Whats the deal with Plugs, I still see them. Do Doctors still use them?

Question: “Are doctors still using the terrible looking plugs? I see them all them time I think, maybe it’s just a bad transplant.”

Answer: “Plugs gave this industry a really bad name in the 1970-80s. They have largely been replaced with small grafts that are called follicular units. Of course there are some doctors that use ‘combination grafting’ which is a mixture of larger small grafts and naturally occurring follicular units. This is essentially a lazy doctor who is interested in supplying top quality work. Only the follicular units are undetectable in bright light or close inspection. For this reason make sure you see many photos of work the doctor your considering has done, and perhaps even go so far as contacting a previous patient. A hair transplant is expensive, be a conscious consumer.

Cost of Hair Transplants

Question: “I am 30 years old. I have lost some of hair from my forehead. I saw the Dr. Jones technique that would take of some of my back hairs and put on my forehead. I want more information and total cost for this new Dr. Jones technique.

Answer: “It is difficult to give an exact quote without seeing you or at least seeing some photographs. THe cost of an FUE procedure varies related to the number of grafts that will be transplanted. Please forward me a few pictures and your telephone number or come by my office for a personal consultation,

Dr. Robert Jones”

Out of Town Patients

Question: “For out-of-town patients who come to your office for a procedure, what is the post-op routine? Where do they go to have the stitches removed? Also, does the patient require to be on medication (propecia and rogaine) for life after the procedure? Is there other medications required? 
Thanks”

Answer: “Out of town patients can leave to go home immediately after the surgery. Most go to their family doctor or walk in clinic to get their stitches removed. All patient take antibiotics and are given a pain killer to take as needed,

Low Density Donor Site

Question: I think I have a really low density in my donor site, perhaps too low. What is the lowest donor density a person, who is in their late twenties, have in order to have a successful transplant?

Answer:  I would need to make sure that the person should not have Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia, which would reflect a depleted donor area in a young man (1-2% of the male population). Then, the size of the balding area, where we want to perform the transplant, and the pattern that the balding will take would have to be maintained and be balanced in a well defined master plan. You must always consider the worst possible case scenario when transplanting in younger patients who will most likely continue to lose hair. A good doctor will be able to make a judgment on the value of the donor density.

Are consultations with you covered by OHIP(medical insurance)?

How do I find a good doctor?

Please download my book at www.drrobertjones.com and read the section on finding a hair transplant doctor. There are many factors that I cover in depth.