If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of people who suffer from hair loss, you’ve probably already tried pills and potions, gimmicks and gadgets and come to the conclusion that they either don’t work or have so many down-sides that they aren’t worth the investment of time or money. You may have given up.

But before you throw in the towel on your dream of having a healthy head of normal, natural hair – without unhealthy side effects – there’s one solution you probably haven’t tried that may bear looking into: hair transplantation, or permanent hair replacement surgery.

Yikes, you say, that sounds like Frankenstein! But remember, Frankenstein was bald. Joking aside, hair replacement is no more “weird” than having your teeth whitened. If you have it done by a knowledgeable physician, you’ll have no bandages or scarring, little or no down time, and you will be able to return to work the following day. Doll’s-head hair (where hair grows out of little holes in clusters) and hair plugs, embarrassing toupees and wigs – these are things of the past, no longer needed with modern advancements in hair replacement.

The first step is to find a highly skilled physician, preferably one who does surgeries of this kind every day. You will probably have to travel to him or her, as doctors who know state-of-the-art technology in hair surgery are rare. If you choose a doctor of lower quality, you’ll receive the old kind of surgery, and hundreds of thousands of embarrassed and sorry patients have found that very unsatisfactory. Insist on a specialist who at the time of the consult allows you to watch a surgery in progress and to speak with many, many satisfied patients. Don’t be fooled by a doctor’s fancy-sounding jargon. Anyone can talk. A good hair doctor will have personally done thousands of surgeries and can let you speak to as many patients as you like. Only true experts can deliver the goods.

When you’ve selected a quality doctor and had your pre-op consultation, you’ll be scheduled for the procedure. On the day of the surgery, you’ll receive a local anesthetic to completely numb your scalp. Most patients read a book or watch TV during the operation, which takes from three to five hours. During this time, your doctor will remove a single strip of follicles (usually from the back of your head or the area above the ears). This incision will be sutured shut, and your hair in that area will cover the spot completely.

The doctor, supported by a team of highly trained technicians, will dissect individual hair follicles from the strip and prepare them for hair transplantation. One- to three-thousand follicles are harvested and separated per hair strip by the doctor supervising a large support staff doing this painstaking work.

The doctor will next make incisions much like paper cuts on your scalp in areas that are bald or badly thinning. Into these tiny incisions the roots (now called “grafts”) will be planted singly, in twos or in threes. No skilled doctor will hole-punch and stick clusters of follicles together in the holes (the odious, old-fashioned procedure which produces doll’s-head hair). One by one is the secret for beautiful hair and a natural-looking hairline.

Following this surgery, new growth will begin in as little as three to six months with complete growth by ten to twelve months. hair growth is then evaluated, and subsequent procedures may be performed based on the patient’s personal preference. When a qualified physician is performing the procedure, most patients do not require more than two sessions.

You will be sent home with pain medication if you desire it, but most people manage their one-to-two-day minor discomfort with over-the-counter drugs like Tylenol. Antibiotics, Rogaine or Propecia may be prescribed for a brief period. You’ll be able to return to normal activities within two days following surgery, with the exception of heavy lifting for a short period.

After the initial dormant time, your transplanted follicles will return to their business of growing hair again. You can expect these roots to keep on growing healthy, natural-looking hair for the rest of your life. Although they now cover areas that once were bald or thinning, the new follicles are not prone to baldness, having been harvested from an area of the head that is genetically resistant to hair loss. You’re on your own and good to go with no need for maintenance, no negative side effects, and no ongoing emptying of your purse. Now really, does that sound like Frankenstein to you?

Lawrence Shapiro
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/permanent-hair-replacement-or-hair-transplant-surgery-how-it-works-111205.html

An important factor most people overlook when they discuss a thinning or hair loss problem is nutrition. The modern diet for most of us is lacking at best. We should supplement our diets with vitamin and mineral supplementation. Even those of us who really watch what we eat, may not be getting enough of the key nutrient necessary for healthy hair growth. Getting proper nutrition is vital to healthy hair growth, while your body needs a variety of nutrients to maintain proper body functions, there are a handful that are key to hair growth and health.

