Hair Restoration Blog

The Value of Hair Transplant Medical Technicians  

Hair transplant technicians are an integral and important part of the operation in hair transplant surgeries.  Therefore properly trained hair technician plays an important role in hair restoration results.

At US Hair Restoration we utilize a well designed system in which we train our hair technicians.  Our hair technicians are selected by a discerning level of criteria:

*    A high level of personal ethics
*    Initially demonstrate a natural level of strong hand eye coordination
*    General training as medical or surgical assistant
*   Further training as hair transplant technician —  is provided in our office for more junior   technicians.

Hair Transplant Technician Selection

After a vigorous selection process our technicians must complete US Hair Restorations custom designed Hair Technicians Training Program. Our technicians complete intense period of training under the direct tutelage and supervision of medical director Dr. Parsa Mohebi. This training includes:

     *   lectures
     *   surgical observation
     *   demonstration high level of skills on synthetic hair and laboratory models
     *   compliance of surgical techniques and standards

At each level technicians must show proper improvement and competency prior to moving to the next level of training.  We do not allow technicians to work on actual patients before they demonstrate proper skills and above satisfactory completion of our training program.

US Hair Restoration Hair Technician Training Program

During this program each technician first learns how to cut and place grafts on synthetic hair and scalp at the next level the hair technician candidates’ advance to working and mastering their skills Bovine skin which is close enough to human hair orientation for laboratory purposes and skill development.

Laboratory conditions replicate the hours of actual surgery. During this time future hair technicians for US Hair Restoration spend hours cutting and implanting bovine hair grafts. This training improves their hand eye coordination until they reach a level of competency to assist in an actual hair transplant surgery.

 Advancement to Hair Transplant Surgical Procedures

Upon successful completion of all necessary lecture series and hands on training our hair technicians receive approval from the medical director to working in the operating room under supervision of a senior hair restoration technician.

When hair transplant technicians are properly trained they will demonstrate their abilities and skills by passing the written and oral examinations.  After demonstrating that they are capable of working to the high standards of US Hair Restoration, they graduate as hair transplant technicians.  Recently graduated hair transplant technicians continue to be supervised to improve their skills.  They also are required to participate in internal educational series, as well as, and external hair transplant seminars that are designed for hair technicians.

We are proud to announce that US Hair Restoration is ready to train technicians for other centers that need to have highly trained technicians for their hair restoration services.

Today’s hair transplant surgeries differ greatly than the previous decades.  Patients no longer end up with results that appear as an artificial ‘doll like’ look as in the era micro-grafts and plugs thanks to the modern Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) methods.  In the Follicular Unit Transplant, hair grafts are harvested with different techniques; Strip and FUE. The difference in these procedures is the manner in which the donor hair is harvested from the donor area of scalp as described below:

1. Strip method in which a strip of scalp is removed from the back of the head and the surgical wound sutured or stapled. This strip then has the follicular grafts removed from it or “harvested” for donor hair to be transplanted. Strip method is the most often performed hair restoration procedure at this time.
2. FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) method is the other type of hair transplant procedure. FUE hair transplant involves the removal of the individual follicular units from the permanent zone one at a time. FUE does not require removal of a strip and these grafts are selectively taken throughout the permanent zone.

Both FUE and strip methods have their own advantages and disadvantages.  If the patient selection is done right both procedures could be successful to achieve the patient’s goals. The chart below provides a comparison between FUE hair transplant surgery versus Strip hair transplant.

* FUE Research Committee of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery has been established in 2012 to perform several studies to find the answer for these and many other questions.  We will update this information when the results of those studies are available.

 ** Patients who are qualified for large number of grafts (gigasession) should have high density and good laxity of scalp.

Parsa Mohebi, MD 

Since the advent of hair transplant surgery, hair transplant surgeons have been challenged to address the scarring that is inevitable from the donor wound in strip hair transplants. Other types of scalp surgeries such as neurological surgeries can also leave linear type scars in the scalp.

In addition trauma to the head can leave a person with unwanted scar.  A patient’s natural hair coverage can obscure the visibility of a scar in most cases.  However, proximity to a patient’s hairline and or wearing the hair too short can make a scar more obvious.

A hair transplant surgeon can easily repair or camouflage most scalp scars.  The variations in a scar shape, location and size are key factors affecting the techniques that a surgeon will use in the revisioning of the scar. The singular and most important purpose of the scar revisioning is to obscure or minimize its appearance to the naked eye. Scar revisioning is not merely cosmetic. Disfigurement from scarring often affects a person’s sense of well being and self worth.  Do to the inherent nature of the work they do cosmetic surgeons are at the forefront of minimizing the appearance of scars. We have developed an algorithm utilized in hair restoration and other surgical cosmetic practices that effectively meets the challenge of scarring from these procedures. Many of the same techniques are also employed in addressing scalp scarring from trauma and scalp surgical procedures.

