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THE FUTURE OF HAIR RESTORATION TECHNOLOGY

In recent years, hair transplant treatments have undergone a significant transformation. If you’re considering hair restoration therapy, chances are you’re looking for a natural-looking hairline with suitable density. Thanks to advancements in technology, multiple new techniques yield incredibly realistic outcomes.

Opting to undergo hair restoration is an important and personal decision, and finding a reputable clinic to undertake your hair transplant procedure can be challenging. With MAXIM Hair Restoration, which specializes in various hair transplant treatments and hair-related services, you can rest assured you’re in good hands. Hair Transplant Surgeons and clinicians use both surgical and nonsurgical hair restoration techniques, such as Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT), SMP, FUT, or FUE hair transplants, and frequently combine several approaches to get the best possible outcomes.  Let’s go through each of these advanced hair transplant techniques in further detail.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

During this hair restoration surgery, one hair graft, or Follicular Unit, is taken and implanted at a time. WAW FUE, Ellis FUE, the Cole FUE System, the SAFE FUE System, and the ATERA are examples of modern technology used in the FUE technique. At MAXIM’s clinic, a hair transplant expert performs FUE hair surgery [1] under a local anesthetic. Hair transplant technicians aid the specialist. You can listen to music during your hair restoration operation, talk to the crew, or talk on your mobile phone. You can even take a siesta. 

Follicular unit extraction or excision (FUE) is one of the most advanced hair transplant techniques and has several benefits. It’s less invasive than other kinds of hair transplants and there are no noticeable linear scars or sutures, so it delivers a natural appearance and allows a hair transplant doctor or clinician to transplant up to 4,000 grafts at once. After the procedure is finished, you can return to work quickly—there isn’t much follow-up treatment.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

FUT is a hair restoration [2] technique that allows MAXIM hair transplant doctors to undertake long hair transplants. It is also known as The Strip hair transplant method. FUT entails removing a strip of hair and tissue (skin) from the rear side of your head, commonly known as the donor site. Individual hair transplants are detached from this strip of hair and implanted into balding and thinning areas of the head. 

Each graft, also known as micrografts, comprises one to three hair follicles, and the operation is commonly known as micro-follicular hair transplantation.  At one time, each graft comprised five to 10 hair follicles and each graft was called a plug. They resembled doll hair and were easily identifiable as transplanted hair to the naked eye. With micrografting, this is no longer an issue.

The FUT method is well-known, well-proven, and regarded as an established performer, especially for those who are seeking longer sessions of up to 4,000 grafts at once and a thicker, fuller outcome. This surgical hair restoration is a realistic, durable, and cost-effective option.

3D Scalp Micropigmentation

3D Scalp Micropigmentation or the SMP process is a non-surgical approach that injects pigment into the scalp using microneedles and a stroke technique to mimic small hair follicles and the appearance of natural hair. There is no bleeding since a topical anesthetic is administered.

Hybrid Procedure

Under this technique, your hair transplant doctor will create a personalized treatment plan for you. For the desired outcome, hybrid hair replacement treatments are made in conjunction with or within a short time span of each other. This may require more sessions than other types of treatment. The best hair loss therapy is a mix of surgical hair transplants and nonsurgical therapies. To help you feel comfortable during the process, topical and local anesthetics will most likely be used throughout the surgeries.

The results of a hybrid procedure are often better because of the mix of hair restoration treatments they use. In this type of treatment, it’s possible to enhance your hair’s density and texture. You’ll also be treated by a team of hair transplant physicians and hair restoration specialists, as well as other medical technicians. Compared to one-size-fits-all treatments, the hybrid technique represents a distinct approach at MAXIM.

Facial Hair Transplant

Depending on the patient’s needs, area to be covered, skin texture, donor site, and medical history, facial hair transplant surgeons use different procedures for eyebrow, face, mustache, and beard hair transplants. MAXIM’s hair transplant specialist may recommend FUE or FUT hair transplants or nonsurgical options such as SMP or micro-pigmentation. They may also recommend a mix of surgical and non-surgical hair restoration procedures. This will be assessed by our team of experts during your hair restoration consultation appointment. 

Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT)

CIT is a minimally invasive process that increases collagen synthesis in the scalp, resulting in rejuvenated hair follicles and improved hair health. A doctor performs this procedure using a topical anesthetic, which can be paired with a hair transplant. There is minimum preparation for this procedure, and it’s followed by applying a healing serum.

PDO-MAX

PDO-MAX is a hybrid nonsurgical scalp rejuvenation technology developed by MAXIM that combines three separate procedures: Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT), Microneedling (CIT), and PDO threading. In this procedure, growth factors are isolated in high concentrations. Then blood is taken and processed via an elaborate, cutting-edge centrifuge that employs dual-spin technology. Afterward, the scalp is numbed with a ring block before the regenerating serum is injected across it. Threads are then inserted into the location undergoing treatment. The threads are triggered and then removed. Afterward, the residual regenerating serum is administered topically. 

