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Types of Hair Transplants in Wilmette, Illinois

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fue-vs-fut-hair-transplantWhether you lose hair from your head, eyebrows, face, or otherwise, the results can be devastating, and even a little traumatic. Many individuals report feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem as a result of hair loss.

Fortunately, there are a variety of procedures available to help us return our hair to its prime state. While all of these procedures have their perks, they all have their downsides as well. Let’s compare the different types of hair restoration methods in Wilmette, Illinois. [Read more…]

The Medical Reasons for Hair Loss

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Why me? That’s the question many people ask while looking in the mirror and fretting over lost locks.

Some resign themselves to believing hair loss is a natural part of the aging process. Indeed, the most common cause is a hereditary condition called pattern baldness that usually occurs with aging.

However, there are a number of medical reasons why you’re losing your hair, to include:

Alopecia areata

This is a common autoimmune disease that – among other things – causes scalp infections and patchy hair loss. Alopecia areata occurs when your body’s immune system starts attacking your healthy hair follicles, causing them to become much smaller and slowing down production so radically that hair growth slows down or may stop all together. Depending on the type of alopecia areata you have and its severity, you may experience unpredictable hair loss in different areas of your body off and on for many years.

Hormonal changes

Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and thyroid problems can trigger temporary or permanent hair loss in women. Also, both men and women are susceptible to DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone that cause hair follicles to miniaturize, contributing to pattern hair loss.

Hypothyroidism

Millions of people, mostly women, suffer from thyroid disease. Hypothyroidism occurs when your body produces too little thyroid hormone, which is responsible for numerous bodily functions including hair growth. One of the many symptoms of hypothyroidism is that your hair, nails, and skin become more brittle and break off.

Lupus

Lupus is another chronic disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks healthy tissues. It’s a condition affecting about 1.5 million Americans – mostly women during their childbearing years – and it has many symptoms including hair loss. In mild cases, hair loss occurs while shampooing or brushing your hair. In more severe cases, hair is lost in patches and a rash may develop on the scalp.

Chemotherapy

These powerful medications not only attack cancer cells but also other cells in your body, including the cells in your hair roots. Consequently, you lose hair all over your body, not just in your scalp. If there is an upside to undergoing chemotherapy, it’s that your hair can grow back once the treatments are complete.

Certain medications and supplements

Hair loss can be a side effect of certain drugs, such as anticoagulants (blood thinners), beta blockers and ACE inhibitors (to lower blood pressure), gout medications, vitamin A, antidepressants, male (testosterone) and female hormones, oral contraceptives, and anti-seizure medications.

Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania, also called hair-pulling disorder, is a nervous habit that involves recurrent, irresistible urges to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body, despite trying to stop. You may or may not realize you are tugging at your hair, and stopping this habit may require therapy or behavior modification.

Whatever is causing your hair loss, MAXiM Hair Restoration has plastic and hair transplant surgeons who artfully create an attractive hairline for our clients every day.  We have convenient locations throughout the United States in New York, Long Island, Connecticut, Chicago, Dallas, and the Washington, DC area, as well as several international locations. Contact MAXiM today to find out if you are a candidate for a hair transplant.

Comparing Non-invasive Hair Transplant Procedures in Newport Beach, California

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non-invasive-hair-transplantWhen it comes to hair restoration, there are two general types of procedures: hair transplants and non-surgical hair restoration.

Hair transplants are a minor surgical procedure which include follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT) as well as to stem cell hair therapy. Non-invasive hair transplant procedures include laser hair therapy, scalp micropigmentation, and platelet rich plasma (PRP) as well as OTC and prescription-based products such as Rogaine, Propecia, Minoxidil and compounded solutions. Non-surgical hair replacement options include hair systems, hair pieces and related. [Read more…]

Is Your Diet Causing Your Hair Loss?

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No doubt you’ve heard the expression, you are what you eat. Well, it just might explain why you are losing your hair. In fact, studies show that your diet can be a significant factor in whether or not you retain a healthy head of hair.

