What is it?

Hair Restoration refers to a group of procedures designed to restore hair in those individuals that suffer from male pattern baldness.

What does it accomplish?

Male pattern baldness is a condition that affects the majority of adult males to one degree or another.   This problem is due to hormone sensitive hair follicles that due to genetic predisposition fall out. The pattern of hair loss varies from one individual to another. But in the majority of cases the frontal hairline is involved. The top of the head may be affected to varying degrees. The rim of hair in the temporal scalp and the back of the head is usually spared. These hair follicles are generally not affected by male pattern baldness and can serve as permanent donor grafts for hair transplantation. To date there has been limited success in preventing or reversing the hair loss with medications or lotions. Surgery has been the only method that has successfully restored hair to the areas of sparse hair growth. By transplanting hair follicles or moving the scalp tissue one can restore hair to those areas that have sparse growth.

What happens during the first consultation?

In the first consultation you will get a chance to discuss your concerns with our patient care coordinators and Dr. Marefat. We will tell you what you need to know about your procedure and will help you determine what is best for you. You will receive information booklets, review before and after photographs, and receive pricing on the procedures.

How is it done?

Hair Transplantation is done by removal of individual hair follicles or small groups of hair follicles (3-4 hair follicles) from the sides or back of the head and placing them through minute incisions in the front and the top of the scalp where hair is missing. First a narrow strip of hair is removed from back of the head. By meticulous and patient dissection individual hair follicles are separated. Each graft is then individually planted in the front or top of the head as needed. Care is taken to make the placement of grafts in a natural fashion. The hair that is transplanted will not start growing immediately. It will go into a phase of dormancy for several months prior to growth. Gradually, over a period of 6-12 months the hair that was transplanted will grow and fill the bald areas of the scalp.

Hair Transplantation is often combined with other procedures such as scalp reduction or rotation in order to reduce the amount of grafting necessary or to produce a more natural head of hair. There are many techniques and procedures for scalp reduction and rotation. The choice of such procedures will depend on the extent of baldness. Individualized treatment plans are made in order to achieve the most natural result.

What can I expect after surgery?

After surgery you will have moderate swelling in the scalp. Sometimes there may be temporary bruising in the upper part of the face due to small amount of blood that may find its way down the face by gravity. This swelling and bruising generally last for less than a week and you can resume normal activity shortly thereafter. The transplanted follicles of hair will undergo a dormant period that lasts 3-4 months. Gradually, they start to recover from the trauma of being transplanted and you will notice the growth of new hair between 6-12 months.

When are the sutures removed?

Sutures from the donor sites (back or sides of the head) come out in 10 days. Sometimes it is possible to use absorbable sutures that do not need to be removed. The areas of grafting do not have any sutures.

How many visits do I have after surgery?

We like to see our patients frequently after surgery. You are seen by the doctor or nurse within 2-3 days of surgery. Then the normal postoperative routine is: 1 week, 1month, 3 months.6months, and 12 months after surgery. Of course if there is a need, you are seen as many times as necessary. We encourage our patients to come for routine follow-up visits every 3-5 years.

When can I cover my bruises with make-up?

Most men do not like to put makeup to cover their bruises. But if you wish to do so you can after one week. The hair itself can be covered with a hat or cap to hide the grafts until healing is complete. This healing takes about 10-14 days.

Am I a good candidate?

The ideal candidate for Hair Transplantation is person who has moderate hair loss and ample hair to serve as donor grafts. There is no definite age category when the surgery should be done. The ideal candidate for plastic surgery is a self-motivated patient who has realistic expectations about the results.   Generally the younger you are the better a candidate you are for surgery. But the physiologic age of person is more important than the chronological age. That is to say you may be 60 years old, but your skin and general health could be better than most who are 50 years old.

What does the surgery cost?

The cost of surgery varies but here are some guidelines that will help you determine roughly what you could expect. Remember that these are only rough estimates . These estimations include the cost of the operating room and the anesthesia. The fee may be subject to change without notice. The best way for you get an accurate cost analysis is to see a doctor.

Hair Flaps                    $5000-$10,000

Hair Transplants           $2000-$10,000

How do I pay for surgery?   

You can pay for surgery by certified check, credit card, or cash. Payments for cosmetic surgery are expected prior to the procedure. If you are scheduling several weeks in advance of surgery you can pay by personal check.

Are there scars?

Yes. However the scars of the donor site is well hidden by your own hair. The scars from individual grafts are usually not seen. These scars are very minute and when the hair growth begins the hair camouflages them.

Does it hurt?

Yes. However, the pain involved in Hair Restoration procedures is very tolerable. We have heard our patients describe it as 'headaches or 'soreness'. For some reason, injuries to the face (including those surgically induced) do not hurt as bad as they look. Many patients do not finish the pain medications prescribed to them for pain relief. But having said that remember that pain is very subjective, and it is not easy to predict what degree of pain you will have.

Will I be awake during surgery?

If you are having Hair Transplantation you will be awake. This is a lengthy procedure and it may be necessary for you shift positions from the back to front as the grafting is performed. Usually we give sedatives to make the process less uncomfortable. In the case of scalp reductions or rotations you will most likely be asleep depending on the extent of surgery. In larger operations on the scalp the surgeon must concentrate on his work and accomplish what he wishes to do with expediency.

Where is the surgery performed ? (i.e. office suite or hospital)

The operation is performed in the office for Hair Transplantations. In the case of major scalp reduction or rotation we like to use an out patient surgical facility. Only in rare situations in which the patient may have medical risk factors does Dr.Marefat suggest the hospital environment for surgery.

Are medical photographs taken?  

Yes. Photographs are mandatory for all cosmetic and reconstructive cases. Photographs are the only way for us to compare your before and after results. Photographs in plastic surgery serve the same role that x-rays serve for orthopedic surgery.

Date Revised: 1/23/07

At Metropolitan Plastic Surgery PC, Dr.Marefat offers the highest standard of care in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery with accessilbe locations in Northern Virginia ,Washington D.C., and Maryland. Dr.Marefat combines artistic skill with the lastest techiques of Plastic Surgery to achieve superior results in cosmetic procedures such as Liposuction, Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty, Breast augmentation or Breast Implant placement, Mastopexy or Breast Lift, Blepharoplasty or Eyelid Surgery, Facelift, Rhinoplasty or Nose Surgery, Botox Injection, Lip Augmentation,Tissue Fillers,Laser Surgery, and many other cosmetic procedures. This site is a valuable source of informationn about Dr.Marefat's practice, his approach to Plastic Surgery and his locations in Woodbridge Virginia, Alexandria Virginia, and Washington DC.

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