Dr Edmond I Griffin
The 411 on Follicular Unit Extraction
Both men and women can suffer from hair loss and many search for hair restoration options. Hair transplantation can help restore hair loss and confidence to individuals who suffer from hair loss from a variety of reasons. Both scarring and non-scarring hair loss patients can benefit from hair transplantation.
Founded by Dr. Edmond Griffin, the Griffin Center of Hair Restoration and Research offers two types of hair transplantation surgery- follicular unit extraction (FUE): one follicular unit extracted at a time and follicular grafting: removal of the follicles by the strip method. Both are effective procedures and each is ideal depending on the candidate’s unique evaluation. Follicular unit extraction is a minimally invasive procedure that removes naturally occurring groups of hairs, called follicular units, usually between 1-4 hairs, from the back and sides of the scalp and transplants them in areas of hair loss. Follicular grafting uses a strip technique that involves removing a donor strip of hair bearing skin from the back of the head, dissecting individual follicular units, and subsequently transplanting them into balding areas.
The FUE treatment leaves no linear scars in the donor area and can be good for those who wish to wear their hair short or for those who tend to scar easily. This procedure is ideal for individuals with tighter scalps and those with donor scars from previous procedures that cannot be removed. Obtaining large numbers of grafts are more difficult with this technique which is also more time consuming and therefore more costly.
More recently an automated method for FUE, called NeoGraft has received widespread fame for its novel way of extracting each follicular bundle. This is an automated hair transplant device that utilizes one small punch at a time using the FUE technique. One of the main benefits of this method is that it has the potential to decrease mechanical injury to the grafts because it doesn’t require forceps during extraction unlike all the other forms of FUE. A patented suction for removing each unit as it is cut is utilized for the extraction. There is no harsh pulling or compression of the delicate follicles. The individual follicle bundle must then be placed into the bald scalp like the ones collected by the strip technique.
Each hair restoration option offers patients great results, however, candidates need to be evaluated to see which technique is best suited for their needs. If you would like to discuss hair restoration options or have other hair loss questions please contact our office today. Stay connected with all the hair loss news and information by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +.
Crazy Hair Loss Myths Debunked
Premature hair loss can severely impact self-confidence. Nearly two out of every three men will begin balding by the time they’re 60 and women are also affected as they grow older. As men and women’s hair begins to fall out they frequently search for advice and tips to stop, or at least slow, this process with hair loss prevention treatments. There are many myths out there about hair loss prevention. Especially with the endless information available online, it can be difficult to differentiate between fact and fiction about hair loss. Here is some of the more popular hair loss myths.
Wearing hats causes hair loss. No, wearing hats does NOT cause hair loss. For this to be true, the hat would have to so tight that it cuts off circulation to the follicles.
Hair loss genes come from your mother’s side of the family. Inheritance has now been tied to a particular gene which could have been passed from either the mother or father. Heredity is the cause of hair loss in most patients, male or female.
Using blow dryers leads to hair loss. Overusing a blow dryer can cause heat damage and produce brittle hair which leads to breakage but does NOT cause permanent hair loss. In general most hair products today do not cause permanent loss either.
Cleaning your scalp of sebum (the semi-fluid secretion from glands attached to the follicle) with astringents will unclog follicles and allow hair to grow. Hair is not trapped and doesn’t need to be released. The oil may have traces of male hormones which some doctors claim may increase shedding. Most doctors agree that regular shampooing is good for the scalp and hair. Even if hair loss is occurring, do not stop shampooing on a regular basis.
When suffering from hair loss, a person may try countless “miracle cures” that do not work. Hair loss is a complicated condition with multiple causes. Determining the cause of your hair loss is important in devising an effective treatment plan. With proper diagnosis, The Griffin Center of Hair Restoration and Research can discuss with you the medical and surgical options available to achieve your desired results. Contact our office for more information or to schedule your consultation. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google + for the latest hair loss and restoration information and news.
Fact or Fiction? Setting the Record Straight on the Biggest Male Hair Loss Misconceptions
Many patients believe that thinning hair is a part of life that cannot be treated. “It’s just something I’ll have to live with,” is a common refrain among men who begin to notice signs of hair loss. The biggest myth surrounding hair loss is that nothing can be done. However, this is not the case. Drs. Edmond Griffin and Ashley Curtis explain the truth behind this and some of the other big hair loss and hair restoration myths in this blog.
MYTH: Frequent use of hats or helmets cause or speed up hair loss.
TRUTH: This notion is merely folklore. Wearing a hat or helmet will not speed up or cause hair loss.
MYTH: Male pattern baldness is inherited from the maternal grandfather.
TRUTH: This is both true and false. Just like with any genetic trait, pattern baldness can be inherited from both the mother’s and the father’s side of the family. Though there are tests to determine the presence of the balding gene, these tests don’t confirm which side of the family gave you the gene or even whether the gene will be expressed in the future. Just because you have the gene doesn’t mean you’ll lose hair more than normal, though it does greatly increase your chances.
MYTH: Using conditioner can prevent baldness.
