How Much Does Hair Transplant Cost?

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+Dr Vaibhav Shah

How Much Does Hair Transplant Cost?

          Every day many people call our office with one single question: how much do you charge per graft? To a serious, dedicated hair restoration surgery practice, this is simply an impossible question to answer. This is due to the complexity of a hair restoration procedure, and the inherent variability of the intrinsic physical and physiological factors of each individual patient. While I am very aware that many practices in this field, both corporate and private, charge "by-the-graft," I feel this makes as much sense as charging "by the valve" when performing valve replacement surgery on a patient's heart, or charging "by the cc" when performing a breast enhancement procedure.

             Make no mistake: charging hair restoration patients "by-the-graft" is the invention of the business man, not the physician.

                For example, when considering a rhinoplasty (e.g.: nose job), a patient will most often interview one or more surgeons to find the one they feel the most comfortable with, as the public recognizes that nasal surgery is difficult and the results are often permanent. Frequently in choosing a surgeon for rhinoplasty, a patient will strongly consider the surgeon's training, experience, and how often the surgeon performs the procedure.  After selecting the surgeon and meeting with him or her to discuss their wishes, and after the surgeon assesses the complexity of the proposed nasal surgery, a patient will typically receive a statement with "surgery fees" and "anesthesia/facility fees." Note that plastic surgeons who perform rhinoplasty surgery do NOT charge by the length of nose, they charge by the complexity of surgery. Most patients do not see a billboard saying "Season Special INR 50,000/- per nostril rhinoplasty, minimum 2 nostrils, at Nose Jobs R Us." One simply cannot respond to a billboard ad and feel good about nasal surgery results.

              Hair restoration is no different than any other permanent facial plastic surgical procedure, such as rhinoplasty or a facelift. Like a rhinoplasty, the procedure is difficult to perform when done well, and the results are permanent. The results are directly dependent on the skill, training, and experience of the surgeon, and the quality, experience, and talent of the technicians who will work with the hair follicles. I deeply respect hair restoration for what it is: a highly-complex surgical procedure involving not just myself, but my experienced team of full-time surgical technicians that brings unbelievable joy to men and women who suffer from hair loss. It is NOT a "plug-and-play" product that is the same anywhere you go as long as the "graft number" remains constant. This makes as much sense as saying every single automobile in the world is exactly the same provided they all have "4 tires."  In hair restoration, there are hundreds of subtleties and nuances that vary from person to person. It is a procedure that brings my patients a great deal of happiness; it restores their confidence, sense of youth and well-being. It is a procedure that simply cannot be boiled down to a "per-the-graft" pricing.

                 The bottom line is that getting the patient involved in the details of the surgery, and negotiating the number of hairs to be surgically relocated, is really just to distract you from the more important things that some medical practices would rather you not think about, such as the experience, background, and training of the actual surgeon (or non-surgeon, as is very often the case) who will be doing your hair restoration surgery. 

Dr. Vaibhav Shah

www.vaibhavshahblog.blogspot.com.

Anagen (Growth Phase).

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 +Dr Vaibhav Shah 

The normal hair growth cycle can be divided into three phases:

Anagen (Growth Phase)

Catagen (Regression Phase)

Telogen (Rest Phase)

           In anagen phase, a fully formed hair follicle is producing a mature hair at continuous rate of 0.35 mm/day. This growing phase lasts roughly 1000 days in men and 1500 days in women. While in catagen phase, the inferior portion of the hair follicles goes through a process of involution driven by programmed cell death. This regression phase lasts 2-3 weeks. During telogen, the hair follicle matures into a club hair, which eventually shed and lag phase occur where follicle is empty and no hair shaft is growing. Telogen phase lasts 2-3 months.

              In humans the hair follicular activity is asynchronous and neighboring follicles are normally at different stages of the hair growth cycle. At any given time, approximately 84-90% of scalp hairs are in anangen, 2% in catagen and 10-16% in telogen. If someone notices hair loss almost 100 hair/day, that should be considered normal hair fall in result of telogen.

              To know more about hair loss treatment and expert opinion about State of the Art Hair Transplant Surgery, Please contact Hair Transplant Dubai center. Outdated Hair Transplant Procedures  . Outdated surgical procedures for hair replacement include punch grafting, scalp reduction and flaps.  Punch Grafting is now, thankfully obsolete. Permanent hairs were removed from the back and sides of the head with punches. the resulting plugs of hair were then placed in the bald area like rows of corn.

