GENEVA, IL. – March 30, 2010. Think you could tell whether the new guy at work or a fellow soccer mom has had a hair transplant? Then the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) invites you to take the “Hair Transplant Challenge.”
“Over the years, the introduction of new technologies and refined techniques has dramatically improved the results of hair restoration surgery,” said Edwin Epstein, MD, president of the ISHRS. “Now, patients experience natural-looking, permanent results that are virtually undetectable to the naked eye. Our survey will illustrate how difficult it can be to detect a hair transplant patient from people who have not been treated for hair loss.”
During a typical hair transplant procedure, hair restoration surgeons separate the patient’s existing hair bundles into tiny grafts and plant them into the scalp in thin and bald areas while the patient remains awake. The newly transplanted hairs grow slowly and reach full maturation in nine to 12 months. Dr. Epstein added that in most patients, a combination of medical and surgical therapies is the best option to treat thinning hair and limit future hair loss.
Hair restoration physicians are also able to safely and effectively transplant hair in areas other than the scalp, such as the eyebrows, eyelashes, and beard and moustache areas.
To educate the public on the causes and available solutions for hair loss, the ISHRS website, www.ishrs.org, provides patients with the resources to make informed medical decisions and locate a hair restoration physician in their area.