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]
PATIENTS SHOULD ASK ABOUT NUMBER OF HAIRS, NOT GRAFTS,
WHEN CONSIDERING HAIR RESTORATION SURGERY
Patients with Realistic Expectations Are More Likely to Be Satisfied
BARCELONA, Spain (October 15, 1997) - One of the misconceptions that patients often encounter in considering graft techniques for hair restoration surgery is that "more is better." If patients know the number of hairs to be transplanted, rather than the number of grafts, they will get a more accurate description of the hair restoration procedure and have more realistic expectations, according to a presentation scheduled for the annual meeting of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) in Barcelona, Spain, October 15-19.
"Our major goal should be to give the patient the most accurate and complete information possible about the hair transplantation process," said Jose Trevino, M.D., of the Hospital Metropolitano, Quito, Ecuador. "From the size of the donor strip, we estimate how many hairs are available for transplanting, and we explain to the patient how the grafts will used to reconstruct a hair line and provide coverage of the bald area."
Minigrafts (containing three to five hair follicles each) and micrografts (containing one to two hair follicles each) are currently used in transplantation to provide the most natural appearance, both immediately after surgery and after the grafts have grown. The grafts are harvested from a denser area, usually the fringe above the ears and around the back of the head.
"In determining how to produce the best results for a patient, the hair specialist must consider the total number of hairs available from the donor site, the size of the bald scalp to be covered, and the final density that can be achieved after two or three surgeries," said Dr. Trevino.
Each square centimeter of scalp from the donor area is likely to contain from 80 to 140 hairs, an average of approximately 120 hairs per sq. cm. If a donor area 15 cm. in length and 2 cm. in width is taken, approximately 3,600 hairs may be harvested.
"Micrografts with only one or two hair follicles each are arranged in a dense pattern to form a new hair line for the patient," said Dr. Trevino. "At that point, minigrafts with three to five hair follicles each are used to provide coverage over the remainder of the bald area."
When information on hair transplantation is classified in terms of number of grafts, the patient may get the impression that 3,000 micrografts (3,000 to 6,000 hair follicles) are better than 2,000 minigrafts (6,000 to 8,000 hair follicles).
"The main goal for the patient and the physician is to achieve the largest amount of hair possible in a natural and aesthetically appealing way," said Dr. Trevino. "It is more important that patients know how much hair will be transplanted in each surgery to give them the most aesthetically pleasing appearance. With this information, the patient will be more confident and will know what to expect at the end of the process."
Prior to the 1980s, specialists used large hair grafts containing up to 20 hair follicles (plugs), often creating an unusual hairline characterized by a "corn row" or "picket fence" effect. At that time, the surgery was considered painful and bloody, and left significant scarring on the scalp. Now, advances in technique and instrumentation for hair restoration surgery allow specialists to harvest much smaller pieces of donor tissue. Patients are able to leave specialists' office after transplants with no bandages and minimal pain.
With the growth in understanding of the properties of scalp tissue and patterns of baldness, specialists are able to devise a more effective surgical plan for each individual, often using a combination of several techniques to make the most of the person's available hair and baldness pattern.
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 of 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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