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FOLLICULAR UNIT EXTRACTION (FUT): AN IN-DEPTH LOOK

Everyone experiences daily hair loss, but with hundreds of thousands of hairs on your head, most people don’t notice when a few thousand go missing, and they grow back to replenish the loss. When you start to see a clump of hair in the drain or a bunch stuck in your brush, your hair loss might be more severe and require treatment. The professionals at MAXIM Hair Restoration offer a variety of non-surgical and surgical hair transplant procedures to treat hair loss. One of these procedures is called Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), also known as the Strip Method.

A Brief History of Hair Transplantation

Man Combing Hair - In Dept Look at FUT Hair Transplants

Dr. Norman Orentreich, a New York University (NYU) dermatologist, performed the first hair transplant in the U.S. in 1952. Hair transplantation consisted of taking large punch grafts, harvested from the back of the patient’s scalp, known as the donor area, and then transplanting those hairs to the thinning and balding areas where the patient was experiencing hair loss. This technique took dozens of circular hair tufts and plucked them down onto the hairline, giving an unnatural appearance.

Today’s methods for hair transplantation began in the early 1990s with Dr. Bobby Limmer being the first to perform Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). Another modern technique was also developed after that, known as Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) which was similar to Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). Both now offer much more natural-looking results with the FUE method transplanting the grafts without a linear scar and without using sutures. 

What Is Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)?

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) is a type of hair transplant that uses a strip method. It’s a widely-used procedure with excellent retention and regrowth rates among patients, enabling hair transplant surgeons to perform MEGA Sessions upto 4,000 grafts. The density and survival rate of grafts with FUT is higher compared to FUE. At MAXIM Hair Restoration, a hair transplant doctor will remove a strip of hair from the patient’s donor site, usually located at the back of the head where hair is more full. 

Next, the strip of hair is dissected into individual hair grafts, each consisting of one to three hair follicles. These are known as micro grafts. When hair transplants originated, each graft consisted of five to 10 hair follicles known as plugs. Micro grafts allow for a more natural appearance of the hair and are far less obvious than plugs once were.

Finally, the hair transplant physician transplants the hair grafts to the area on the head where you’re experiencing baldness or thinning. The typical duration of a FUT procedure is about six hours and it is performed in an outpatient clinical setting. The client will receive local anesthesia, allowing them to take a nap, converse on the phone, or watch TV during the procedure. The team at MAXIM Hair Restoration can perform MEGA hair transplant sessions, where up to 4,000 grafts are transplanted at a time.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) is a proven surgical hair restoration technique that produces a higher yield, more grafts, and a higher survival rate than other methods.  You can also expect to experience a denser result with FUT, restoring not only your hair but also your confidence. 

What Are the Benefits of FUT?

The most significant benefit is the density at which the hair is restored and regrown using the FUT method. Harvesting an extended strip from the donor area provides thousands of individual hair grafts, which is more than any other hair restoration technique can do, allowing thousands to be transplanted in a single surgery. For patients experiencing significant hair loss, the ability to transplant thousands of grafts in one sitting can be very advantageous.

Who Is a Good Candidate for FUT?

Several factors will be considered when determining whether or not you’re a good candidate for Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). Most candidates experience significant hair loss, making the possibility of transplanting 3,000 or more grafts in a single procedure appealing. Factors to be considered include:

  • Age. Patients between ages 25 and 65 are best suited for FUT. Hair loss in younger patients is less predictable, while older patients may have health concerns such as high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety and other issues. 
  • Gender. FUT is a viable option for males and females experiencing hair loss. Although commonly referred to as male pattern baldness, this type of hair loss can affect either gender. 
  • Hair loss pattern. FUT is best suited for hair loss that’s concentrated in specific areas on your head, including male pattern baldness, which leaves a horseshoe-shaped pattern of thinning or receding hair along the hairline.
  • Hairstyle. FUT is best for patients who wear their hair a little longer in the back to conceal the linear scar from the strip removal. If the patient wears a buzzed hairstyle, you risk having a visible scar. 
  • Hair color. If your hair color is similar to your skin tone, you’ll have less color contrast, making you a good candidate. 

If you’re considering hair transplantation and would like to know if FUT is an option for you, contact the team at MAXIM Hair Restoration. You’ll receive a free consultation where our professionals will discuss all of our hair restoration methods, the advantages and disadvantages, and whether or not you’re a good candidate for each procedure. We’re here to help you get back the hair and confidence you’ve been missing.

How Do You Prepare for a FUT Procedure?