Other emerging and future include A.I. diagnostics and robotic hair restoration although its limited by session size (no. of grafts). Futuristic technologies follicular multiplication, cloning, autologous therapy and others although many of these are still in their research stage. 

The current and future prospects for hair transplant treatments are possibly brighter than ever. To overcome the trauma and anxiety associated with hair loss, you can reach out to MAXIM Hair Restoration, where seasoned hair transplant surgeons and hair restoration technicians can help you make informed decisions and provide you with safe and effective hair transplant treatments. If you’re interested in learning more about your treatment options, get in touch with MAXIM’s reputed and friendly staff for a free consultation.


Footnotes

1. Dua, Aman & Dua, Kapil. (2010). Follicular Unit Extraction Hair Transplant. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2956961/

2. Yetman, Daniel. (2020). What You Need to Know About Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). https://www.healthline.com/health/fut-hair-transplant

WTF IS IN MY HAIR? THE REAL IMPACT OF DHT

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a genetic predisposition to hair loss that occurs after puberty. Essentially, your hair is damaged by your body’s reaction to androgen over-sensitivity.  The body’s reactions are inappropriate and lead to various malfunctions and, ultimately, the death of your beloved hair. While most people with male pattern baldness are familiar with the abbreviation DHT, very few are aware of how it actually impacts your hair and what options can help slow or even reverse hair loss. DHT stands for dihydrotestosterone, which is an androgen and metabolite of the male sex hormone testosterone. This may be confusing if you consider that over 30% of women experience hair loss secondary to androgenetic alopecia, but unfortunately, AGA does not discriminate. Now, let’s take a closer look at WTF DHT is doing to your hair and a common misguided treatment approach for hair loss.

WTF is DHT?

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the most potent of the androgens. It’s considered a pure androgen due to its inability to aromatize. That means that, unlike testosterone and other androgens, it does not convert into estrogen. DHT is an important sex hormone that plays an essential role in the sexual development of male genitalia. Even into adulthood, DHT plays a major role in prostate function, body hair, facial hair, and, unfortunately…male and female pattern baldness. If you are a woman reading this, even though DHT can impact your hair too, it doesn’t play a significant role in your overall body function and development. In addition to DHT being unable to aromatize, it also has a long half-life, it is slow to dissolve, and aggressively adheres to androgen receptor sites. Unfortunately for those with the genetic pattern of hair loss, this means it will progressively damage your hair faster than your body can disassociate with the hormone.

So WTF is DHT Doing to Your Follicles?

As unfortunate as pattern loss is, the process by which DHT destroys your crowning glory is fascinating. It’s also extremely intricate and most health care providers do not properly educate patients as to what is occurring inside of their scalp, opting instead to take one-track approaches to treatment. Of course, a complex problem usually requires a complex solution, and one medication or compound is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

DHT is most abundantly found in peripheral locations, such as the scalp, where it adheres to androgen receptor sites on the hair follicle and begins altering the functionality of the organs’ key components. Most importantly, it begins breaking down the dermal papilla, which is essentially the brain of your hair follicle. The dermal papilla induces hair growth and regulates hair cycles. It’s also responsible for the regeneration of the follicle and proper hair pigmentation, and it’s a significant reservoir of multipotent MSCs. Now, it’s important to understand that hair loss is a progressive issue, and the simplest explanation for why it’s progressive is due to the slow disposal of DHT once it adheres to an androgen receptor. When your hair follicle’s receptor sites are saturated, it doesn’t simply “cap” out. Instead, every time it goes through the growth cycle and begins to develop again, it tries to adapt to the androgenic needs of its environment, creating more receptor sites to uptake even more DHT. Most believe that DHT simply adheres to the hair and begins to destroy it, but the truth is that DHT does significant damage both indirectly and directly, affecting the environment and various functional mechanics of the hair organ.

Due to the genetic sensitivity to DHT, your body reads the DHT as something that doesn’t belong in the hair follicle, and it responds by triggering inflammation in an effort to dispose of it. Ultimately, this leads to chronic inflammation. Inflammation serves as a response with one of two primary functions. Function 1 focuses on migrating healing growth factors to the damaged tissue. Function 2 is an immunological response to foreign bodies that don’t belong, in which it will try to devour and remove anything it sees that is out of place. In the case of AGA, the entire environment is attacked by this inflammation, slowly causing hair loss.

Next, the inflammation and DHT both have a negative impact on the dermal papilla’s ability to properly signal growth cycles and regenerative body mechanics. This means that the growth cycle of the hair begins to shorten, and the resting phase begins to elongate. These quicker overall shifts through the cycles expose the follicles to damage because DHT is adhering to receptor sites more frequently over a shorter period of time. Eventually, the hair will stop growing altogether and the organ will begin to atrophy and die. 

