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By Alan J. Bauman, M.D. –
Unlike wigs, weaves, hairpieces, camouflage powders, lotions, potions and sprays, hair transplantation is the only permanent way to restore your own living and growing hair. Combatting hair loss and restoring ones hair can certainly give you a boost… Yet we’ve all seen the unsightly signs of hair transplants “gone wrong.” Pluggy, unnatural hairlines, perhaps too straight like rows of corn… or worse: unsightly scars.
Limited by outdated technology, poor planning or a less than artistic approach, the results of a poorly executed hair transplant can be worse than the initial hair loss problem itself!
But thankfully, new minimally-invasive hair transplant devices like NeoGraft, combined with an artistic approach to hair transplantation can truly help men and women looking to undetectably restore their own living and growing hair. You may have friends, coworkers or even family members who have had a hair transplant procedure using this new approach to restore or maintain a full-looking head of hair, yet you are unable to tell! What exactly is a hair transplant? How are today’s methods different from years past? How do I find a qualified surgeon?
What is hair transplantation?
A hair transplant is a delicate microsurgical procedure that redistributes permanent hair follicles from the back of the scalp into the thinning or balding areas.
Why is transplanted hair permanent?
Hair follicles that originate from the back and sides of the scalp are immune to the hereditary hair loss process, so they will live and grow forever once moved into the thinning area.
Is a hair transplant painful?
No. Using local anesthesia like the FDA-approved Ouchless Needle™ the scalp is completely numb during the process. Patients typically nap or watch movies during their procedure which may take several hours to complete.
What about recovery and downtime?
The transplanted area may feel slightly sore and tender to the touch for about a day or so, like a mild sunburn. A hat can be worn during the first few days to cover the visible crusting and scabbing which flakes off in about a week.
Do I “walk out” with hair?
No, a hair transplant takes many months to grow in. After the recovery process is complete, the skin is healed and looks as it did prior to your procedure. After a few months, the transplanted hair will start to grow. It takes about six months to see half of the result and a full year to see 90% of the final result from your hair transplant procedure.
How is “NeoGraft FUE” different from a traditional hair transplant?
Traditional transplants involve harvesting a strip of skin from the back of the scalp. Sutured closed with stitches this method can leave an unsightly scar which can limit hairstyling. “FUE” or Follicular Unit Extraction is a less invasive form of hair transplant harvesting that allows the surgeon and his team to harvest hair follicles individually without the removal of a strip of skin or the use of staples or stitches–eliminating the traditional linear scar. NeoGraft is the breakthrough device that helps the surgeon efficiently and accurately harvest the hair follicles.
How is NeoGraft FUE recovery different from a traditional hair transplant?
Because the NeoGraft process is less invasive, healing is quicker and more comfortable and because there are no stitches or staples used, you can return to athletic activity in just days, not weeks.
What determines the naturalness of the final result?
When the surgeon carefully creates the sites for implantation, this determines the angle, orientation and position of the implanted follicles… all essential for the naturalness of the transplant when it grows in.
How do I find an experienced, skilled NeoGraft FUE surgeon?
A hair transplant is a symphony of detail that requires a dedicated, meticulous and specialized surgical team. Look for a full-time, ABHRS-certified hair transplant surgeon who has used NeoGraft for many years, not months. Plastic surgeons, dermatologists or other doctors who perform transplants once or twice a month will have less experience with the intricacies of hairline design and graft placement than full-time hair transplant surgeons that operate every day.
How can I tell if my surgeon is artistic?
Meet with your surgeon personally. Look closely at many of your surgeon’s before and after photos… not just for improvements in coverage from a birds-eye view, but examine up-close hairline photos for the artistry of hair angle and positions. Trust your ‘aesthetic eye‘ when looking at hairline shape. If the transplanted hairlines don’t look natural to you then beware. If your surgeon doesn’t offer to show you examples of his hairline work, that’s a “red flag!” If you are meeting with a non-medical consultant and not the surgeon, or you are unable to examine photos of your surgeon’s work, also… red flag!
How do I determine if I am a good candidate for NeoGraft FUE hair transplant?
A private consultation and medical hair loss evaluation with full-time ABHRS-certified Hair Restoration Physician, Dr. Alan J. Bauman, is the best way to determine what methods of treatment or transplantation are best suited to reach your hair restoration goals. To schedule your consultation, call 561-394-0024 or 1-877-BAUMAN-9 toll free or email doctorb@baumanmedical.com.