Once you have been deemed a good candidate for FUT, you will undergo a pre-op evaluation to ensure that you’re in good health. Medical clearance may be required for patients over 65 years of age and those with health issues such as high blood pressure, anxiety, cardiac issues, and/or if they are on certain medications. It is highly recommended that you avoid alcohol, vitamin E, and aspirin for 48 hours prior to your procedure. Any of these may cause excessive bleeding during the FUT procedure. A good night’s sleep and rest are essential, and a light breakfast on the morning of your procedure is a good idea. Shower, wash, and dry your hair thoroughly and avoid adding any hair products to your hair, particularly synthetic and fragrant ones that may cause an allergic reaction. 

How Many Visits Does a FUT Procedure Require?

At MAXIM Hair Restoration, you typically come in first for a complimentary consultation to determine if FUT or FUE is the best hair transplant option for you. If you and the hair doctor mutually decide on the FUT method, our staff or doctor will go over any pre-op instructions at the same visit. You will then come back the day of your procedure and again for a post-op visit seven to 10 days after your FUT procedure.

We often invite patients back for a six- to 12-month visit as well to evaluate the outcome of your procedure. If, at any time, during your time with MAXIM, you experience any side effects or reactions or concerns, reach out to us immediately. 

Are There Any Side Effects to FUT Hair Transplants?

FUT complications are rare, with less than 1% of patients developing any type of infection, side effects, or complications after the surgery. The ample blood supply to the head speeds the healing process, making FUT a reasonably fast-healing procedure. Potential complications include the following, the vast majority of which are temporary and resolve over time:

  • Unnatural-looking hair. 
  • Scarring or bumps. 
  • Folliculitis, or the inflammation of hair follicles.
  • Swelling.
  • Bleeding.
  • Pain.
  • Cysts.
  • Numbness.

If you experience any of these side effects after your FUT procedure, reach out to the hair restoration specialist that performed your FUT for further instructions.

How Much Does FUT Cost?

On average, a follicular unit transplantation procedure costs between $6,000 and $10,000+, although prices among clinics will vary. Factors that determine the cost of your procedure include:

  • Amount of hair. Some clinics offer FUT at a fixed price, while others charge by the number of grafts. Remember that each graft consists of 1 to 3 hair follicles. In that case, the more hair you need to have transplanted, the higher the cost.
  • Surgeon. The surgeon’s experience may increase the price of your FUT procedure, but it also gives you the added benefit of all that experience. 
  • Who is Performing the Procedure? Clinics where the hair transplant doctor is fully involved in the procedure will charge more as it also ensures an improved and higher quality clinical outcome and result. 
  • Location. Which city the clinic is located in may affect the price of your FUT procedure. It might be worth it to research cities that you tend to visit or live in and those you’d be willing to travel to for FUT to determine which is the best price. Note that most medical tourism destinations do not offer FUT since it requires post-op recovery and care. 
  • Travel costs. Travel expenses should be considered if your procedure requires you to travel.

Typically, insurance doesn’t cover hair transplantation procedures, including FUT, because it’s considered a cosmetic procedure. If your hair loss is due to trauma or burns, you might be able to get your insurance to cover it.

MAXIM Hair Restoration Payment Options

Maxim Hair Restoration offers competitive hair transparent prices with no hidden costs or fees. You can pay for your FUT procedure or any of our other services via credit card, certified check, or cash. We also offer convenient financing options including zero-percent financing, to help you pay for your procedure. Zero percent financing is typically for one year and with some lenders up to two years. Finance companies include Care Credit, Green Sky Credit, Alphaeon, United Medical Credit, and Lending Club.

Contact the Team at MAXIM Hair Restoration Today

If you’ve been considering hair restoration services, it’s time to reach out to the knowledgeable team at MAXIM Hair Restoration today. You can start with a FREE consultation to discuss your options with one of our professionals, ask any questions you may have, and go over how the procedures work, including cost and recovery time. You can reach us at (802) 370-3227 or complete our convenient and secure online form to set up an appointment. With locations all across the United States including New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, Northern Virginia, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin (ATX), Sarasota, Tampa, Boca Raton, Puerto Rico and Turkey, Manila and Cebu in the Philippines, you’re sure to find a MAXIM Hair Restoration clinic near you. We have offices planned in Boston, Maryland, Charlotte, Chicago, Indianapolis (Indiana), Scottsdale (Arizona), Philadelphia, Orlando (Florida), Seattle (Washington), and other markets around the country.

