What Is the Best Way to Treat Male Pattern Baldness?
By Michele Finley MD | Published on May 25, 2011 | 0 Comments
Male pattern baldness, the most common type of hair loss, affects over 50 percent of men and over 25 percent of women (in women, the condition is referred to as female pattern baldness).
According to Michele Finley, MD, a Carmel, Indiana, hair transplant specialist, hair loss can be emotionally devastating. “It changes the way you look – it makes you look older,” she says. “And, of course, your self esteem has a lot to do with the quality of your daily life.”
Fortunately, hair transplantation offers hope for men and women suffering from male (or female) pattern baldness. But the most common form of hair transplant surgery, known as the “strip technique,” leaves behind a visible horizontal scar at the back of the head.
What Is NeoGraft?
NeoGraft offers a permanent solution to hair loss, without the visible scarring associated with traditional hair transplant surgery. During a “strip technique” hair transplant, a piece of scalp is removed from the back of the head from which hair follicles are removed and then transplanted to another part of the scalp. The scalp at the back of the head is then stretched to cover the harvested area and sewn shut.
NeoGraft differs from strip-technique transplantation in the way that hair follicles are harvested. While follicles are still harvested from the back of the head, they are removed in much smaller units utilizing a technique called follicular unit extraction (FUE).
What Are the Benefits?
The most exciting benefit of FUE over strip-technique transplants is that the procedure requires no scalpel, no sutures, and leaves behind no visible scar. Once healing is complete, the patient can wear his hair in any style he chooses, without worrying about telltale lines on the back of the head. Because there are no stitches, recovery times are shorter, and there are fewer restrictions after the procedure.
The NeoGraft device represents an advancement in FUE technology. Rather than requiring manual harvesting of the follicular units, NeoGraft automates the procedure, providing for much faster and more accurate harvesting of hair follicles, The allows patients to achieve their desired results in less time and with fewer units. In addition being faster, hair transplantation utilizing NeoGraft is less expensive than transplantation utilizing other forms of FUE.
Is NeoGraft Right for You?
NeoGraft can be used on anyone – man or woman – who is concerned about noticeable hair loss and has adequate hair available in the donor area (the back of the head) for harvesting. The best way to determine whether NeoGraft is right for you, Dr. Finley says, is to schedule a consultation.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.