Dr. Berman can transplant one hair at a time without any linear cut on the back of the scalp. This follicular unit extraction technique can be done by hand, or by automated robotic device. Dr. Berman is only doctor in the world with this new technology. Please call us below for details.
Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation is a medical procedure which redistributes your naturally growing hair. Hair which is growing in great density on the back of your head can be moved to areas where there is a shortage or thinning of the hair, such as the balding areas in front or on top of the scalp. Because of the abundance of hair on the back of the scalp, removing some hair from this area does not cause any cosmetic problems. Additionally, these hairs are genetically programmed to grow throughout your lifetime, thus transplanting them to the balding area permits them to grow permanently.
- Permanent
- Natural
- Undetectable
- 1-3 hair micrografts avoid the old pluggy, dolls head appearance
- Avoids the needs for temporary solutions such as wigs, hair pieces
- Improves male and female pattern loss of hair
- Thicker hair
- Reduction of bald spots
- For both men and women
- Affordable
- Artistically-designed hairlines
Propecia, Rogaine, Hair Pieces, Wigs, and Hair Extensions
Modern and future-day techniques to hair transplantation continue to be developed at the institute’s hair transplantation research center where hundreds of human subjects have participated in various clinical hair transplantation studies over the years. Dr. Berman leads the hair transplant team of physicians at the Berman Skin Institute, and has published articles on new hair transplantation techniques in medical journals and is a regular speaker at large medical conferences. (In the very near future he will be a speaker on hair transplantation at both the upcoming meetings of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery in Orlando, Florida and at the Advanced Cosmetic Surgery course at the American Academy of Dermatology meeting in San Francisco). In addition to the research performed at the institute, patients also benefit from our long history of performing these clinical procedures, dating back to 1990. To better understand this elegant procedure, we will briefly lead you through a typical hair transplantation procedure performed at our center:
The patient lies face down on a massage-type doughnut pillow while the surgeon anesthetizes the back (or rarely side of the scalp) with a tumescent solution containing lidocaine, epinephrine and sterile saline. Once the skin is numb, a strip is harvested with a scalpel and the linear surgical incision is closed with a running stitch that will be removed in 7 days. In order to hide the scar, the surgeon will usually bevel the edge of the incision utilizing the “Trichophytic Closure” technique so that when hair grows out after the procedure, they may actually grow through the scar, helping to break up and camoflauge the linear scar.
After the incision is stitched up, the patient then turns to lie on his or her back and sits comfortably while watching a dvd movie (patients may bring a movie to watch on the day of the procedure).
While the patient relaxes, our staff uses high power magnification such as microscopes to dissect down the harvested strip into tiny grafts or “follicular units,” each containing 1-4 hairs per follicular unit. The use of microscopes during this process minimizes injury to the follicle, and thus improves the viability of the grafts when implanted into the recipient sites.
Next, the surgeon uses a needle or fine instrument to create recipient sites on the scalp where follicular units or grafts will be implanted. The angle of insertion of this needle into the scalp skin is of critical importance as this will create the angle that hair eventually will grow out from the scalp. In most humans, the hair on the sides and back of the scalp grow out naturally in a very acute angle, while hair grows out of the frontal scalp in a broader or larger angle. Also, most patients have a whorl or swirl to the hair growing on the vertex or top-back portion of the scalp which should be recreated during the hair transplant procedure. Additionally, it is imperative to place the “one hair grafts” at the very front of the hair line as less density is desired in this area to achieve a natural result. Similarly, larger grafts or follicular units containing 2-4 hairs per graft are place behind the frontal hair line to create added density, while avoiding a “pluggy” look or “doll’s head” appearance. Since we do not harvest plugs nor implant plugs, it is virtually impossible for patients to have that unwanted, “pluggy” appearance.
During the entire hair transplantation process the surgeon must take into consideration the pattern of expected change of hairline and future hair loss so that the transplanted hairs, now usually permanent, will sit naturally as the pre-destined baldness pattern of the non-transplanted hair evolves. Further, in an attempt to create the desired distribution of future gray hairs, the surgeon will assess present day coloration and mix or separate follicles that may gray in order to preserve the desired, natural appearance as the patient ages.
The doctors and staff at the Berman Skin Institute are committed to helping patients achieve their goals for self improvement and certainly take great pride in delivering the most modern, safe and effective techniques in the field of hair transplantation.
Not everyone is a candidate for hair transplantation. At your initial consultation, Dr. Berman will examine the density of hair on the back of the scalp in order to determine if there is enough hair for transplantation to the balding area. Multiple sessions may be required for optimal benefit, and patients should have realistic expectations prior to undergoing hair transplantation, or any other cosmetic procedure.