Now, you’re probably thinking that it couldn’t possibly get any more intricately destructive than that, right? Well, it does. The broken signaling leads to imbalanced calcification regulators and when you throw in the chronic inflammation, it begins to cause an increase in fibrosis. Fibrosis is the formation of connective tissue in light of an injury that normally aids in healing (think of scarring). In this case, it does quite the opposite. The fibrosis and over calcification begin to harden the tissue of the scalp and crowd the environment, restricting blood flow to the scalp. If you have ever seen an older man’s bald scalp, you might have wondered why it’s leathery and ultra-thick. This is the precise reason why.

Think of it this way, in the iron ages of castle sieges, one of the most widely adopted strategies for success was to cut off the trade routes to prevent the defending soldiers from getting food and water. This is essentially what’s happening in your scalp, except it’s worse because your blood also carries oxygen to your tissue. In other words, decreased blood flow means fewer nutrients and less oxygen, which means more cellular death and a quicker decline in scalp health. To summarize this analogy, you will increasingly mourn the death of your beloved soldiers.

Well, WTF Do You Do To Treat It?

First, we start with the cause: DHT! This is ironically the most simple part of the complex process of treatment, although it’s often ignored by dermatologists, who tend to favor steroidal treatments that focus on inflammation instead. In men, you can use alpha5-reductase-inhibitors such as fin######## to block roughly 70% of DHT metabolization by inhibiting the enzyme that causes testosterone to DHT conversion. This is typically prescribed for hair loss as 1mg orally per day. In some men, if caught early enough, this can be sufficient to stop hair loss. In others, it can even reverse the miniaturization of follicles and cause the hair to grow back healthily. Since you are here reading this article, it’s probably safe to assume that you have read the flaccid and impotent horror stories of fin########. While there is validity to these stories, it is a rare occurrence in men, but we still don’t recommend taking that risk. After all, what’s the point in hair if you lose your sexual function? 

Joking aside, MAXIM formulated a topical solution with 0.01% fin########, 6% minoxidil, caffeine, biotin, and hair & skin growth peptides to combat hair loss. When you take the pill, the dosage is significantly higher than spot treatments because it passes through your liver and bloodstream twice, systemically blocking DHT conversion and a small dose would not effectively reach peripheral organs such as the hair. This is why rare sexual side effects can occur in some men, because it will systemically decrease serum DHT. However, with the topical solution, instead of 1mg pills, the compound contains just 0.01% fin########, which translates to 0.1 milligrams/ml. Yes, it’s only a fractional 10th of the drug that the oral contains per dose. You would use it twice a day, which equates to 0.2mg per day, as opposed to 1mg. Because of this, and the directional focus of the topical using liposomal technology to deliver the medication to the hair follicle, there is a dramatically lower risk of seeing a systemic decrease in serum DHT and subsequently, a significant decrease in side effects. 

Fun side note: this topical also shows to be 2% more effective at blocking the DHT conversion. Hopefully, you aren’t like I once was, too bogged down learning about patient care and medicine to notice that you lost most of your hair (which I have since restored, for the record). If you are, you will have to live with the realization that a transplant may be necessary to restore the lost hair, and fin######## alone cannot regrow what has since died and left the building. If you are somewhat early, but still have some cascading damage caused by putting off your hair loss for too long, you will need to treat the chronic remnants of DHT, such as inflammation, which can also worsen due to the fibrosis and calcification. I know…it comes full circle and keeps getting better, right? The good news is that it’s okay. Many people are still in a good stage to restore their hair without any transplant whatsoever. Others may need a small FUE and non-surgical treatments.

So let’s recap, we have identified 5 core components to DHT induced hair loss:

  1. Chronic inflammation
  2. Decreased blood flow
  3. Over calcification
  4. Over fibrosis
  5. Broken cell signaling

Let’s address the treatments accordingly:

  1. Chronic inflammation: If you have gone to a dermatologist, they are likely to try or mention the possibility of using steroidal creams or injections to treat your hair loss. Unfortunately, this is mostly due to a very basic understanding of what’s occurring beneath the surface. The reality is that many people are likely to see a noticeable result in a relatively short period of time. However, there is a caveat in which this treatment is rife with detrimental consequences. 

This is a classic case of treating a symptom, not the cause. By using steroids, you are only temporarily suspending symptoms and damage that are secondary to the cause (inflammation caused by DHT) and tertiary (damage actively caused by inflammation) instead of the root cause. Now you might wonder if you can just continue using steroids to prevent the inflammatory response, and the answer is both yes and no. You can, but it will slowly degrade your scalp, and eventually, this will induce hair death as well. 

The answer for how to treat the inflammation is simple: stay well hydrated, make sure you eat in a way that aids in the prevention of negative inflammation, and most importantly – TREAT THE CAUSE!

       2-5.) 

Decreased blood flow, over calcification, over fibrosis, and broken cell signaling: Please note that treatments for #2 also treat symptoms #3,  #4, & #5, which are caused by #1 and #5. It’s important to understand that these “symptoms” may also become a permanent issue if not treated as if they were an independent issue. Tissue perfusion is the essence of life within our bodies. Blood carries nutrients, oxygen, water, and just about every important healing factor through your body. There are several ways to improve blood flow to the scalp. The simplest method is to use a topical such as minoxidil, which effectively induces vasodilation. However, this has limitations because you will still have to deal with the inflammation, calcification, and fibrosis constricting blood flow. To really treat the decreased blood flow, I repeat, we have to treat the cause. 

