Dr. White explains that a patient should expect to have his head looked at during a consultation in order to determine the density of the hair in the donor area and whether or not he would be an ideal candidate for a hair transplant procedure. At Advanced Surgical Concepts in Chattanooga, Dr. White is a cosmetic surgeon who keeps his consultation appointments complimentary. He does this to make it easier for patients who might otherwise be hesitant about paying money to find out if they would be good candidates for hair transplant procedures. At this same consultation appointment, Dr. White also discusses the specifics of the procedure with the patient as well.

Although most people talk about men when discussing hair transplants, Dr. White says that women can have the procedure done too. For women specifically, Dr. White explains that the best way to go about a hair transplant is by opting for what is known as follicular unit extraction, or FUE. Using this method, a cosmetic surgeon would harvest a small amount of hair from a donor area and place it back in the needed area on an individual basis.

Rather than using the traditional strip method – which takes a strip of hair from one section of the head and places it somewhere else – follicular unit extraction is a procedure in which a cosmetic surgeon painstakingly removes individual hairs from one part of the head and transplants those hairs to the new area using very small, one-millimeter punches.

Among the many benefits of follicular unit extraction are a shorter recovery time and less scarring. Because patients who opt for follicular unit extraction don’t have large strips of hair that are taken out, their heads are likely to heal in a much faster, less noticeable way. Downtime with this procedure is minimal, and Dr. White estimates that most patients who have had follicular unit extraction were back on their feet and ready to get back to work within three or four days.

Although follicular unit extraction has caught on among both male and female patients in recent years, Dr. White says that the traditional strip method is sometimes still the preferred treatment option for men who have large areas of balding that need to be covered up. To find out specifically which option would be best, Dr. White recommends visiting his office for a complimentary consultation appointment.

According to Gregory Chambon, MD of Kansas City NeoGraft, there is more than just one type of hair loss. While most people associate hair loss with middle-aged men, many women also struggle with a similar condition. In what’s known as “male pattern baldness,” hair loss occurs in a U-shaped pattern, primarily affecting the front and top areas of the scalp. In women, however, hair loss (called “female pattern baldness”) occurs unpredictably on multiple areas of the scalp and usually progresses at a slower rate.

Dr. Chambon, whose practice serves patients concerned about hair loss in Overland Park, Kansas, says that a new hair restoration technique called NeoGraft has made it possible for men and women facing hair loss to experience full, natural-looking hair once again. This breakthrough technique requires no surgery, no scarring, and minimal downtime. In short, he says, it’s the future of hair restoration.

What Is It?

NeoGraft is a type of hair transplantation technique called follicular unit extraction (FUE). The least invasive hair transplantation method available, NeoGraft involves no scalpel incision, no stitches, and no linear scar.

As in most hair transplantation procedures, hair is harvested from one area of the scalp and then transplanted to an area in which hair loss has occurred. But, unlike the “strip” transplantation method, the NeoGraft device uses only pressure to precisely extract and implant grafts. This innovative technique allows more area to be covered in a single session and reduces the need for additional visits to the doctor. This means savings and convenience for the patient along with exciting results.

Who Is It For?

NeoGraft, says Dr. Chambon, can be used to treat all types of hair loss in both men and women. In fact, one of the benefits of this procedure is that nearly any patient can be treated. What’s most important is simply to have adequate hair available to harvest.

“In any type of hair transplant procedure,” Dr. Chambon says, “the capability of doing it, and doing it in a way that the patient will be pleased with, centers around our ability to harvest enough hairs.” In men, hairs are generally harvested from the back of the head. Even patients who have lost significant amounts of hair from the top of the head generally have large quantities of available hair in the back and on the sides of the head. Because hair tends to thin all over in women, Dr. Chambon says, harvesting is usually done in multiple areas, usually those that are the thickest.

Patients often worry that removing hair from the donor area will result in a noticeable thinning. “What we always tell patients,” Dr. Chambon says, “is that you’d have to lose 50% of the hair on any part of your head to even notice that it’s thinning. We can harvest quite a bit of hair, and you’d never know the difference. As long as you have some hair to work with, we can treat your hair loss with NeoGraft.”