9 Hair Transplant Myths Debunked in 2022

Have you considered getting a hair transplant, only to talk yourself out of it? Are you worried that you’ll end up with hair from some unknown stranger growing from your head? Do you think you’re too old to be a candidate? At MAXIM Hair Restoration, we hear all the concerns of our patients, and there are some doozies out there. Let’s put some of those scary hair restoration myths to bed and ease your fears, whether founded in reality or not. Today, we debunk the most common hair restoration myths. 

Hair Restoration Results Look Unnatural

Hair Transplant Myths Debunked

Thanks to enhanced and advanced technologies and techniques, hair transplants look as close to natural as possible. Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) transplants deliver some of the best results since it’s a minimally invasive procedure that takes follicular units from one area to the thinning and balding areas affected by hair loss. The procedure only requires small incisions and leaves barely noticeable micro scars. Another option is to undergo the follicular unit transplantation (FUT) procedure which involves taking a strip of hair from the back of the scalp and transplanting it to the balding areas. 

Ultimately, though, the success of hair restoration or hair transplant depends upon the knowledge and experience of the physician, clinician, and team performing the procedure. Since it’s such a highly specialized process, it’s important to work with a surgeon and Techs who know how to harvest, extract and place each hair graft and customize it based upon your hairline. At MAXIM Hair Restoration, you should know that we take immense care when it comes to performing each procedure with precision and integrity. Once your new hair grows in, it should blend seamlessly into your existing hair. Take a look through our gallery for before and after pictures to see the results. 

Only Men Can Undergo Hair Restoration

Although it’s true that men typically experience hair loss more often than women, it doesn’t mean that women cannot undergo hair transplants or restoration procedures. This myth has caused women to accept their hair loss simply because they fear there’s no alternative. The reality is that these procedures work for both men and women. It’s important to note that women tend to lose their hair in different patterns compared to men and possess a thinner donor area. MAXIM also offers non-surgical hair restoration options for both men and women including PDO Threads, Collagen Induced Therapy (CIT) as well as laser hair therapy, products, vitamins, supplements, and topical compounds including shampoos and conditioners. 

Older Patients Cannot Undergo Hair Restoration

Technically, anyone over the age of 18 can get a hair transplant, but it’s best suited for those who are between 25 to 65 years of age. Those under the age of 25 should probably wait longer as well since hair-loss patterns are unpredictable and can continue after the transplant. It’s best to wait until hair loss stabilizes, generally after the age of 25. 

Also, even though it’s recommended for ages up to 65, that number doesn’t mean that people who are older cannot undergo the procedure. The reason for the recommendation is that those who are older than 65 might have health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease or maybe on medications, especially since a hair transplant is still a surgical procedure. Another factor is that older people may not have as many hair grafts in the donor area as those who are younger do. 

It’s a Painful Procedure

Hair transplant procedures are performed in an office setting and under local anesthesia. That means you won’t experience excruciating pain during the actual operation. However, once the effects of anesthesia wear off, you might experience mild pain and be prescribed pain-relieving medications to mitigate the discomfort. Expect to take these medications for up to three days. You should also be able to resume your daily activities within three days.  

You Should Expect Immediate Results

As much as you want to see instantaneous results from your hair restoration or transplant, you won’t have them. Hair growth doesn’t happen overnight. You should also note that some of your hair might fall out during what’s known as the “sleeping” or “shock phase.” Don’t worry because soon enough the well-anchored roots will gradually grow hair and give you natural results. 

According to WebMD, most people should see 60% of new growth after six to nine months, but you should expect significant results in about eight to nine months. The new hair should take a little over one year to thicken. 

Hair Transplants or Restorations Cause Brain Damage

Since hair transplant and restoration procedures are performed on the top layer of the scalp, the brain isn’t affected whatsoever. The incisions never go below that top layer of the skin, so there is no contact with the brain.

Surgeons Use Someone Else’s Hair

Unlike other types of transplants in which there is a donor and a recipient, a hair transplant only involves hair from your own body. That’s because if you ended up with hair follicles from someone else, your body would reject the foreign hair follicles and/or cause infection as has occurred with biofiber implants that are made from artificial fiber.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the transplanted hair follicles won’t come from other areas of your body. Body hair might uncommonly be used to augment the scalp hair, but this is rare especially since body hair doesn’t match the same coarseness found in head hair. That belief is bolstered by information provided by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery that states 92.5% of hair from FUE transplants performed in 2019 came from the scalp. 

Laser Hair Therapy Is the Most Effective

If you’re thinking about how popular laser hair treatments were in the early 2000s, this statement might be true. However, over the years, technology has evolved and laser hair therapy is used as an ancillary treatment to hair transplants since laser treatments can strengthen hair follicles but rarely grow them. Studies found that lasers can damage surrounding tissues. 