Is your diet causing hair loss? Here are the foods that have been found to affect hair loss and the reasons why:

Fried foods

Foods that are high in fat and hydrogenated oils have been known to increase testosterone levels. That can lead to elevated levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is linked to hair loss. Instead of frying, consider baking with breaded coating such as panko.

Refined carbohydrates

Cake, biscuits, and white flour are all high in sugar and low in fiber. Consequently, the nutrients derived from these foods are enable the digestion of the food itself. In other words, there is no benefit from eating these carbs. They limit your body’s ability to deal with stress, thus contributing to hair loss. On the other hand, complex carbohydrates like beans, bananas, and whole meal flour have a high fiber content, which not only helps your digestive system, but also allows your body to deliver necessary nutrients to your hair follicles.

Trans fatty acids

These unhealthy fats found in corn and soybean oil and in foods processed – such as donuts, cookies, crackers, muffins, pies and cakes – increase the production of DHT in your body, which boosts your risk of hair loss. Next time you go out to eat, check for signage in the restaurant saying they don’t use trans-fats, and some jurisdictions, such as Montgomery County, Md., have banned them.

Selenium-rich foods

Selenium is a mineral your body needs because it acts as an antioxidant. However, you can get too much of a good thing if you consume more than 55 micrograms of selenium per day. To avoid selenosis – when there is too much selenium in your blood that could cause hair loss – limit your intake of beef, tuna, turkey, white rice, and white bread.

Sugar and artificial sweeteners

Like trans fatty acids, sugar can increase DHT production. At the same time, sugar-free foods that contain artificial sweeteners such as aspartame have been found to cause thinning and hair loss.

Caffeine and alcohol

Both of these in moderation are relatively harmless. However, excessive alcohol consumption can cause liver toxicity, one of the risk factors for hair loss. Also, too much caffeine causes dehydration, another detriment to your hair follicles.

While some foods may contribute to hair loss, others are known to provide the vitamins and minerals needed to promote the hair growth process. The best way to know if your diet is hair-healthy is to consult your doctor or a hair loss specialist.

Whatever is causing your hair loss, MAXiM Hair Restoration has plastic and hair transplant surgeons who artfully create attractive hairline solutions for our clients every day.  We have convenient locations throughout the United States in New York, Long Island, Connecticut, Chicago, Dallas, and the Washington, DC area, as well as several international locations. Contact MAXiM today to find out if you are a candidate for a hair transplant or other hair restoration treatment.

Can Those with Alopecia Undergo a Hair Transplant?

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hair-transplant-alopeciaAlopecia is an autoimmune disease which results in the afflicted person losing hair all over his or her scalp and / or body. In most cases, those with alopecia will lose hair from their head, eyebrows, and elsewhere.

You may be wondering: can those with alopecia undergo a hair replacement procedure? Will such a procedure make any remarkable difference? Let’s discuss the viable hair replacement options for those suffering from alopecia. [Read more…]

Rogaine vs Hair Transplant

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If you are bald or have thinning hair, you should know that you’re not out of options for having the appearance you desire. Some men wear a hat or shave their heads completely bald. Some opt for weaves or hair pieces, but these are expensive – and temporary – solutions that quite honestly rarely look like the real thing. But the possibility of having your own hair back on your head and growing regularly is what every man with thinning hair wants. Out of the two most popular and successful options for achieving that full head of hair, what is the best solution – Rogaine or a hair transplant?

Pros and cons of Rogaine

Rogaine is the commercial brand name for a solution containing minoxidil that is applied to the head usually twice a day. Minoxidil can slow the rate of hair loss and works by stimulating follicles that still have hair growing out of them. It does this by increasing blood flow to the scalp and encouraging thicker growth of hair in a way that is not fully understood. Most men using Rogaine notice some sort of difference, but the results are seldom dramatic.

And for anyone who discontinues its use, any new hair that grew will fall out within a few months.

Hereditary baldness, or androgenic alopecia, is another name for male pattern baldness. It almost always affects the hairline first and most noticeably. It looks the same on most everyone as their hair falls out, that is the “pattern” referred to in male pattern baldness. The hairline begins to recede from the temples back towards the crown, with the hair on the crown eventually following. This process begins to be noticeable anywhere from the late teens to 40s. New hair growth, if it occurs, can be patchy and concentrated on the crown of the head rather than the hairline.