Not all hair loss is caused by the same things, says Gregory Chambon, MD, of Kansas City NeoGraft. Dr. Chambon, whose practice treats patients concerned about hair loss in Overland Park, Kansas, says that while hair loss is most commonly associated with men and middle age, women struggle with this embarrassing condition as well. Male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness, he says, are by far the most common types of hair loss and the most common reasons why people seek help from hair restoration specialists like him.

Male Pattern Baldness

When most people think about hair loss, Dr. Chambon says, they think of what’s called “male pattern baldness.” This progressive type of hair loss, which starts at the crown of the head, is the most common type of hair loss and is caused by a combination of genes, hormones and age. Male pattern baldness affects the central and frontal portions of the scalp and eventually, in most cases, results in a U-shaped configuration of remaining hair.

According to Dr. Chambon, while it was once assumed that male pattern baldness was inherited from the maternal grandfather, recent studies have shown otherwise. There’s almost certainly a genetic link, he says, but the exact relationship of genes to hair loss is yet to be completely understood.

Female Pattern Baldness

While hair loss is more common among men than women, women, too, experience a condition similar to male pattern baldness. “But with women, it’s a little bit of a different story,” says Dr. Chambon. Rather than affecting particular areas of the scalp, female pattern baldness generally involves a gradual, allover thinning of the hair, which usually occurs at a slower rate than in men.

Female pattern baldness is also thought to be caused by different things than hair loss in men. As in male pattern baldness, genetics are seemingly at play, but not to as great a degree as is in men’s hair loss. Many women who experience thinning hair will report that their mothers or grandmothers had the same problems. But, often, there other factors involved that are known to contribute to hair loss. Stress, hormones and certain types of illnesses are often to blame.

Because the condition affects the entire scalp, female pattern hair loss can be more complicated to prevent and treat. With men, Dr. Chambon says, one knows where the hair is likely to begin coming out. In women, it is often a bit of a surprise.

What Can Be Done?

According to Dr. Chambon, there is new hope for individuals of both sexes who are struggling with progressive hair loss. NeoGraft, a new method of hair transplantation, allows a hair restoration specialist to replace lost hair over large areas of the scalp in a single session. This option is the least invasive hair restoration procedure available today, and it is both faster and less expensive than other types of hair transplant options.

“We’re proud to be able to offer NeoGraft to our patients,” Dr. Chambon says. “It’s really the future of hair restoration.”

While the end goal of a hair transplant is, of course, a full head of hair, it won’t be achieved immediately after your transplant has been completed. In fact, you may experience the exact opposite. Hair shock, Angelino explains, is a temporary byproduct of the hair transplant procedure which causes the surrounding hairs to fall out before your new hair grows in.

The surgery, Angelino continues, is a stressful event for your scalp, and whenever there is a shock to the body, there are residual effects. With hair transplants, you have to take a step back before you take a step forward.

As Angelino explains, the surrounding hair that is healthy may have reduced blood flow that will cause temporary shedding around the transplant area. Often times, hair is also shocked because the surrounding hair is thinning and on its way out anyway, and the transplant procedure just accelerates that loss. When this happens, in many cases, the hair will grow back on its own, though surgeons have discovered that adding lasers can help as an adjunct therapy. If administered correctly, the combination will minimize hair shock and in some cases even prevent it entirely.

While hair transplant procedures are an excellent treatment for the hair you have already lost, it won’t do much to prevent loss that may occur naturally to your surrounding hairs. Hair loss is ongoing, and that’s why the experts at Hairlab recommend lasers and Rogaine as adjunct therapy measures after your transplant to prevent the loss of your surrounding hair.

It is always important to remember as well, says Angelino, that combating hair loss is an ongoing battle. While the procedure will help compensate for hair loss and hopefully help prevent future loss, if you try too many treatments too soon, that will be no good either. Instead, at Hairlab, patients are always encouraged to come back for followup procedures. In fact, he estimates that around 80% of clients need to come back for a second procedure.

While a great tool, a hair transplant is not the end-all magic bullet; you will want to come back to thicken up your hair after awhile. If this recommendation is ignored, then your hair will probably continue to thin. And while the hair that has been transplanted will stay, the hair around it might fall out.

Though a small percentage of people end up being happy with just one procedure, most have to come back to get their hair thickened later on. For the subsequent procedure, Angelino says, before and after shots are used so that the surgeon goes in between the previously transplanted hairs and adds follicles to thicken the hair overall.