First we need to caution you that when starting a new vitamin regime, consistency is very important. You also need to be patient, it normally takes from 2 to 3 months to see results in your hair’s condition. It’s also important to check with your doctor before starting a vitamin program, especially if you have health concerns.

Now that we have set a few parameters and made our cautionary statements, let look at some of the more important vitamins when it comes to hair health in no specific order. In an attempt to be as useful as possible we will list the vitamin, any good food sources, and a recommended daily dose for supplementation:

1. Vitamin A – Antioxidant that helps produce healthy sebum in the scalp. Food sources: Fish liver oil, meat, milk, cheese, eggs, spinach, carrots, apricots and peaches. Daily Dose: 5,000 IU.

2. Vitamin C – Antioxidant that helps maintain skin & hair health. Food sources: Citrus fruits, strawberries, pineapple, tomatoes, green peppers, potatoes and dark green vegetables. Daily Dose: 60 mg.

3. Vitamin E – Antioxidant that enhances scalp circulation. Food sources: Cold-pressed vegetable oils, wheat germ oil, soybeans, raw seeds and nuts, dried beans, and leafy green vegetables. Daily dose: Up to 400 IU. Warnings: Can raise blood pressure and reduce blood clotting. People taking high blood pressure medication or anticoagulants should check with their doctors before taking Vitamin E supplements.

4. Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) – Prevents graying and hair loss. Food sources: Whole grain cereals, brewer’s yeast, organ meats and egg yolks. Daily dose: 4-7 mg.

5. Vitamin B6 – Prevents hair loss, helps create melanin, which gives hair its color. Food sources: Brewer’s yeast, liver, whole grain cereals, vegetables, organ meats and egg yolk. Daily dose: 1.6 mg. Vitamin B12 – Prevents hair loss. Food sources: Chicken, fish, eggs and milk. Daily dose

6. Biotin – Helps produce keratin, may prevent graying and hair loss. Food sources: Brewer’s yeast, whole grains, egg yolks, liver, rice and milk. Daily dose: 150-300 mcg.

7. Inositol – Keeps hair follicles healthy at the cellular level. Food sources: Whole grains, brewer’s yeast, liver and citrus fruits. Daily Dose: Up to 600 mg.

8. Niacin (Vitamin B3) – Promotes scalp circulation. Food sources: Brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, fish, chicken, turkey and meat. Daily dose: 15 mg.

9. Biotin – Helps produce keratin, may prevent graying and hair loss. Food sources: Brewer’s yeast, whole grains, egg yolks, liver, rice and milk. Daily dose: 150-300 mcg.

10. Inositol – Keeps hair follicles healthy at the cellular level. Food sources: Whole grains, brewer’s yeast, liver and citrus fruits. Daily Dose: Up to 600 mg.

I hope this give you at least a basic understanding of what vitamins can help with hair thinning and or hair loss problems. There are many other products available that can be helpful. There are several prescription drug regimes to try, so take the time to speak with your doctor. There are also many herbal and natural hair growth remedies available without a prescription, we believe strongly that you should also discuss these products with your doctor.

Eddie Yakubovich

There has been a recent surge of interest in “laser hair transplantation” that has paralleled the increased use of lasers for a wide variety of cosmetic surgical procedures. Lasers generate great enthusiasm on the part of both physician and patient, but this has sometimes exceeded the actual value of the laser as a surgical tool. An obvious example has been the use of the CO2 laser as a nonselective, destructive modality to remove tattoos which left scarring and a cosmetic deformity worse than the tattoo itself. This has been subsequently replaced by pulsed lasers with specific pigment absorption (such as the Nd:YAG, Ruby, and Alexandrite lasers) operating on the principle of selective photothermolysis that truly offers benefit in the treatment of these lesions. Super- and ultra-pulsed CO2 lasers are now being used to replace “cold steel” in generating hair transplant sites. However, before we rush to use lasers in hair restoration surgery, we should first apply logic and reason to this application, and then proceed cautiously with carefully controlled studies so our patients will only benefit from its use. The following discussion will address various aspects of current laser technology in the specific context of the most recent advances in hair transplantation techniques. The intent will be to challenge the theoretical basis for the use of existing lasers, to question some dubious claims regarding their benefits, and to suggest future areas of laser research.

