All Posts in Category: Hair Transplant

What Should I Look for in my Hair Transplant Surgeon

What Should I Look for in my Hair Transplant Surgeon?

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In Australia, you can find a long list of surgeons, all with varying credentials under their belt. As a potential patient in search for a way out of your hair loss dilemma, finding a hair transplant surgeon is the most critical aspect. To make an informed decision, here are important pointers you need to keep in mind.

Training

Hair transplant is a specialized practice, which means that it is not enough for a doctor to be a general practitioner, he must also possess the necessary training and skills to perform surgery. Furthermore, not every surgeon is also qualified to perform hair transplant surgery because this practice requires a subspecialty to ensure that the surgeon has the expertise to perform this meticulous procedure.

When you do your research for a hair transplant surgeon, don’t set your foot down simply because he is a surgeon. Take a look at the finer and important details. Aside from the actual consultation, you can rely on references through word of mouth, Google, or you may look them up at the ISHRS (International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery) website. The ISHRS is a global non-profit medical association which is the leading authority on hair loss and replacement.

Experience

A hair transplant surgeon’s length of practice is also a good way to gauge his skills and expertise, although, this shouldn’t be the only factor to assess a surgeon’s experience. His knowledge and exposure to a variety of hair loss cases are also pertinent in knowing the kind of work he is capable of. For example, if you prefer an FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) over the traditional FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation), it is important to have a surgeon who is well versed in the former. See to it that he has handled a good amount of cases where he used the approach you prefer and was able to create highly satisfying results out of it.

 Clinics that specialize in FUE hair transplants are far and few between. This is a tricky procedure to perform, especially among patients with textured hair types, and there are not that many hair transplant surgeons in Sydney who are trained in FUE. Therefore, make it a point that you research or bring this up in your consultation.

If you choose an FUE you might want to ask the following questions:

  • Will the doctor be the one to extract the grafts?
  • Are the hair grafts extracted using a microscope or automated device?
  • What are the roles of technicians in the process?
  • Does the doctor use different methods for hair extraction?
  • How does he minimize resection rate?

For those who would opt for an FUT, here are important questions to ask your surgeon:

  • Will the grafts be microscopically dissected?
  • Do you use different methods to extract donor grafts?
  • Does technicians use stereo-microscopes?

Certification

A physician who can perform minor procedures such as a lipoma excision is not the same as a surgeon certified to perform a hair transplant. That piece of paper makes a world of difference that can either make or break your hair transplant results. It’s one thing for a surgeon to claim that he can perform hair transplant, and it’s another to have the concrete evidence to prove it. A certification means that he has passed the stringent criteria set by a governing body to be able to earn it.

When you visit or research a surgeon, always see to it that he is duly certified. You can look for these information on a clinic’s official website or you may also fact check these credentials in different medical directories online. With a lot of shady practitioners preying on people’s ignorance, it pays to be a step ahead of doing your homework.

Further Training

Hair transplant surgeons have conferences that are conducted for the sole purpose of advancing their knowledge, skills, and expertise for their practice. Continuing education is a critical aspect of making sure that your surgeon of choice keeps himself abreast of the latest developments in his field of practice. Hair transplant has undergone extensive refinement in techniques over the years. When you are under the care of one who hones his skills and expertise, it gives you a better chance at achieving a more natural-looking result.

Knowing the basic principles may no longer be enough when there is constantly new knowledge coming out. You would want to be under the care of someone who keeps his practice on point with further training, either locally or abroad.

With everything pretty much displayed online nowadays, you can find this information on a surgeon’s website or LinkedIn page. Again, we highlight the benefit of extensive research.

Number of Surgeries Performed

Don’t easily fall for the bait when surgeon’s say that they can finish an astounding amount of surgeries in one day. A good surgeon should not treat his practice like a race, instead, he should give each patient ample time to ensure that the desired results are achieved. You wouldn’t want to pay top dollar for something rushed, would you?

Furthermore, the number of surgeries performed also reveals a lot about the surgeon’s experience, especially on a particular procedure. In addition to that, it is also important to ask a surgeon’s success rate and revision rate.

Reputation

How the surgeon is perceived by his peers and the community is an important consideration for potential patients. Reputation is built on how the surgeon conducts his practice over the years and the results that came out of it. You can personally ask other patients or look into online forums and pages. Sites like RealSelf offers insights about surgeons and their practice which could be very helpful in your decision-making process.

