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Hair Replacement- The Next Generation


Today’s options for hair growth have gone through a major evolution since 1952 when hair transplantation surgery was first pioneered.
Hair transplant surgery has changed completely — from large to small grafts. The large-graft technique used to be state-of-the-art back then. Treatments have shifted from unnatural-looking transplants to sophisticated new drugs and improvements in hair transplant surgery, like Robotic Hair Transplants- to the future of cloning individual hair cells. The future of hair restoration looks even brighter than the present.
According to estimates form the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 40 million men and 20 million women experience hair loss.
To perform a hair transplant, Dr. Mark Bishara obtain skin grafts with hair follicles from places on the scalp that are still growing hair (typically the back or side of the head) and transplant them into the balding areas where it will continue to grow. Today, surgeons use smaller grafts which contain anywhere from one to five hair follicles per graft; this helps give the scalp a more natural appearance. By contrast the larger grafts had 15-20 hair follicles; they looked artificial with the appearance of rows of hairs. These are known as hair plugs.

For the very latest technology in hair restoration, Dr. Bishara is now using the ARTAS System.This physician-controlled, state-of-the-art system enables the harvesting of hair follicles during hair restoration procedures. It offers numerous beneficial features, including an image-guided robotic arm, special imaging technologies, small dermal punches and a computer interface. The ARTAS System is capable of identifying and harvesting individual follicular units to implement the FUE technique. The device, guided by cameras and 3-D imaging software, can perform the dissection of hair follicles individually at a rate of up to 1,000 per hour.
FUE offers less discomfort and a faster return to normal daily activities than traditional, more invasive methods of hair restoration. Performed in Dr. Bishara’s office, FUE with ARTAS moves healthy, functioning follicles to the areas of the patient’s scalp most impacted by baldness for more dramatic results. The implanted hairs develop their own blood supply, begin to grow and new hairs are seen a few months after the procedure has taken place. New hair continues to grow over the course of a full year, making the change in the patient’s appearance gradually noticeable to others. Healing time is short, and there is no resultant linear scar as happens with other methods of hair restoration. The only evidence is tiny, white scars left in the donor area, which are the same as those produced by manual FUE.
In the case of hair transplantation, going from large grafts of hair to small grafts was what made this procedure so much more natural and because of this, more people doing better transplants today.

The Evolution Continues

Hair transplantations have continued to evolve into smaller and smaller grafts and the next step will be to add a cell-based transplant where you can inject hair seeds into the balding area that can grow into a brand new follicle (cloning). Within five years, we should be able to augment and add this to the follicle-based transplant. Cloning has certainly become possible in other areas, so it is very possible that there will come a time when hair can be cloned. If hair cloning can work that would give us the best ability to restore hair. It would deliver the best results, physically and cosmetically.
Dr. Mark Bishara is proud to offer a wide range of comprehensive hair restoration procedures. Combined with his extensive experience and advanced skills, these procedures are often highly effective. The best treatment option for each patient depends on the location and extent of hair loss. Dr. Bishara will take the time to evaluate each patient, discuss his/her individual goals and together develop a personalized treatment plan using one of his many successful hair loss treatment options.  Please call our office at (817) 473-2120 or visit our website for more information at www.MarkBisharaMD.com.
 

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What Happens When My Hair Surgery Leaves an Unsightly Scar?

If you have previously undergone a hair transplant and are unsatisfied with your results, we can help you achieve the results you had hoped for through hair restoration revision surgery with the ARTAS System. Unsuccessful, unfavorable outcomes from hair transplant surgery often occur because of technical errors, poor planning on the part of the doctor, and unforeseeable complications.  For the very latest technology in hair restoration, Dr. Mark Bishara is now using the ARTAS System. This interactive, computer assisted equipment employs image guidance to enhance the quality of hair follicle harvesting. ARTAS is the first hair transplant robot to improve the most challenging aspects of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE).

Technical Errors and Complications

If your scalp has a plugged, tightened, cobblestone, or ridged appearance, we can dramatically improve your results using the ARTAS system. Technical errors generally occur when a specialist uses sub-standard transplantation techniques. When hair follicles are placed at incorrect angles or inappropriate depths, the newly transplanted hair will grow in the wrong directions and each transplant will look unnatural and pitted.

Poor Doctor Planning

In some cases, an underqualified, inexperienced doctor can be to blame for an unsatisfying result following hair loss surgery. If your surgeon isn’t properly prepared for surgery, not only can he or she damage your healthy hair follicles, but he or she can prematurely deplete your supply of available, transplantable donor hair prior to the completion of treatment. Planning of the positioning of the hairline using donor hair is a precautionary step that must be carefully performed at the beginning of the surgical process. During this stage, your doctor should anticipate future hair loss and allocate available hair follicles to be placed in the appropriate areas.

