| Dr. Bernard H. Cohen is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Hair Restoration surgery. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Hair transplant.
Q. What is a "hair transplant?"
A. Tiny pieces of hair containing skin are moved from the back and sides of the head and then moved to the balding area, on top, where it’s been lost. We have a staff of 8 very-experienced surgical technicians who assist me in the 4-5 hour procedure. They create 1000-3000 grafts from the small strip of skin that is surgically removed from the back of the head. Then I perform 1000-3000 incisions (1mm – the thickness of a dime) in the area of loss, between the existing hairs... if there are any. Most of the day is spent planting the grafts into these incisions. No hair in the recipient area is cut or shaved.
Q. Who would be a good candidate for hair transplants surgery?
A. Hair transplantation may be performed on both men and women. For some patients, a hairline may need re-creation; for others, more extensive hair replacement may be required. Some patients want to correct sparse eyebrows or scars on the scalp. All these individuals are good candidates for the procedure.
Q. Do you provide free consultation and do the clients need to bring any information with them?
A. Yes, we provide free consultation. No information is required.
Q. Should medications be taken after hair transplant surgery?
A. Following the procedure, the patient is given pain tablets. There is no pain in the transplanted site on the top of the head, but there is some discomfort the first evening in the Zone 8 donor area. Three days of prednisone are given to prevent forehead swelling, and a 7 day course of prophylactic antibiotics are given as well.
Q. Do the clients need to use a bandage after the surgery?
A. No bandage is applied. The donor site on the back of the head is never visible (it’s covered by your existing hair). The transplanted site is only visible if the patient has no existing hair on top of the head to camouflage the site. The 1000-3000 tiny graft sites are visible for 9 days, after which time the mini-scab falls off. For the next 4 months, the patient looks exactly like he/she did before the procedure. At about 4 months the hair comes out of "shock." It breaks through the surface, and then grows a half inch per month for the rest of your life.
Q. When can clients expect to see results?
A. Hair will begin to grow at 4 months. Eight months after the procedure the hair will have reached a length of 2 inches.
Q. How natural are the results?
A. Amazingly natural... if the procedure is performed by a competent and experienced surgeon. Surgeons certified by the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery have been tested and credentialed, and are your safest best when choosing a doctor to perform the transplant. When performed well, even your hair stylist would not suspect you had anything done.
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