LPSA

Expert addresses the latest trends in hair transplantation

London - 7 November, 2005 - London Plastic Surgery Associates (www.lpsa.co.uk), a leading cosmetic surgery clinic dedicated to providing comprehensive care in the field of plastic surgery, today addressed some of the most common misconceptions, patient expectations, and the latest trends in hair transplantation.

Greg Williams, a consultant plastic surgeon based at LPSA, developed an interest in hair transplant techniques through years of working with patients with severe burns. He specialises in hair restoration surgery, for scarred scalps or male/female pattern baldness.

According to Greg Williams, who is a member of both the BAPS and the BAAPS;

“Hair Transplantation is the fifth most popular cosmetic procedure for men in America. In the UK, it’s a lot less common. This may be, in part, due to general misconceptions and even unrealistic expectations in the British public. With the tightening of regulations in the aesthetic arena, it is timely to educate people on what this surgery can, and more importantly, what it can’t achieve - and what advances in technology can provide for those concerned with hair loss.”

So how does it work? For most male patients, the operation takes hair from the back of the head and moves it to the area of hair loss. The back and sides will continue to grow normally. Women have different patterns of balding, so it will depend on where the hair is still growing healthy enough to be considered a ‘donor’ area.

Side-effects are minor and include mild discomfort and the formation of small scars which take about a week to disappear, which brings us to our first, and one of the most common, misconceptions:

“EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO TELL”

The process of hair restoration can take between 9 to 12 months - but this doesn’t mean patients won’t be able to show their faces at work for this amount of time.

According to Mr. Williams;

“If patients are concerned that their colleagues will be able to tell they are having this procedure done, I recommend they take two weeks off work. The insertions are tiny and once they are fully healed, even as a professional, it is hard for me to tell when a person has had a hair transplant - unless of course, it is done incorrectly or carelessly. If the operation is successful, and performed by a reputable practitioner, nobody should be able to guess.”

“THE PLUG LOOK”

Poorly planned or improperly executed hair restoration surgery can result in grafts that are too large (they look like plugs - or doll hair), a too-low hairline, or even scarring.

Setting priorities before any surgery has begun ensures maximum satisfaction, and so is choosing the right practitioner.

According to Mr. Williams;

“It is imperative that patients meet with the doctor performing the transplant. Just because it is an aesthetic procedure does not mean it isn’t medical - meeting with clinic ‘consultants’ or advisors should never replace meeting the practitioners themselves. If your doctor isn’t available to discuss expectations and surgical recommendations, you are at risk for a disappointing result.”

“I’M RECEDING: I’M READY”

Just because your hair is thinning, doesn’t mean you are ready for this type of procedure. Both men and women have different patterns of baldness, and age, timing, and lifestyle factors need to be taken into consideration if the end result isn’t going to look unnatural.

According to Mr. Williams;

“Hair replacement surgery can make you look much younger and boost your self-confidence, but the results won't necessarily measure up to your ideal. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your hair transplant surgeon.”

The innovative techniques involved in hair transplants are not limited to men’s thinning crowns. As a plastic surgeon, Greg Williams uses the procedure on patients who have scars that affect the growth of facial hair, who have suffered burns or have had operations in their scalp. Women have even requested hair be used to permanently cover facelift ‘giveaway’ marks behind their ears.

Other solutions in these cases include micropigmentation, which is essentially the paramedical tattooing of hair-tinted dye, ideal for smaller scars or even eyebrows.

According to Greg Williams;

“There is a lack of knowledge regarding the non-surgical options for those concerned with hair loss. It’s important to counsel patients on the range of solutions available, to achieve the right result.”

You are a suitable candidate if you have lost hair due to inherited trait, trauma or burns, and if you have healthy hair growth in the back or sides of your head. Discuss your concerns with a reputable practitioner, as hair loss can result from a variety of reasons such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, low zinc, iron or thyroid hormone, and high levels of stress.