Showing posts with label hair restoration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hair restoration. Show all posts

Saturday, April 4, 2009

How to Regrow Hair Transplants

Increasing the amount of hair in bald spots with hair transplants is not technically re-growing hair because the hair is usually moved from one section of the head containing hair to the area with hair loss. This method is worth exploring since it has become a very popular method of hair restoration and re-growth. The hair replacement procedure for attacking male pattern baldness is not cheap but in recent years, with new hair transplant techniques being developed, the results are becoming very spectacular. In the battle to learn how to regrow hair this information can be an effective weapon.


Some of these methods were originally developed in Japan during the 1930’s. In this case, the surgeons were mostly concentrating on eye lash and eye brow replacement; baldness was not a big concern. The surgeons were using small grafts of hair and even follicular unit grafts which are the basis of the modern techniques used for hair implants. The research was mostly discontinued during World War II and it wasn’t until the 1950’s in the US that hair transplant therapies were utilized with any regularity.


Hair Plugs


At this time the “hair restoration” techniques were known as hair plugs. The reason was quite obvious. Unlike today where surgeons manipulate single follicle units of hair to achieve a more natural look, the emphasis during this phase was on removing donor grafts from one section of the scalp and reattaching the graft to the area with the hair loss. Although these grafts were fairly small they were still large enough to be noticeable to the eye. The result of these hair grafts or hair plugs was a doll head appearance with many groups of hairs surrounded with bald spots. This method did not give the results required and actually caused the recipient to draw more attention to his balding problem than if he had done nothing.


One very important realization at this time was that donor hair reacted like the hair from the donor area instead of like the hair which had been in the bald spot before it fell out. Many people feared that moving hair patches to the bald areas would cause the hair to fall out. This did not seem to be the case. Instead the healthy hair from the donor area continued to be healthy and grow after the hair grafts were implanted.


Follicular Unit Transplantation


Hair naturally grows in follicle groups of one to four hair shafts. In the 1990’s attention was on the use of these natural hair groups as a way to give a better appearance. In this technique a micro graft is removed from the person’s head and then follicular units are carefully removed from this graft portion and prepared for insertion in the balding area. The surgeon then makes microscopic incisions in the scalp with a very tine scalpel or needle and the hair follicles containing the hair shafts are inserted.


The really nice thing about this technique is ability of the surgeon the spread the transplanted hair groups out over the head in a natural fashion. The emphasis has been on placing more and more hair groupings into a given bald area. The current refined follicular unit hair transplantation methods result in up to 50 hair follicle grafts per square centimeter. Also in recent years the lateral slit technique has allowed surgeons to orient the hair follicles in natural directions within the balding area which allows for the hair to lay in a way that mimics the natural hair. This has again resulted much better results for the person seeking hair implants.


Hair Transplant Women


These techniques have been found to work as effectively on women as they have on men. Generally, though, women do not suffer from the same type of balding as men do. The pre-dominate form of balding in men is male pattern baldness which is complete hair loss over certain areas of the head. Women, on the other hand, tend to have hair thinning as opposed to patches of complete baldness. This method of hair transplanting requires a healthy section of full hair to remove the grafts from and if the woman’s hair is thin all over this is harder to find. Some women do suffer from bald spots and this method can be very effective for them.


The cost of hair transplants and hair implants varies depending on the location of the clinic and the expertise of the surgeon. Most hair implant clinics have been located in large US cities but like other medical procedures many other countries are now developing aggressive programs at reduced prices. Prices range from $3 to $7 a graft with 1500 to 4000 individual grafts the norm. This gives a total package cost of $4500 to $20,000 in the US for this hair transplant procedure.


In countries offering “Beauty Tourism Packages” this price can be drastically reduced. For example this entire procedure can often be done for less than $5000 including air fare and hotel accommodations. In India the hair follicular units can be transplanted for about $1.50 per unit. This can drastically lower the cost of returning your hair to a fuller natural appearance.


Hair implants and hair transplantation is not really considered regrowing hair because it does not rejuvenate the follicles that have become dormant. Instead this method involves removing hair shafts from one area of the head and surgically inserting them in the scalp at the balding area. This can result in a very natural looking head of hair but it is quite expensive. But if someone is looking for a method of how to regrow hair this may be a very effective tool for them.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Hair Restoration Naturally

There are a multitude of natural remedies that have been used over the years when people have wanted to know how to regrow hair to combat hair loss. It seems like most indigenous people had natural remedies and treatments they used to combat hair loss and scalp problems. If you want to know how to regrow hair these ideas are definitely worth considering.

JoJoba Oil has been used for centuries by Native Americans in the desert Southwest of the US. They used it to promote hair growth and to control dandruff. Jojoba oil is also used today as great natural moisturizer for skin. The oil should be used on a daily basis if you want to make your hair grow faster by using this ancient Native American treatment.

Another treatment popular in the Southwest and also in the Caribbean basin is aloe vera. Aloe vera is a succulent plant known for its treatment of burns and skin irritations. Many households in the American Southwest keep a few aloe vera plants growing in order to have the juice available for the treatment of sun burn. It is thought that aloe vera juice can help with the ph level of the scalp. A traditional recipe for using Aloe Vera to make your hair grow faster involves a mixture of wheat germ oil, coconut milk, and aloe vera gel.