WHAT IS A LASER hair TRANSPLANT?

First, it is important to clarify what is meant by “laser hair transplantation.” The present role of lasers is to solely create the holes or slits (recipient sites) for the grafts to be inserted into. To consider this a “laser transplant” is to ignore the myriad of other factors that contribute to making the procedure successful. Until lasers are involved in other major components of the transplant, such as harvesting, graft dissection, or placing, “laser hair transplantation” should be replaced with a term such as “laser site creation” to more accurately reflect its current role in the procedure.

A PAINLESS PROCEDURE?

The claim that laser transplantation is a painless process is misleading. The lasers currently being used are “ultra – or super – pulsed” CO2 lasers. Unlike lasers that operate by selective photothermolysis, these lasers create a hole by simply vaporizing tissue. Because the pulse (span of time the beam is on at any given moment) of these new lasers is extremely short, there is not much heat transfer or injury to “surrounding tissues.” Nevertheless, the tissue which the laser acts upon is nonselectively destroyed. Because of this, the laser is extremely painful unless local anesthesia is administered to completely numb the area prior to its use. Thus, it is not the laser that is painless. The pain-free environment is set up by the preoperative anesthesia used in all transplant procedures.

BLOODLESS SURGERY

The next claim, that the laser procedure is relatively bloodless, minimizes the most important physiological consideration determining the success of the transplant, namely oxygenation. The hair transplantation process should be aimed at maximizing blood flow to the implanted hair follicles, rather than reducing it, and any manipulation that compromises proper oxygenation will potentially compromise graft survival. Preliminary results suggest that when the laser sites are compared to sites made with conventional surgery, “a few patients have shown less hair yield in some of the laser grafts [1].” Dr. Unger points out that when making conventional slit sizes with the laser, “we are close to an unacceptable width of thermal damage.” The experience of Khan is similar, and he expresses special concerns of decreased growth when the distance between laser sites is 1 mm or less [2]. When using extensive micrografting techniques, the spaces between grafts are often in this range, and the cumulative thermal damage produced in large sessions may prove disastrous. It is, therefore, extremely important to objectively measure the impact of the coagulating effects of the laser on blood supply and graft survival in the setting of extensive micrografting, since this does appear to be the trend of the future [3]. As with electrosurgery, the laser specifications can be modified so that there is relatively more cutting than coagulation. It seems reasonable that work be focused in this direction, as this will decrease thermal injury while, at the same time, taking advantage of the laser?s ability to make rapid, uniform sites.

PROBLEMS WITH HEMOSTASIS

The coagulating effect of the CO2 laser may enhance visibility during the procedure, but the application of bi-manual traction on the skin and the judicious use of epinephrine can also provide hemostasis and allow for adequate visibility during both site creation and the placing of grafts without compromising the blood supply. Cold steel techniques that produced defects in the recipient area in the form of slits, 2-6 mm in length, or punches 1.5-5 mm in diameter, significantly compromise blood flow to the recipient site and reduce graft survival when the transplants are made too close. The laser has the added detrimental effect of sealing off the microvasculature. The poor growth with older techniques taught us the vital importance of preserving the vascularity in the recipient area, and this lesson should not be wasted when trying to increase operative visibility with the laser, especially when this can be accomplished by simpler means.

INTEGRETY OF THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Another problem created by the laser is the destruction of dermal collagen and elastic fibers. This effect on recipient tissues causes a decrease in normal skin elasticity and, as a result, grafts have an increased tendency to fall out from laser-made sites. Certainly, one would have to question if the grafts that remain are secure enough to ensure optimal growth. Work by Beeson has shown laser sites to have more necrosis and scarring 3 days after surgery and more fibrosis at 2 months than with the sites made with steel [3]. The elasticity of normal skin allows the recipient site to grasp the small follicular implants and secure them in place. This assures for the close proximity of the sides of the implant to the dermis in the recipient site, which serves to minimize microscopic dead space and hematoma formation, and facilitate healing. In a new method of hair restoration surgery recently described in the International Journal of Hair Restoration Surgery [4], where the actual follicular units are used as the implant, recipient wounds as small as 1.0 to 1.3 mm in length can accommodate as many as four hairs. This is accomplished by taking advantage of the anatomic proximity of hair within each naturally occurring group and discarding the intervening skin in the dissection. In this situation, the preservation of recipient dermal elasticity is evidenced by the fact that patients undergoing follicular transplant procedures are able to shower and gently rinse the transplanted area the day after surgery without the risk of losing their grafts. In addition, the rapid healing allows oozing and crust formation to subside over this same 24-hour period. When healing is complete, there is no clinical evidence of scarring, even when the scalp is shaved.