One advantage of Rogaine is the low up-front cost. It doesn’t appear to require much of a commitment, but you need to keep using it every day without ever stopping to maintain any hair growth. What’s more, any hair that was retained from its use will also fall out if you discontinue using it.

Pros and cons of a hair transplant

A hair transplant is the only option that offers meaningful and permanent regrowth of your own hair. Through a minor surgical procedure, donor hair is removed from an area of dense growth on the back of your head and artfully arranged where your hair fell out – creating an attractive hairline for your own hair to grow.

A hair transplant is a minor surgical procedure where healthy hair is taken from an area of dense growth and transplanted into areas with thin or no hair. The follicles where hair loss occurs are sensitized to a chemical called DHT. This only happens in men with hereditary baldness. However, the hair around the back of the head usually continues to grow densely because the follicles are resistant to DHT. This is the area from which the donor hair is taken. Your own hair will then grow in the new area, providing a permanent, natural solution to hair loss. There are two main types of hair transplants: Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT), and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). FUT involves a strip of hair being removed from the donor area and transplanted, while FUE is the individual removal of follicles, leaving no scar.

In both methods of hair transplant, new hair will noticeably grow by 6 months after the procedure. By 12 months, your hair will be grown in and will not fall out.  Although the investment is greater in the beginning, your results are permanent and do not require additional maintenance or procedures, other than regular trips to your barber.

If you are ready for permanent regrowth of your own hair, MAXiM Hair Restoration offers expert and artful hair transplants with amazing results.  MAXiM has locations in New York, Long Island, Connecticut, Chicago, Dallas and the Washington, DC area. Contact MAXiM today to find out if you are a candidate for a hair transplant.

What Does a Facial Hair Transplant Involve?

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facial-hair-transplantFor men, facial hair is a rite of passage; it’s a sign that boyhood has ended and that adulthood has begun. The only problem is that some men either never grow facial hair, or only grow scarce amounts. In the cases of many of these men, this can lead to deep self-consciousness.

In the past, there was nothing you could do about your lack of facial hair. These days, however, there is something you can do; you can undergo a facial hair transplant.

Thinking about undergoing a facial hair transplant in Los Angeles or Orange counties in California? Wondering what it involves? You’re in the right place. [Read more…]

Can you get facial hair transplant?

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Beards are not just a momentary trend – their popularity has skyrocketed over the past 10 years. Whether hipsters or businessmen, a well-groomed beard has become a definite yardstick by which to measure a man’s attractiveness. How many men can just grow the perfect beard by tossing their razors, though? Most men would probably like to change the density or shape of their facial hair, but not everybody can achieve the perfect level of scruff. Fortunately, facial hair transplant is a reality.

Beards are here to stay

It’s not weird to want a great-looking beard. The popularity of beards is not so much a mystery now, compared to the years when a clean-shaven look was the only way to go. As a consummate sign of masculinity, facial hair has signaled strength, masculinity, and more recently, hipness. We see many professional musicians and athletes going no shave all year, rather than no shave November.

For those unable to grow the beard they want to see in the mirror, facial hair transplant is a minor procedure that provides a permanent and attractive solution to patchiness or complete lack of hair growth on the face.

Get the perfect beard with a facial hair transplant

While under local anesthesia and relaxing with TV or music, hair follicles are removed from the back of the head or other area of dense growth. You and your hair transplant surgeon will choose the kind of hair you want to see on your face. The color, thickness and texture will be the same as it is on your head.

The placement of hair is determined prior to the facial hair transplant. You can have a beard in any shape that you want. And facial transplants are not limited to only beards. It could be just a moustache or a goatee, or you can have your sideburns shaped so that you never have to worry about them looking scruffy again.

Recovery time is minimal. Because you are awake for the procedure, you can go about your day’s activities after getting your transplant. Although the newly transplanted hair will fall out shortly after the procedure, the follicles will regrow your own hair in about three months. The good news is that hair transplants are permanent. You won’t have to do anything to maintain your beard other than keep it the length that you want.