The fibrosis and calcification cannot be treated through medications alone, as they will remain present even if you treat the DHT. However, it can be accomplished through collagen induction therapies where we cause calculated microtrauma to the scalp, extracting natural growth factors and healing molecules from the body for reinjection, placing dissolvable foreign bodies into the scalp, and/or extracting healing mechanics through micrografting of hair follicles. These therapies are akin to biohacking, tricking your body into producing and migrating growth factors and healing molecules to acutely heal the intentionally damaged areas. This also aids in better tissue perfusion because, you guessed it, it uses the blood vessels to transport the healing mechanisms. 

In order for your body to utilize the faltering vessels the body will recognize that it must first repair them. In other words, all of these measures induce angiogenesis and activate fibroblasts, which produce collagen and initiate positive tissue degradation, effectively breaking down fibrotic tissue in addition to the calcifications. 

Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from old vessels. Now, this doesn’t mean that it simply rebuilds the old road with some patchwork and replacement concrete. It also forms brand new bifurcations, like a multi-directional fork in the road, allowing for various paths of less resistance to allow for improved tissue perfusion.

I know that I said there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and you might have gathered that by reading subsection #2 where several treatments are mentioned. The reason for this is that many of the delivery methods and treatment options require one of the conjunctive treatments to function optimally. Subsequently, all of these areas of contention are treated during these combinative processes. 

Micrografting and mechanical dissection of the dermal papilla is the only treatment mentioned above that directly impacts the cell signaling functions. This procedure works by extracting hair follicles from your donor area, which are not responsive to DHT and typically remain in good health. After extraction, the dermal papillae from the follicles are mechanically dissected, forcing them to release hair follicle-specific growth factors while emptying its healing reservoirs into saline solution, which is reintroduced to the damaged tissue in your area of hair loss. This can aid in the dermal papilla’s ability to restore signaling.

If you’re tired of wondering WTF your hair has gone, or WTF has happened to your hair, MAXIM is here to help. At MAXIM, we offer complimentary consultations with a focus on education first. We will sit with you to discuss your goals, analyze and explain the stage of progression you are at, and provide the most appropriate clinical pathway to reach your desired goals. Please call us or chat with us online to schedule your consultation with our team of hair restoration experts.

Authored by Joseph Hart, BSN, RN

WHAT IS TRICHOLOGY?

Trichology is a sophisticated field of dermatology that has its roots in 19th century England. From the earliest interests in trichology as a paramedical science to the official practice, trichology has seen many advancements to make its way to the US as a mainstream medical practice for hair transplant surgery and hair restoration. If you’ve ever been curious about the emergence of trichology in the US, take a closer look at this overview from the team at MAXIM Hair Restoration.

What is Trichology?

What Is Trichology?

Trichology is the study and analysis of hair, hair loss, and scalp conditions, including the causes, effects, and treatments for hair restoration and diseases of the scalp. The word “trichology” comes from the Greek word “trikhos” meaning “hair.” Trichology combines medical principles from dermatology and cosmetological applications to treat and beautify areas of the scalp.

Professionals in trichology study advancements and practices concerning hair regrowth, hair loss, and scalp problems better understand the causes of thinning hair and balding. Because hair loss involves both the hair and skin and can be due to medical or cosmetic issues, trichology combines the two fields to achieve hair restoration. This field of medicine has seen many developments and contributions to its advancement, where its early beginnings in the United Kingdom served as a foundation for trichology practices in the US.

What’s a Trichologist?

Trichologists specialize in and treat conditions of the hair and scalp. They most often specialize in hair restoration, where they focus on the causes and treatment techniques for regaining hair growth and minimizing additional hair loss. Many trichologists work with hair restoration doctors and surgeons to develop personalized treatments for your needs, including hair transplant surgery, non-invasive techniques, and innovative solutions that stimulate follicular growth.

Where Did Trichology Originate?

Trichology first emerged in Britain during the 1800s as a specialty branch of medical and dermatological study. During the 1860s, the interest in hair loss and rejuvenation arose in London, when a self-appointed professor, Wheeler, popularized the scientific study and interest in hair and scalp conditions. By the early 1900s, this interest in the scalp, hair, and related conditions causing hair loss became the focus of the trichology field. As developments were made and interest in scalp studies grew, the Institute of Trichologists took shape in California during the 1970s from the efforts of trichologist David Salinger.

Trichology in the US for Hair Restoration

After about 60 years, the Institute of Trichologists had an influence on practices in the US. In 1974, David Jerome Salinger of the University of Southern Golden State in California developed a primary trichology course that paved the way for further studies in the field. Salinger served as former vice president of the Institute of Trichologists and also acted as the administrator of the newly formed International Association of Trichologists (IAT) of the time.