Portfolio

A hair transplant surgeon’s portfolio is the best way for you to assess if the kind of results he is able to create is in tune with your aesthetic goals. Some surgeons show these on their official website, or you may ask for it during your consultation.

Bedside Manner

Good bedside manners is what sets a typical surgeon from those who practice with a heart. The way they treat you, answer your questions, or provide the necessary details to allay your anxiety is a major plus on top of his credentials. A good surgeon also takes the time to educate a patient, clarify any misconceptions, and mindful of a patient’s aesthetic preferences is someone who should be on your list.

Professional Fee

A surgeon’s professional fee is also worth considering. You need to keep your guard up from surgeons who offer you a hair transplant at a remarkably cheaper price compared to others in that region. It may benefit your budget, but it doesn’t necessarily translate to success. Hair transplant surgeons will put a premium on their service due to the amount of training and experience required of them. This explains why their professional fee also comes at a price. It is true when they say that, if it sounds too good to be true, chances are it actually is.

Hopefully, these tips will help narrow down your list as you continue your search. Don’t just jump into a hair transplant just because you want to get on with it. Put yourself under capable and experienced professionals.

If you are looking for a hair transplant surgeon in Sydney, visit Dr. Daood today for a comprehensive evaluation. An ISHRS member with experience in both FUT and FUE call 1300 656 236 today for more information.

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Are You Too Young for a Hair Transplant

Are You Too Young for a Hair Transplant?

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Hair transplant is not an easy decision when you are desperately seeking solutions for your hair loss. Yes, it is one promising treatment, but you don’t necessarily get desired results when deciding on a whim. One of the major factors that must be considered first is your age. Read and learn why the right number matters.

The key in determining good candidates for hair transplant surgery is estimating how the patient’s hair loss pattern might progress. Since male hair loss also affects young men, those in their early twenties are often left embarrassed, unhappy, and desperate that they search for quick fixes.
So, is hair loss really the end all and be all in these cases?

The answer, for now, is no.

Hair Loss Progression

In order to understand the rationale behind advising young men against opting for hair transplant straightaway is to know the progression of hair loss.

It doesn’t take rocket science to realize that hair loss is a progressive condition. It can leave a man completely bald, or it can result in a certain shape hence the term male pattern baldness. Hairs don’t shed overnight, rather it takes its time, sometimes thinning out first before it falls off.

When the effects of hair loss start to become obvious, those affected would often want to look good now. It is only understandable especially for men in their 20s when it is supposedly the prime of their life and you should be sporting youthful features. Aside from their own issues about it, some find it affecting their dating life or their career.
The distress that occurs over losing one’s hair is legitimate and it shouldn’t be brushed aside. But it also shouldn’t be done without careful consideration of one’s age.

Age Matters

Surgeons definitely proceed with caution before approving a candidate who is under the age of 18, or even those who are in their early 20s. It is in rare cases when teenage hair loss patients who wish to undergo the procedure are carefully vetted first before being approved – if they are approved at all.

For best results, it is advised that you wait until the hair loss process has slowed down or stabilized before undergoing a hair transplant. If you jump right into surgery, it’s still too early in the hair loss process to predict the pattern that your hair loss would take. As a result, your transplant may end up looking unnatural as you lose more hair. The transplanted hair will look luscious and would grow with vigor, while the surrounding areas will continue to get thinner.

Other Options

Surgeons commonly advise patients to stabilize their hair loss first using medical management before even considering surgical hair restoration. Two of the mainstays for male pattern hair loss management are topical and oral medications. These two are well-studied medications for male hair loss and they have been proven to be effective as well.

There are also newer options available in the market today such as light therapy, protein-rich plasma injections, etc. Once the hair loss has become stable, then one can consider having surgical hair restoration.

There are some surgeons who may provide a minor hair transplant to provide some density at the hairline with the understanding that you will likely need additional treatment in the future as your hair loss progresses.

The Right Age

It is the responsibility of surgeons to guide patients with their own anxieties. It is the ethical practice that they give them the hard facts instead of just simply going with what the patient wants but sacrificing aesthetic outcome in the future. Also, you wouldn’t want to risk using donor hairs which are of a very limited supply.

The improvements and increased reliability of hair transplant surgery might have exploded its popularity today, this could mean that patients are undergoing surgery when it isn’t really for their best interest. It could leave these patients disappointed five to ten years later when they are left with poorly-designed hairlines with very little consideration for a natural look.

Most hair transplant surgeons agree that the minimum age for a hair transplant is 25 and the ideal age is 40 and above. At 25 the surgeons have some idea as to how the hair loss is progressing and what can be done to approach it surgically.

