Hair Restoration Updates
Monday, January 30, 2012
Hair Loss in Women - Updates
Los Angeles hair restoration surgeon Dr. Parsa Mohebi reviews some of the additional causes of hair loss in women. This is not a complete list but the awareness of varied cause of baldness for women underscores the importance of obtaining a medical doctor evaluation.
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Is a possible cause of baldness problems in women is a medical condition called polycystic ovary syndrome. This is a medical condition that may be becoming more common or it may just be more diagnosed now. It may have been a contributing factor for the need for hair pieces for women all along.
Alopecia areata
Can be the result of Auto-immune disorders like diabetes, lupus, or thyroid disease. This results in bald spots as hair falls out in clumps or patches that don’t seem to have any recognizable pattern. Alleviating the underlying cause usually means the hair will return to its normal growth pattern. Thus, hair restoration for women will not be needed. If you are experiencing hair falling out in clumps or patches then see your doctor as soon as possible. Over the counter hair loss products for women will most likely be ineffective. Only a consult with a specialist can best determine the cause of thinning or balding of your hair.
Telogen effluvium
Is a problem with balding hair that often times follow child birth, crash diets, major surgery or other traumatic experiences. The good news about female hair loss caused by this problem is that it will generally right itself within several months or a year after the cause is removed. In this case there is no need to try hair growth products for women but again you should see your doctor about this problem.
Other Causes
Other varied the causes can be thyroid disorders, anemia, or a chronic illness. If you are experiencing female hair loss then the first stop you should make is to a qualified physician specializing in hair loss. Find out what the problem is and then you and your health care provider can decide what would be the proper hair restoration treatment for you.
The vast majority of cases of hair loss problems and balding problems are caused by androgenic alopecia. It predominantly affects men. This is why hair transplants are common in men. Conversely, hair replacement for women is not that simple. Female hair transplants can be used in some cases but a qualifying medical evaluation by a hair restoration surgeon is highly recommended.
We appreciated Parsa Mohebi, MD review to assist with this article. He is the medical director at Los Angeles hair restoration clinics. They are throughout southern California. US Hair Restoration newest offices are located in Bakersfield, California.
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Causes of Hair Loss in Women
The newest medical research has significantly changed how female hair loss is addressed by doctors. In a significant number of females; thinning is now know to be correlated to the same causes as male hair loss in many instances. In fact, equating male pattern baldness [MPB] with female pattern hair loss [FPB] is usually not done anymore. Unlike for males, the reason for hair loss in women does not tend to be tied to age nor the genetic predisposition to thinning hair and baldness that is caused by androgenic alopecia in men. While this is the problem in a few cases, most of the time female hair thinning has one or two other possible causes.
Los Angeles hair restoration surgeon Dr. Parsa Mohebi reviews some of the additional causes of hair loss in women. This is not a complete list but the awareness of varied cause of baldness for women underscores the importance of obtaining a medical doctor evaluation.
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Is a possible cause of baldness problems in women is a medical condition called polycystic ovary syndrome. This is a medical condition that may be becoming more common or it may just be more diagnosed now. It may have been a contributing factor for the need for hair pieces for women all along.
Alopecia areata
Can be the result of Auto-immune disorders like diabetes, lupus, or thyroid disease. This results in bald spots as hair falls out in clumps or patches that don’t seem to have any recognizable pattern. Alleviating the underlying cause usually means the hair will return to its normal growth pattern. Thus, hair restoration for women will not be needed. If you are experiencing hair falling out in clumps or patches then see your doctor as soon as possible. Over the counter hair loss products for women will most likely be ineffective. Only a consult with a specialist can best determine the cause of thinning or balding of your hair.
Telogen effluvium
Is a problem with balding hair that often times follow child birth, crash diets, major surgery or other traumatic experiences. The good news about female hair loss caused by this problem is that it will generally right itself within several months or a year after the cause is removed. In this case there is no need to try hair growth products for women but again you should see your doctor about this problem.
Other Causes
Other varied the causes can be thyroid disorders, anemia, or a chronic illness. If you are experiencing female hair loss then the first stop you should make is to a qualified physician specializing in hair loss. Find out what the problem is and then you and your health care provider can decide what would be the proper hair restoration treatment for you.
The vast majority of cases of hair loss problems and balding problems are caused by androgenic alopecia. It predominantly affects men. This is why hair transplants are common in men. Conversely, hair replacement for women is not that simple. Female hair transplants can be used in some cases but a qualifying medical evaluation by a hair restoration surgeon is highly recommended.