Hair Restoration Is Unaffordable

When it comes to the cost of hair restoration or transplants, you might be concerned about the cost. The price largely depends on the amount of hair you will be moving. At MAXIM Hair Restoration, we can work with you to make the procedure more affordable by offering several financing options. We accept credit cards, wire transfers, certified checks, and cash that we can apply toward payment. Also, depending on the location you use, you might be able to take advantage of various financing plans that allow you to pay for the procedure over time at zero interest (if you qualify). 

Conclusion

Well, there you have it! Hopefully, this helped ease your mind when it comes to the myths of hair restoration. In our modern era full of amazing technology and scientific achievement, it’s always interesting to see these outdated and inaccurate assumptions about hair restoration procedures. Now that we put those to rest, we hope you’ll give MAXIM Hair Restoration a shot, and schedule a consultation with our team. If you have any further questions or are ready to make the jump with hair restoration or transplant procedures, reach out to Maxim Hair Restoration. We offer a quick online assessment, or you can reach out to our trusted staff to schedule a consultation.

Where Does the Hair Come from for a Hair Transplant?

Clients often ask us where the hair for their hair transplant comes from. They ask in a never-ending variety of unique and sometimes hilarious ways.  Do you use animal hair? Do you make your hair in a lab? Can I use hair from my brother or another person? The answer to all of these questions is a resounding no, both a Follicular Unit transplant (FUT) and a Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) procedure utilize your own natural hair from the back and sides of the head. Hair that will grow, flow, look, and feel just like the hair you have in other areas of the scalp. 

Can I Use Body Hair for Hair Transplants?

Some patients ask if we can use body hair for their transplant and the answer is yes, you can, but not without a serious shortfall. A follicular unit on the scalp typically contains 1-4 hairs. Body hairs, on the other hand, are mostly singular hairs and the texture is vastly different from the head. This is an issue because your scalp is perfectly imperfect in terms of nature’s aesthetic design (with exception to the imperfectly imperfect hair loss). The variety of different hairs per unit make up the appearance of natural flow, texture, and density, so attempting to replace that with a transplant full of single hairs will not result in a dense appearance. The only area where you will predominantly see singular hairs on the scalp is the most frontal portion of the hairline. 

Now, let’s imagine that you are standing on the road looking into a deep forest and you look at the forest floor at the very start of the woods. There you can see the forest bed, right? Now, as you look deeper into the forest, it begins to blend into a variety of trees, shapes, and sizes, creating the natural beauty of a flowing forest. Now imagine looking at the same forest, from the same perspective, but now the trees are all identical, with one trunk and one branch, and they are packed together as tightly as your imagination can squeeze them. It would look weird and unnatural, right? Of course it would, and it would look the same if it were your hair.

Another major consideration here is that 70-85% of your scalp and facial hair are in the anagen (growth) cycle for 2-6 years, spending anywhere from 6 weeks to 4 months in the telogen (resting/fallout) cycle. Opposingly, 70-80% of body hair is in the telogen phase, which lasts 12-24 weeks, with a growth cycle of only 16 weeks. That means the hair transplanted from the body spends very little time present. So you would only see a maximum of 20% of those body hairs rearing their improper textured heads at any given time. So not only are the number of hairs significantly less, but you are also taking a 50-65% deduction from visible results.

I think you probably get the drift here, but I can’t leave this discussion without sharing our favorite infrequently asked question & comment by men:          

“I know I don’t have a lot of donor hair in the back, but what about using my pubic hair? I always shave it anyway.” To which I reply most scientifically, “the only thing that you’ll accomplish by using your pubes is the appearance of an actual dickhead.” 

All jokes aside, body hair is not of the same quality, texture and density as scalp hair. 

Can I use Another Person’s Hair or Animal Hair?

Also, hair is an organ, so you cannot use the hair of another human or animal. Your body would recognize it as a foreign invader and act with haste to kill it. This would likely cause inflammation and tissue damage that would perpetuate further hair loss. Furthermore, there is a very high risk of infection when you use another person’s hair or even artificial, bio fiber hair implants which can have an astoundingly high rate of infection (up to 10%). 

Where is the Donor Hair Taken?

Now that we’ve covered where you can’t take donor hair from, let’s move onto where your donor area is located and why we pull hair from that area.

