From: Dragonette, Inc., 205 W. Wacker, Suite 2200, Chicago, IL 60606
FOR: The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, 930 Meacham Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173
Contact:
Shari Cartwright
(312) 424-5311
E-mail: [email protected]
GENDER AND ETHNICITY MAY DETERMINE CHOICE OF
SURGICAL TECHNIQUES FOR HAIR RESTORATION
New Research Explores the Similarities and Differences
BARCELONA, Spain (October 15, 1997) -People of Asian descent, black people, and females may require different surgical techniques for hair restoration than the typical standards used for Caucasian males, according to a clinical study to be presented at the annual meeting of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) in Barcelona, Spain, October 15-19. Hair restoration specialists use a variety of transplant techniques to "harvest" groups of individual hair follicles from a denser area, usually the fringe above the ears and around the back of the head, and graft those into a thinning area, most commonly the crown and front of the scalp.
"While hair transplantation for blacks, Asians and females is quite similar to that used for Caucasian males, there are several differences that must be considered to ensure the best results," said Pierre Bouhanna, M.D., Expert Aupres du Ministere de la Sante and Attache de Consultation a L'Hopital Saint-Louis, Paris, France. "Many parameters of the scalp and the hair shaft have to be carefully determined in order to choose the surgical techniques that will be most effective. Patients in these groups should ask their hair restoration specialist about these special considerations."
The retrospective study included a total of 370 patients and covered a period of 12 years. The patient group included black men and women as well as men and women of Asian descent. The study noted that certain aspects of hair restoration surgery needed to be different for each of the ethnic groups, including: the specific donor areas for harvesting hair grafts; the particular slit or hole and the puncture technique used; and the size and shape of the grafts.
People in various ethnic groups were shown to be more likely to have specific patterns of hair loss. For instance, androgenetic alopecia, a pattern of balding that is controlled by hormones, is more frequent in black males and Asian females. Traction alopecia, or balding from the hair being pulled, is experienced almost exclusively by black females.
Modern surgical techniques, which have developed in hair restoration surgery in recent years, have provided new options that make hair restoration easier for patients. Scalp reduction, a procedure used to remove areas of bald scalp, brings the hair-bearing scalp closer together. The tissue extender is a scalp-stretching device which is used in a two- or three-stage operation to increase the hair-bearing area and provide additional surface to cover the bald area. The tissue expander is a balloon-like surgical device that enlarges the surface area of hair-bearing scalp and allows the specialist to rotate a flap of scalp with hair to a position that will cover a balding area. The flap technique is a procedure in which a large portion of donor hair is transferred from the back and sides of the scalp to the front and central areas of the head.
The study showed that certain techniques were more likely to be effective for people of some ethnic groups than others. According to the study, micrografts (containing one to four hair follicles) and minigrafts (containing five to eight hair follicles) were more useful for Asian males and minigrafts were better for Asian females. Larger grafts were found to be more effective for black males and females.
"In some cases, it is more effective to use a combination of techniques," said Dr. Bouhanna. "We may complement the minigrafts or micrografts with another procedure, such as scalp reduction, tissue extenders, tissue expanders or minivertical flaps."
Despite the recent introduction of products claiming to stimulate hair growth, hair restoration surgery remains the only permanent solution for hair loss, or alopecia, a problem that affects two in five (35 million) males, and one in four (21 million) females in the U.S. Temporary topical remedies such as Minoxidil (Rogaine) often fail to provide expected results. According to a recent study, Minoxidil provides a dense regrowth of hair in only five to ten percent of cases, and moderate hair growth in only 15 to 20 percent of cases. In clinical trials of women ages 18 to 45 with mild to moderate degrees of hair loss, only 19 percent reported only moderate regrowth, while 40 percent had minimal regrowth after using Minoxidil for eight months. Additionally, hair growth will cease if Minoxidil is not applied twice daily.
Founded in 1992, ISHRS is the largest professional international organization in the field of hair restoration surgery and is dedicated to promoting the advancement of the specialty through education and continuing quality improvement. A not-for-profit voluntary organization, ISHRS membership is composed more than 900 physicians and hair restoration specialists. Consumers in the United States looking for a hair restoration specialist in their area may call 1-800-444-2737 for a referral.
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NOTE TO EDITORS:
This information, compiled for worldwide distribution, refers to black people as a group without specifying those in particular countries, such as African-Americans.
The total of 370 patients included in this study is considered an acceptable base for studies on surgical procedures.
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