Medical excellence is predicated on examination. Physically examining the scar is essential in determining what proportion of scar visibility is due to stretching, hypertrophic reaction and or hair transaction.

A scar that is wider than expected gives evidence that some level of stretching has occurred. Skin that is stretched typically has a contrasting color to neighboring skin. Minimizing this contrast is one of the key approaches to reducing this type of scar. Hair transplant surgeon can reduce the contrast by bringing hair inside the scar by a variety of techniques to minimize the contrast between the hair bearing scalp and non-hair bearing scar. That is done through placing  follicular unit grafts with FUE procedure or by performing trichophytic closure on one or both edges of a scalp scar.  Many people may need more than one hair transplant into their scalp to improve the reduction in visibility of the scar.

Every cosmetic surgeon should be familiar and knowledgeable about the cosmetic products or non-medical methods that could be used to improve scars. When managing a scalp scar, we always consider and discuss with the patients the role of a variety of techniques that might be used solely or in conjunction with surgical procedures for further improving appearance of scars. Some of these are; microfibers, foundations, and coloring agents for skin and hair or tattooing of scalp.

If you are suffering from a scalp scar, you need to find a good hair transplant surgeon with plenty of experience with treatment of scalp scars.  A simple consultation would make the overall plan clear.  The plan may include a surgical procedure, using cosmetics for hair and scalp and hair style changes.

The costs of hair transplant is one of the critical factors for many hair loss sufferers who need a hair restoration procedure. The economic turmoil of the last few years keeps many people from spending on the items that are not essential or that might be considered luxurious.

Cosmetic procedure and hair restoration costs could be considered one of the luxury items for some people, while for others it is a necessity that can improve their self worth and directly enhance their career, personal and social life. An interesting observation is that many people visit US Hair Restoration in the consideration of having a hair transplant procedure right after they lost their jobs.

The reason to prioritize a hair restoration for them has been clear; they need all help they can get to stay competitive in the job market. Some of these people were able to pay for their hair restoration procedure or they financed the entire hair transplant cost. While others were not able to qualify to finance the cost of their hair transplant simply had to keep up with their balding, knowing that it might hurt them in market place and in their social life.

US Hair Restoration recognizes the need and the responsibility of making our medical service in hair restoration accessible to people from all walks of life. Understanding this social need is magnified by the tough economic times. Our affordable hair replacement costs is indicative of our commitment to meet that need while continuing to provide the highest techniques of hair transplantation to our family of patients.

Visit our website and find out how you may qualify for these affordable prices with 0% interest financing. In addition to our 0% interest financing, US Hair Restoration offers its generous standby program which provides an opportunity for many more people to elect to restore their hair at affordable hair transplant prices.

Our standby program allows us present way more affordable costs of hair transplantations to the patients who can be flexible with the timing of their hair transplantation. For more information on how the most advanced technology and medical procedures in hair restoration are being made available to you and to learn more about our summer special affordable prices please visit our main website: ushairrestoration.com or call our offices at (888) 302-8747.

Reframing the Face With Hair Transplant Surgery – Webinar by Dr. Mohebi

Join us, yet again, with US Hair Restoration Medical Director Parsa Mohebi, MD as he discusses popular hair loss topics. So often we receive phone calls and email inquiries regarding common questions people have about the art and science of hair restoration and how it can affect them and their personal situations. Here are the most recent topics discussed by Dr. Mohebi at our recent webinar:

Most people are not aware of the rule of thirds and how facial symmetry affects ones appearance. In this lecture, Dr. Mohebi discusses the importance of choosing a good hair line to achieve the proper facial symmetry.

Other webinars at this session:

Female Hair Loss Treatment

Male Patterned Hair Loss Treatment

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.

Hair loss in men is a very common condition.  However, it may affect a man’s life style, career, self confidence and sex life. It seems a bit shallow, but this is the reality of how many men describe their experience.

Today, modern hair transplantation can help millions of people who have been struggling with hair loss. Many people who suffer from hair loss may hesitate to restore their hair due to hair transplant costs which seem outrageous! Should it really cost an arm and a leg to have a new and improved hair line you ask?