Choose the right hair transplant specialist

Hair transplant is an aesthetic art as well as a medical procedure. The shape of your beard or other facial hair is determined by your surgeon. Each hair must be implanted with attention paid to the direction in which it grows for the most natural and attractive appearance. The hair follicles taken from the donor area need to be removed with care to avoid scarring.

MAXiM Hair Restoration helps people look their best through the most advanced and skillful hair transplant procedures. For a facial hair transplant or to address thin or balding areas on the head, speak with one of our hair experts first.  MAXiM has locations in New York, Long Island, Connecticut, Chicago, Dallas and the Washington, DC area. Contact MAXiM today to find out if you are a candidate for a hair transplant.

Follicular Unit Extraction vs Follicular Unit Transplant: A Comparison in Newport Beach

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hair-replacement-newport-beachThere are a number of hair restoration procedures on the market which can help to restore hair to its optimized state. While many of these procedures have shown some success, the most successful types of these procedures are transplants.

The two most popular hair transplant procedures are follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplant (FUT). Perhaps you’re thinking about undergoing one of these procedures, but aren’t sure of which one to choose?

If so, this article will help you. Let’s compare FUE and FUT so that you can make an informed decision in Orange and Los Angeles counties. [Read more…]

The Most Common Reason for Hair Loss

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Typically, you can expect to shed about 100 hairs per day without it causing a noticeable thinning of the scalp.  That’s because new hair is usually replacing the hair we have lost.  It’s when this cycle is disrupted, or hair follicles are destroyed and replaced with scar tissue, that visible hair loss occurs.

Approximately 30% of the adult population – both men and women – suffer some amount of hair loss over the course of their lives.  And by the age of 65, nearly two-thirds of men have lost some or most of their hair.  The big question is, why?  What is the most common reason for hair loss?

Medical Reasons You May Be Losing Your Hair

The most common cause of hair loss is a heredity condition called androgenic alopecia – better known as male- or female-pattern baldness.  It usually develops gradually as we age in the form of a receding hairline and/or bald spots among men and generally thinning hair among women.   Androgenic alopecia is not preventable.

  • Disease – Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and lupus, have been known to increase your risk of hair loss.
  • Hormonal changes and other medical conditions – A variety of conditions can cause permanent or temporary hair loss, including hormonal changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and thyroid problems. In males, sometimes hair follicles become sensitive to Dihydrotestosterone, DHT, which is a hormone that produces testosterone that can cause hair to fall out.

Other conditions that can trigger hair loss include alopecia areata (patchy hair loss), trichotillomania (a hair-pulling disorder), and various scalp infections including ringworm.

Non-medical Reasons You Could be Losing Your Hair

Not all hair loss is medically related.  Whether it’s from environmental factors, medication, or habit, here are some more common reasons for hair loss. .

  • Many people undergo a thinning of hair not long after experiencing a physical or emotional trauma.  Typically, though, this kind of hair loss is only temporary.
  • Radiation and chemotherapy. In this case, hair tends to grow back after treatment is complete, but it may not grow back to the degree that it did before or the texture may change.
  • Certain medication. Hair loss is often a side effect of drugs used to treat cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, gout and high blood pressure.
  • Excessive hairstyles and treatments. Certain hairstyles that pull your hair tight, such as braids, buns, ponytails, pigtails or cornrows, can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia and should be avoided.  Also, permanents and hot oil hair treatments can cause inflammation of hair follicles, which can lead to permanent hair loss if scarring occurs.
  • Burns and injuries. Accidental damage to the scalp can result in temporary or permanent hair loss.  That’s why it’s critical to take necessary precautions – such as wearing a helmet when biking or motorcycle riding – whenever you can, or wear protective headgear when you are engaged in potentially dangerous occupations like welding or working with chemicals.

Whatever is causing your hair loss, MAXiM Hair Restoration has plastic and hair transplant surgeons who artfully create an attractive hairline for our clients every day.  We have convenient locations throughout the United States in New York, Long Island, Connecticut, Chicago, Dallas, and the Washington, DC area, as well as several international locations. Contact MAXiM today to find out if you are a candidate for a hair transplant.