Saw Palmetto extract and Nettle root are both natural remedies that have been used in Europe for ages. Both of these substances inhibit DHT or dihydrotestosterone which is a hormone that has been found to be the main predicator to androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness. DHT is a testosterone hormone that seems to affect the hair follicles which causes the hair shafts to fall out. By taking Saw Palmetto and Nettle root extracts the levels of DHT are lowered which should have an affect on the loss of hair caused by high levels of this hormone. Women on hormone therapy or oral contraceptives should consult their doctor before using saw palmetto.

Aroma therapy has become very popular in recent years as more and more people search for natural treatments for health problems. Aroma therapy is basically the use of essential oils from herbs and other natural sources that some believe help restore nutrients needed in our bodies. When looking at ways to help regrow hair lavender is an essential oil of choice. One popular mixture is 6 drops of lavender and bay essential oils mixed into four ounces of either almond, soybean, or sesame oil. Massage the mixture into the scalp and then cover with a warm, damp towel for at least 20 minutes. As in all natural remedies there is not much scientific evidence regarding the actual benefits of these remedies.

There are many vitamins and minerals that are necessary when learning how to make hair grow faster. One of the important vitamins is Biotin or B7. Biotin helps with the conversion of protein into hair shaft growth and also is important for the metabolism of fats and amino acids. As an added benefit, biotin is helpful in the regulation of blood sugar which is important to people suffering from diabetes. Biotin is generally found in sufficient quantities in the normal American diet. Many foods have low levels of biotin or B7 but two with high levels are royal jelly and brewer’s yeast. There is currently disagreement regarding the necessary levels of Biotin to affect hair growth. It is possible that higher levels of biotin may assist in the speed of hair growth.

A natural remedy from the Indian Subcontinent is Henna. This traditional Indian herb has been used for centuries as a natural conditioner to assist in the maintenance of healthy hair.

Some hair loss has been attributed to toxin buildup in the body. Because of this, body cleansing has been used to treat the loss of hair or baldness. A very popular cleansing method is colonic cleansing. This involves both fasting and the washing of the inside of the colon. Some people claim cleansing is very important for the removal of toxins. The removal of toxins may help in hair restoration for men.

Green tea is a beverage from China and South East Asia that has been used for centuries to combat hair loss. Green tea inhibits DHT which we have seen above is a leading cause of androgenic alopecia. Green tea is also reported to be beneficial in the control of obesity and weight loss. There are many studies now in progress in both the US and China regarding the use of green tea for the treatment of many common diseases.

Most hair loss information involves male hair loss such as male pattern baldness. Women also can suffer from hair loss with triangular alopecia women hair loss can be as apparent as a man’s. Hair is an important aspect of how a person is perceived by others and thus is important to someone who wants to exhibit a good image. Studies have shown that men are routinely assumed to be 10 to 15 years older than their actual age when they exhibit hair loss. Men with total hair loss on the front of the head and crown are sometimes labeled as twenty years older than their age. If you are suffering from hair loss learning how to regrow hair is probably an important goal in your life.

Friday, March 20, 2009

How To Regrow Hair With Hair Restoration

There are a lot of methods to help in regrowing hair in the areas of hair loss. Nutrition can a major part in keeping the hair you have and helping to regrow the hair you have lost. Hair is mostly composed of protein so foods which are rich sources of protein would be very beneficial. Iron deficiency has also been shown to cause hair loss so taking the recommended levels of this mineral each day is highly recommended. The FDA has certified two drugs for use as hair regrowth treatments. The first is a topical drug. This means the substance is applied to the scalp in the form of a foam and is rubbed into the scalp. This drug is marketed under the brand name rogaine. The second drug is taken orally in tablet form. This product is marketed under the name propecia and has seem better results than the first. While all of these methods work there is a procedure that is getting rave reviews from former bald men who have tried it.
This form of regrowing hair is known as hair restoration. The idea and practice have been around since the 1950's but it is only in the last decade that modern science has really made this effective for given men a naturally looking head of hair. This method is known as follicular unit transplantation. It gives almost 100% results when preformed by a competent surgeon.
Originally hair transplantation was known as hair plugging. The surgeon would actually remove entire hair structures and then plug them back into the scalp in the bald areas. This was not very realistic looking and resulted in a scalp that resembled a doll's head with little plugs of hair sticking out. It was definitely easy to spot someone who had undergone this treatment.
The next try at natural looking hair replacement techniques involved removing small strips of the scalp with growing hair follicles and then slicing open the scalp at the balding region and transplanting the strips. This is where the term hair transplantation originates from. Although more natural looking than the plug method it still left a lot to be desired. The hair still tended to resemble patchy growths of hair instead of a natual hair coverage. This treatment also caused massive amounts of scalp trauma which sometimes caused the patients naturally remaining hair to fall out. This procedure also required several visits to the surgeon.
Today's current method of hair restoration with transplantation was originally experimented with in the 1980's. The method was then published in 1995. This method became known as follicular unit transplantation. It involves removing several more smaller section of hair and placing them into the dermis of the bald spot.
Hair follicles naturally grow in groups of one to four per bunch. This new hair regrowth technology involves removing single groupings at a time and transplanting the hair follicles to the balding area. This method has proved very effective at getting a natural looking head of hair. If you are wondering how to make your hair grow faster this method offers a good head of hair very quickly. Depending on the skill of the surgeon, the restoration procedure can result in hair that is even layed in the direction of the native hair follicles for a more natural look.
There are many methods to help a man or woman regrow their hair. Hair replacement and hair restoration is a method that is expensive but offers almost instant results. It is an effective tool in the fight to answer the question how to regrow hair.