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Hair Transplant Center Services
1-866-669-6676
You know the feeling. When you lose
your hair, it's like losing a part of your life. A part you'd rather
keep.
Let's face it; no matter how relaxed you are about your thinning
hair, if you're like most men, you're not accepting baldness easily.
Chances are, it's simply not the way you're comfortable seeing yourself.
Or being seen.
There are many reasons for hair loss, please click
here to find out more information.
 But
now, there is a solution: one that is quick, easy, permanent, undetectable
and natural... a logical approach to re-gaining your good looks,
your youthful appearance and your confident style. It is natural
process of hair restoration where we use proven techniques to re-distribute
your existing hair to the thinning or bald areas, creating a lasting,
new look that is customized just for you. Please click
here to view Photo Album.
The next step is to take advantage of a free consultation with Dr.
Robert Jones M.D.. His friendly, helpful advice and experience will
guide you in taking control of your future so you can look your
best.
Treatment Methods
Although most consider hair transplantation to be the best solution
to overcome baldness, there are certainly some complimentary treatments.
Additionally, we've all heard of the ineffective or disastrous treatments
in some form or another. We felt it necessary to address the more
prominent of the good and the bad.
METHODS OF TREATMENT
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS: SURGERIES
MICRO FOLLICULAR EXTRACTION, also called
follicular Unit extraction
A donor area which could be the back of the head, the chest or other
area is chosen from which the hair will be taken. Local anesthetics
are used to numb this area then Individual follicles are removed.
The doctor removes the follicles one-by-one and can even show the
patient an individual hair follicle which is encased in a small cylindrical
shape. The doctor creates graft incisions, determining the pattern
and direction of the new hair, and then reinserts the grafts into
the hairline using a hypodermic instrument with the natural cylindrical
shape of the follicle intact and the top of the follicle flush with
the surrounding skin.
The effect is natural and virtually undetectable.
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STRIP EXCISION
Strip incision is an older method of hair restoration in which small
strips of hair are transplanted from one area to another. There is
more scarring with this method and the effects are less natural than
micro follicular extraction. A more successful method is to transplant
follicular units of up to 4 hairs, which is a less traumatic procedure
that has a much better and more natural effect.
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LOTIONS AND CHEMICALS
Using lotions or chemicals dates back centuries. Early folk medicines
included having your head licked by a cow. Today there are many hair
growth lotions available- some actually showing limited promise. The
following two treatments have shown some success in treating bald
areas of the crown of the head. Important Strategy: It would be wise
to consider concentrating MOST of your transplant sessions towards
the front of the crown and the forehead. This would serve to frame
the face correctly. A person could then embark upon a regular Minoxidil
or Finasteride (or ideally both) treatment plan for the crown. This
strategy would maximize the use of a limited donor supply.
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MINOXIDIL
To date, only lotions containing Minoxidil or Finasteride actually
grow any new hair; and even then, only in some cases. The "new hair"
Minoxidil grows is usually only light fuzz on the crown of the head.
And when the treatment is discontinued, the fuzz disappears, in addition
to any hairs that were supposed to die during treatment. Finasteride,
however, in some cases does grow thick, strong, long-growing hair
on the crown. Many hair transplant doctors believe that Minoxidil,
when used as a supplementary treatment for someone who has had hair
transplantation, has a good added effect of increasing the rate of
hair growth.
Dr. Jones recognizes and applauds the use of such companion products.
But if you were to use Minoxidil by itself, a person should bear in
mind that statistically, 90% of Minoxidil users discontinue self-treatment
after less than one year- still remaining bald. It again comes down
to the issue of personal resolve.
Dr. Ronald Trancik, Ph.D., Senior Director Of Clinical Research at
Pharmacia & Upjohn, presented data from several 5% Minoxidil Topical
Solution studies at the A.A.D. (American Association of Dermatology)
Convention in Marh, 1998. Minoxidil concentrations in the blood were
shown to peak at 4-8 hours for Minoxidil 2%, and at 4-12 hours for
Minoxidil 5%. In a 120 week study of 5% Minoxidil, continued growth
was shown at the end of the study. Although the exact area on the
scalp on which this study was done was not indicated, these are probably
the results on the crown area (where Minoxidil has the best effect)
and not on the front.
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FINASTERIDE
Recently, the biggest news to affect men suffering from baldness came
from Merck & Co.'s announcement of the drug Propecia. Dr. Jones considers
the use of Finasteride a viable compliment in the treatment of baldness.
In fact, he often recommends the use of both Finasteride and Minoxidil
for treating of baldness in the crown area. We've included what appears
to be the most succinct article to date on Finasteride:
FDA ADVISERS SAY BALDNESS PILL WORKS FOR SOME MEN Friday, November
14, 1997 By LAURAN NEERGAARD The Associated Press BETHESDA, MD.-
The balding man's dream of a pill to grow hair took a step towards
reality Thursday, as government scientists declared Merck & Co.'s
Propecia a viable way for some men to fight shinny pates. But the
experts expressed concerns over whether taking the pill that affects
hormones could have long-term side effects.
The Food And Drug Administration still must give the final verdict.
The FDA's scientific advisers said Propecia seems to treat bald spots
on top of men's heads, but may not promise as much help for a receding
hairline. "I've been very impressed" by studies on Propecia, said
panelist, Dr. James Kilpatrick Jr. of the Medical College of Virginia.
Propecia is not a miracle pill-- nobody grew a full head of hair and
not everyone was helped. But before-and-after photographs showed Propecia
helping bald spots shrink, some by very small amounts, but a few by
enough that just a quarter-sized spot of scalp still showed. The nation's
40 million balding men who want to grow hair today have one option:
slathering non-prescription Rogaine on their scalps. It helps about
25% of users grow varying amounts of hair, but stop using it and the
hair falls out, so thousands of men spend $15 to $30 every month hoping
for help. Merck wants to sell Propecia by prescription only-- and,
unlike Rogaine, to men only. Women should not use Propecia because
it could cause birth defects, Merck warned. Although Merck has begun
testing in post-menopausal women who don't have that concern, no one
knows if their different hormones will allow Propecia to work. But
for men, one Merck study where dermatologists analyzed before and
after photographs concluded 30% of Propecia patients grew slight amounts
of hair in a year and an additional 18% grew moderate to heavy amounts.
When Merck actually counted hairs, Propecia patients averaged 106
more new hairs within a one-inch circle on the top of the head than
did placebo patients. For receding hairlines, the improvement was
a more moderate 60 hairs. Propecia didn't help every man, but Merck
argued that many who didn't grow new hair at least stopped losing
what they had left. The FDA's advisers weren't sure that was proved,
but Merck did note that when men stopped taking Propecia, their new
hair fell out.
But Michael Weintraub, FDA dermatologic drug chief, said his main
concern is whether it's safe for young men to take a pill that affects
hormones for years merely to fight hair loss. Merck studied balding
men ages 18 to 40. Propecia blocks an enzyme that converts testosterone
into the related hormone dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, that shrinks
hair follicles. Merck argues the any serious side effects already
would have emerged in the millions of older men who take doses five
times higher-- under the brand name Proscar-- to shrink enlarged prostrates.
Merck says the 1-milligram Propecia dose is safe for the merely hair-impaired.
The main side effects, experienced by 2 % of men, are decreased libido
and impotence. But FDA officials wondered whether long-term use would
affect male fertility, because of some evidence that users' ejaculate
fluid was diminished. In addition, some advisers worried that Propecia
might hide early signs of prostate cancer.
Ultimately, the FDA panel said Propecia works for male pattern baldness,
the most common type. But they added a wrinkle: Merck made patients
use the same shampoo to ensure hair care didn't alter the studies,
and consequently the panel insisted that Propecia be labeled as effective
when used with this Neutrogena T-Gel. Merck scientists argued they
have extra safety assurance from studies of men born with a rare disease
that depletes their DHT for life. Not only do these men never go bald,
they also don't get enlarged prostrates or prostrate cancer, suggesting
a possible protective effect. In a two-year study on the effect of
Propecia on the frontal areas, Dr. Keith Kaufman of Merck Pharmaceuticals
gave the following report on patients who had used the pill.
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ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS: SURGERIES
SCALP REDUCTION
Scalp reduction is a form of cosmetic surgery. It is a procedure in
which an area of bald skin is excised (removed) usually from the top
and back of the scalp. The resulting gap is then stitched closed.
Rarely used as an individual treatment to reduce baldness, it is,
however, used as an aid to hair transplanting, since scalp reduction
also reduces the size of the area requiring transplantation. Scalp
reduction requires that the client have certain physical qualities,
such as enough hair and elastic skin, as well as the psychological
motivation because of the increased number of surgical sessions usually
involved. This procedure is recommended only after consultation determines
its merit.
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FLAPS
Moving a flap of hair bearing skin from the side of the head to across
the top of the forehead is occasionally done in the United States,
South America, and elsewhere. It is considered major surgery, and
more pain and complications are associated with it. Some of the complications
can be permanently disfiguring. In the opinion of Dr. Jones, the results
of flap surgery do not look as natural as a good hair transplant and
represent inefficient use of a limited donor area. Flaps do, however,
have the advantage of giving immediate hair coverage.
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SCALP LIFTS AND TISSUE EXPANSION
Considered extensive major surgery, they are primarily performed by
a handful of highly trained surgeons around the world. These operations
are, again, more major and are associated with more complications
and pain than other forms of scalp surgery.
At this time of the construction of the web site, Dr. Jones does not
recommend them.
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OTHER OPTIONS
There are several options available to learn more about how Dr. Jones
can assist you. You may call for an appointment at 1-866-669-6676.
Outside North America call: 905-464-6999. To contact us by e-mail,
please write Dr Jones at info@drrobertjones.com
Please include your name, address and a phone number where you can
be contacted. Top
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