Benefits of Hair Restoration Revision Surgery

During hair restoration revision surgery, we can:

  • Improve the aesthetic of your scalp, hairline, and hair
  • Improve botched hair
  • Conceal scaring that was a result of a former surgery
  • Create a single linear scar that masks multiple incisions that were previously made during your former surgery
  • Extract existing follicles that were miss-placed by your former surgeon
  • Implant new, healthy hair follicles
  • Alleviate the discomfort of a tightened scalp and scar tissue

This physician-controlled, state-of-the-art ARTAS system enables the harvesting of hair follicles during hair restoration procedures. It offers numerous beneficial features, including an image-guided robotic arm, special imaging technologies, small dermal punches and a computer interface. The ARTAS System is capable of identifying and harvesting individual follicular units to implement the FUE technique. The device, guided by cameras and 3-D imaging software, can perform the dissection of hair follicles individually at a rate of up to 1,000 per hour.  We have an ARTAS robot in each of our offices in Mansfield and Southlake.  The procedure is done in office and requires no downtime- most patients are back to work the next day.

Contact Dr. Mark Bishara’s Office for Hair Restoration

We ensure you will have a quality, satisfying experience when you receive treatment. Whether you are in need of hair restoration revision surgery or subsequent restoration procedures, our team is here to help you achieve the results you are looking for and natural hair your want. Don’t let an unsatisfying outcome keep you from looking and feeling your best. Contact us today at (817) 473-2120!
www.MarkBisharaMD.com
 

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Hair Transplant Scars- Scar Revision by Dr. Mark Bishara, MD in Mansfield & Southlake

Fixing and Repairing Hair Transplant Scars

Hair transplant procedures that use follicular units exclusively leave no visible scarring in the recipient area. In Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), there is a single thin line in the donor area where the strip was removed. In Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) there are multiple tiny round, white scars in the donor area, one for each extracted follicular unit. Generallythese scars are undetectable and are of no cosmetic consequence to the patient.
When older methods of hair restoration surgery are used, current techniques are performed improperly or, less commonly, when a patient is a poor healer, scarring may be excessive and may present a cosmetic problem. The scarring may be due to the plug itself (which invariably leaves a round white scar), it may be caused by the elevation or depression of grafts (seen with some slit and minigrafting techniques), or it may be due to a stretched or thickened donor scar.
Scarring in the recipient area can be eliminated by keeping recipient sites very small. Sites such as those used in FUT and FUE, will not leave any visible marks. Scarring in the donor area can be minimized by meticulous closures, where the wound edges are perfectly approximated and are under little or no tension. Using an inert material to close the wound, such as stainless steel staples, also helps to minimize the destruction of hair follicles and the incidence of hair transplant scarring.
When significant scarring does result, a number of techniques are available to reduce it. The two most effective methods are scar revision (excising or changing the direction of a hair transplant scar) and camouflage (a technique where hair is transplanted directly into the scar). In addition, thickened scars may be flattened with cortisone injections, depressed scars may be raised with dermal fillers and an irregular surface may be made smoother with dermabrasion or laser treatments.
The method for fixing hair transplant scars must be tailored to the specific situation, since each hair transplant repair patient has unique problems which influence the approach. Perhaps the most significant issue is the amount of remaining donor hair reserves. The following examples illustrate a number of common techniques used to improve scarring.
For some instead of just covering it up their scar, they just want to get rid of the problem entirely, that is why they opt for scar revision surgery. In this procedure, the scar is removed and the scalp is pulled back together. There will still be some scarring but it will be much smaller than the original.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a great method of concealing hair transplant scars. This time, the donor grafts are taken from the beard or chest hair and then implanted on the scar and given time to grow. Those with a high hair density in other areas of the body are considered to be the best candidates for this treatment. Usually 50% to 90% of the grafts grow in scars, making the scarred areas of the scalp much less visible.

Before your hair transplant surgery, discuss hair transplant scar treatments available to your surgeon. Your hair transplant surgeon can help minimize scarring by using a certain closure technique.  If you have more questions about fixing hair transplant scars or to find out more about what can be done for thinning hair, please don’s hesitate to contact us at (817) 473-2120 or visit our website at www.markbisharamd.com.

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Are Men Giving Up On Hair Loss Treatments And Heading Straight For Transplants?