For about three days after either treatment, you may experiences some swelling, although it is not always an experienced side effect. Afterward, the grafts that began as red dots on your scalp begin to dry up and become tiny scabs, which flake off in about a week. In two weeks, when the sutures from the donor area are removed, it may look like you got a mild sunburn on your scalp. Some of the grafts will continue to grow for about a month and then fall out, while other grafts will begin to grow immediately. It very much depends on the individual and the use of adjunct therapies, Angelino says.

Within three or four months after the operation, the hair will start to grow more significantly. Finally, about one year after the transplant, a large majority of Hairlab patients tend to find that they have nice, solid amounts of hair once again.

The reality, Angelino explains, is that most people have the donor hair needed for a hair transplant procedure. Therefore, he continues, the best candidates for surgery are those with realistic expectations. A large part of the initial conversation between surgeon and patient is about making sure the patient is given enough information.

The ideal candidates for hair transplant surgery are also those who have done their research and know they will most likely need two procedures, because the donor area must be have enough hair to transplant. Some men come to Hairlab with thin hair all the way around their heads, and they are usually told that their donor areas are too thin. Angelino says that it is still possible to perform a procedure in this case, but the focus should be on one area of the head at a time. If the procedure is not possible because of thin hair, he explains, then lasers can also be used to thicken the donor area for awhile before the procedure is completed.

A popular misconception surrounding hair transplant treatments is that men and women are not equal candidates for hair transplant surgery. However, Angelino says, there is really no difference. While at Hairlab about 80% of clients are men, it does not mean that men make better candidates; it just lends to fact that men experience hair loss more frequently than women.

Who is not a good candidate for hair transplant surgery?

According to Angelino, the biggest restrictions for hair transplant surgery are those who have very poor donor areas. Additionally, he says, surgeons typically don’t like to work on younger men whose hair is just beginning to thin out in their early 20s. Many times, he says, these guys are thinning normally, but they want their 18-year-old hairlines back. While a surgeon may be able to offer that same look, it is not going to appear natural over time.

Above all else, Angelino says, the worst candidates for hair transplant surgery are people with unrealistic expectations. Whenever new patients come and ask if Hairlab can guarantee a particular result, they are told that there are no guarantees with cosmetic surgery. Angelino explains that at Hairlab, the main priority is always for patients to walk out the door satisfied, which requires a full understanding of what to expect when a hair transplant is completed.

Hair loss of some degree will affect nearly all males and many times females as well. While there are several factors that can cause hair loss, most commonly it simply comes down to genetics. In men, the main cause of baldness is DHT, an enzyme produced by testosterone. At a certain age, Angelino says, DHT causes your hair to become smaller and thinner until it eventually falls out. Most men will experience some sort of hair loss in their life, he continues. This can range from mild hair thinning to a maturely receded hairline to full-on male pattern baldness where all that’s left is a ring of hair around the back and sides of the head.

In women, Angelino says, hair loss is usually the result of a thyroid issue, which most often causes hormonal imbalances. When women with hair loss come to Hairlab, the hair loss experts often refer them first to a doctor for blood work to see if they do, in fact, have thyroid issues. If the thyroid is to blame for hair loss, then it should be treated before any other steps are taken.

Though perhaps less common, hair loss can also be stress-related. Angelinso says that stress is also a factor in why people actually lose hair for a short time after they get hair transplant surgery. Due to the stress of surgery and the shock and trauma to the head, patients actually can anticipate some initial hair loss. Thankfully, this loss is temporary and the hair usually comes back within two to three months after surgery. Still, it is one of the reasons why Hairlab recommends using Rogaine immediately after transplant surgery.

Similarly to stress, Angelino explains that research has proven that crash diets have also been known to cause hair loss. If a person’s diet is lacking in proteins and minerals–especially iron and collagen– then those deficiencies can cause the body to divert from producing hair to maintaining the more essential organs. This can actually result in major hair loss, he adds.

Angelino recommends that anyone suffering from hair loss visit a treatment center to determine the cause of the problem and begin to work towards a solution.

What will happen when you first meet with your doctor?

