South Florida Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Related Articles
By Alan J. Bauman, M.D. –
Father’s Day is upon us, but if you are concerned that you have inherited your father’s tendency toward failing follicles, the good news is that you don’t have to have settle for your dad’s ‘follicular fate’ when it comes to hair loss and its treatment.
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,” or rows of corn… or even 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Limited by outdated technology, poor planning or a less than artistic approach, the results of a poorly executed hair transplant can be worse than the initial hair loss problem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 artistry 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? Is it painful? How do I find a qualified surgeon and an experienced team?
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, even when moved into the balding or 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 comfortably watch movies during their procedure which may take several hours to complete.
What about recovery and downtime?
The transplanted area may feel slightly tender for about a day or so, like mild sunburn. A hat can be worn during the first few days to cover any visible crusts and scabs which flake off in about a week.
Do I need to shave my head for NeoGraft FUE?
Not necessarily. Smaller “hidden” or “stealth” harvest procedures can usually be performed without having to change your hairstyle. However, for larger sessions, shorter buzz cut may be necessary around the sides and back of the scalp.
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 and artistically creates the sites for implantation, this determines the angle, orientation and position of each of the implanted follicles. This critical step, honed through surgeon’s experience and his “aesthetic eye,” is 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) and be prepared to travel, if necessary. Plastic surgeons, dermatologists or other doctors who perform transplants once or twice a month will have significantly less experience with the intricacies of hairline design and graft placement than full-time hair transplant surgeons that have operated every day for years.
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 shapes. 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.
Dr. Alan J. Bauman is the Founder and Medical Director of Bauman Medical Group in Boca Raton, Florida. Since 1997, he has treated nearly 15,000 hair loss patients and performed nearly 7,000 hair transplant procedures. A international lecturer and frequent faculty member of major medical conferences, Dr. Bauman’s work has been featured in prestigious media outlets such as CNN, NBC Today, ABC Good Morning America, CBS Early Show, Men’s Health, The New York Times, Women’s Health, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Dateline NBC, FOX News, MSNBC, Vogue, Allure, Harpers Bazaar and more. A minimally-invasive hair transplant pioneer, in 2008 Dr. Bauman became the first ABHRS-certified Hair Restoration Physician to routinely use NeoGraft FUE for hair transplant procedures.