The donor area is located from the midline of your ears, around the back of the head, below the crown, but above the nape of the neck:

Hair Transplant Donor Region

Using this general area, many clinicians will make a visual estimate based on their years of experience, and they are often spot on. However, there is a scientific method for determining a graft count and how many units can be safely harvested. The goal is that when the harvested area heals, it looks virtually identical to the day you first walked in. Yes, it may be a bit thinner, depending on the no. of grafts extracted. There are a few important factors to consider when analyzing the donor area. The number of extractable units relative to density, the number of hairs per unit, and the size of the donor area are critical considerations for how much hair you can donate. In most cases, a person can afford to donate around 6,000 grafts, give or take, which could be done in two to three transplants. 

Another reason that these hairs are used for a transplant is due to the natural resiliency of these follicles. The hair in the donor areas of the scalp are usually non-responsive to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a metabolite of the male sex hormone, testosterone, which causes androgenic alopecia (pattern baldness). That means that transplanted hairs are essentially permanent, so long as there is nothing else inducing trauma to the follicles.

Does the Hair in the Donor Area Grow Back?

During follicular unit extraction, popularly known as FUE (the No Stitch, No Linear Scar method), the entire hair follicle is removed and transplanted. Areas of one to four hairs are removed and then placed in the area where baldness is occurring. Since the hair follicle itself has been removed, hair most likely won’t grow back. Fortunately, this FUE procedure is very strategic, and the physician or clinician carefully removes the grafts from the donor area and spreads them across the entire donor area. This method means that the extracted follicles are hardly noticeable since they’re taken from an area with a dense amount of hair. 

In follicular unit transplantation, also known as FUT, the physician surgically removes the hair from the donor area. The strips are very thin and long so that sutures and linear scarring are minimal. Hair will regrow around the area closest to the scar first, and eventually, parts of the scar may be covered in hair regrowth. 

What Is the Recovery After a Hair Transplant?

The recovery period after a hair transplant varies depending upon which technique was used. For follicular unit extraction, or FUE, you should be back to normal working activity within a couple of days. Full recovery, including showing your scalp, within 7 to 10 days typically.  You’ll need to get plenty of rest after your procedure and avoid strenuous activities after your procedure. You can resume other normal activities almost immediately. To ensure prompt recovery, your physician may prescribe certain medications, including antibiotics and possibly pain medication. 

After follicular unit transplantation or FUT, you may have a slightly longer recovery period. It’s advised that you sleep for a few hours after your procedure, avoid exercise, and rest afterward so that your sutures remain in place. Take medication as prescribed. After any procedure, you should keep an eye out for excessive pain, swelling, oozing from the procedure site, and fever. These may indicate an infection, and prompt treatment is vital to retain the integrity of your hair transplant.

Contact MAXIM Hair Restoration Today

If you’re experiencing hair loss and want to explore your treatment options, reach out to MAXIM Hair Restoration today. A member of our knowledgeable team will go over our services with you, answer any questions you may have, and get you scheduled for a consultation. You can use our convenient online contact form to submit a request, and someone will get back to you promptly.

REASONS FOR HAIR LOSS

Hair loss is normal, and most people lose between 50 and 100 hairs per day. This small amount of loss usually goes unnoticed on your head, with over 100,000 hairs and new hair readily replacing the lost hair. If you notice that you’re losing more hair than usual via clumps in the drain after you wash your hair or thin patches and baldness on your head, it’s time to talk to your doctor. Your doctor can help you pinpoint the underlying cause of your hair loss and work with you to find an appropriate and effective treatment.

What Causes Hair Loss?

Image via Flickrby Wendy.Burchfield

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, over 80 million men and women in America are affected by alopecia or hair loss. Hereditary male- or female-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss, resulting from a family history of hair loss. Specific sex hormones cause this type of hair loss, and it can begin as early as puberty. Male-pattern baldness results from the hair follicles becoming sensitive to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The crown and frontal hairline areas are typically the most affected by DHT, which causes the horseshoe-shaped pattern of hair loss in many men.

Other causes of hair loss include traumatic events, surgeries, and major illnesses, and sometimes the loss results from a halt in the hair growth cycle. Hormonal changes can also affect hair loss, including:

  • Birth control pills.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Childbirth.
  • Menopause.
  • Low or high testosterone

Certain medications can also cause hair loss, such as those used to treat:

  • Heart problems.
  • Depression.
  • Arthritis.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Cancer.

Medical conditions can cause hair loss as well, including:

  • Alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune disease that attacks your hair follicles.
  • Thyroid disease.
  • Scalp infections such as ringworm.

Emotional or physical shock is yet another cause of hair loss, such as shock resulting from:

  • Extreme weight loss.
  • Obesity
  • A very high fever.
  • Death in the family, particularly one that’s unexpected or sudden.