Trichology vs. Dermatology

Trichology might apply principles of dermatology, but the two fields differ a bit. While dermatology focuses on disorders and ailments of the skin, hair, and nails, the field of trichology specializes in hair and scalp conditions. Because trichology focuses on the scalp, hair, and conditions affecting hair growth and health, it branched out and became its own specialized field of dermatology. If you consult with a dermatologist, you have the benefit of addressing various skin conditions, but dermatology doesn’t focus on the complexities of hair loss, scalp conditions, and the restoration of the follicles for hair regrowth.

What Do Trichologists Treat?

Trichologists help treat a wide range of scalp and hair conditions. From female and male pattern hair loss to autoimmune alopecia symptoms, here are some of the issues and causes of hair loss trichology has begun to address in the US:

Hair Loss

Hair loss and thinning can be attributed to a few causes, including androgenetic hair loss. Both females and males can experience androgenetic hair loss, and trichology specializes in understanding and treating the underlying causes of this condition.

In many cases, the condition starts with a receding hairline extending from the temples or the thinning of the hair on the crown. With the emergence of trichological procedures over time — like hair transplants — androgenetic hair loss has a range of surgical and non-surgical solutions for regaining natural hair growth.

Alopecia Areata

Trichology also looks closely at the condition of alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune disorder that affects both men and women and can cause significant hair loss. Typically, trichologists treating alopecia notice completely bald, circular areas where hair loss is present, usually the size of a quarter or smaller. The condition can occur in temporary flare-ups or it can be a permanent hair loss condition. In some cases, individuals who suffer from alopecia experience severe hair loss only to have it grow back and thin again.

This hair loss and intermittent regrowth can repeat in a cycle for some, indicating the symptoms can vary between individuals. There are several types of alopecia that trichology now addresses. With alopecia areata totalis, patients have total hair loss of the scalp. Alopecia areata universalis causes hair loss all over the body, and diffuse alopecia areata is sudden hair thinning rather than an entire loss of hair. Ophiasis alopecia areata causes hair loss to appear in banded shapes around the sides and back of the head.

Traumatic Hair Loss or Thinning

In some cases, trichologists treat patients suffering from severe hair loss or thinning due to traumatic physical causes. Trichotillomania is one such disorder in which an individual suffers hair loss due to self-inflicted trauma, like scalp picking, obsessive hair pulling, or excessive styling. While trichology can be an effective medical application for treating cases of trichotillomania, the compulsive habit behind the condition often requires additional psychological treatment for successful results.

Schedule Your Consultation With MAXIM Hair Restoration Today

At MAXIM Hair Restoration, our team of professionals makes your hair and scalp care our number one priority. Schedule your free consultation today and discover what MAXIM Hair Restoration can do for you. We specialize in hair transplant surgery and non-surgical alternatives to give you the very best results for long-lasting, natural hair growth.

HAIR TRANSPLANTATION TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW

We all know hair transplant therapies are a great way to get rid of the stress and anxiety associated with hair loss. In the middle of your hair transplant consultation, what if the doctor starts using terms that are completely foreign to you? Though medical professionals try to simplify these terms as much as possible, complex language may be required to describe a medical procedure. 

In this article, we aim to help familiarize you with commonly used hair-transplant terminology so you’ll be able to go into your appointment with a better understanding of the information that will be provided to you. 

Androgenetic Alopecia

Also referred to as male pattern baldness, androgenetic alopecia is the most common reason for hair loss in males. This condition is hereditary, and the genetic vulnerability of hair follicles is the primary reason behind it. The crown, the middle, and frontal areas of the scalp are affected in androgenetic alopecia resulting in a U-shaped pattern of hair loss.

Miniaturization

Hair miniaturization refers to thinning of the hair follicles that results in baldness or a receding hairline. DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is a hormone that affects the hair follicle [1] causing a steady reduction in hair shaft diameter and length. Densitometry is used to detect early phases of miniaturization. It’s critical to analyze the degree of miniaturization on the back and sides of the scalp when assessing a patient for hair transplant surgery to ensure that the donor area is permanent.

Autograft

A hair procedure of autografting entails hair transplantation using tissue from your own body and moving it to another. The follicular-unit transplant is an autograft since it takes a piece of tissue from the back of your head and plants it to a foreign location in the area of loss, or the eyebrows and beard. 

Allograft

A graft obtained from one person and transplanted to another is known as an allograft, just like a kidney transplant. After an allograft hair transplant, you’re given medications to suppress your immunity, encouraging your body to accept the grafts. This is not used during transplantation due to the suppression requirements. 

Male and Female Pattern Baldness

Male and Female pattern baldness is genetic hair loss defined by widespread patterned hair loss and/or hair thinning of the scalp. This condition presents differently in men and women. This is just a layman’s term for androgenetic alopecia.