We appreciated Parsa Mohebi, MD review to assist with this article. He is the medical director at Los Angeles hair restoration clinics. They are throughout southern California. US Hair Restoration newest offices are located in Bakersfield, California.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Laxometer II Made Hair Restoratoin Easy
Dr. Parsa Mohebi has recently unveiled the new generation of the Laxometer. The new generation of Laxometer is the latest hair transplant device invented by Dr. Parsa Mohebi. The Laxometer is a measuring tool for hair transplant surgeons. It is essentially a handheld device which can change the art and science of hair restoration drastically. Being in the growing sector of the cosmetic surgery, being in touch with the updates on hair transplant new technology is critical.
Applications
The Laxometer II can assist a surgeon to increases the number of hair grafts which can safely and precisely be transplanted in one surgery. A large hair transplant of more than 3000 hair follicular grafts once upon a time might take several hair transplants to complete, but with this latest technology in hair transplantation, it can be done in only one surgery.
The new technology that made Laxometer for the field of hair transplantation, is basically a measuring tool which is used to measure the laxity of scalp before hair transplant surgeries. 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 size of strip, the more grafts can be made available for transplantation.
Dr. Mohebi has announced for the first time the his new invention, the Laxometer at the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery’s Annual meeting in Alaska in 2011.
Dr. Mohebi Review of the details of his new invention continued with announcing that it will be available for purchase in the new future. This latest technology in hair transplant surgery was welcomed with anticipation from hair restoration surgery community as it will help to continue the industry progressing.
Applications
The Laxometer II can assist a surgeon to increases the number of hair grafts which can safely and precisely be transplanted in one surgery. A large hair transplant of more than 3000 hair follicular grafts once upon a time might take several hair transplants to complete, but with this latest technology in hair transplantation, it can be done in only one surgery.
The new technology that made Laxometer for the field of hair transplantation, is basically a measuring tool which is used to measure the laxity of scalp before hair transplant surgeries. 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 size of strip, the more grafts can be made available for transplantation.
Dr. Mohebi has announced for the first time the his new invention, the Laxometer at the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery’s Annual meeting in Alaska in 2011.
Dr. Mohebi Review of the details of his new invention continued with announcing that it will be available for purchase in the new future. This latest technology in hair transplant surgery was welcomed with anticipation from hair restoration surgery community as it will help to continue the industry progressing.
Labels: latest in hair restoration, laxometer, mohebi
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Thursday, August 14, 2008
Hair Cloning – Hair Culturing – Hair Multiplication
One of the major groups that area working on hair cloning is Intercytex that has recently released a research result on the hair multiplication experiments in the journal of experimental dermatology.
http://ushairrestoration.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/hair-stem-cell.jpg
The question is “when will hair cloning be available”. The article goes over what has been done so far for hair multiplication experimentally. Intercytex group has been involved and developed some hair stem cell, hair culturing and hair multiplication projects. Some of those methods could be used for the treatment of hair loss. Some of those known as hair cloning are also being done by other organizations or universities.
Hair cell multiplication can be a revolution in hair transplant surgery field. Follicular cell implantation in this article is reviewed and mentioned as an experimental cell therapy for the treatment of hair loss that uses cultured hair follicles or their cells to induce new hair formation. The process of multiplying hair cells is based on the demonstration that adult dermal papilla cells (DPC) retain the hair inductive potential that they acquired during hair morphogenesis before birth. To harvest FCI, the researchers could isolate hair active cells from scalp biopsies and then grow them in cultures in order to make adequate cells to generate several other follicles from a few.
Following expansion of cells in culture, they implanted those cells into the scalp where they induce the formation of new follicles below the level of skin. They describe a consistent, reliable method in which they can test hair induction. Since the process relies on the ability to retain the potential for hair induction during the expansion of DPC in culture.
They go over a simple graft model that supports hair morphogenesis. In this experiment, they combine dermal cells with embryonic mouse epidermis that provides the keratinocyte (one of the skin cells) component of induced follicles. The grafts are placed under a protective skin flap in the host mouse where the cells will make a skin graft that can produce hair if the dermal cells are hair producing DPC.
By using the system of freshly isolated and cultured mouse embryo dermal cells as well as cultured dermal papilla cells from other species we can make new hair that could be used of hair restoration in people with baldness.