Young, desperate and anxious patients are vulnerable and could jump at any easy solution. But having read this information, we hope that you now see the bigger reason behind the right age for hair transplant surgery. Look ahead instead of rushing into it today as inappropriate surgery could have you living to regret it.

Trust a hair transplant surgeon who is knowledgeable in hair loss for more information that is specific to your concerns. It doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything about your hair loss today. Book your consultation at the Sydney Hair Transplant and let Dr. Daood and his team help you.

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Top 5 Factors that Increases Your Risk for Hair Loss

Top 5 Factors that Increases Your Risk for Hair Loss

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Are you wondering what in the world is causing your hair loss? You might be at a point where you find yourself alarmed at the amount of hair that’s been shedding, or the senseless exodus when you believe that you have been every inch the health buff. However, like an unraveling mystery, or bodies can sometimes surprise us. Here are 5 of the top reasons that would make you a potential hair loss victim.

Genetics

It has always been an erroneous belief that the hair loss gene hailed from the maternal side of the family. While it is true that the genetic factor for baldness is carried by the X chromosome, which you get from your mom, it is not necessarily true that it is the sole culprit. Genetic hair loss, or male/female pattern baldness, can also be passed down by the paternal genes.

Based on research, this form of hair loss is attributed to a particular androgen or male hormone. This androgen, which is tagged to be the main culprit for hair loss, is Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is not to say that this particular hormone is bad in and of itself, as it also provides a number of important functions for the body like the development of the male genitalia in the womb.

Hair loss occurs when DHT attaches to androgen receptors on hair follicles which then triggers the receptors to start miniaturization process. Eventually, the hairs affected sheds off resulting in bald patches which that takes on certain shape hence the term “pattern baldness”. Experts have yet to fully understand why the effects of DHT are more profound in some individuals compared to others. However certain possible factors that have been pointed out include:

  • Increased local DHT production
  • Increased DHT receptors
  • Increased sensitivity of the androgen receptor
  • Increased amount of circulating testosterone which is a DHT precursor

Age

We often associate hair loss with old age, however, if you look at the trend this is not necessarily the case. There are a lot of hair loss sufferers who lose their locks and even end up bald, at an early age. Although, age-related hair loss is mostly experienced by individuals who are in their twilight years due to the gradual decline of the structures.

If you look at the progression of hair loss, it is usually in the late twenties to the mid-thirties that changes in the overall appearance and density of the hairs start. Pattern hair loss at a younger age has not yet fully revealed since it may still advance over the years. This is a key consideration for individuals who will be considering a hair transplant.

In the event that an elective surgery is done at an early age, future surgeries might have to be done to maintain the natural appearance. It is for this reason that you should be properly advised by a certified and experienced surgeon because procedures done too early may have to be surgically corrected.

Read: Why Are Young Men Losing Hair Early

Disease or Illness

Certain conditions can result in hair loss, such as thyroid diseases (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism), ringworm of the scalp, or Systemic lupus erythematosus. Hair loss is only incidental to the condition due to the depletion of certain nutrients in the body or hormonal shifts.

The common symptoms of thyroid problems in include scattered hair loss and this is true for both an underactive and overactive thyroid. Fortunately, the hair loss caused by this condition can be reversed with proper treatment.

Ringworm is a fungal infection that when left untreated will result in permanent scarring. Severe infections will still result in patches of hair loss even after treatment has been done.

A more serious condition associated with hair loss is lupus, an autoimmune condition which destroys the hair follicles. Furthermore, the medicines used can also trigger more hair shedding. To manage the problem suggestions include, wigs, hair wraps, hair extensions, or a hair transplant.

Other health problems with hair loss as presenting symptoms include heavy metal poisoning, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, late-stage syphilis, HIV and any severe ongoing or chronic illness. 

Medicines and medical treatments

Medications may be formulated to provide therapeutic effects, however, it is also inherent in their chemical makeup that they also pose a certain risk. This effect is a result of the interference of the normal hair growth cycle resulting in two types of hair loss, Telogen effluvium, and Anagen Effluvium. The list of medications that cause this problem include:

  • Anticoagulants
  • Large doses of Vitamin A
  • Beta-Blockers
  • Antidepressants
  • Gout Medications
  • ACE (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme) Inhibitors
  • Male and Female hormones

Medical treatments like Chemotherapy or dialysis may also result in hair changes which may eventually lead to hair loss. This is a reaction to malnutrition or the side effects of the medications used which leaves the patient immunocompromised. Fortunately, this type of hair loss is reversible once the course of treatment is finished.

