What is Hair Transplantation?

Hair transplantation is accomplished by taking normal hair from the back of the head (donor site) as a thin strip. Once the strip is taken, it is divided (under magnification) into grafts containing one or more hair follicles. Small microscopic slits are made in the area to be grafted and the grafts are inserted one at a time.

How do I know whether I am a good candidate for hair replacement surgery?

The majority of men suffering from male pattern baldness would benefit from this procedure. In addition, some women with thinning hair and people who have experienced hair loss as a result of injuries may be candidates. But only after a thorough evaluation by a doctor can surgery be considered an option. Areas of normal hair growth must be present to provide a source for the grafts.

Am I ever too young or too old for a hair transplant?

Dr. Waldman has performed successful hair transplants on men in their early twenties and on men in their late sixties. Surgery in the mid-life years is most common because most men experience some degree of hair loss by age fifty. Some men choose to start early and stay ahead of their hair loss while others tend to want to wait and see what happens before deciding on hair transplantation.

What is follicular unit transplantation?

Follicular units are small bundles of hair spaced approximately 1 millimeter apart, viewable under the microscope. Each unit contains 1, 2, 3 or sometimes 4 hairs. Follicular unit transplantation involves separating 1,000 to 3,000 follicular units from the donor strip at the back of the scalp and inserting these units into the site where hair loss is occurring. Using a microscope, Dr. Waldman and his team carefully dissect the donor strip into slivers 1-3 follicular units wide, carefully remove each graft and implant it into the recipient area, one at a time. Tiny openings no larger than a pinprick are made in the recipient area to receive each unit.

What types of doctors are qualified to do hair replacement surgery?

While doctors from many different medical specialties will do hair replacement surgery, we believe that plastic surgeons such as Dr. Waldman are uniquely qualified to perform these procedures. Dr. Waldman's aesthetic perspectives and judgments and outstanding surgical skills have helped thousands of patients look and feel better about themselves.

Do hair transplants now look more natural than they used to?

Until a few years ago, micrografts and minigrafts were rarely done in great numbers. These days we usually do most cases with a large number of micrografts and minigrafts, giving a more natural look than fewer, larger grafts. With just one or two sessions done on an individual, it can be almost impossible to tell that the hair was transplanted.

Are hair transplants painful?

Most people experience no real discomfort during or after the treatment. Pre-operative medications to relieve tension and local anesthetics to numb the scalp are used with both procedures. Any discomfort that may occur afterwards can be readily relieved by mild analgesics. At our clinic we also offer the option of having intravenous sedation administered by an anesthesia professional.

Does the transplanted hair fall out?

The hairs in the transplanted grafts are shed between the 2nd and 8th week following the procedure. In some cases these hairs fall out along with the pinpoint crusts that form in the grafted area; occasionally they persist longer. The grafts are usually bare for 10-14 weeks after the procedure while the follicles recuperate to produce new, permanent, growing hair. In rare instances, the transplanted follicles do not shed their hair, but continue to grow in the days and weeks immediately following the procedure.

How soon after surgery can I return to work?

Patients usually feel nearly normal in a day or two. Some crusting in the grafted areas will usually last 7-10 days. The hairs in the grafts fall out in 2-3 weeks and new hair starts growing in approximately 12 weeks. Hair growth success can be judged in 6 months and the hair looks essentially normal in 9 months.

Will others be able to tell I've had a transplant?

Because Dr. Waldman specializes in artistic, state-of-the-art techniques, patients will acquire a completely natural looking head of hair, including a hairline that can be brushed back or cut very short. We achieve this naturalness by designing a hairline in harmony with your facial proportions and reflective of your growth patterns at a younger age. We also use the right combination of different sized follicular grafts transplanted at the proper angle.

How many sessions are required?

That really depends on expectations and of course the amount of hair loss. Most of the time we plan on two sessions of between 1200 and 2500 grafts/session.

Where is the surgery performed?

Dr. Waldman performs all hair transplant procedures in his office surgical facility under local anesthesia. Skilled nursing care is available to assist you following your hair transplant procedure. Unlike many hair surgery clinics, our surgical center is fully accredited by AAAASF.