Hair loss can also result from traction loss due to hairstyles that pull the hair back very tightly or be caused by trichotillomania, a hair-pulling disorder. If you lack iron, protein, or other nutrients in your diet, you may also experience hair loss.

How Is Hair Loss Diagnosed?

If you suspect that you’re experiencing hair loss, you’ll need to see a hair restoration specialist or dermatologist for an official diagnosis. They will want to determine the cause of hair loss in order to set up a treatment plan. Sometimes, simple changes in your diet can help reduce hair loss, but it may require treatment to restore it. Your doctor may also look at adjusting any medications you’re taking for other disorders or diseases.

Your clinician or dermatologist should perform a thorough physical examination and medical history to diagnose hair loss. If a skin disease or autoimmune disease are suspected to be the culprit, then a biopsy of your scalp may be taken for testing in a laboratory. Hair loss is a complex process, and the exact cause of your hair loss might be difficult to determine. Although, in most people, it’s genetic and easily identifiable.

What Treatment Options Exist for Hair Loss?

After determining the cause of your hair loss, your clinician or dermatologist may offer various treatment options, from medication to medical procedures. The treatment plan will target your type and cause of hair loss and effectiveness will be determined based on your likelihood to respond.

Medication

The first option for hair loss treatment will likely be medication, including over-the-counter topical creams and gels that you can apply to the scalp to stimulate hair growth. The most common products contain minoxidil or fin########, which has proven to be effective in improving hair density in some patients. Fin######## is also effective at slowing down pattern loss and even reversing miniaturization. Fin######## can be prescribed orally or topically, depending on your needs. Fin######## blocks the production of DHT by nearly 70%.

Options for treating autoimmune hair loss are limited, most providers typically try some form of coticosteroid. Increasing the amount of corticosteroids in the body reduces inflammation and can suppress the immune system, preventing it from attacking your hair follicles. Using corticosteroids can put you at higher risk for conditions such as:

  • Calcium loss, leading to osteoporosis.
  • Thin skin and easy bruising.
  • Infections.
  • Sore throat.
  • Hoarseness.

Any use of medication should be closely monitored for side effects, including:

  • High blood sugar.
  • Fluid retention and swelling in the lower legs.
  • Increased blood pressure.
  • Cataracts.
  • Glaucoma.

Medical Procedures

If medication doesn’t stop hair loss, medical procedures can be used to treat hair loss. These procedures include hair transplant surgery, non-surgical regenerative injections, and collagen induction therapies.

  • Hair transplant surgery. This type of medical procedure involves moving or transplanting small grafts of hair follicles from a donor area on your scalp to the area experiencing baldness. Hair transplant surgery is an excellent aesthetic procedure for those with inherited baldness since the hair loss is usually on the top of the head, while the donor area in the back typically remains intact. One type of hair transplant surgery is follicular unit transplantation.

Contact MAXIM Hair Restoration Today

If you’re experiencing hair loss, contact the knowledgeable team at MAXIM Hair Restoration today to see if you’re a good candidate for a hair transplant or non-surgical procedure. We can provide you with an estimate for your procedure as well as how many grafts would be required to give you the best results. Contact us at 802-370-3227 in the United States, or complete our secure online contact form to request your complimentary consultation today. We can meet with you at any of our MAXIM Hair Restoration locations or consult via video or phone call.

WHAT IS HAIR REGROWTH?

Hair loss is commonly seen in both men and women of various ages. Whether your hair loss is rather sudden or you’ve been experiencing some degree of thinning for years, there are several simple, relatively painless treatment options to give you the hair and confidence that you deserve. If this situation sounds familiar and you’re looking for a solution for hair regrowth, MAXIM Hair Restoration can help. You can learn more about our services below, as well as some important information about hair regrowth and some common causes of hair loss.

What is Hair Regrowth or Restoration?

man with hair regrowth
Image via Flickr by Beth Bryan Design | Licensed by CC BY 2.0

Hair regrowth is also known as hair restoration. This broad term is used to reference the many methods and techniques available to those experiencing hair loss. This includes topical medications, scalp micropigmentation, collagen induction therapy, or a combination of these techniques. The goal is to provide you with the natural-looking, dense hair that you desire. These options are suitable for those who aren’t quite ready or don’t need a full hair transplant procedure.

Hair Restoration vs. Hair Transplantation?

Regarding hair restoration versus hair transplantation, the deciding factor is the progression of an individual’s hair loss and whether or not the patient is ready for the more invasive procedure, such as a hair transplant. Hair transplantation is performed by taking a graft from a donor area and transplanting that hair to the area of balding or thinning to provide you with a dense, natural-looking result. This method has a brief period of downtime, while scalp micropigmentation or collagen induction therapies will allow you to get back to daily life immediately afterward.

