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What is a hair transplant?
It is a time
proved medical procedure for replacement of hair in balding or
thinning areas of the scalp. Hair transplant procedure uses one's
own hair to replace the balding areas.
What is the
procedure?
It is a small skin graft taken from the hair
bearing area on the back of the head (donor area), and placed in the
balding areas in a pattern that is aesthetically
pleasing.
Where do you get the hair from?
The donor
area is described as the "horseshoe" at the back of the head from
ear to ear.
What happens to the "donor" area of my
head?
With new techniques, the donor area is closed and the
surrounding hair covers the site completely, usually leaving the
surgery undetectable even immediately after the procedure. A scar is
left in the where the hair is removed from the back of the scalp,
but this is covered by hair around it.
However, the hair has to
be long enough to cover the scar so you cannot buzz your hair to a
short length and still cover the scar once you have had a
procedure.
Can someone else donate hair to be used in my
transplant?
No. We have to use your own hair.
What
types of hair loss can be helped by this procedure?
The most
common indication for hair transplantation is pattern baldness
(androgenetic alopecia). Men and women in good health, between 18
and 75 years of age with sufficient donor hair, are candidates for
transplant surgery. Other types of baldness that respond to this
procedure are those which have resulted from accidents, operations,
and inflammatory or infectious diseases of the scalp.
Can
women with hair loss be helped by hair transplantation?
Yes.
While women with an inherited tendency toward hair loss do not
become totally bald, they can develop considerable thinning of the
hair. Hair transplantation utilizing slit grafting has been used for
several years to successfully treat hair loss in women. Dr. Al
Rustom has special expertise in the treatment of female pattern
alopecia with this type of procedure.
Does hair
transplantation really work?
Absolutely. Hair
transplantation results in permanent and natural hair which actually
grows from the scalp. The hair can be cut, colored and styled as you
please. The goal of the procedure is to improve or enhance the
appearance in an undetectable manner, not to achieve perfection or a
completely "full" head of hair. Many patients report that their
results are so undetectable and natural that even their barber or
hair stylist cannot tell they have undergone the procedure. Surgery
is not an exact science, and because factors such as the healing
process are not entirely under the control of the surgeon or the
patient.
Is hair transplantation painful?
Hair
transplantation is usually carried out using local anesthesia along
with an oral sedative. Pain from the initial injections of
anesthetic is generally mild and lasts less than 10 seconds. During
the procedure, you will be relaxed and should experience no pain.
Patients will usually watch a video or fall asleep during this time.
After the procedure, the majority of patients require only Tylenol®
for the remainder of the day. Finally, most patients report having
less pain from hair transplantation than from routine dental
procedures.
Can complications occur after hair
transplantation?
Complications can occur following any type
of surgery, but in our experience, the incidence of significant
complications occurring after hair transplantation is exceedingly
rare. The most common complications we encounter are minor in
nature, such as swelling in the forehead, (which lasts a few days
when it occurs), numbness on the top of the scalp, (which is usually
resolved in a few months), and occasional ingrown hairs or cysts.
Is hair transplantation affordable?
Hair
transplants are cost effective in that they can provide a permanent
solution in the treatment of hair loss. Unlike hairpieces or hair
replacement systems, hair transplants require no ongoing
maintenance. Patients are charged by the session depending on the
size of the area to be treated and on the amount of work necessary
to create the desired result.
Dr. Al Rustom personally
performs each procedure in a relaxed and professional environment.
Unlike many clinics, patients are never rushed. Dr. Al Rustom
spends a significant amount of time formulating an individualized
treatment plan for each patient. Most patients can achieve a
substantial improvement in their appearance in as few as two
sessions. The total cost varies with the individual, of course, and
depends on the number and size of sessions performed. This is
determined by the size of the bald or thinning area, the patient's
hair characteristics and the desired density. These factors will be
discussed in detail during your consultation with Dr. Al
Rustom.
What happens after surgery?
Following
surgery, a dressing is placed on the head and can be removed the
following day. The scalp is water rinsed the day after surgery and
can be shampooed on the second day. Most people return to work or
resume their normal schedule of activities by the second or third
day after surgery. Vigorous physical activity should be avoided for
one week following hair transplantation. Between two and four weeks
after surgery, the transplanted hair enters a resting phase and will
usually fall out. Approximately three months later, the transplanted
hair reappears and continues to grow on a permanent basis at the
normal average rate of about 1 cm per month.
How do I
know which procedure is right for me?
Hair transplantation
is a surgical treatment that provides a permanent solution for many
patients with baldness and thinning hair. This treatment is
sometimes performed in conjunction with scalp reduction, a surgical
procedure designed to remove bald skin from the scalp. Certain types
of hair loss may be more appropriately treated with medical therapy
or with a hair replacement. To determine which method is best for
you, we advise a thorough consultation with Dr. Al Rustom.
Does insurance pay for this?
No, this is
considered cosmetic surgery.
Is there any guarantees that
the transplanted hair will grow?
As in all surgical
procedures results cannot be guaranteed. It is possible that some of
the transplanted hair may fail to grow. Every effort will be made to
give you the maximum yield from your transplanted hair. If a graft
did not grow, we will replace it free of charge.
Do you
use follicular unit grafts?
Yes, we use follicular grafts.
Do you use mircoscopes?
Yes.
Is Dr.
Al Rustom board certified?
Yes, he is board
certified.
See the Hair
Transplantation Photos
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