Hair transplantation costs can vary from $3,000 to $18,000.This is solely determined by the extent of hair loss, type of hair restoration procedure, and skill of the hair transplant surgeon. It is important for a hair loss sufferer to educate him or herself regarding the available options for hair restoration – transplant. It is also very important to learn about the procedure and find a knowledgeable hair transplant surgeon to proceed with the process of  hair restoration.

The truth of today is, despite the wide range for the cost of hair transplant surgery, you might find a doctor who offers an affordable hair transplant, who doesn’t charge an arm and a leg, and still maintians a quality standard. The surgery will be cost effective, and the results should last a lifetime!!

Check our site regarding further information on our affordable rates  for hair transplants with our “standby” list option.

Q:

Hello,
I wanted to get more information like FUE transplantation vs. strip hair transplant. I have been doing a lot of reading. How do you know if one is best and using a FOX test? I like the idea of the FUE but hear many claims that it is not good. However, I am not a big fan of getting a piece of my skin taken off. There is so much different information. Also all the normal questions that come with the procedure. I hope to hear from you.

Thank you for taking the time to read this,

A:

That is a great question! I realize that there is a large amount of conflicting information on the Internet, especially relating to new technology and surgical techniques.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a method we use to remove hair follicular units individually rather than taking a strip of the scalp and dissecting it into follicular units.

Simply looking at the facts, there are many hair restoration centers which may market one method as being supperior to the other for the cold truth they are capable of performing it. They may lean towards recommending one particular procedure over the other for money making purposes.

If performed correctly, the FUE transplantation is a great solution for some hair loss sufferers, especially those with minimum hair loss or those avoiding a scar on their scalp. We also use FUE for people who suffer from significant pain or donor complications with previous strip procedure, and those with a violated donor area for which removing more hair through strip is impossible.

With that said, most hair transplant surgeries are done through the strip method for many reasons:

• Strip hair transplantation gives liberty to the surgeon to maximize the quality and viability of the hair follicles. We anticipate some number between 1-5% as the highest for a trans-section of hair follicles (damaged follicles) in microscopic strip hair transplantation. This rate of success is because all the grafts are  harvested under 3-D magnifications using stereotactic microscopes.
• In FUE cases, patients may have a high trans-section rate and some of the transplanted hair may never grow into healthy hair. The trans-section rate might be very low in most people, with an average of 0 to 10%. However, in some people it might be significantly higher based on the hair’s characteristics. The  FOX test is a procedure that should be done for some patients with curly or wavy hair.  The FOX test can determine the patients who are not good candidates for an FUE procedure. It is basically a small FUE transplant that determines the levels of a trans-section to the hair follicles in the process of extracting them.
• In an FUE transplantation, we may harvest up to 1500  in one session. Sessions larger than that keep hair grafts outside the body for a long period of time that may jeopardize the grafts’ survival.
• Today, we have many methods, such as trichophytic closure to minimize the visibility of the hair transplant donor scar in strip methods.
• The cost of FUE is higher since it is more labor intensive and requires more specialized artistic skill.

If you are considering to have a FUE transplant, I highly recommend having an evaluation by a hair transplant surgeon who is skilled in both FUE transplantation and strip method before you decide which procedure is right for you. A qualified hair transplant surgeon can discuss all your options so you can make an informed decision about how to restore your hiar.

Q:

It seems to me that successful outcomes can, to a substantial degree, rely on the technicians handling the hair follicles. How do you measure your technicians skills?

A:

We have a great quality control system at US Hair Restoration in which every technician is monitored during cutting and placing.  We also have surveillance cameras in the OR to record the entire procedure for quality control.  We hire only highly qualified hair transplant technicians.  We still need to provide some special training to assure they can function according to US Hair Restoration standards.  We hold regular educational meeting for hair transplant techs to keep them all up to date on current procedures as well as US Hair Restoration quality expectations.

Check this post on my blog:  US Hair Restoration – Hiring Qualified Hair Transplant Technicians for more information on quality of hair transplant technicians.

Q:

What is the average hair loss after hair transplants? I.e. The number of grafts lost? I am sure that also relies heavily on techniques of hair transplantation.

A:

The survival of transplanted hair grafts should be over 95%.*

We do not expect to lose any grafts after hair restoration surgery.  There may be a 1-5% transection experienced with microscopic follicular unit transplants, but we have aimed to minimize this rate by enhancing the quality of our hair transplant techniques.

* According to some studies that were done on microscopic follicular unit transplant methods, 95-99% of newly transplanted grafts should take and hold.  We expect that the hairs should grow healthy hairs within a few months after hair transplant surgery.