Millions of men and women suffer from pattern baldness in the United States. Although most commonly thought of as an issue for men, it is estimated that 40% of hair loss sufferers are women. As a plastic surgery office, we understand how important it is for both men and women to feel comfortable with the hair they have, so we began offering a procedure called NeoGraft.
NeoGraft is the least invasive hair restoration technique in the industry, that leaves no linear scars or stitches, and often produces natural-looking results. It uses a modern FUE (Follicular-Unit Extraction) microsurgical technique to take hair follicles from a donor site on the patient and transplant it to the needed area on the scalp.
Just like with any other cosmetic procedure, it is important to sit down with your doctor for a consultation and to discuss expectations relevant to your individual case. To help you better understand NeoGraft and to help determine if it sounds like something for you, we sat down with Dr. Fodero to discuss some common questions about the procedure.
Does it work just as well for both men and women?
Yes. Because NeoGraft/FUE is a minimally-invasive procedure, it is a viable option for both men and women looking to restore their own living and growing hair.
What are the biggest benefits of NeoGraft over other FUE hair transplant methods?
FUE is a minimally-invasive hair transplant method which allows for the harvesting of individual follicles from the donor area without a scalpel or stitches, therefore leaving no linear scar. When comparing NeoGraft to another method, ARTAS, the benefits are clear.
NeoGraft:
ARTAS:
How do I know if I’m eligible?
Most patients who have started to lose their hair will be good candidates since NeoGraft is approved for all hair types and colors. It is best to consider a transplant before too much of the hair is gone because patients who have a considerable amount of hair loss and very little hair at the donor site are not good candidates for a hair transplant. On the other hand, you do not want to have a hair transplant when you are too young, as it is difficult to predict where the actual location of future hair loss will be. The best way to find out if you are eligible is to come in for a consultation.
How long does the procedure take to complete? Is it a one-time procedure?
The procedure can vary from 4-8 hours, depending on how many grafts you need to achieve your desired results. You can bring a book, iPad, or iPod with ear buds to use during the procedure.
The procedure can be done once or multiple times depending on the patients desired results and the amount of available donor hair. The first procedure is usually the largest and may be all the patient requires. Subsequent procedures are done as needed for touch-ups and fill-ins.
Do most people see results for life?
Yes! The hair being removed for transplantation is taken from an area considered permanent hair and will be permanent at the recipient site. Since each follicle has its own life expectancy the selection of the donor site is very important to ensure only permanent hair is used for the procedure. The larger the number of follicles implanted the less likely you are to have to do a “touch-up” in the future. If thinning or receding occurs, we offer small “touch-up” treatments that are less expensive and require less grafts to maintain a healthy head of hair.
Do I need to grow my hair out or shave it before the procedure?
This is entirely up to the patient. We will do a close shave of the donor area so the follicle can be extracted without being damaged. For men we recommend getting a shorter haircut so when the back of the head is shaved it is not too noticeable. For women, long hair worn down will cover the shaved donor site. If the woman has short hair she can have the back shaved closer and fade up to longer on top. By a week after the procedure, the hair at the donor site will be growing back and a major difference may not be noticed.