Hair transplantation can naturally and permanently correct thinning hair. Though hair transplantation has been performed since the 1950's, technological advances in recent years have substantially enhanced cosmetic outcomes. Recent advances have transformed hair transplantation into the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures for men in the United States.
One may not be aware of the staggering number of people who have had a hair transplant, as a good hair transplant is not noticeable. Certainly, most everyone has seen a bad transplant, perhaps one that was done with large plugs, resulting in a pluggy, dolls head, or corn stalk effect. These poor outcomes were due to older techniques using large, round punch devices to remove 15-20 hairs per graft.
Today, Dr. Berman and his staff move only one to three hairs at a time, placing them each in tiny slits in the skin, eliminating any possibility of creating a pluggy appearance. Because these results are superior to the older techniques, Dr. Berman exclusively relies on this "Follicular Unit" approach, as opposed to the old punch graft technique, still used by others. Today, our well trained team can move thousands of hairs per session, creating natural results.
The specific risks and the suitability of these procedures for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are unusual.
Patients can shampoo new hair one day following the procedure. Sutures from back of head are removed in seven days. Transplanted hairs will fall out within two months, followed by regrowth of new hair. The final appearance may not be noted for up to one year.
Most patients are awake during the procedure and may infrequently feel some slight discomfort.
Wash hair; avoid blood thinners such as aspirin, Motrin, ibuprofen, etc.
Most patients can shampoo their hair in 24 hours. Avoid strenuous exercise and blood thinners after the procedure for about 1 week.
Dr. Berman is assisted by registered nurses, physician assistants and medical assistants when performing this procedure.
The most common form of balding is male pattern hair loss, representing close to 95% of all hair loss cases. Mild to moderate male pattern hair loss affects about half of men by age 50. This type of hair loss results in a receding hairline and/or balding at the crown. It is due to heredity, from either the mother's or father's side of the family, and is dependent on hormones. Propecia is the first and only FDA-approved pill proven to treat male pattern hair loss on the vertex (top of head) and anterior mid-scalp area in men.
- Propecia can slow the loss of hair in men
- Propecia can increase hair growth in men
Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation
Rogaine Solution
The causes of hair loss are not well defined; however, researchers have found that men with male pattern hair loss have increased levels of DHT in the balding area of their scalps. DHT is one of many male hormones in the body. DHT is developmentally important early in a man's life; however, it appears to be a cause of hair loss as men get older. DHT shrinks the hair follicle until it no longer produces visible hair.
Human hair normally follows a cycle of growth, falling out, and new growth. But increased levels of DHT are believed to contribute to the shortening of the growth phase, and a shortening of the time it takes for the hair to fall out. This results in thinning of the hair on the scalp.
Science has found a way to affect DHT with a prescription taken once a day in tablet form: Propecia. Finasteride, the active ingredient in Propecia blocks the formation of DHT and, in this way, appears to interrupt a key factor in the development of inherited male pattern hair loss in men. Propecia has been proven to effectively lower DHT in the scalp.
Men with male pattern baldness may be candidates. Women and children are not candidates for Propecia.
The fact is, for most men, Propecia works. Most men reported an increase in the amount of hair, a decrease in hair loss, and an improvement in appearance. The results of two years of clinical testing* showed favorable results for the vast majority of men on Propecia.
- 5 of 6 men kept the amount of hair they had (vs. 28% with a sugar pill)
- 2 of 3 men regrew some hair (vs. 7% with a sugar pill)
- 80% were rated improved by doctors (vs. 47% with sugar pill)
*Based on vertex studies at two years of men aged 18 to 41 with mild to moderate hair loss. There is no evidence that Propecia works for receding hairlines at the temples. Take Propecia daily and you could see results in as little as three months. If you stop taking Propecia, however, your results will gradually go away over 12 months. And if it has not worked in 12 months, it is unlikely to be of benefit. Propecia is available by prescription only, so the best thing to do is talk to Dr. Berman or his physician assistants for more information.
Clinical tests showed Propecia was very well tolerated. Only a very small number of men had sexual side effects, with each occurring in less than 2% of men. They included less desire for sex, difficulty in achieving an erection, and a decrease in the amount of semen. When the men who had these side effects stopped taking Propecia, the side effects went away. Propecia is for men only. Women who are or may potentially be pregnant must not use Propecia because of the risk that the active ingredient may cause a specific kind of birth defect. Likewise, women should avoid handling tablets that are crushed or broken. Propecia tablets are coated to prevent contact with the active ingredient during normal handling.
None.
No. This is a medication take orally.
See prescribing provider for more information.
See prescribing provider for more information.
Dr. Berman and Physician Assistants