Many people are often concerned about what they can expect when they first walk into Hairlab and meet with the staff, Angelino explains, and it’s natural to be anxious about what awaits you behind the office doors. When you first come to the office, he says, you should expect a free initial consultation with either the surgeon who will perform the procedure or another expert member of the staff. Very often, people will come for an in-person interview, but there is also the option of a virtual consultation for patients who can’t find the time to stop by the office or are coming to Hairlab from outside the Los Angeles area. In the latter instance, the client will send pictures via email and will talk with a staff member on the phone.

The virtual consultation often works for both the patients and hair loss experts because it allows everyone to be in contact simultaneously, even when they can’t all be in the same room. Angelino says that he can upload the pictures, look at the hair loss the patient is experiencing, and forward the images to the doctor on staff. The experts at Hairlab can then map out a plan of action and email the patient with recommendations. If the client wishes to move forward with the recommended course of treatment, then all he has to do is provide a deposit, schedule an appointment, and come to the office on the day of the procedure.

Whether you’ve been to Hairlab before or not, Angelino says that everyone gets an initial consultation on the morning of the procedure to address any last minute questions. Sometimes there are patients who want to know all of the details, while other patients are veterans of the procedure and will want to know just a bit more about the doctor before they proceed. Either way, it is important that you are comfortable with your decision and your doctor.

Will people know I have had it done?

If a hair transplant is done well, no one will be able to tell that you’ve had the procedure done. On the other hand, if you’ve mistakenly gone to an inexperienced surgeon, it will be noticeable after the fact. Angelino describes a poor outcome as a doll’s head because the hairline is chunky.

What’s the cost?

Hairlab provides a full range of treatments for hair loss of all kinds. Angelino says that he may recommend Propecia and topical stimulants that could cost as little as $60 a month for treatment. If  laser treatments are scheduled, the treatment could range from $300 to $2,000. Hair transplants themselves, he says,  range from as low as a few thousand dollars to as much as $15,000 depending on how many grafts are needed and what level of the procedure is needed. At Hairlab, however, patients are always urged to choose the procedure that will benefit them the most and not just the procedure that has the lowest price tag.

Is thin hair a warning sign of hair loss?

Angelino explains that thinning hair signifies the start of a progressive cycle that will eventually result in some form of hair loss. As hair becomes progressively thinner, he says, it will eventually become so thin that it will fall out. This should not be a major cause for concern, however, because this is actually a natural process that usually begins when men are in their 20s and progresses throughout middle age.

Angelino explains this process of hair loss as a rite of passage which should be accepted. In fact, as you get older, he says, you want to have a mature, slightly receded hair line. It would be very odd to see a 50-year-old man with an adolescent hair line.

In more extreme cases, there will sometimes be instances where a 20-year-old man will come into Hairlab who has a hairline that has begun to recede. What Angelino often needs to explain is that a receding hairline is just a natural part of aging, and unless you are experiencing baldness, it is something to accept with grace.

Why do some people lose their hair early in life and some not at all?

Research has shown that hair loss is mainly determined by genetics. Think of Bill Clinton, the Kennedys, or Ronald Reagan. Those men had full heads of hair even when they were middle aged. You have to realize, he says, that hair loss is really just about genetics. All men, when they reach a certain age, produce DHT, the enzyme that is the cause of hair loss. For some people, the enzyme causes hair to thin and eventually fall out, while for other it won’t have any effect at all.

How do I spot hair loss and what should I do if I suspect that I’m losing my hair?

If you are obsessed with looking in the mirror every day to check on the status of your hair loss, then you may be making your life unnecessarily difficult. Angelino explains that hair loss is actually a very gradual process that is difficult to notice. Often, someone will suddenly see the back of his head and realize that he has severe thinning or a bald spot in the middle of his hair. Most people, however, don’t take notice until they have lost lots of hair.

Some people who are obsessed with their hair and come in to Hairlab feeling extremely paranoid, even though they are just starting to experience the natural reformation of their hairlines. While not all hair restoration centers are the same, Angelino stresses that Hairlab always has its patients’ best interests in mind. The hair experts strive to give patients options instead of talking them into expensive hair treatments that won’t give them the results they are hoping for. When hair loss is minimal, Angelino almost always recommends trying topical treatments such as lasers and Rogaine before talking about hair transplant surgery. The truth he says, is that there are options to explore prior to hair transplant surgery that many find to be very effective.