We understand how important having a full head of hair can be to an individual, and that’s why MAXIM Hair Restoration is here to help. We’re proud to be able to provide you with various options, including hair restoration and hair transplantation.

What Causes Hair Loss?

Numerous factors can contribute to hair loss, ranging from inherited conditions to hormones, stress, and injury. These causes include the following:

  • Male Pattern Baldness. This inherited condition can come from the paternal or maternal side of the family and is also known as androgenic alopecia. Hair loss is generally first noticed around the frontal hairline and crown areas of the scalp, eventually progressing to the mid-scalp. This results in a horseshoe-shaped area of hair loss. This condition is caused by a sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone, which is a metabolite of testosterone.
  • Therapies. Radiation therapy, such as the treatment used for cancer, is commonly known to cause hair loss. While much of this hair will grow back, those with a predisposition to androgenetic alopecia may find that it never returns to its former state.
  • Life factors. Extreme stress or a traumatic occurrence can cause hair loss. You’ll typically see the loss over an elongated period of time.
  • Medications. Several medications used to treat cancer, high blood pressure, depression, and various other diseases can cause to hair loss in some people.
  • Medical and biological conditions. Hair loss may be the result of a hormonal imbalance and other medical conditions. Other triggers include autoimmune disorders, pregnancy, menopause, and various thyroid disorders. The resulting hair loss could either be temporary or permanent.
  • Hair styles. Traction alopecia may occur due to excessive hair styling, perms, and hair treatments.
  • Lifestyle choices.Risk factors for hair loss include smoking, a poor diet, or a significant amount of weight loss or gain.

If you’re experiencing hair loss and would like to schedule a consultation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the team of specialists at MAXIM Hair Restoration. We can help develop a treatment plan to get you the natural-looking results you want.

Is There Anything I Can Do To Prevent Hair Loss?

Non-preventable genetic and hereditary factors cause the majority of hair loss. Some other conditions, such as those mentioned above, might be preventable to some extent. Things you can do to prevent hair loss include:

  • Managing your stress levels.
  • Treating your hair gently.
  • Eating well-balanced meals.
  • Visiting your primary care physician regularly.
  • Avoiding tobacco products.
  • Preventative care if your family history contains androgenetic alopecia.

Our Services

We have several effective options for hair regrowth and transplantation at MAXIM Hair Restoration. Here’s a closer look at some of our services:

Follicular Unit Extraction

Follicular unit extraction is performed using advanced medical technology to harvest and transplant one hair graft at a time. There’s no linear scarring or sutures and a more rapid recovery time allows you to return to your normal activities quickly.

Follicular Hair Transplantation

Follicular hair transplantation is performed by extracting an area of donor tissue and then dissecting that tissue into individual grafts to transplant to the areas of hair loss. This provides you with a dense, natural-looking result.

Collagen Induction Therapy

Collagen induction therapy (CID) is a minimally invasive treatment that’s designed to increase collagen production, tissue perfusion, form new blood vessels, and introduce fresh growth factors. CID is performed using small needles that penetrate the middle layer of the skin. These procedures kickstart your body’s natural healing mechanics and amplify your scalp’s ability to regenerate tissue. It also improves topical absorption and efficacy.

3D Scalp Micropigmentation

3D scalp micropigmentation is a process by which medical-grade pigment is deposited on the scalp using a stroking motion. This gives your scalp the appearance of natural, shaved hair follicles, or to provide density by adding color in thinning areas that have a strong foundation of hair.

A combination of these methods may be used to provide you with a hybrid treatment plan. Options range from hair transplantation to collagen induction therapy and scalp micropigmentation. Your Maxim Hair Restoration specialist will develop a plan that will provide you with the best results possible.

Contact MAXIM Hair Restoration Today

If you’re experiencing baldness or hair thinning, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the specialists at MAXIM Hair Restoration today. Someone from our team would be happy to help you gather the answers to your questions. When you’re ready to schedule a consultation, you can use our convenient online contact form to request an appointment with one of the hair transplant specialists near you. You can also reach us at 802-370-3227.

After your appointment for an initial consultation, our team will provide you with an estimate for your procedure and discuss financing options. If you’re looking for a solution for hair loss, MAXIM Hair Restoration can help.

