Hair Restoration Blog

At the 2011 International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) Scientific Meeting, the updated statistics for the Hair Restoration industry were released. Hair Restoration continues to be a growing branch in the cosmetic surgery field for decades now.  The new data shows that it continues to be emerging exponentially and in 2010 there was an estimated 279,381 surgical hair restoration procedures, an 11% increase over the 2008 census. The United States alone reported 101,252 surgical procedures in 2010 as well.

The ratio between male to female hair transplantation patients in 2010 was 85.9% to 14.1%.  Since 2004, the number of female hair restoration patients has increased 24% which might be due to the better techniques of evaluation of female hair loss and better methods of determining the eligibility of the women with hair loss for hair transplantation.  Since 2008, eyelash, eyebrow, and face hair restorations procedures increased 14.2%. In the US alone, mustache and beard procedures nearly doubled (1,369 to 2,382).

For more information, check out the ISHRS Practice Census located at: www.ishrs.org/mediacenter/media-statistics.htm

A person’s self-esteem and self-image is greatly affected by the amount of hair they have on their head. When a disease or trauma brings about hair loss, those results can have be weighty on the individuals they affect. Finding solutions to these situations isn’t always easy, but there is an opportunity available to help these individuals get through these physical and emotional recoveries.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Parsa Mohebi is one of the active members of Operation Restore.  Operation Restore is a Pro Bono Foundation established by the International Society Of Hair Restoration Science (ISHRS) which connects prospective patients suffering from hair loss due to an accident with volunteer physicians to help restore the physical appearance and emotional wellbeing. This program specializes in giving a new opportunity and fresh start to those who cannot afford hair restoration, but are in great need of a hair transplantation.

Over the years multiple patients have been helped through this honorable charity and Dr. Parsa Mohebi is proud to be a part of it. He, along with many others, continues to donate thousands of man hours each year to see those who are victim to disfiguring accidents, receive a new start.  US Hair Restoration is proud to give back to this cause and see many receive a new beginning.

US Hair Restoration is excited to begin 2012 with a new Webinar series that allows for patients and curious onlookers to connect with Dr. Mohebi personally and ask their hair loss questions first hand. Each webinar will focus on different topics from “why balding happens” to “Breakthrough technology in Hair Restoration.” Each webinar will be equipped with a meet and greet, informative interactive conversation such as hair loss, hair restoration, latest techniques of hair restoration, etc. with Parsa Mohebi, MD. There will also be time for question and answers which may include special incentives for those who are interested in a hair loss consultation and hair transplantation.

Webinars are a growing craze which give a personal touch from the presenter to the audience. More and more corporations and special interest groups are connecting from several places around the world to one central location through this readily available medium. We at US Hair Restoration are excited to have this time to answer the many different questions given by people wanting to know more about the art and science of hair restoration, as well as those wanting simply to know “what do I get out of it?”

There are constant hair loss and hair restoration questions coming to US Hair Restoration that get answered over the phone, email, or have a blog written about them. Still, many feel they don’t have answers readily available for their questions. This hair restoration webinar series will give place for those questions to be answered in an open forum where Dr. Mohebi is available to answer all the questions himself. This is a great way to start the New Year off with an innovative, more personal way to connect to individuals.

We are excited to expand the ways we can stay in touch with everyone in our first webinar on January 9th, 2012 at 6 PM Pacific Standard Time. To sign up please send us an email to webinar@ushairrestoration.com or call us at (888) 302-8747. Space is limited and on a first come, first serve basis. Have a great week and see you on January 9th!

Q:

Permanent shock loss- in the front center mostly and also areas in the temples. Is it likely from your experience that hair like mine will survive?

A:

Although  could be seen in some patients for the first few months after surgery, taking finasteride will minimize or, in most cases, eliminate that risk in the majority of patients.  However, if you do experience shock loss, it won’t be for more than 2-3 months and after that time, your transplanted hair will begin to re-grow. It is by then that your hair should look much better than it did before.