Anagen phase. This is the growing stage that produces the majority of hair found atop the average human head. This growth phase can last anywhere from two to 10 years depending on the genetics at play.

Catagen phase. This is the next phase in the hair growth cycle that many tend to refer to as the shedding phase. The catagen phase can last anywhere from two to six weeks and can occur seasonally as well immediately following a new type of hair treatment, such as a transplant. This phase can also kick in after a big change occurs in the hair or even the body, such as weight loss or gain, an extended illness, or even an uncharacteristically stressful period of life.

Telogen phase. Also known as the resting phase, this is the final step in the hair growth process. Although the hair follicle is alive and well during this phase, it simply does not grow like it does during the anagen phase. The telogen phase will usually last three to six months before the hair growth cycle begins all over again.

What does all of this mean for patients? For starters, Dr. Wasserbauer advises that following any sort of hair loss treatment, it may take up to a full year for a patient to be graced with noticeable results due to the nature of the hair growth cycle.

Additionally, some people don’t realize that shedding is a normal bodily process that does not necessarily indicate that major hair loss is imminent. Dr. Wasserbauer insists that some people will shed up to 100 hairs a day and not even notice a difference upon looking in the mirror. On the other hand, just because shedding is not automatically a precursor to hair loss doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t keep tabs on their own personal patterns. If a patient notices a sudden increase in shedding then it may be wise to visit a hair loss specialist sooner rather than later.

According to Dr. Wasserbauer, a good hair restoration specialist will always keep the hair growth cycle in mind when initiating treatment for patients. And on the flip side, patients must prepare themselves to be tolerant when trying new hair loss treatments, as it can take up to a full year for even the most successful of options to produce results. In Dr. Wasserbauer’s experience, some people have a tendency to give up early, but anyone who lets his emotions get the better of him could end up missing out on the joys of having a fuller head of hair.

Hair loss can be especially troublesome for younger patients – especially those who are the first among their peers to experience this condition. When folks in their early to mid 20s first become aware that hair loss is a problem, many tend to rush over to their local hair restoration clinics to learn about their options. While some patients may be suitable candidates for hair transplant surgery, this is not always the case.

According to Dr. Wasserbauer, there are a couple of reasons why hair transplant surgery is not necessarily the best idea for a younger patient. First of all, patients should understand that while the field of hair restoration today offers truly remarkable results, the hair transplant procedure itself relies on a supply of donor hair from which transplantable grafts are created and placed. If a patient uses up their supply of donor hair at a younger age before the full extent of their hair loss sets in, then they could end up limiting their transplantation options down the road.

In fact, Dr. Wasserbauer says that she is generally wary of the idea of transplanting hairs in the crown area at the back of a younger patient’s head because this area is not as prominent as the frontal portion of the hairline; and if a patient were to use up all of their donor hair to fill in the crown only to find themselves needing work on their hairline down the road, then they could end up running into a bit of a cosmetic conundrum.

Another reason why Dr. Wasserbauer often advises younger patients to wait before undergoing hair transplantation surgery is that in many cases, the progression of baldness can be difficult to predict from an aesthetic perspective. A successful hair transplant, says Dr. Wasserbauer, is one that produces results that are as natural as they are visually pleasing. Therefore, if a younger patient undergoes a transplant, but their baldness progresses in a manner that comes to make their hairline look unnatural, then they may end up dissatisfied with their choices down the road.

According to Dr. Wasserbauer, as much as hair loss may be an upsetting condition with which to contend, it’s not always worth it for a young patient to have a hair transplant only to lose the rest of his hair within a few years. In many cases, it’s better to wait and see how the pattern of baldness progresses before opting for surgery.

So is there an age-related “cut off date” that surgeons should follow as far as younger hair loss patients are concerned? According to Dr. Wasserbauer, not necessarily. Although some professionals in the industry may impose age restrictions on transplantation options, Dr. Wasserbauer prefers to evaluate each patient on an individual basis. In some cases, a hair transplant can make sense even for a younger patient, though most doctors will agree that it’s best to first try other forms of therapy such as medication before resorting to surgery. Either way, Dr. Wasserbauer likes to emphasize the fact that hair loss treatment is available to patients of all ages, and that there’s no such thing as being “too young” to get help.