Club Hair or Telogen Hair

Club hair means hair that has reached the end of its growth cycle or that is in the telogen (resting) phase. Its club-like roots anchor it to the skin. However, each club hair will ultimately fall out and be replaced by a new developing hair.

Camouflage

In hair transplant surgery, camouflage is achieved by placing small grafts (micrografts or follicular units) in front of bigger ones to make them appear more natural. [2]

Alopecia Reduction

Alopecia reduction surgery involves removing balding scalp tissue and replacing it with hair-covered scalp tissues. This therapy has been used to treat male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia) since the mid-1970s, and it can also treat cicatricial alopecia, which is hair loss because of scalp scarring. Alopecia reduction can be done on its own or in conjunction with other hair transplant procedures. This procedure is not very common due to the advancement of surgical technologies during FUE and FUT.

Follicular Unit Transplant

Follicular unit dissection is a type of hair transplant in which naturally existing single follicular units are removed wholly from a strip of donor tissue. The transplantation process is done through surgery. A dissecting stereomicroscope with a magnification of at least 5 to 10 times is used to separate the follicular-unit grafts.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a process that involves removing single follicular units from the donor region. This procedure is less invasive, heals faster, and it’s the choice option for those who wish to wear short hair styles, such as a fade. 

Graft

In hair restoration, a graft is the follicular unit that is being transplanted from the lower scalp near the nape of the neck and midline ears, known as the donor region, and transplanted to thinning or balding areas. Micrografting (one to two) and minigrafting (three to five hairs) are the most common types. [2]

Hair Economics

Hair economics is a theory that claims that there is only a finite or diminishing quantity of hair, but when balding patterns emerge, the demand for hair grows. [2]

Alopecia senile

Alopecia senile is a kind of hair loss that starts as you age. It generally begins after the age of 50. The time of hair development and the diameter of the hair follicle both decrease with age, resulting in finer and shorter hair. The process happens throughout the whole scalp and is more uniform than the miniaturization changes associated with DHT’s hormonal impacts. The specific cause of senile hair loss is attributed to several different body mechanics and healing priorities shifting as you age.

Tissue Extender

A tissue extender is a device for stretching the scalp’s tissues. Stretching the sides of the skull that contain hair to promote speedy removal of balding regions is a common way to accelerate the process of scalp reductions. The tissue extender is placed temporarily beneath the scalp and left intact for three weeks.

Incisional Slit-Graft 

Incisional slit graft is an upgraded hair transplant procedure. Classical punch grafting uses fewer grafts, whereas incisional slit grafting uses a higher number of smaller grafts. This procedure preserves the blood supply, which leads to a higher graft yield. It results in a more natural frontal hairline. [3]

 So there you have it. We hope that breaking down these medical terminologies will make you even more comfortable and prepared when discussing treatment options with your doctor. Now you won’t skip a beat the next time you hear one of them, whether during a consultation or elsewhere.

Meanwhile, if you have any hair-related queries or you’re weighing your hair transplant treatment options, go ahead and schedule a free consultation with MAXIM’s professional medical team. We’re ready to help with all of your hair transplant needs.


Footnotes

1. Jewell, Tim. (2019). What You Need to Know About DHT and Hair Loss. https://www.healthline.com/health/dht 

2. International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. (2002). Glossary. https://ishrs.org/patients/glossary/

3. Stough 4th, D. B.; Nelson, B. R.; Stough 3rd., D. B. (1991). Incisional slit grafting.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1991881/

HAIR TRANSPLANTS FOR CURLY HAIR

Do you think a hair transplant is an option for someone with curly hair? The answer is a loud yes! It is feasible for people with curly hair. This hair transplant surgery used to be extremely difficult for this group, which primarily includes people of African American origin, Middle Easterners, a few Hispanics, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and other ethnic communities. The experiences were not very enthusiastic — transection rates were high and transplant survival rates were minimal. Patient satisfaction used to take the brunt. 

However, hair transplant surgeries now can manage all hair contours and textures for both men and women. Although the treatment is more complicated and detailed than the straight hair category, the look of a denser, thicker head full of hair is very much possible for curly-haired people.

The Significance of Hair Structure in a Hair Transplant

The hair structure is secondary in a hair transplant. All hair follicles that are healthy and alive can be transplanted. It makes little difference whether the hair is straight or curly.

Having said that, curly hair is so much more challenging to manage during hair transplant surgery because there is a greater possibility of hair shaft dissection (inadvertent cutting or damaging of the hair bulb) during the procedure. Nevertheless, a seasoned hair transplant surgery staff that utilizes the technology effectively and has types of equipment designed for curly hair can significantly decrease the transection rate and generate a much better outcome to adequately take care of the bald spot and strengthen one’s self-esteem.

Benefits of Curly Hair Transplant Surgery

Curly hair has a high density of hair per follicular unit, making it simple to cover bald spots with fewer follicular units than straight hair. This implies that, in comparison to those with straight hair, you will require fewer procedures to rebuild your hairline. Therefore, curly hair makes the surgeon’s job much easier because it takes less time.

