Overview
Hair loss can be permanent or temporary. It is more common among men than women. Men suffer from male pattern baldness due to genetics, or family history. Pure Dermatology Cosmetic & Hair Center offers hair restoration services for both men and women in Newport Beach, California. Studies have shown that baldness is also associated with androgens (male hormones) which regulate hair growth. Patients suffering from loss of hair follicles can lead to weakened hair follicles with shorter and finer strands of hair. Pure Dermatology Cosmetic & Hair Center offers hair transplantation services. It involves a surgical technique involved in the treatment of hair loss from the scalp. It is minimally invasive and involves grafts containing hair follicles from the nape of the neck or other parts of the body. The grafts are primarily removed from the back of the head as it is resistant to hair loss.
It involves a primary method of obtaining hair follicles from the nape of the neck also known as follicular unit extraction (FUE) which has a faster recovery rate. Each hair follicular unit is extracted instead of a patch of skin. The grafted hair follicles involve both the layer of the epidermis and dermis. The transplanted hair follicles are naturally grouped in the form of one-four strands of hair. The transplanted hair mimics natural hairline and design. The procedure involves minimal scarring, naturally grouped in the form of hair follicles, and keeping them in a harvest solution. Transplanted hair follicles can be arranged as anterior hairline designs.
Androgenic Alopecia (AGA)
Men and women can suffer from androgenic alopecia (AGA). It is important to seek medical advice as it can lead to hair loss with shrinking hair size and miniaturization of thinning areas. A doctor can view the scalp using an instrument – a video densitometer and detect scalp baldness and miniaturization. Dr. Ronaghi of Pure Dermatology – Cosmetic & Hair Center can offer permanent hair growth through follicular unit extraction (FUE) wherein hair follicles from the donor site (example – nape of the neck) are extracted as individuals follicular unit grafts and transplanted in the affected region. The transplanted hair regrows and offers significant relief to the patients suffering from AGA. The results of the hair restoration process are safe, natural, and enduring as it involves a minimally invasive method using highly sophisticated surgical instruments.
Pre-operative planning
Pre-operative planning is critically important as it involves initial consultation with the surgeon. It involves initial analysis of the scalp, discussion of various options, and choosing the best approach after considering the patient’s expectations. The density of the hair follicles is measured using a pre-operative folliscope. The hair follicles from the transplant region are explored, their quality is checked, and assessed accurately. The surgeon might advise the patient on certain vitamins and drugs which offer postoperative relief and benefits to the patient. The patient is also advised to refrain from the consumption of alcohol and smoking cigarettes as it can lead to poor grafting leading to damage to hair follicles with weaker strands and thinner hair follicles with reduced density. Furthermore, the patient with implanted hair follicles is prescribed to take certain antibiotics as it can prevent graft infections and damage to hair follicles. The patient is advised to relax and be calm during the post-operative stage as the implanted hair follicles need to be strengthened.
Harvesting
Safe harvesting of hair follicles prevents the risk of infection. It involves a minimally invasive procedure wherein one to four hair follicles are extracted mainly from the posterior scalp. The hair growth in the posterior scalp is considered superior to other parts of the scalp. The hair follicles are removed from the donor site and implanted at each appropriate follicular unit site. It offers a natural look with an anterior hairline design. Thousands of hair follicles are extracted via incision technique wherein intact hair follicles are excised using a single, double, or tripled bladed scalpel. The excised site is hardly visible even with a short haircut. Follicular unit extraction creates punctiform which are less than 1 mm in diameter via a small incision.
Benefits of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
The procedure is safe, minimally invasive, and doesn’t involve scarring or stitches. It has little or no side effects. After completion of the procedure, patients can continue their normal routine within the next day. Most importantly, it is an outpatient procedure wherein results are visible after the subsequent transplant procedures. Patients are advised to shampoo their hair 2-3 after completion of the surgery as it removes the scabs around the hair follicles and prevents damage to the hair shaft.
Survival of the Grafted Hair Follicles
Hair follicles extracted from the nape of the neck need to be grafted with a special solution that will enable the long-term survival of the hair follicles. It extends the life of the hair follicles as they need to be placed accurately at a certain depth and angle. Precise placement of the hair follicles increases their survival rate. Each session of hair follicle extraction and placement can vary three to four hours or more.
Hair Transplantation Procedure
Hair transplantation technique involves local anesthesia which involves bupivacaine, epinephrine, and lidocaine. A patient can be premeditated as well with alprazolam. In the operating room, supplemental sedation can be used such as midazolam, alprazolam, and fentanyl. The oxygen saturation of the patient is checked using an oximeter and they also receive supplemental nasal oxygen as per their requirement.
The patient is positioned in a lateral decubitus position wherein the donor’s hair is trimmed to 4-5 mm in length. The donor scalp region is marked like an eclipse wherein tumescent saline solution and local anesthesia are administered. The hair follicles from the donor area are removed using a precise knife blade at an angle parallel to the hair follicle transection. The donor hair follicle extraction is kept until the superficial fat to avoid any injury to the occipital nerve bundle. The harvested tissue or hair follicles are kept in a holding solution. Considerable skill and experience are required to perform the procedure using microsurgical instruments and stereomicroscopes. It is also important to maintain an efficient pace and avoid desiccation of moisture from the extracted hair follicles.
Pure Dermatology – Cosmetic & Hair Center offers follicular unit extraction wherein each follicular unit is removed one at a time also known as micro punch grafting. It is a minimally invasive technique that can be performed manually leading to the isolation of follicular units from the donor site safely. The survival of the harvested hair follicles is critical for the patient as it offers an anterior hairline design that looks natural and maintains a significant frontal hairline curve and recession. Proper grafting of the hair follicle offers a completely natural look. The hairline transition from baldness to multiple hair grafts offers stronger physical characteristics to the patient. Restoring hair requires design, efficiency, and specific placement of hair follicles for both men and women. The combination of graft size, density, and site selection are key elements towards successful hair transplantation.