              Scalp Reduction is a painful procedure in which the bald scalp is cut, then the back and side hair is pulled closer. This makes the scalp thin and tight, and causes hair to grow in inappropriate directions. Scars are also difficult, if not impossible to hide. Flaps involve a one inch wide strip of scalp taken from the back or side of the head and moved to the front. As with scalp reduction, hair in the flap grows in unnatural directions. A scar line is always present in front of the hairline and is difficult to hide.

             Fortunately, Dr. Vaibhav Shah  provides the skill and advanced technology to make those outmoded methods a thing of the past.

Dr. Vaibhav Shah

www.vaibhavshahblog.blogspot.com.

Body Hair Transplant.

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 +Dr Vaibhav Shah

Body Hair Transplant

Facial Hair Transplant

Facial hair transplantation is a commonly performed surgical procedure designed to transplant scalp hair to facial regions lacking density and fullness. Our offices specializes in FUE surgery, but we also perform linear strip surgery. The more modern hair restoration procedure to harvest follicles for facial hair transplantation is the FUE technique. With the FUE procedure the follicular grafts are harvested from the posterior or back portion of the scalp similar to traditional hair transplant procedures. The new hair grafts are then re-implanted in the facial regions requiring greater facial hair density.

 HOW WELL DOES THE NEW HAIR GROW?

The new facial hair typically grows like normal facial hair. The texture and other characteristics of the hair follicle harvested from the scalp, once grown back can be groomed, shaved or allowed to grow to any length similar to the original or native facial hair follicle. Once transplanted the new facial hairs are permanent and difficult to tell apart from the original hair.

    To ensure natural appearing facial hair, careful placement of the grafts at the correct angle and proper direction is required. For optimal graft survival after donor harvesting, careful handling of the grafts are essential.

HOW IS PROCEDURE PERFORMED & WHAT ARE THE RESULTS?

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia with an oral sedative. The procedure roughly takes 2 to 5 hours depending on the number of grafts harvested. The first few days after the procedure result in tiny crusts forming around each transplanted hair. Typically by the second day, patients are able to travel home and resume non-strenuous activities. The transplanted hairs will begin to fall out at around 4 weeks, and then start to regrow at 3-4 months.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS WITH FACIAL HAIR TRANSPLANTATION?

There are few risks with the procedure, and most are those associated with standard hair transplants. Depending upon the surgical technique selected by the patient, linear donor scarring may occur with the Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), commonly referred to as the Strip technique. If a patient selects the FUE technique using the NeoGraft or Safe System there may be 1mm hypopigmented areas in the donor site that is seen if the hair is shaved.

Dr. Vaibhav Shah

www.vaibhavshahblog.blogspot.com.

American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS)

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Dr Vaibhav Shah 

                                    American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS)

             The need for the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS) first surfaced in June 1995 at a Hair Replacement Surgery Seminar in Chicago. A group of speakers began discussing the need for a certifying board in hair replacement surgery. The discussion during the subsequent twelve months became more resolute as the press began to focus on hair replacement surgery, due to the many sensational stories on television and in print. In 1996, the American Hair Loss Council (AHLC) invited all of the specialty groups whose physicians performed hair restoration surgery to participate in a meeting to discuss the development of a Board Certification process for hair restoration surgery. The presidents of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery were each invited to send three representatives to a meeting to discuss the development of a certification process.

           Two significant events stimulated this first meeting. First, the AHLC was receiving many inquiries from the public about how to recognize a competent hair restoration surgeon. Secondly, the AHLC had been contacted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and advised of its plan to conduct an industry audit, on both the surgical and non-surgical aspects of hair replacement. This audit precipitated a discussion about self-regulation within the AHLC that led to that organization's invitation to its professional peers to discuss the development of a certification process.

          These representatives met twice. They recommended that an independent examining body be organized to develop a credentialing and examination process, the successful completion of which would assure the public of the individual's educational ability to perform safe, aesthetically sensitive hair replacement surgery.

          On June 10, 1996, the organizational meeting for a hair replacement surgery certification examination was held at the Hotel Intercontinental in New York City. This meeting heralded a new era in hair restoration: the formation of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery. Each of the societies represented at this meeting agreed that their respective organizations would accept and recognize this board as the only board certification focusing on hair restoration surgery.The first formal board meeting was held in Nashville on September 20, 1996. Officers were elected and committee chairpersons were appointed. They embarked on the development of a written and oral examination, each of which is statistically validated with regard to their ability to discriminate between those whose practice habits were consistent with safe, aesthetically sensitive hair restoration surgery.