Curly hair transplants also produce more hair than straight hair transplants. This is due to the curls creating the appearance of voluminous hair in the balding area.

Problems Associated With Curly Hair Transplants

Due to the nature of hair follicles, curly hair transplants are intricate procedures that necessitate high accuracy and diligence. Because curly hair spirals from the edge to the root, extracting and implanting it necessitates extreme caution. This also raises the chances of hair not adjusting to its new surroundings, resulting in an apparent unnatural appearance if the operation is not performed correctly.

Furthermore, African American hair is curly with a distinct root. Compared to Asian or Caucasian hair, this presents a unique post-harvest challenge. Because the roots of African American hair are prone to damage because of the curl, special attention and care to specifics must be given when extracting donor hair from the nape of the neck or the sides to ensure the hair bulbs are not compromised or transected. A hair transplant surgeon with vast experience with African American hair, an excellent eye for precision, and a knowledge of creating hairlines with horizontal, sleek edges are required for the operation.

Best Hair Transplant for Curly Hair Type

As mentioned above, curly and wavy hair requires a great deal of competence on the surgeon’s behalf. When transplanting curly hair, the doctor must ensure that the individual grafts are transplanted at the perfect angle, so the curls afterward lie correctly. When looking at natural curls, you will notice that not each hair is especially wavy, but an entire lot of hair has the same wavy look.

Another difficulty is transplanting very curly hair. Such hair follicles grow a little curved underneath the scalp. Hair transplant using follicular unit extraction (FUE) can be complicated. This is especially true if the hair transplant surgeon or clinician is new to the procedure.

Therefore, it is a widespread belief that follicular unit transplantation (FUT) [1] is the best method for transplanting curly hair. Follicular unit transplantation is a surgical technique in which your surgeon takes out a small strip of hair follicles. The hair follicles are then prepared for transplant in the balding area. You might be surprised to learn that this treatment option gives you fuller hair for life.

It is quite apparent that it is not possible to collect a single hair follicle with curly hair — hence the surgeon gathers the strip of skin with follicles during this follicular unit transplantation, which is why FUT is such a well-accepted procedure for curly hair transplant. 

Post Operation Recovery

The donor region might be sore for almost a week after the surgery, or patients may encounter numbness in the donor site. Throughout this time, you should also expect some inflammation and swelling. Patients should begin gently rinsing the recipient site two days after treatment — this is crucial for preventing the formation of scabs. Scabs that form and stick to the scalp and hair may result in the loss of freshly transplanted hair follicles. 

Also, doctors may prescribe post-operative medications to help relieve your pain. In general, it is best to rest and avoid intense exercise and other hard manual work for a minimum of a week or 10 days.

The majority of patients can get back to jobs and resume normal activities in a few days after their hair transplant operation. Ensure that you follow any aftercare directions given by the doctor.

Is There a Change in the Structure of the Hair After a Hair Transplant?

The structure of the hair does not modify after hair transplantation. The donor site’s hair will almost have the same structure always as the recipient balding site’s hair.

If the individual follicular units are grafted using the FUE [2] technique, the patient’s hairs usually grow several few months after hair transplant. You will not be able to distinguish between your transplanted hair and your natural hair. That is one benefit of choosing a more challenging FUE technique for curly hair. 

If you want to know more about how curly hair transplant works, don’t hesitate to contact us at MAXIM. Our qualified and caring team of experts will be happy to go over the process with you and address questions that you may have. Set up your free consultation with us today — we look forward to hearing from you!


Footnotes:

1. Yetman, Daniel. (June 30, 2020). What You Need to Know About Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). https://www.healthline.com/health/fut-hair-transplant

2. Dua, Aman & Kapil. (2010 May-Aug). Follicular Unit Extraction Hair Transplant. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2956961/

HAIR TRANSPLANTS FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN HAIR

Hair transplants are feasible for many people, regardless of race. Nevertheless, African Americans may require special awareness of their unique hair growth dynamics to get the most significant outcomes. 

Many African Americans who are experiencing hair loss do not believe they are suitable candidates for a hair transplant treatment due to the unique qualities of their hair. This is a long-held misconception. In reality, the curly nature of a black hair follicle provides African American hair transplant clients with an advantage — the “curl” gives the illusion of higher density. Thus, fewer hair grafts are required to obtain apparent results. The challenge occurs with the harvesting of curly hair which can cause transection, resulting in a lower yield, if not performed by skilled clinicians. 

Let’s understand a few significant dynamics of Afro-American hair transplants. 

Causes of Hair Loss in African Americans

As with any other community, hair loss in African American people also happens due to multiple reasons. Let’s look at a few of them. 

Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness is a major cause of hair loss in all ethnicities. And it’s one of the most prevalent problems the doctors see in African American patients too. DHT, a hormone that diminishes hair follicles with age, is often the cause of male pattern baldness.

Each of us shed hair daily — folks of all ages shed between 100 and 125 strands every day. This hair usually regenerates so that any weakening will go unnoticed.