The great thing about this process was that the induced hairs were aesthetically indistinguishable from those of the epidermal donor in length, thickness, and pigmentation. The investigators stated that the newly formed hairs were considered normal and could resemble a complete natural hair after microscopic examination.
Our hair transplant team at Los Angeles hair transplant surgery centers of US Hair Restoration will closely follow up with the progress of hair multiplication and cloning techniques. Although the result of the cultured hair on animals has been released before, the current published article is very interesting and can elucidates more on the characteristics of multiplied and newly formed hair quality during the process of hair multiplication so called hair cloning. It seems like we still have a long way to go until we can practically use hair multiplication techniques in restoring human hair. The good thing is that it cannot be kept a secret when hair multiplication technology is available.
Labels: : dermal papilla cells, DPC, FSC, hair cloning, hair implantation, hair multiplication, hair stem cell, mesenchymal, new hair
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Friday, May 23, 2008
CCCA and Hair Transplant Surgeons
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The hair loss condition, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia or CCCA is one of the less common causes of balding that needs hair loss treatment. This medical condition, which characterizes with circular balding, mainly on the top (vertex and crown) which can be expanding and only leave a rim or hair around the scalp with total baldness in the more central areas in extreme cases (see picture).
The causes of this type of balding are now quite known. Here at US Hair Restoration a Los Angeles Hair Transplant Center we see CCCA on an occasional basis. This disease used to be called with different names such as hot comb alopecia, follicular degeneration syndrome, pseudopelade in African Americans and central elliptical pseudopelade in Caucasians. Microscopic evaluation of the hair loss areas shows evidences of inflammation in the area of disease activity, chronic and rapidly progressive skin changes with eventual complete baldness in some part of the scalp with its unique pattern.
This hair loss condition could be started with the evidences of skin inflammation (redness and itching), but this phase might be temporary and patient may not have any signs or symptoms other than hair loss with its specific pattern. Routine medical treatment of hair loss with finasteride (Propecia) or Minoxidil (Rogaine) are generally not beneficial.
Treatment of this condition could be challenging. Treatment with medications is generally not successful in prevention of the hair loss and to reverse the process. Hair transplant surgery could be an option, but it could not be done in the acute phase of the disease. Hair transplant surgeon need to consider hair restoration surgery for Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia when the active phase is over and when the inflammation is completely subsided. I would like to do a small test hair transplant before committing to the actual hair transplant surgery to be assured of the survival of the hair grafts.
This post was extracted from Hair Restoration Blog, a hair loss question and answer web log.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
fue los angeles
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Patient question and answers on FUE – follicular unit extraction from Hair Restoration Blog:
- I have heard that smaller number of grafts you can get through FUE makes it likely that you have another surgery.
A: That is true. However repeat follicular unit extraction procedures could be even more difficult to extract grafts in consequent procedures, due to the presence of scars of the first surgery on the donor area. However you should not have any limitations doing regular strip technique if you have a FUE in the past.
- Does FUE leave scars?
A: Any skin cut leaves scar. The point is the scars of FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) are so small and scattered in a large area that they are not distinguishable.
- I wonder how efficient FUE is in filling large areas, how many surgeries you’d have to have done to get the exact same result as the strip removal method. Plus, I wonder if -besides the healing process- the hair growing time is shorter than the strip removed one.
A: FUE is a critical method of hair transplant, but probably not as efficient as follicular unit transplantation with strip technique. Dr. Parsa Mohebi a hair transplant surgeon in Los Angeles offers FUE for patients who are candidate for it. For large cases I prefer FUT that we almost have no limitation on the number of grafts. FUE is for people who prefer to have no visible scars on the donor area, but less number of hairs is acceptable to them. FUE can work beautifully for people with low degrees of hair loss. You have to realize which is more important to you: “No donor scar” or “A fuller head of hair” if you have extensive balding. Healing process in donor area is much shorter than the strip technique and donor area is back to normal in abut 4-6 days as opposed to in the strip method that the donor wound healing may takes up to 2 weeks. Healing on recipient area is the same in FUE and strip surgery.
- You mentioned body hair. Do you usually implant body hair on the head, or am I tripping? If so, how does the extraction process work? Scars left?
A: Body hair transplant to the scalp is not something that we do on a regular basis and in fact I only recommend body hair for people with extreme depletion of scalp donor hair. If eligible for body hair (you should have thick body hair and you also need to be tested positive with Fox test before FUE procedure it is similar to scalp FUE with none or minimally visible, scattered scars.
