Question:
What would be an average cost range of a hair transplant for the average man with male
pattern baldness?

Answer:
There are many variations of hair loss patterns and extent of loss which makes it very difficult to give an “average” cost range. A consultation would be necessary to give you an idea of how many grafts you may need and cost would be figured from that estimation.

Question:
When using FUE or FUT, about how many grafts can be placed per square inch?

Answer:
Measurements are usually per square centimeter and the average for a completely bald area of scalp is approximately 30-40 grafts but can be more or less depending on the quality of your hair. If the area to be grafted is thinning but still has hair present then the average is less and is usually around 20-30 grafts per square centimeter.

There is a lot of confusion going on the Internet as to whether FUE and FUT are different procedures. I read many questions regarding this and many people want to know about these and which is better.

FUT stands for follicular unit transplantation. That means transplanting hair by the lowest common denominator that is the follicular unit. Hair grows out of the scalp in 1, 2, 3 and a few 4 hair follicular units. The follicular unit can be harvested in many ways. The most efficient and time-tested method for harvesting follicular unit transplants is the strip harvesting. And if done wisely it creates a non-detectable scar even after two or three sessions. One has to realize that any scar into the scalp whether it is from hair transplantation or a facelift or a forehead lift would show if you were to shave your head. So, with FUT, the graft is harvested efficiently and accurately by skilled surgeons and the strip of scalp is dissected into follicular units by a staff of specifically trained technicians. To complete the operation, recipient sites have to be made, by the surgeon. The recipient sites have to be made within the proper hairline design, the proper angle, with proper depth and caliber for the follicular units that are being created. Then the grafts have to laboriously and gently place into the recipient sites by the surgeon and the assistants with regard and judgment for size, curl and direction.

FUE stands for follicular unit extraction. This means pulling (extracting) the follicular unit after making a small circular cut around it. This is just a small part of the hair transplant procedure. The rest of the follicular unit transplant work involving FUE is about the same as I just described.

FUE (follicular unit extraction) is just another method for harvesting the follicular unit grafts. It is nothing new as the original hair transplant reports from the 1930′s and 1940′s indicated that hairs were taken from a donor area with a small drill or punch. This is follicular unit extraction. There are many new modern tools for harvesting follicular units by this but they cannot possibly improve the result of a hair transplant other than the fact that you would not have a linear scar should you choose to shave your head. Most young men having hair transplantation end up having 3000 to 8000 grafts done in their lifetime. If this is harvested by the FUE method, I can almost guarantee you would not be able to shave your head and not look remarkable with a bunch of white dot scars. A great deal of the skill in hair transplantation is not harvesting the graft but in making the judgment that it takes to design the hairline space, the recipient sites and place the follicular unit grafts no matter how they are harvested. I welcome any questions that anyone has on this subject.

Facial Implants

Chin Augmentation
Before & After Photos

Changes of facial aging include not only descent of tissue, but also loss of tissue volume. This loss of volume is most noticeable in the cheeks, but affects other facial regions as well. An excellent and permanent way to correct this change is the placement of facial implants. Other patients may have congenitally recessed chins, cheeks, or other facial features, and can benefit from implants. Examples of common implant procedures are:

Cheek Augmentation
This procedure is done to correct sunken aging cheeks, or poorly developed cheekbones. Cheek implants can improve facial harmony by giving greater definition to the cheekbones, achieving better balance with the rest of your face. Implants are placed in a pocket between the cheek bones and overlying soft tissue.

Chin Augmentation
A more pleasing, balanced profile can be achieved by inserting an implant to build up a receding chin. The results can be greater facial harmony and an increase in self-confidence.
Read more about Facial Implants

Question:
I had a Juri flap procedure in the mid-80′s when my hair was a lot thicker. Now, as I’ve aged, I have noticed more thinning around the flap, and it is beginning to look odd. I have also noticed thinning behind the flap and in the crown. I would like to consider hair transplantation to blend this in and give me a more natural look. Can this be done and what is your best estimate of how many grafts it might require? Also can this be done with just one surgeon or does it require more assistance?

Answer:
This is not an uncommon occurrence after having a Juri flap, but it can certainly be improved with hair transplantation. As more of your natural hair is lost around the flap, the abrupt edges of the flap become more noticeable. The goal would be to create a transition zone around the flap to make it appear more natural. This can be done with follicular unit transplant grafts. This type of procedure is very tedious and labor intensive, especially since grafts will need to be placed among existing hair and the angulation gradually changed especially in the front. One surgeon could not perform such a procedure alone and would typically require the assistance of at least 4-5 individuals including a registered nurse and hair technicians. I personally perform the donor site harvesting and design and create the recipient sites along with my assistant surgeon. In the meantime, the nurse and hair technicians are busy cutting the tiny grafts. My assistant surgeon and I both start the placing of grafts and trade off our positions as the techs, who place grafts admittedly quicker than the doctors, finish the case. I would hope to be able to perform between 2000and 3000 grafts.

Question:
I have some diffuse thinning at the front/top of my head that seems to have stopped. I’m female, 42. I’ve heard this is more difficult to treat, but can it be treated successfully with a transplant and, if so, what technique is best, FUE or strip?

Answer:
As long as there is no known treatable medical cause for your hair loss, hair transplantation may be a good option for you and can be done successfully. FUE requires a large area of hair to be shaved very short prior to extraction whereas strip harvesting does not. For females especially, strip harvesting is usually the better choice.

Question:
I’ve heard that FUE isn’t good for people with more advanced balding because there aren’t enough grafts available by FUE alone. Is this true?

Answer:
No. It is dependent on the ability of the surgeon to harvest enough grafts in a particular session. What is not known, in my opinion, is the damage the FUE harvesting process does on the adjacent donor hairs and how viable they may be for future FUE sessions.

Question:
Price ranges for hair transplants seem to vary dramatically. What should be an average price range per follicular unit or graft?

Answer:
I have heard of between $2 to $10 per graft depending on the country and the method of harvesting donor material.

Question:
I’ve heard that the benefits of Propecia don’t last forever, but would you ultimately end up losing less hair than if you hadn’t used it at all?

Answer:
We really do not know this from any scientific study. It appears that you definitely lose less hair while being treated with this drug.

Question:
Does shock loss ever occur in the donor area? If so, when does it usually grow back and is there anything that you can do in the meantime to help disguise it?

Answer:
Hair shock can occur in the donor area but it would usually be very minimal. Hair growth is usually seen after approximately 3-4 months. If you are concerned for this rare occurrence, you should grow your hair out prior to surgery to a couple of inches to help disguise the area if it were to occur.