Doctor Mohebi,

Q:

I wish to discontinue using both finasteride and minoxidil in the long run after minimizing the chance of shock loss following my hair transplant surgery.  Is this something we can achieve at my current stage or will I need allow further progression then have a second procedure?

A:

Stopping finasteride and minoxidil after the first six month following your hair transplantation will be alright.  However, you need to understand the risks involved, including continued loss on your existing hair.  Whether or not you need a second procedure is something that could be determined by a microscopic evaluation of scalp (miniaturization study).  If you have more than a certain number of miniaturized hair at any area, you will be running the risk of losing hair on those areas.

Stopping finasteride does not affect your transplanted hair, but you are going to run the risk of losing your existing native hair at any time you stop taking the  medications.

The 19th Annual ISHRS meeting for 2011 was held in Anchorage, Alaska. It was my first trip to Alaska and I was looking forward to seeing the beauties of the largest state in America.  Being very busy with many different activities, it made my time for sightseeing nearly impossible. I was required to be available one day prior to the opening day of the conference to get prepared for the many different events which were to come.

Hair Transplant Workshop

Dr. Mohebi and other faculties teach Hair Transplantation Techniques in ISHRS Meeting Anchorage, Alaska

I was one of the faculties for the surgical workshop. There were many new hair transplant surgeons who came from around the world to this annual scientific meeting to learn more about the art and science of hair restoration. The workshops included topics such as hair line design, cutting, placing, anesthesia, and donor harvesting and I was there to teach the latter course. There was great interaction between the faculties and students as they got the chance to learn the hands on techniques of surgical hair restoration.

Latest techniques of Hair Transplantation

The main thrust of the conference was the lecture series which gave a forum to many lecturers covering multiple topics regarding the many different areas of hair restoration. Since hair transplant surgery is still a relatively new field in the medical world, the greatest emphasis was on new technologies in hair transplantation, the latest techniques of hair transplant surgeries, devices, tools and methods of diagnosis and the treatment of hair loss.

ISHRS 19 Meeting: New Hair Transplant Surgical Instruments and Techniques Panel, Drs. Parsa Mohebi, Alan Bauman, Sara Wasserbauer and Kongkiat Laorwong

This year I was the moderator for the Giga-Session Hair Transplantation Panel. The panel included 2011 Golden Follicle Award winner Dr. Jerry Wong and Doctors Sharon Keene, Arthur Tykocinski, and Akaki Tsilosane. The discussions included properly choosing the best candidates for large number of grafts hair transplant surgeries (Giga Session Hair Transplants), planning for surgeries, as well as the full spectrum of Giga-Session Hair Restoration.

The Laxometer II was one of the newest innovative technology devices presented by me. The Laxometer was developed as a response to the need within the hair restoration industry for a measuring device for calculating the scalp laxity or skin mobility before hair transplantation surgeries. The Laxometer precisely measures the mobility of the scalp giving greater accuracy for larger surgeries or if a patient has a tight scalp. This device was introduced to the market for increasing the safety, precision, and efficiency of the hair transplantation.

Another device presented at the 19th Annual ISHRS Scientific Meeting was the upgraded Restoration Robotics, now called ARTAS System. This machine is now FDA approved for use in the United States and several lectures were presented about this new hair transplant technology. ARTAS was developed to help meet the need for increased precision and speed for scoring the follicular grafts in Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair transplants. This is considered a very new technique in hair transplantation, but the robot currently only assists in one step of hair restoration. That is scoring the follicular grafts.  We still do not have a perfect automated system to extract and transplant the hair grafts. This device will need more time for testing and post-operation, long-term patient results.