- In bold people or percentage, how much more expensive would FUE be than the strip removal method to achieve the exact same result?
A: At US Hair Restoration – Los Angeles hair transplant center, the cost of FUE procedure is twice as a strip hair transplant procedure of the same size.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
After Hair Transplant Care
After hair transplant care is something that patients who undergo a hair transplant procedure need to know and follow closely.
Here is the post-op instruction of the patients at US Hair Restoration. Different hair restoration clinics may have different post-op care and instructions due to their different surgical methods.
Patients who had a hair transplant surgery using a strip technique usually leave our hair transplant center with a bandage around their head. The bandage is used only to support the newly closed donor wound on the back of scalp. Patients are given prescription for pain and anti-inflammatory medications for first few days after surgery. The first night after hair transplant surgery, patient needs to be cautious not to rub or scratch the transplanted area. It is recommend that all patients take it easy for the first days and avoid heavy physical exercises.
All patients need to come back for physician evaluation and hair wash the day after surgery. During this first visit, the bandage is removed and donor wound and the transplanted hair is assessed. The donor and recipient areas need to be washed very carefully while teaching the patient how to wash it at home during day two to four after hair transplantation. Hair wash after hair transplant surgery needs to be done twice a day with a special method to minimize the probability of dislodging the grafts. Patients ask if they can skip washing hair within the first few days to avoid damaging the grafts. The answer is “No”. Hair wash is a key step in hair transplant care that guaranties the normal growth of the transplanted hair follicular grafts.
There are some restrictions in patient’s physical activities after hair transplants. Some clinics recommend very strict rules for physical activities. It is preferred that patient keeps his normal daily activities with some minor limitations. The activities that add to the tension of the wound edges at donor area should be avoided for the first four weeks after surgery. Those activities are: extreme bending of neck and heavy weight lifting.
Patients need to go back to hair transplant clinic at day ten after hair transplant surgery to remove the staples (for patients who had strip surgery and donor is closed with metal staples) and to reevaluate the donor and recipient area. For the patients who have their donor closed with absorbable sutures, it is recommended to be seen in ten days to assess the healthiness of recipient and donor area, which includes patient’s who had FUE (follicular unit extraction) hair transplant, eyebrow hair transplant, hair transplant repair or body hair transplants. All follow up visits are included in the initial cost of hair transplant surgery and patients won’t be charged for any follow up visits.
Patient should avoid direct sun exposure to the recipient area for about six months after follicular unit transplant surgery. Extreme and direct sun exposure may harm the growing grafts. Sun contact may also cause skin changing the skin color.
And finally the last follow up appointment for their after hair transplant care is between months ten to eleven after their hair transplant surgery, when transplanted hair grows to its final thickness and length. At last session Dr. Parsa Mohebi evaluates the transplanted hair grafts and assesses the finial size and condition of donor scar. This visit is a good time for patients who want to consider a repeat surgery to increase the density of hair or cover the areas that has not been completely covered with first hair transplant surgery due to the limited scalp laxity or extended balding area. All patients who are planning for a repeat surgery do not have to wait that long and a repeat surgery could be done any time after month 5 after the initial hair transplant procedure.
At US Hair Restoration, a LA hair transplant surgery center, patients can also be seen as needed in addition to the above mentioned visits.
¶ 12:35 AM 0 Comments
After Hair Transplant Care
After Hair Transplant Care
By: Dr. Parsa Mohebi
After hair transplant care is something that patients who undergo a hair transplant procedure need to know and follow closely.
Different hair restoration clinics may have different post-op care and instructions due to their different surgical methods.
Eveyone who had a hair transplant surgery using a strip technique usually leave our hair transplant center with a bandage around their head. The bandage is used only to support the newly closed donor wound on the back of scalp. Patients are given prescription for pain and anti-inflammatory medications for first few days after surgery. The first night after hair transplant surgery, patient needs to be cautious not to rub or scratch the transplanted area. It is recommend that all patients take it easy for the first days and avoid heavy physical exercises.
All patients need to come back for physician evaluation and hair wash the day after surgery. During this first visit, the bandage is removed and donor wound and the transplanted hair is assessed. The donor and recipient areas need to be washed very carefully while teaching the patient how to wash it at home during day two to four after hair transplantation. Hair wash after hair transplant surgery needs to be done twice a day with a special method to minimize the probability of dislodging the grafts. Patients ask if they can skip washing hair within the first few days to avoid damaging the grafts. The answer is “No”. Hair wash is a key step in hair transplant care that guaranties the normal growth of the transplanted hair follicular grafts. Check Before and After Hair Transplant Photo Gallery of US Hair Restoration.