Hair care and styling

The way you style your hair can pose a negative effect on the entire structure, especially if you wear it for prolonged periods of time. This is referred to as traction alopecia, caused by the strong amount of pressure applied on the roots of the hair follicles. Studies show that this is common among African-American hairstyles which tend to be scalp-pulling, similar to the tension created by weaves and extensions.

Read: Top-Knots and Man Buns: Hairstyles that Lead to Hair Loss in Men

Hair loss is a multifactorial phenomenon which has to be scrutinized more carefully if you are serious about getting the proper treatment and the likelihood of it being effective. To this effect, it is important that you find a good hair loss expert or surgeon, to guide you through the process of restoration.

If you have more questions, feel free to drop Sydney Hair Transplant Clinic a message.

Photo Source: Pexels.com

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Why is a Hair Transplant Worth Your Penny

Why is a Hair Transplant Worth Your Penny?

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There may be some bad news for those men who are not so lucky on the hair department. A recent survey showed that men who got a hair transplant were seen to be younger and attractive. On the other hand, balding men are thought to be older and less good-looking. So for those who are willing to brave the surgical treatment, you might be treading the right course!

One of the main reason why men get a hair transplant is to improve the way they look. Another affirmation that reflects the change they wish to create is the perception of others. So how does the general public react to a hair transplant or its results for that matter?

The Study and Its Relevance

A team led by Dr. Lisa Ishii of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine conducted a study to determine if hair transplant improves an observer’s observation on a patient’s age, attractiveness, successfulness, and approachability.

These efforts were driven by Ishii’s concern as to the lack of data on how much hair transplant really improve a person’s image. She explains that the procedure has been done for years with everybody assuming that it does something for the appearance, however that was never measured.

The randomized controlled experiment conducted between November 10 to December 6, 2015 used web-based survey with 122 volunteers. Participants were shown 2 side by side photos of 13 men in various ages, where 7 of whom have androgenetic alopecia but underwent hair transplant surgery.

The researchers concluded that men looked younger after a hair transplant. Furthermore, they are also perceived to be approachable, attractive and successful compared to those who have not undergone the procedure.

Aside from the difference in terms of aesthetics, these results are also relevant in other aspects. For instance, it plays a substantial role in the workplace and other social interactions. Experts are saying that having done so gives men more confidence, and that reflects on how they carry themselves further improving their attractiveness.

Hair Transplant

Despite the fact that hair transplant has been done for several years now, many people remain to be apprehensive about it. It may be the most invasive hair restoration process, but it has also improved so much. The techniques are done in such a way that results come out looking natural and the scars are better concealed.

Back in the day, people are particularly holding out on techniques like the FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) because it creates a strip of scar that runs across the back of the scalp. This limits the person from wearing short hairstyles because it reveals that a procedure has been done. However, with the use of a trichophytic closure, it is possible to conceal scars better. FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) also makes it possible to reduce scar formation and healing time.

This, among many others, is the reason why a lot of men are gaining more confidence over the procedure. And a surgeon’s portfolio would give you the receipts you need to trust the procedure. Statistics also showed that hair transplant increased by up to 76% from 2006 to 2014.

A lot of men are realizing that hair loss affected their appearance and their self-esteem putting them at a disadvantage at work or in other social situations prompting them to seek this procedure.

The Catch

However, before you go ahead and sign up for a procedure, it is worth noting that hair transplant is not that simple. As much as it can improve a person’s look and confidence, it can also go the total opposite. This all boils down to your surgeon of choice.

It can be remembered that hair transplant has been tossed out to the sidelines and ridiculed for creating unnatural results. However, we are far from that now because men suffering from hair loss can actually do something beautiful about their balding pate.

It takes a good deal of artistry and precision to ensure that an excellent result will come out of it. You just can’t randomly pick any hair surgeon without carefully scrutinizing their work. So you have to do your homework and make sure that you choose wisely. And when you do, the recent study results show what is coming to you.

Hair transplants are really worth the cost for men, and even for women, who are trying to cope with their hair loss granted that it is also done properly. The bottomline here is that any decision to undergo the procedure should be made for the person’s best interest, and not mainly to please a crowd.

To know more about how a hair transplant, come and talk to us at the Sydney Hair Transplant clinic. We perform FUT and FUE to ensure that you have a range of options to achieve the natural-looking results you wish to achieve. Book your consult today, and let’s get started!

Photo Source: Pexels.com

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