Other New Technologies for Hair Restoration

In last few years, we have witnessed emergence of several new tools in hair transplantation that carried the claim to be the latest technologies and ground breaking tools for the field.  A lot of devices claimed they could change the way hair transplantation was done. However, many of those new tools did not deliver on their promise.  This has been a trend which has continued to be repeated for several years now. One of these devices was the NeoGraft that was sold to many non-hair transplant doctors with the promise of the simplicity of use and the minimal need for a surgeon’s involvement. The company has stated that the technicians can run the machine for the most part. One major issue the NeoGraft company forget to point out to these new costumers is the fact that hair transplant surgery requires experience and proper training in order to deliver great result. No machine, especially in the wrong hands, can substitute for lack of experience and expertise.

There were a number of lectures presented regarding the problems involved in hair multiplication, auto-cloning, hair stem cell research, and others important topics. Like years previous, there were several debates about Strip FUT vs. FUE,  manual FUE vs. automated FUE, also sharp vs. blunt punches for Follicular Unit Extractions.

Controversies in Hair Restoration

This year we had many controversial lectures such as lasers for hair restoration and growth factors, as well as mesotherapy and PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma).  The ISHRS allows for an open forum for hair transplant surgeons to share their innovative ideas, work, and theories that they can be giving constructive criticism and analysis by other experts in the field. This has been effective in keeping members of the society updated with new ideas and methods for hair restoration. It is unanimously agreed by members of ISHRS that hair restoration surgery is a progressing science and art which is rapidly growing into more advanced technologies and cellular level manipulations. It is well accepted that greater research is needed in order to thrust the industry forward in these new innovative areas for the art and science of hair restoration

The modern hair restoration surgery is still a fairly novel procedure in the world of cosmetic surgery even though it helps to retain a youthful appearance. Among the few known hair transplant practices around, there is great competition to appeal to the many patients who come each year to seek advice for their hair thinning and balding. The question in the back of many minds is “who is the best hair transplant company?” Or “how one should find the best hair transplant company?”

Although we at US Hair Restoration take pride in meeting the needs of all our patients, it’s our aspiration to provide the best hair transplant in Los Angeles, as well as to be one of the first choices for hair transplantation in the USA. Yet we want all who inquire about hair restoration to make an informed decision and be satisfied, even if they choose to see a different surgeon.

Reviewing all available information about a Hair Restoration practice is very important in order to make a fully informed decision. The questions to ask oneself should be, what are the doctor’s surgical technique expertise, experience, training, compassion, and results? Do these results show true value for the cost of a hair transplant? Do they place a high standard on honesty and integrity? These are all questions which will help navigate through the different options available to make a satisfied group of patients throughout the process of their hair transplantation.

Giving the fact that hair transplant has been rapidly growing in last few years, it is good to know whether or not the hair transplant surgeon you chose is involved in any studies, innovations and improvement of the field of hair restoration.  Being on the cutting edge of the industry is critical in an evolving scientific field which sets its aim of constantly improving in quality.

Finally you need to meet your doctor and interact with him or her.  Hair transplantation is a long process and it is important that you feel comfortable with the doctor before you proceed.  Make sure you have the proper questions during your consultation and that you don’t leave the doctor’s office before all the questions are answered.  At the end of the day you need to understand the results of a hair transplantation stay with you for the rest of your life. Take your time and find the best hair transplant surgeon for you.

We all agree it is a rough time for most people with the current economic state we are living in. At US Hair Restoration we hear many stories of individuals who greatly need to get a Hair Restoration surgery and want to do it with us, but are worried about Hair Transplant surgery costs. It is funny to tell you I have heard questions like “Doc, what is the hair transplant cheapest scenario?” from some of my young patients who know they need something done but are not sure if it would be affordable for them.  Every practice will have its own individual hair transplant price range, and here we want to emphasize the importance of not trading quality simply to appease the desire to find a cheap hair transplant.

What is the cost of my hair transplant:

Men and women hair transplant costs are the same and determined by the technique used to harvest grafts (FUE vs. Strip FUT) and how many grafts need to be transplanted. This is different for every patient. To give a precise estimation for the patient’s hair transplant costs, it requires a consultation by a hair transplant surgeon.

Quality vs. Affordability?