TRUTH: Because the hair is not a living structure, conditioners merely coat the dead hair shaft making it less prone to breakage. Conditioners have no influence on balding, though. If enough breakage occurs the hair looks thinner.
MYTH: Shampooing daily causes increased shedding.
TRUTH: In general, shampoos clean the hair and do not affect hair growth or loss. To some degree, daily shampooing has been found to show slightly less hair loss by total count than shampooing once weekly. Research shows that shampoos that contains anti-yeast medications seem to slow total monthly hair loss even more (example: Nizoral and DHS with Zinc).
MYTH: Undergoing hair transplant surgery means I no longer need to take preventative measures.
TRUTH: Transplanted hair comes from a donor area that is not affected by genetic hair loss symptoms. This means that it is not affected by the cause of pattern baldness (dihydrotestosterone) and remains in place permanently (pending other factors like chemotherapy and trauma) after transplantation. However, the hair in the balding area that was there before the transplant is still susceptible to pattern baldness. Therefore, preventative measures still need to be taken to maintain those follicles which were not transplanted and are genetically programmed to be lost at some time in the future.
Hair loss is a complicated condition. While pattern baldness is most often the cause of hair loss in men, there are many factors that could be the reason for your thinning. If you suspect your hair may be thinning, visit a dermatologist specializing in hair loss and restoration like those at The Griffin Center of Hair Restoration and Research to determine the cause of your hair loss. With a proper diagnosis, our providers can help you find the best methods of treatment for your situation.
Contact our office for more information or to schedule your consultation. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest hair loss and restoration information and news.
Get to Know The Griffin Center’s Dr. Edmond I. Griffin
Though you may be a regular visitor to The Griffin Center website and blog, you may not realize that we’re named after Dr. Edmond Griffin, the founder of our Center for Hair Loss and Restoration. Dr. Griffin is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon. He has been performing hair replacement surgery since 1976 and is a renowned expert in his field. An active member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons since it began along with the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons (IAHRS), Dr. Griffin regularly attends and contributes to conferences, workshops, news productions, and more. He also works with other experts in the field from across the world to bring his Atlanta patients the latest in hair restoration technology, treatment, and care. Check out his CV for more details and contact our office if you’d like more information on hair loss and hair restoration.
New Tracking Technology Helps Better Quantify Hair Loss
Tracking hair loss and hair regrowth is a difficult process. It’s easy to see when a patient has lost at least 50% of the hair in one area. However, quantifying hair loss before the balding stage (when patients are just noticing more hair in the shower drain) is not down to a perfect science. Using global photography, dermatologists trained in hair restoration can attempt to measure hair loss, but variables like hair length, changing hair color, and different hair styles can have an impact on results. Other forms of measurement like hair densitometry (measure of density) have limitations including the need to trim the hair to take measurements. The newest measure of hair “thickness” is the HairCheck® developed by a fellow dermatologist, Dr. Bernard Cohen.
In a recent study, hair restoration specialists in Florida tested a newer form of hair loss measurement called hair bundle cross-section trichometry. During the study, 250 patients’ hair loss was quantified using this technique that measured both hair density and the diameter of hair to calculate a figure called Hair Mass Index (HMI) for each patient. These measurements also took hair breakage into account, where other forms of hair loss tracking could not. Not only were the doctors looking to find a new way to help with hair loss diagnosis and treatment, but also to help patients better understand their individual hair loss condition and treatment processes.
Each patient’s hair loss and treatment was measured every 90 days beginning in November 2009 until September 2011. While any new method of calculation or tracking takes time and effort the researchers found that the use of this type of tracking can not only help doctors provide their patients with quick and easy-to-understand information, but they can also better detect and quantify non-visible (early) thinning in male patients. They were also able to differentiate diffuseness with pattern baldness in women. The method also helped track patients with telogen effluvium as well as monitor the effectiveness of topical and oral hair restoration medications and nutritional changes much more quickly and effectively than other tracking methods.
Researchers also noticed a difference in patient response to the measurement efforts. When patients were presented with a graphical representation along with a personal explanation of their hair loss treatment progress, they were more likely to comply with the treatment efforts (take medications regularly, complete medications through prescribed course, etc.). As Dr. Edmond Griffin can attest, patient education is one of the determining factors in a successful hair loss treatment. When patients are aware of their hair loss treatment options they are more likely to follow through with treatment requirements, and therefore, receive better hair restoration results.
Newer technology like the hand-held HairCheck® device helps dermatologists to quickly measure HMI and determine if hair loss, growth, or breakage has occurred on any area of the scalp. This means that patients can know if their medications are working properly and dermatologists can adjust treatment accordingly.
Hair loss is a case-sensitive condition. The causes vary from patient to patient. However, newer technologies and methods in hair loss diagnosis and treatment planning can help hair restoration specialists better accommodate each patient with a tailored treatment plan. Studies like this are important in hair loss research to help both doctors and patients reap the benefits of proper treatment and patient compliance.
For more information on hair loss diagnosis and treatments, visit our website. You can also keep up with the latest hair news by following us on Facebook and Twitter.
 |
 |
 |
Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+!
Newsletter
Sign Up to Receive Occasional Special Offers and Our Newsletters
* = Required Field