Men suffering from hair loss may be getting fed up with all the miracle pills and potions being touted on the internet.
According to an opinion poll of hair experts conducted by WhatClinic.com, there has been a 260% increase in men enquiring about hair transplants, and a staggering 180% increase in men actually traveling abroad for cheaper hair transplant procedures.
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HuffPost UK LIfestyle spoke to Dr Maurice Collins, medical director of Hair Restoration Blackrock, to find out why there is a surge of interest.
He said: “Two factors, the technology of hair transplantation has improved dramatically over the last 10 years. A good hair transplant carried out by a trained team of technicians and a specialist hair transplant surgeon should not be noticeable, not even to ones barber.
“The old toilet brush style transplants of the 70s are definitely a thing of the past. Secondly, the likes of James Nesbitt and Wayne Rooney going public has helped remove the stigma of having a hair transplant. Men in their 40s, 50s and 60s are still unlikely to talk openly about their hair loss concerns, but men in their 20s and 30s are much more open.”
Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) is where a strip of the scalp, including the hair follicles, is removed and replanted at the front of the head. Follicular unit extraction (FUE), sometimes called FUE Harvesting, takes individual hair clusters (of between one and four hairs) and replants them one by one, which although more time-consuming, gives better results and less chance of scarring.
In a recent poll of cosmetic surgeons, 78% confirmed that interest from men in cosmetic surgery was definitely growing. Of those asked, almost nine out of 10 (89%) said they believe men are now far more conscious of their appearance than ever before.
The bottom line, says Dr Collins, is that there is no cure for hair loss. “The drugs that are currently available (Minoxidil and Finasteride) can arrest hair loss for a limited number of years but do not reverse hair loss. Hair transplantation takes existing hair from the back of the head and plants it on top and at the front. It restores a hair line and fills in the gaps, but it is not a cure. It is likely that if a cure is found it will come from stem cell research. ”
As for men travelling overseas for the procedure, Turkey has proven to be the destination of choice for UK men, aided by the considerably lower costs, and affordable flights. India boasts the most competitive average prices, however it may well be the cost of flights that has deterred patients.
So are transplants the only option if you’re worried about your hair? No, says Dr Collins.
“Only one in four men who visit proceed to have a transplant. For those who choose not to have a transplant, the first option is to accept your hair loss and shave your head. Many men are not too worried about their hair loss and look great with a shaved head – think Andre Agassi or Bruce Willis. Others are not suitable candidates. For example they may not have enough donor hair for transplantation. The donor hair comes from the back of the head, which is immune to hair loss. Budget and age are also factors.
“Many men benefit greatly from taking Minoxidil and Finasteride. The synergistic effect of taking both drugs can arrest hair loss and strengthen the existing hairs for a number of years, which has the effect of more hair, as if the patient has new hair. Young men will often opt for this option for a number of years before considering a hair transplant. Lastly, a patient may not be suitable if their hair loss pattern is not yet established, meaning it would be too soon for a transplant. Men in their mid-thirties and older, where their hair loss pattern is established are more suitable than those in their 20s.”
For men who are considering transplants however, Dr Collins advises doing your research.
“Shop around, compare a few clinics,” he says. “Don’t got for the cheapest. You get what you pay for. Look for a clinic that is run by trained surgeons. Look for experience and qualifications. The industry is currently unregulated, meaning anyone can set up a clinic, a GP, a nurse, a salesman. Make sure your consultation is with the surgeon who will carry out your transplant, not a salesperson. If the consultation is free then it’s a sales pitch not a consultation. Look for patient testimonials on the clinic website.”
This news is brought to you courtsey of Dr. Mark Bishara and The Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa, with offices in Mansfield and Southlake, TX
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For the very latest technology in hair restoration, Dr. Bishara is now using the ARTAS System. This interactive, computer assisted equipment employs image guidance to enhance the quality of hair follicle harvesting. ARTAS is the first hair transplant robot to improve the most challenging aspects of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). We do this procedure on both men and women. Please conact out office for more information at (817) 473-2120 or click below.
 

robotic hair transplants

 

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Robotic Hair Restoration by Dr. Mark Bishara, MD in Mansfield and Southlake

For the very latest technology in hair restoration, Dr. Mark Bishara is using the ARTAS System. This interactive, computer assisted equipment employs image guidance to enhance the quality of hair follicle harvesting. ARTAS is the first hair transplant robot to improve the most challenging aspects of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE).
There are two common ways to treat balding including strip harvesting and follicular unit extraction (FUE).  Strip harvesting is the most commonly used technique right now, and it is an efficient means of harvesting large quantities of follicles.
However, we have stopped offering it as a primary modality for a number of reasons, including patient recovery time and wound morbidity.
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Benefits of ARTAS System
Robotic technology is used in numerous surgical and diagnostic procedures to improve the efficacy of treatments.  Restoration Robotics has incorporated robotic technology into FUE resulting in the ARTAS system which is the first and only FDA-cleared technology that allows the physician to control the image-guided robot.  I am able to make minor adjustments to dissection depths and angles during the extraction process ensuring my patients receive optimal results.
The ARTAS system also greatly reduces post procedure pain or disomfort as compared to strip-harvesting where patients report a sense of tightness and some degree of numbness for two to three months after a strip harvest.
Before and After Pictures some of our patients:
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How the Procedure Works

The patient’s hair is first trimmed before the ARTAS system digitally scans areas of the scalp to identify hair in natural groupings. The selected hair is then precisely harvested using the robot and then transplanted into the thinning areas. These grafts will then grow just like they did before the areas where they are needed to fight balding.
Results will start to show in 3 months and by the 6th month, patients can expect to see noticeable improvements.  The hair will continue to grow and full results will be achieved a year after the treatment.
The ARTAS Robotic Hair Transplantation procedure is preferred because of its minimally invasive nature and no need for anesthesia or downtime. This procedure is designed to produce effective results with minimal downtime and no damage to surrounding hair follicles. I will help you determine how to achieve the best possible results.  Please contact our office for more information at (817) 473-2120.

 

robotic hair transplants

 
 

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