LASERS: NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR AN OUTDATED TECHNIQUE

The major advantage that lasers are claimed to have over traditional slit and punch grafting is that they can create a slit (which purportedly looks more natural than a hole created by a punch), while, at the same time, removing tissue like a punch to make more room for the implant, in effect, having the best of both worlds. In the older techniques, where the grafts were not “anatomic” and contained hair that reached across multiple follicular units, the recipient site needed to accommodate it was unduly large, causing poor healing, as well as graft compression. In follicular transplantation, neither large slits nor punches are required to accept the donor grafts. By identifying the patient?s natural hair groupings, the implants can be pre-trimmed of the excess tissue between the groups, resulting in tiny follicular units that can be placed in very small sites, solving the problems of both recipient bulkiness and compression. Therefore, the claim that lasers have the advantage of removing recipient tissue while creating a slit has no relevance in follicular transplantation.

THE DIRECTION FOR LASER RESEARCH

Future laser research should be directed toward a technology that could “read” the follicular groups “in situ.” In the donor area, the laser would dissect away the tissue between follicular units having the effect of decreasing the transplanted volume of skin, while maximizing the transplanted quantity of hair; producing an implant containing hair groups matching those found in nature.

In the recipient area, current laser use is limited to areas relatively devoid of hair, as the beam would obviously damage any adjacent follicles. It is also limited in its ability to re-treat an area already transplanted, unless significant spacing were left between the previous grafts. In contrast, hand-made sites using a very small steel instrument can easily avoid existing hair or grafts, and if a follicle was “hit,” it would most likely survive the trauma or regenerate from its growth center. Much of current laser research has been directed to the production of a laser scanner that has the ability to rapidly produce uniform sites in either a grid-like pattern or random distribution without regard to the location of existing hair [5]. In order to be of general value, the laser must be able to identify the existing hair and make sites only in the intervening spaces, requiring a level of technology not presently available.

Another challenge of the laser scanner would be to compensate for variability in laser effects brought on by the inherent curvature of the skull. Not only will the changing contour serve to amplify or defocus the beam by altering the effective operating distance, it will also change the incident angle of the light source and, ultimately, the direction of the hair. These adjustments are now performed manually, but are, nevertheless, critical to a successful cosmetic outcome. There is also significant variability in the thickness of the scalp from one patient to another and in different regions of the scalp. The laser must be able to at least match the sensitivity of the human transplanter who can “feel” these differences and can limit the depth, sparing injury to the larger blood vessels and nerves. In order to have a more natural appearance, modern lasers should generate sites only in a random pattern rather than according to an organized template. Finally, artistic nuances used in creating a delicate hairline, a widow?s peak, the swirl of the crown, or in rebuilding the temples (with its abrupt directional changes) would be difficult to program into the laser and might still have to be accomplished manually.
A look at current research in hair transplantation worldwide suggests that in the near future, significant advances in hair restoration surgery may lie in automating the manual process, rather than in laser surgery per se. Mechanical instrumentation currently being developed will streamline the entire procedure, from the harvesting of the donor strip to the creation of sites with the simultaneous insertion of the implants. The role lasers will play in this overall process is still unclear.

