Why am I losing my hair?
Hair loss is a natural part of aging. Male-pattern baldness is a genetic condition, inheritied from your mother, father, or both. Almost every man will lose hair as he ages. Some men, however, lose significant amounts of hair at an early age. Certain medical conditions cause some forms of hair loss. For this reason, your physician will take a complete medical history and perform a careful evaluation to ensure that these causes have been considered.

Why does hair transplantation work?
Most men, even those with extensive baldness, retain hair on the sides and back of the head. Generally, this hair is retained for a lifetime. When hair is transferred from one part of the scalp to another, it retains the growth characteristics of the original site. As a result, hair taken from the back of the head can be successfully transplanted to the front, and will usualy grow for a lifetime.

Does the procedure work for women?
Although individual evaluation is necessary to determine candidacy, many women have had hair transplanted successfully. Because the pattern of hair loss in women tends to differ from men, the strategic placement of grafted hair needs to be carefully considered.

Will it be 'natural'?
Yes. It is your own hair. It will grow like your own hair, and need to be cut like the rest of your hair. Because the hair was removed from an area that usually does not bald, it will most likely grow for a lifetime.

Will it look 'natural'?
With recent advances of micrografts and minigrafts, it is possible to create very natural appearing hairlines. These grafts contain 1-5 hairs. Usually, individual single hairs are transplanted to mimick "mother nature". The use of smaller grafts in the front of the hairline helps to give a "feathered" appearance. Because the grafts are your own hair, they are perfectly matched to your hair color and texture, giving the most natural appearance. The goal is to make the hairline undetectable, and every effort is made to achieve this result.

How many sessions are needed?
In general, two to four sessions are needed to create an acceptable. This varies, however, depending on how much hair has been lost prior to transplantation and on the hair thickness desired. Be skeptical of claims of acceptable cosmetic results after only a single session. Individuals with very large areas of baldness in the back of the head sometimes benefit from a procedure called scalp reductrion, in which the areas of bald scalp are surgically removed. Often, this allows for the more efficient use of transplantable hair.

Are there any risks involved?
All surgery involves some risk, although blood loss is usually minimal and infection is uncommon (less than 1/100). Every time surgery is performed on the skin a scar results. Small scars result when hair is removed from the back of the scalp, and placed in the front. These tiny scars are not noticeable to most casual observers. Once newly transplanted hair begins to grow, it usually covers the graft site. Most commonly, there is no visible evidence of the procedure having been performed.

How is procedure done?
A strip of hair bearing skin is removed from the back of the scalp. The strip is then divided into several small pieces. Some of the small grafts contain three to five hairs, others contain single hairs. These grafts are then placed at strategic points along the front of the scalp to creatre a new hairline. This hairline is created in series of procedures. Hair transplantation can be used to treat any area of hair loss.

Have there been any new developments in hair transplantation?
Yes! Hair transplantation was developed by dermatologists over 35 years ago. Since then, new techniques have been devised that greatly improve the results. The pluggy, dolls head look of the past is gone. Smaller grafts, called minigrafts and micrografts, are now used to create a more natural appearance, and to eliminate the "corn row" hairline. However, there is no substitute for meticulous attention to detail, and the intrinsic artistic skills of the surgeon.

Is the procuedure painful?
Because of newer, modern anesthetics, there is very little or no discomfort during the procedure. A local anesthetic is used to numb the scalp. A mild sedative is often given prior to the procedure to further relax the patient. Some patients actually fall asleep during the procedure.

Who can have the procedure?
The great majority of men with male-pattern hair loss can benefit from the procedure. Each individual has only a limited amount hair than can be transplanted. This means that those with very extensive hair loss may not be able to cover a sufficient area of the scalp to be cosmetically acceptable. However, with the advent of micrografting, even some men with very severe hair loss can benefit. Each individual is unique and only after consultation with your physician can your suitability for the procedure be determined.

What can I expect after surgery?
For safety reasons, patients should arrange for someone to drive them home after surgery. Most patients experience little or no pain. Should this occur, your physician will give you proper medication to alleviate the discomfort. Small crusts will form over the graft sites. Once these detach, the scalp surgery will be virtually invisible. The newly transplanted hair will begin to grow in about 3 months.