Four Thousand Grafts MEGA Session: What it Is

At MAXIM, we are hair restoration specialists and highly experienced in our field. We offer a variety of services and highly effective hair transplant procedures across the United States to help you look and feel your best and enjoy your hair with confidence. A hair transplant can help improve your self-confidence and improve your appearance, with minimal to no scarring. These procedures are great solutions for men experiencing baldness, women with thinning hair, or anyone who has lost hair on the scalp due to other reasons.

What Is a Hair Transplant?

Balding Head
Image via  Pixabay   by kalhh


 hair transplant   adds additional hair to balding areas. It does so by removing hair from one body area and transplanting it to a different one.  Over the years hair transplant methods have developed and changed, with non-surgical options now available.

Modern techniques were developed by surgeons in Japan, dating back to the 1930s. It was originally designed to help restore eyebrows, eyelashes, and hair on the scalps of burn victims. In the 1950s, Dr. Norman Orentreich developed it as a treatment for male pattern baldness when he added grafts to balding areas of the scalp.

Techniques have since developed and progressed to include options such as follicular unit transplantations, follicular unit extraction, and more as a popular way to treat male pattern baldness or help anyone suffering from thinning hair.

What Is FUT?

A follicular unit transplant is a procedure where the doctor surgically removes a thin strip of skin containing hair and replants it in the balding region. The hair is usually removed from the side or back of the head in follicular unit grafts of one to four strands at a time. The area on the side or back of the head where the hair is removed is the donor area and is usually unaffected by hair loss.

Since the skin on the scalp is generally flexible, the incision area can be easily stitched together afterward, resulting in a fine scar. The scar is thin enough to be covered by the existing hair and is not easily detectable even with short hairstyles unless inspected very closely.

The grafts that are replanted into the balding area are known as follicular units. The surgeon examines them carefully before adding them back to the scalp to remove any excess skin. This helps the scalp look natural and healthy when it begins to grow in the transplanted area. The transplant area is decided between the patient and the surgeon before the FUT procedure to ensure a smooth experience and natural-looking result once fully healed.

What Is FUE?

Follicular unit extraction is another type of hair transplant that involves obtaining donor hair from the side or back of your head. This donor hair is then added to the balding area. In a FUE transplant, individual follicular units are removed one at a time. Small punch tools extract the hair follicles one by one and result in virtually no scarring. This procedure was developed to transplant hair follicles with less visible scarring and has become one of the most popular hair transplant procedures.

Because the punch holes have become smaller as the treatment has progressed and developed over the years, the patient only appears to have red pinpricks on the donor site until it heals fully. Patients should expect to have minimal scarring that is hardly visible after about two weeks post-operation.

Any remaining scars fade over time and are barely visible to the naked eye. With scars shrinking to less than 0.5 mm, this is an excellent option for people who like to wear short hairstyles around the back of the head near the donor sites.

How Many Hair Grafts Are Needed?

When patients decide on a hair transplant, one of the first things they want to know is how many hair grafts will be needed for their procedure. The number of grafts needed varies from individual to individual based on their specific needs. Several other factors must be considered, such as: 

  • The size of the area that needs to be covered with donor hair. The larger the site, the more grafts will be required.
  • The type of hair and amount of thinning. Since hair loss is progressive and cannot be cured completely, the amount of thinning and type of hair must be considered to help the hairline maintain a natural look as future thinning occurs.
  • Quality of donor area hair. The quality and texture of the donor hair should be considered since it’s taken from a different spot on the scalp. If the donor hair is fuller and thicker, fewer grafts may be needed to transplant.
  • Hair restoration procedure chosen. The type of transplant procedure selected will determine how many grafts you can transplant at a time.

How Many Grafts in an Average Transplant?

It is typical for thousands of grafts to be moved and placed during a hair transplant for any procedure . In an average FUT session, up to 4,000 grafts can be transplanted. In an average FUE session, up to 2,000 grafts can be transplanted.

The MAXIM MEGA Session

The surgeons at MAXIM not only specialize in hair transplantation but also specialize in MEGA sessions. A MEGA session is when up to 4,000+ grafts can be transplanted within a single session. While most other transplant centers limit patients to around 1,000 to 2,000 grafts at a time, our experienced surgeons can perform transplants on more extensive sections of the scalp. They can also transplant more grafts at the same time for amazing results in one session. With a MEGA session, you can eliminate or minimize the need for future sessions.

The experts in hair restoration at MAXIM are here to guide you through your hair restoration journey. Schedule a consultation with our team to learn more about how we can help get your confidence back and improve your appearance with our highly effective procedures. With offices in New York, Texas, New Jersey, California, Virginia, Florida, and Indiana, you’re sure to find one near you. You can reach us at 802-370-3227 or use our secure online messaging system. A member of our team would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

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