| Dr. Robert J. Reese is a member of the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Hair transplant.
Q. Please explain the primary procedures performed by your practice.
A. Primary procedures performed in my office include hair restoration surgery of the scalp, eyebrows, sideburns and mustache. Each surgical procedure is individually planned based upon the patient’s unique characteristics including color of hair versus color of scalp, hair caliber, texture and curl of the hair, facial characteristics of the patient, and the quality of the permanent donor follicles which are to be transplanted. Donor follicle harvesting can be obtained via strip dissection or individual follicular unit extraction techniques. Based upon the individual patient, we will recommend either microscopic follicular unit transplantation, versus multi unit grafting. As far as non-surgical options, we only recommend FDA approved therapies including the use of Propecia for men, and/or Minoxidil, or low level laser therapy for men and women.
Q. Do you provide free consultation?
A. Hair restoration consultations are performed at no charge to the prospective patient.
Q. How long does a hair transplant procedure take?
A. Scalp hair transplantation procedures last 4 to 7 hours based upon the individual needs of the patient as well as the complexity of their situation. Reconstruction of eyebrows, sideburns, and mustache generally takes 3 to 4 hours to perform.
Q. What is the PRP treatment?
A. Our bodies contain healing components in the blood. Activated platelet rich plasma (PRP) has been utilized in many medical fields including wound care cardiovascular surgery, eye surgery, orthopaedic surgery, dentistry, and more recently hair restoration surgery. Activated PRP has shown very promising results in all of these fields. Specifically regarding hair restoration surgery, studies performed in conjunction with activated PRP have demonstrated decreased scalp redness, diminished scalp scabbing, improved would healing, as well as an additional 15% hair growth from the transplanted follicles. I believe that the use of activated PRP in conjunction with hair restoration surgery has the possibility of becoming the new "gold standard" technique. This process is not only patented, but FDA approved. The only biotechnology company utilizing activated PRP that holds an FDA approval for wound healing is Cytomedix.
Q. Are the clients kept conscious during the procedure?
A. In my practice, all patients are wide awake while performing the hair transplant procedure. Virtually all patients leave the office stating the procedure was much easier than what they thought it was going to be. Most patients tell us that having a hair restoration procedure is easier than visiting the dentist.
Q. When will the newly transplanted hair start to grow?
A. After transplantation, the newly transplanted follicles sit dormant for 6-8 weeks. New hair begins to grow approximately two months after the procedure. Ultimately it takes approximately twelve months before the result is complete. Most patients appreciate the gradual nature of the result because they want to keep their concerns about their hair loss as a private matter. Although the results develop slowly over time, the patient’s before and after results are rather dramatic.
Q. When can the clients resume normal activities like washing the hair, going in the sun, etc.
A. Patients resume normal activities of daily living immediately upon completion of their transplant. I restrict my patients from heavy physical exertion for one week after which any level of physical activity can be performed. The patients are able to shampoo their hair the day after their procedure. For the first eight weeks post-procedure, I recommend that the patients do not expose the transplanted scalp to intense sun for greater than 15 minutes at a time. It takes time for the blood supply to re-establish itself to the transplanted follicles, and this is why they initially sit dormant for 6-8 weeks post transplant. If the patient was to sunburn the early transplanted scalp, this would only injure the transplanted follicles in my opinion. The patients are able to spend as much time in the sun as they desire, however, I ask them to protect the transplanted zone from sunburn for approximately two months.
Q. Are there any simple outpatient procedures available?
A. All of my procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. As I previously mentioned, the vast majority of patients are pleasantly surprised at how easy the procedure is for them on the day that it is completed. Although I do prescribe a pain pill for the patient to use for a day or two after the procedure, very few patients report pain associated with the procedure. It is natural for people to fear any type of surgical procedure, however, my patients consistently report having a very positive experience on the day of their procedure. |
