing hair loss or thinning. The hairs
from the donor area are genetically programmed to be permanent.
Once transplanted, these hairs will continue to grow for
a lifetime for a permanent hair transplant. Today the state of the art procedure is follicular
unit grafting, the only procedure Dr. Epstein performs. A
follicular unit is the naturally occurring grouping of hairs
containing from one to three, occasionally four, hairs. Each
graft is cut individually under the microscope. As many as
2500 grafts are able to be transplanted in a single procedure
lasting three to six hours.
Click here for an
in-depth look at follicular unit micrografting, Dr. Epstein's
procedure for hair transplantation.
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Am I a good candidate for hair restoration
surgery?
Anyone who is concerned about hair loss and
is willing to undergo a minimally invasive procedure is a
potential candidate. Dr. Epstein's patients have ranged in
age from the late teens to the late 70'5, with hair loss
patterns ranging from early thinning or minimal hairline
recession up to advanced baldness where there is only a rim
of hair along the sides and back of the scalp.
To view the various categories
of hairloss, click here.
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Does the procedure hurt?
Virtually all our patients report that there
is very little, if any, discomfort in the hair restoration
process. Anesthesia can now be delivered painlessly with
a computerized device called The Wand@. In addition, patients
are offered a pill for relaxation.
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After the procedure can I resume my
normal activities?
Most people are able to return to work and most
social activities in one to three days. In four to six days
all activities, including most exercise and regular hair
care, can be resumed.
Tiny crusts will develop around each graft,
falling out after one week. During this first week a powder,
Toppik, provided by the office can be applied to the scalp
to conceal the crusts. The transplanted hairs then usually
fall out two weeks later, only to regrow in two to three
months.
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What about detectability and scarring?
If you can tell an individual has had a hair
transplant, then it wasn't performed properly. Using artistic
state-of-the-art techniques, an individual should have a
completely natural looking head of hair, including a hairline
so natural that the hair can be brushed back or cut very
short. This naturalness is achieved by designing a hairline
in harmony with the individual's facial proportions, as well
as using the right combination of different sized follicular
unit micro grafts transplanted at the proper angle. While
technically demanding, follicular unit transplantation creates
the most natural appearing results for most individuals.
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What treatment works best for women?
In general, women do not respond well to minoxidil
and are not to take Propecia@. Therefore, hair restoration
remains an important option in permanent hair transplant methods. The procedure is similar to
that performed on men, with some important variations in
technique that can be discussed with the patient at the time
of consultation. Hair restoration is also a frequent choice
of women who have scarring from previous surgery, notably
facelifting. Any areas of absent hair can be replenished
with follicular unit grafts.
Click here to learn more
about Dr. Epstein's procedures for women.
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What can be done if I have had a less than satisfactory
previous hair transplant?
Over 30 percent of the procedures Dr. Epstein
performs are on individuals who have had transplants previously
and are disappointed with the results. A variety of techniques
are available to dramatically improve appearances. Because
of his experience, Dr. Epstein has lectured and written on
the subspecialty of revision surgical hair restoration.
Click here to learn
more about Dr. Epstein's reparative procedures.
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What about transplants to other parts
of the body?
Through follicular unit grafting, hair can be
transplanted to virtually any part of the body. Dr. Epstein
has successfully transplanted hair to the eyebrows, beard,
mustache and chest.
To view before and
after patient photos showing Dr. Epstein's body and facial
transplant procedures, click here.
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I will be traveling to Miami for my
procedure. Are there special arrangements or requirements?
Some 30 percent of the patients on whom Dr.
Epstein performs procedures live outside of south Florida.
The hair transplant procedure is ideally suited to be performed
on a fly-in/fly-out basis. An overnight stay in a local hotel
is recommended after the procedure; however the patient may
fly the same day. The patient's hair is washed in the office
the first day. Gentle hair care is resumed on the third day,
and sutures removed at ten days by a friend, family member
or local physician using a suture removal kit supplied by
the office.
Our staff can assist you with all your travel
arrangements.
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