NEW YORK (October 16, 2003)– Look at the pictures on ancient Greek vases or at the sculpted busts of eminent ancient Romans and you can see that baldness is not a new experience in human history. We recognize Socrates and Julius Caesar as men with typical male-pattern hair loss. We can presume that they were representative of men of their times who had inherited male-pattern baldness. If male-pattern hair loss was as common in men 2,000 years ago as it is today, we can also presume that women of those times were as likely to have thinning hair as do women in 2003.
From ancient times to the near present, loss of scalp hair was a fact of life. Only within the past half-century has there been a choice to live with hair loss, or do something to halt it, reverse it, or replace it. We can wonder what Socrates and Julius Caesar would have done, if they had such a choice.
In 2003, there are options to consider for (1) halting hair loss, (2) reversing hair loss, and (3) restoring hair to areas where it was lost.
Advancements in the science and art of hair restoration surgery are being discussed in New York this week at the 11th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS). The ISHRS, the world's largest organization of hair restoration physicians and surgeons with members in 45 countries, is meeting October 15-19 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel.
Features of the program include presentations of original scientific and clinical papers, plenary sessions, discussion panels, postgraduate courses, live surgery workshops, exhibits, and programs for surgical assistants.
"We anticipate one of the highest attendance rates is our history in recognition of the exponential growth of technologies," said ISHRS President Robert S. Haber, MD, South Euclid, OH. "No other meeting in the world will offer the full spectrum of hair restoration advancements, presented by the most respected members of our community, both clinical and research."
Advanced research and techniques presented will include follicular unit extraction (a newer method of harvesting donor hair for transplantation), and hair follicle cloning (tissue engineering of hair follicles), noted Program Chair Jerry E. Cooley, MD, Charlotte, NC. Look for these stories in the Media Kit:
Low-Level Laser Therapy is Now a Do-It-Yourself Hair Loss Treatment
- A comb-like low-level laser device for consumer use at home has been shown to be effective in preventing hair loss and stimulating hair regrowth, and in improving the strength and sheen of treated hair.
Auto-Cloning of Beard Hair Used to Increase Supply of Donor Hair for Transplantation to Scalp
- Beard whiskers, carefully removed, may offer an inexhaustible supply of hair for transplantation to the scalp, without compromising growth of beard.
Hair Transplants That Don't Look Like Transplants: Follicular Unit Transplantation Led the Way " Scalp hair grows naturally in small groups called follicular units. Follicular unit transplantation uses this natural growth pattern to achieve maximum naturalness and undetectability in hair transplants.
Follicular Unit Extraction Brings Minimally Invasive Surgery Technique to Hair Transplantation
- The technique of follicular unit extraction has shown potential to harvest donor hair with minimal invasiveness and much reduced potential for scarring at the site of donor hair harvest.
Media Fact Sheet: Hair Loss and Hair Restoration
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Overview of
(1) causes of hair loss including hereditary pattern hair loss in men and women, diseases, scarring by injury and burns, and compulsive hair pulling;
(2) surgical hair restoration in men and women, including hair transplantation;
(3) nonsurgical hair restoration in men and women, including hair restoration drugs;
(4) the dangers posed by so-called miracle cures for hair loss; and
(5) hair-follicle cloning and tissue engineering as future developments in hair restoration.
[NOTE: Visit the ISHRS Website at– http://www.ISHRS.org– for more information on topics such as:
- How female hair loss differs from male-pattern hair loss, and approaches to hair restoration in women;
- Special considerations in hair transplantation in persons of Asian and African ancestry;
- Diagnosis of the cause of hair loss in an individual patient;
- The importance of correct diagnosis before a hair restoration procedure is undertaken;
- Surgical approaches to hair restoration other than hair transplantation, and when they are the best choice for an individual patient;
- The current status of tissue engineering and hair follicle cloning in hair restoration research;
- Discussion of the hair restoration pharmaceutical agents minoxidil (Rogaine®) and finasteride (Propecia®); and,
- Questions to ask a physician hair restoration specialist when you are considering a hair restoration procedure.]
The ISHRS is the world's largest not-for-profit professional organization in the field of hair restoration surgery, with 512 physician members in 45 countries. The organization was founded in 1993 to promote the advancement of the specialty of hair restoration surgery through education, information-sharing, and observance of ethical standards.