              The ABHRS recently was recognized internationally. In 2000, at the request of the president of the European Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, the ABHRS began to offer its international candidates the option of having their certificates read "International Board of Hair Restoration Surgery." A certificate with this designation certifies successful completion of the same credentialing and examination process as the Diplomates of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery. Now with multiple examinations administered, the ABHRS exam stands as the only psychometrically and statistically validated examination dedicated to the specialty of hair restoration surgery.

Dr. Vaibhav Shah

www.vaibhavshahblog.blogspot.com.

Assessment of Quality Hair Transplant Surgery.

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Vaibhav Shah

Quality Hair Transplant Surgeon After full re-growth:

The Quality of a hair transplant surgery can be easily assessed by any one after full re-growth.

One has to look for the following aspects to assess the quality of the hair transplant:

Natural appearance of the transplanted grafts.

Hair density

Hairline Design

Coverage

Un-detectability of the post-operative scar.

Note: Visible growth of the transplanted hair can be seen only after 8 months following the surgery. How ever, It takes almost 15-18 months to achieve the density of the existing hair. A high quality surgery means, the orientation of the grown transplanted hair should mimic the original hair and it should not be evident that the patient has undergone the surgery (even to his hair dresser or his close friend).

     

During the operation: The quality of the surgery can be assessed, but it is better appreciated by the practicing surgeons or physicians.

Patient should be conscious and comfortable during the procedure.

The operating field should be clean with minimum blood loss.

Incorporating Trycophytic closure technique, to minimize the scar at the donor area.

Dissection under stereo microscopes, as it is the latest technique in hair transplantation surgery. ( produces ultra refined follicular units).

Micro incisions (< 0.7mm to 0.9mm) in the recipient area also determine the quality of the outcome.

Sterilization methods adapted by the surgeon. (very important as these prevent post operative infections ).

usage of anesthetics and drugs (minimal is better).

Presence of more number of qualified doctors in the team.

Surgery should be completed in the least possible time.

Bigger and skilled team always aid in reducing the time for the completion of surgery.

Dr. Vaibhav Shah

www.vaibhavshahblog.blogspot.com.

Forehead Lift.

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Dr Vaibhav Shah 

Dr Vaibhav Shah 

Forehead Lift

               As we age one of the most noticeable features is the descent of the eyebrows. The female eyebrows are normally arch shaped and above the level of the bony rim above the eyeball. The normal male eyebrow is usually at the level of the bony rim. In both males and females, aging causes the eyebrows to droop and overlap the eyelids.

               Many people feel that they need eyelid surgery because they have droopy upper eyelids. In actuality, they may need their forehead and eyebrows suspended back to their youthful position. If excess eyelid skin is removed in a patient with sagging brows, the condition can actually be worsened, because the tightening may cause the brow to descend even more. For this reason, it is important for the surgeon and patient to fully realize the contribution of droopy brows before removing eyelid skin. If the patient has droopy brows and excess eyelid skin, then they may be addressed at the same surgery.

              Some surgeons may fail to evaluate brow position and if too much eyelid skin is removed, a brow lifting procedure may be impossible in the future. For this reason, evaluation of the brow position must be considered.  Brow Lift - endoscopic technique, Richmond VA Elevating the eyebrows, a forehead and brow lift smooths the horizontal forehead wrinkles and decreases the activity of the muscles between the eyes and on the forehead that are responsible for scowling.

             Older methods of brow and forehead lifting require large incisions that extend across the entire scalp. These surgical approaches may lead to scalp numbness and hair loss. The new methods of brow lifting are done with endoscopes or conservative incision technique. This is the same type of technology that is used for arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery. Several small incisions are placed within the hairline and the endoscope is inserted under the scalp and the surgeon can visualize the tissues of forehead and eyebrow. Using special instrumentation, the surgery is performed without any large incisions and the recovery and complications are decreased. Endoscopic forehead and brow lifting is usually performed in the office surgery center environment with sedation. Recovery is about 7-10 days.

Dr. Vaibhav Shah

www.vaibhavshahblog.blogspot.com.