However, for people susceptible to DHT, hair follicles slowly diminish with age, and the hair that grows back is thinner. The follicle eventually dies and does not regrow.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is a condition in which the immune system attacks hair follicles. The body misidentifies these follicles as an invading infection and strives to eliminate them. This has the potential to cause both temporary and permanent hair loss. Alopecia is more widespread among African Americans.

Traction Alopecia

Traction alopecia, incurable without a hair transplant, may also affect Black men. It can be caused by tugging the hair back into tight hairstyles regularly.

Because textured hair is prone to breakage, prolonged hairstyles such as braiding, twists, and weaving are popular in Black communities. Unfortunately, these styles can cause damage and hair loss by putting too much strain on the base of one’s hair.

Anemia

Anemia may also cause hair loss, according to some studies. Anemia occurs when the body does not produce enough red blood cells to transport oxygen around the body. It can cause exhaustion and discomfort.

Sickle cell illness can cause anemia and afflict those of African heritage significantly. One in every 365 Black people [1] in the U.S. has sickle cell anemia.

What Makes Black Men’s Hair Restoration Unique?

There are a few unique problems associated with African American hair loss. These are some examples:

Strong Curls

While black hair is naturally curly, the tightness and structure of the curls differ based on the individual. People might even have various curl patterns on their hair simultaneously. The hair near the nape may be thick, while the hair on the crown of the head could be thinner.

The angle at which the follicle is re-inserted into the scalp while doing follicular transplants determines how curly the subsequent hair growth will be. Each follicle must be appropriately positioned to make sure that the fresh hair growth matches the adjoining area perfectly.

Highly Fragile

Textured hair is more delicate than some other hair varieties, and the roots are more vulnerable to damage. This is due to the fact that the hair shaft is quite thick in comparison to some other hair types, and the curl extends to the root. A large, curving root renders hair follicle extraction and grafting more challenging and increases the risk of injury.

Hair Transplant Methods for African American Hair

Advanced hair restoration surgery, such as follicular unit extraction, combined with the expertise of professional hair transplant surgeons, can be highly successful remedies for African American people experiencing hair loss. Unique characteristics of the follicles necessitate skill and a particular technique for donor extraction in both FUT and FUE operations. Consequently, using these procedures leads to good growth and, of course, outcomes that are as natural-looking as possible.

Some of the most common hair transplant treatments for Black people are:

Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT)

Follicular unit transplant (FUT) [2] is a surgical treatment that includes extracting a strip of scalp with healthy hair follicles from an area densely covered with hair and grafting them into the balding region.

Some hair transplant doctors feel this treatment is ideal for African American hair because of the additional complications of collecting hair follicles. They believe that this method makes it simpler to extract healthy hair follicles without causing keloid scarring, which African Americans are susceptible to.

However, this treatment leaves a prominent linear scar. This may be more difficult for Black males to conceal as they generally keep very short hair.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

In follicular unit extraction or FUE, hair follicles are picked straight from the scalp, rather than cutting a strip of the scalp from the donor location. Unlike FUT’s strip procedure, which causes a noticeable linear scar, FUE [3] has no apparent scarring, is nearly noninvasive, and has a reduced recovery period.

At MAXIM Hair Restoration, we exclusively use the most advanced technology available for the Afro-American community. 

It is easy to transect (cut) donor hair follicles during the harvesting process. If 2,000 grafts are attempted to be harvested, a procedure may only yield 1,000 to 1,500 if done using less than optimal technology and/or in inexperienced hands. This is why many African-Americans traditionally hesitated to undergo hair transplants. 

Micro-Pigmentation of the Scalp (SMP)

Scalp Micro-pigmentation [4], also known as SMP, is a nonsurgical procedure that involves the placement of microscopic, clinical tattoos on the balding scalp to replicate the appearance of shaven hair follicles. This technique is safe for males of all ethnicities, as well as women. It can be used alone or combined with surgical treatments to improve the outcome. 

As short haircuts are very common in African American groups, the micro-pigmentation technique is especially prevalent.

Excellent results can be obtained with a black hair transplant by using any of the procedures mentioned above. Your MAXIM doctor or clinician may recommend a combination of procedures, also known as Hybrid Hair Restoration. If you’re African American and wondering how to go about your hair restoration, take that critical step of scheduling a private consultation with MAXIM’s experienced staff, and we will be happy to help you.


Footnotes

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (December 16, 2020). Data & Statistics on Sickle Cell Disease. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/data.html#:~:text=SCD%20occurs%20among%20about%201,sickle%20cell%20trait%20(SCT)

2. Yetman, Daniel. (June 30, 2020). What You Need to Know About Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). https://www.healthline.com/health/fut-hair-transplant

3. Dua, Aman & Kapil. (May-August 2010). Follicular Unit Extraction Hair Transplant. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2956961/

4. Gallagher, Grace. (May 28, 2019). Everything You Need to Know About Scalp Micropigmentation. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/scalp-micropigmentation

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