There are some restrictions in patient’s physical activities after hair transplants. Some clinics recommend very strict rules for physical activities. It is preferred that patient keeps his normal daily activities with some minor limitations. The activities that add to the tension of the wound edges at donor area should be avoided for the first four weeks after surgery. Those activities are: extreme bending of neck and heavy weight lifting.
Patients need to go back to hair transplant clinic at day ten after hair transplant surgery to remove the staples (for patients who had strip surgery and donor is closed with metal staples) and to reevaluate the donor and recipient area. For the patients who have their donor closed with absorbable sutures, it is recommended to be seen in ten days to assess the healthiness of recipient and donor area, which includes patient’s who had FUE (follicular unit extraction) hair transplant, eyebrow hair transplant, hair transplant repair or body hair transplants. All follow up visits are included in the initial cost of hair transplant surgery and patients won’t be charged for any follow up visits.
Patient should avoid direct sun exposure to the recipient area for about six months after follicular unit transplant surgery. Extreme and direct sun exposure may harm the growing grafts. Sun contact may also cause skin changing the skin color.
And finally the last follow up appointment for their after hair transplant care is between months ten to eleven after their hair transplant surgery, when transplanted hair grows to its final thickness and length. At last session Dr. Parsa Mohebi evaluates the transplanted hair grafts and assesses the finial size and condition of donor scar. This visit is a good time for patients who want to consider a repeat surgery to increase the density of hair or cover the areas that has not been completely covered with first hair transplant surgery due to the limited scalp laxity or extended balding area. All patients who are planning for a repeat surgery do not have to wait that long and a repeat surgery could be done any time after month 5 after the initial hair transplant procedure.
At US Hair Restoration, a LA hair transplant surgery center, patients can also be seen as needed in addition to the above mentioned visits.
¶ 12:00 AM 0 Comments
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Follicular Unit Extraction or FUE
Follicular Unit Extraction or FUE
Many of my patients ask about advantages and disadvantages of FUE or Follicular Unit Extraction. Before explaining those points I have to add that US Hair Restoration – a Los Angeles hair transplant center is one of the leading hair transplant centers in offering the state-of-the-art FUE procedures, still most of our patients are being transplanted through strip technique and we select our FUE patients very carefully. I will go over the essential facts of why we do recommend FUE to some patients and not to all.
Pros
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Many of my patients ask about advantages and disadvantages of FUE or Follicular Unit Extraction. Before explaining those points I have to add that US Hair Restoration – a Los Angeles hair transplant center is one of the leading hair transplant centers in offering the state-of-the-art FUE procedures, still most of our patients are being transplanted through strip technique and we select our FUE patients very carefully. I will go over the essential facts of why we do recommend FUE to some patients and not to all.
Pros
- FUE does not leave patients a detectable linear scar. This is great for those who want to wear their hair very short or the ones who may need to shave their head at some point in the future (like actors). You have to chose a hair transplant surgeon who has experience with FUE.
- The FUE process of healing is more comfortable and it has a decreased healing time in comparison with strip technique of follicular unit transplant FUT.
- There is no restriction in physical activities with FUE hair transplant for those who want to do strenuous exercise right after FUE procedure.
- Follicular Unit Extraction is a great alternative for patients whose scalps are tight. That makes strip surgery risky or impossible.
- FUE has made it possible to harvest hair from body, beard or almost everywhere else.
- FUE is handy when we need limited number of grafts like in case of restoration of eyebrow hair.
- One of the drawbacks of FUE is that the maximum follicular graft yield is much lower than when it is done with strip techniques surgery due to higher rate of follicular transection compared to the strip technique.
- Linear scar is not present after follicular unit extraction, but FUE will still leave small punctuate scars that make future FUE hair transplants more difficult or impossible with FUE technique.
- Not everyone is a good candidate for a FUE procedure and patients need to be tested with FOX before proceeding with the surgery.
- FUE procedure takes a long time to get done compared with strip procedure.
- FUE is more time and energy consuming thus it cost more in comparison with strip technique of hair transplants.
- There is more chance of burying grafts In FUE that increases the risk of having folliculitis (tiny inflamed cysts under the skin) on the donor area.