We believe in quality and patient satisfaction first and cannot provide one of those elements without the other. Even with all the competition in America and elsewhere, finding the most value for hair transplant cost in the USA is critical. We have plans which are catered toward meeting this need by giving an opportunity for financing a hair transplant.

Financing, Discounts, Other affordable rates for hair transplants!

Hair transplant financing is an opportunity we provide to all eligible patients. A patient who qualifies for hair transplant financing can receive a two year, 0% APR deal which makes paying their hair loss transplant cost an available option. Many have, and continue to take advantage of this affordable option for their hair restoration surgery.

Lastly, in our goal to provide an affordable cost of a hair transplant in the USA during this time of economic struggle, we have our stand-by program. We are excited to announce that if a patient is put on the stand-by list, they will get significant discount on total surgery costs.  We might also have special rates for students and group discounts if two or more member of a family or friends want to do their surgery within a month.  These additional offers have been a bridge to many who desire the procedure, in a time when money has been scarce.

Laxometer II

Often times we receive inquiries at US Hair Restoration about the latest hair transplant technology, and we feel obligated to spread the news about the latest hair transplant technology.  We are excited about the new generation of Laxometer, the newest hair transplant device invented by Dr. Parsa Mohebi. The Laxometer II is a handheld device which revolutionizes the art and science of hair restoration. Being in the growing sector of the cosmetic surgery arena, progressive updates on hair transplant new technology is critical.

Applications

The revolutionary Laxometer II increases the number of hair grafts which can safely and precisely be transplanted in one surgery. A hair transplant of more than 3500 hair grafts once upon a time took two or more surgeries to complete, but with this latest technology in hair transplantation, it can be done in only one procedure.

The Laxometer II, the new technology in the hair transplant industry, is basically a measuring device which is used to calculate the laxity of one’s scalp. An accurate measurement of scalp laxity is critical when determining how large the donor strip can be. This latest breakthrough hair transplant technology gives a precise measurement which can be increased as a result of patients actively doing daily scalp exercises. The larger the available strip, the more grafts can be made available for transplantation.

At the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery’s 19th Annual Scientific meeting in Alaska in September 2011, Dr. Mohebi unveiled his new invention for purchase to all hair transplant surgeons. This latest technology in hair transplant surgery was welcomed with anticipation and applause as it will help to continue the industry progressing forward.

Here is a video demostration of the Laxometer work: Laxometer Instructional Video

Prostaglandins have been traditionally used for the treatment of both open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. The funny thing is doctors accidentally found out the prolonged use in these eye drops surprisingly increased the density and pigmentations of eyelashes. This epiphany is what brought up the idea for why they later used and marketed these drops for cosmetic purposes to elongate the eyelashes in the form of Latisse.

The active ingredient of Latisse, bimatoprost, is present in Allergan’s product.  The drug company Pfizer sells a similar product called Xalatan.  Xalantan (latanoprost) behaves similar to prostaglandin PGF2α and for the same reason can increase the growth of eyelashes.

As mentioned, the effect of Xalantan on length and pigmentation of eyelashes was proven several years ago. There are several positive studies which indicate the effects of Xalantan on hair in the other parts of the body such as eyebrows or scalp hair. However Xalantan is still not approved, nor currently recommended for scalp hair restoration. More research is needed to address its efficacy for hair loss prevention in its pattern form.

There is a recently published study in the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology called “Assessing the Efficacy of Topical Treatment by Latanoprost on Hair Growth and Pigmentation in Androgenetic Alopecia.”

This study was writen by Blume -Peytavi et al. in the Department of Dermatology of Charite-Universitatsmedizin in Berlin. In this study the researchers evaluated the number of hairs, their thicknesses, and pigmentations in a 24 week period while patients used the medication topically on their scalp. They concluded that Latanoprost significantly increases hair density in the form of terminal (thick, mature hair) and vellus hair (peach fuzz). It is recommended that this product could be used as a hair loss medication in the future, but more research is needed to assess its long term effects before we can truly consider latanoprost as a hair loss medication.