If you are one of the millions of Americans who are losing their hair, you may feel frustrated, depressed or embarrassed. A healthy head of thick, lustrous hair makes us feel youthful and sexy, and when the hairline begins to recede – whether as a result of aging, hormonal changes or genes – we may embark on a long, arduous hunt for a solution that actually works.
Hair restoration, or hair transplant therapy, is one of the newest and most exciting developments in the field of anti-aging. It can permanently restore vibrant, luxurious locks where other non-surgical methods have failed, dramatically improving the appearance while restoring confidence and quality of life.
What are the Benefits of Hair Restoration?
Safe, proven and effective
Minimally invasive and gentle
Provides permanent, natural growth
No visible scarring
No special chemicals, products or shampoos required for maintenance
Outpatient procedure
How Does Hair Restoration Work?
During your hair restoration in Charlotte, Gastonia, Shelby, Hickory, Lake Norman and surrounding cities, hair is taken from donor sites at the back of the head, either in “strips” or via minute incisions. Great care is taken to preserve the health and integrity of both the hair and the donor areas during the harvesting process. These hairs are then separated with the aid of a microscope into units of 1-3 strands or follicular units (the normal grouping during the organic growth cycle) and prepared for transplant.
Next, the provider will create imperceptible, pinprick incisions at the front of the scalp to receive the donor’s hairs. Each follicular unit or graft is inserted into the hairline using customized instruments designed for this purpose. Grafting is done from front to back, mimicking the patterns of natural hair growth for the most authentic look possible. Once the new hair is in place, the scalp is sanitized and fitted with the appropriate dressing.
In many cases, only one transplant surgery is required to achieve the desired results. However, if the patient suffers from extensive baldness, a series of 2-3 sessions may be recommended, spaced out over the course of several months.
Regardless, after the first transplant, patients will see a remarkable improvement with a notable increase in hair thickness.
How do I Select the Best Hair Restoration Surgeon?
Our team of compassionate, patient-oriented surgeons can help you achieve a safe, skillful, precise hair transplant in Charlotte, Gastonia, Shelby, Hickory, Lake Norman and surrounding cities. PPSD is about to become your new favorite place.
When it comes to hair restoration, your doctor’s artistry and attention to detail can mean the difference between stunning, long-lasting results, and those that appear inauthentic. We constantly strive to bring you the newest cosmetic breakthroughs in the industry, offering relief for even the most seemingly unsolvable cosmetic issues.
Before surgery, you will receive a confidential consultation with your doctor, during which he will answer all your questions and set you at ease over any lingering concerns about the procedure. The doctor will examine your hairline, ask about previous hair loss solutions you have tried, and explain the details of the surgery in order to provide you with the most realistic expectations. All surgeries are performed in our state-of-the-art operating suites accredited by the AAAASF under appropriate sedation. Your comfort and well-being are our highest priorities.
The newly implanted hair follicles will follow a natural biological cycle of regrowth, requiring one to three months. For the first week after surgery, the treatment site may show visible signs of grafting. This can be easily hidden with hats, scarves or hoods. Hair restoration calls for limited downtime, and most patients can return to work a day or two after the procedure. Washing the hair is discouraged for at least 48 hours in order to protect the new follicles. Sun exposure should also be temporarily limited. It’s important to avoid picking at or itching the implant sites, as this could incite infection.
About Modern Hair Restoration
At Piedmont Plastic Surgery & Dermatology, we are committed to helping our patients regain self-confidence with hair restoration techniques that will resolve the problem best. The first step in hair restoration is a personal evaluation. Whether you have thinning hair or balding areas, we can then advise you of the procedure that will work best for you. Our various hair restoration techniques include:
FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation)
This hair restoration technique is performed under mild sedation and local anesthetic, on an outpatient basis. Healthy hair follicles are harvested from the back of the head (where the follicles are not programmed for baldness). FUE hair restoration may be the appropriate solution for male pattern baldness. A linear incision is made and a healthy batch of follicles is removed, with the incision then carefully closed. The strip of healthy follicles is then dissected to harvest the follicles to prepare them for transplant.
FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)
FUE hair restoration is a more recent development and offers the benefit of not requiring an incision to harvest healthy hair follicles. A micro-punching device is used to extract one follicle at a time, in a random pattern. The hair grafts extracted are then processed and implanted in the thinning or balding area. Automated systems to extract hair follicles have also made it onto the market, but in many cases, more follicles survive the harvest and implantation process if the extraction is performed by hand.
Strip Method
This is essentially another term describing FUT hair restoration. A strip of healthy hair follicles is harvested from the back of the head with a very fine incision. The healthy hair follicles are then extracted singly with a microscope and transplanted to fill in a thinning or balding area. While this method does involve the creation of a minor scar at the back of the head, as the hair grows back the scar is hidden and virtually invisible.
PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) Hair Restoration
For people who are experiencing the first stages of hair loss or who are planning hair restoration in Charlotte, Gastonia, Shelby, Hickory, Lake Norman and surrounding cities, PRP is one of the most exciting developments in aesthetic technology. PRP is extracted from your own blood and contains a high concentration of natural growth factors to stimulate hair follicles to produce thicker strands of hair and activate dormant follicles. Used to help transplanted hair follicles become viable and as a single treatment for those with genetic hair loss, alopecia, or the beginning stages of balding, PRP stimulates the area to regenerate. As it is extracted from your own blood, it is a perfect match.
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