CONCLUSIONS

As laser technology improves, laser sites become smaller, and the problem of thermal damage is adequately addressed, the advantage of rapidly producing large numbers of uniform sites will make the laser a more valuable tool. When the laser, directed at the donor area, can cut skin by “reading” the spaces between the natural hair units with minimal thermal injury, it will significantly alter the transplant process and create a more compelling argument for its use. And until the laser scanner can be designed to avoid existing hair, this instrument will not be truly versatile. Hopefully, this level of sophistication is not “light years” away. Until then, let us be cautious and allow time for science to catch up with our enthusiasm. Only when the power of the laser has been applied successfully to all of the critical elements of the procedure may we rightfully use the term “laser hair transplantation.”

REFERENCES

1. Unger WP. More on laser use. Hair Transplant Forum Int 1995; 6:15-16.

2. Arnold JE. Report on ASHRS Orlando meeting. Hair Transplant Forum Int 1995; 6:4-5.

3. Rassman WR, Carson S. Micrografting in extensive quantities. Dermatologic Surgery 1995; 21:306-311.

4. Bernstein RM, Rassman WR, Szaniawski W, Halperin AJ. Follicular transplantation. Int J Aesthetic Restorative Surg 1995; 3:119-132.

5. Unger WP. Laser Hair Transplanting. Int J Aesthetic Restorative Surg 1995; 3:137-142.

Robert M. Bernstein, MD, F.A.A.D.
http://www.articlesbase.com/men’s-health-articles/laser-hair-transplantation-state-of-the-art-711177.html

Hair loss is natural. According to dermatologists, a healthy individual can lose about one hundred hair strands in just one day. However, hair loss becomes an alarming condition when a person loses more than the usual amount of hair that he sheds. Moreover, hair loss also becomes a problem if there is no observable hair growth or if hair loss occurs in the form of patches. When a hair loss problem occurs, immediate treatment may be vital. In relation to the continuous discovery and development of various hair loss treatments these days, a significant breakthrough has been made by an international team of researchers.

Culprit for the Hypotrichosis Simplex

Through a recent research made, researchers have successfully discovered a gene that is responsible for the development of the Hypotrichosis simplex. This is a hair loss condition that is hereditary. When afflicted with this condition, the patient will experience the onset of baldness at an early age – particularly even before he reaches his teenage years. As the patient grows older, the hair loss condition worsens. Eventually, the person afflicted with the disease can go bald and even lose his body hair.

Dr. Regina Betz, the project leader from Bonn’s Institute of Human Genetics notes that their study is important primarily because it explores the mechanisms of hair growth. She points out that despite the fact that the occurrence of Hypotrichosis simplex is not very common, the findings of the study promote an overall understanding on the various factors that might contribute to the development of various forms of hair loss in general.

The study basically involved the analysis of the DNA samples of a Saudi-Arabian family, where four of the family members were diagnosed with Hypotrichosis simplex. The genetic material collected from the family provided the research project team with the key to understand the basic mechanisms of hair growth and the various factors that prompt the occurrence of hair loss conditions.

Based on the results of the study, the Hypotrichosis simplex is a genetic defect that is promoted by an improper growth of receptors that are vital for the natural hair growth process. When a person has this condition, the receptor structures on the surface of the hair follicles are not properly formed. The study notes that “when messengers from outside bind to these receptors (on the hair follicles), they trigger a chain reaction in the cell interior.” These receptors are needed for the hair follicle to function normally.

Discovering New Medications for Hair Loss

Dr. Markus Nöthen, Chair of Genetic Medicine at Bonn University’s Life & Brain Centre, further explains the importance of the recent study made. He notes that “the defective receptor structure falls into the category of what are known as G-protein-coupled receptors”. These receptors are the usual “points of impact” for various forms of medications and treatments for hair loss. In addition to that, the study also showed that there is an “endogenous messenger” that is responsible for binding the hair follicle with the receptor.

According to Dr. Ivar von Kügelgen from Bonn’s Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, the study has opened up new opportunities for various researches that are aimed at the development of “new active agents”. He further notes that dermatologists and scientists can now specifically focus on looking for some substances that can be used in various hair loss therapies. These new medications can then be used to cure not just Hypotrichosis simplex, but other types of hair loss conditions as well.

W. Darren -
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/study-discovers-genetic-receptors-responsible-for-hair-loss-701242.html

Everything takes time. Just be patient. (: