Treating Hair Loss

I have always had an interest in hair restoration and treating hair loss early in my practice. The reason is that hair loss affects about 35 million men and 21 million women in the United States alone. Over 40% of men will have noticeable hair loss by age 35, and 65% of women will have significant hair loss by age 60. 

Initially, however, hair transplants were with “plugs” with 10-12 hairs per plug. The result was quite unnatural, and the appearance was similar to a toy doll. The FUE (follicular unit extraction developed in the 1990s) uses a method that manually extracts 1 mm grafts containing 1-4 hair follicles at a time. The results are natural and undetectable when done by an experienced and skilled hair transplant technician. 

NeoGraft is an automated method of FUE. A process developed about ten years ago. I was first exposed to NeoGraft at a plastic surgery meeting and purchased one and haven’t looked back. Still, skill is as important or even more important than the equipment as with any surgery. A better scalpel doesn’t make for a better surgeon.

Treating Hair Loss with Neograft

When treating hair loss with NeoGraft, we must keep in mind that we can only use a maximum of 2500 grafts in one sitting. This method takes about 4 hours under local anesthesia and mild sedation. We also offer nitrous oxide to help reduce any anxiety and discomfort. There are no sutures or staples needed, and recovery takes about 7-8 days before (usually when the procedure is unnoticeable). Hair will start growing from the grafted follicles in 3 months to a year. By six months, about 50% of the hairs are usually visible. View our Before and after gallery! 

For any FUE procedure, we cut the hair in the back of the scalp- the donor area. So if you have long hair and don’t want to cut it, we recommend the strip excision. The grafts are the same, and your hair will cover the scar, so it is imperceptible. For those who wear their hair short, scarless NeoGraft is the recommended procedure.

The price is per graft and depends upon the number of grafts needed to meet the patient’s goals. For the hairline, we must use a single hair graft to appear natural. Behind the hairline, we use multiple hair grafts (up to 4 hairs per graft) for maximum density. Placement of the hairs is essential to how the hair grows. We pay attention to proper placing for a natural appearance and manageable hair. 

After seven years of NeoGraft and strip hair transplants, they are among the best and most appreciated procedures we perform. The grafted hairs will grow no matter what, but patients must maintain original hairs in the balding areas to prevent loss. We recommend minoxidil foam topically or finasteride tablets to avert this depending on the patient. A recent addition is Vivascal, a nutrient to be taken by mouth that retards hair loss. To know which is right for you, speak to an experienced physician! 

Additionally, we recommend PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections in many patients as directed by your physician. PRP contains growth factors and can be very effective in stimulating hair growth and preventing hair loss.

Call 912-348-4263 to book your hair loss evaluation in Savannah Georgia or fill out the form below!