Operation Restore
Locks of Love
National Alopecia
Areata Foundation
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THE HAIR RESTORATION REPORT November 2002 Congratulations! You have been selected to receive this issue of the "HAIR RESTORATION REPORT." This report contains tips on how to make the most out of the hair you already have, slow the hair loss process and more effectively plan and manage the restoration of your hair. In This Issue: Dr. Sword's Report of the Meeting of the International Society of Hair Restoration SurgeryRecently I traveled to Chicago to attend the 10th Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons. I spent four days from 7am to 7pm going to lectures, presentation and examining patients. I am proud to be a member of this organization and hope that this report of the meeting will be helpful for you in your quest in obtaining valuable information about hair restoration.
About ISHRS The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) is a non-profit voluntary organization of over 700 hair restoration specialists. It was founded in 1992 as the first International society to promote Continuing Quality Improvement and education for professionals in the field of hair restoration surgery. The ISHRS mission is to advance the art and science of hair restoration by licensed, experienced physicians who are qualified to practice this type of medicine and who do so with the highest degree of skill and artistry.
Some of the recent findings that coincide with the work that we have been doing in our practice:
1. The smaller the grafts and the more hair transplant procedures, the better the results was the consensus at the Chicago meeting of ISHRS. In other words, patients with 4,000 grafts looked better than patients with 2,000 grafts. There is not a point of diminishing returns
2. Most doctors are using all micro grafts or follicular units though some doctors are putting mini grafts behind the front hairline for a thicker appearance.
3. It has become common for doctors to transplant 1,500 to 2,000 and even up to 2,500 grafts per session.
4. Most groups are using some sort of magnification and some are using microscopes, but most feel the microscope is overkill. The dissecting microscopes seem to be used mostly for advertising or commercial purposes.
5. The so-called "Fox" procedure, or follicular unit extraction, is basically an old method with a new name and has very limited use if any.
6. Most doctors suggest putting all women with hair loss on Minoxidil (Rogaine) for about one year before a transplant and continue it even after the hair transplant.
7. Most groups are removing the scar from the first transplant when doing the second transplant so that there is only one scar.
8. Men and women wearing wigs over transplanted hair have increased breakage and decreased growth secondary to increased bacteria growth under the wig.
9. Many groups are using Propecia to stabilize the vertex and then transplant only in the front half.
10. Consensus is there is less growth in second and third hair transplants, we believe, due to scar fibrosis.
11. The old plug procedures from 20 to 30 years ago still look good, and the graying of the hair makes for less contrast between skin and hair color, which increases the acceptability.
12. People were talking hair mass index, which is equal to the weight and thickness of the hair shaft itself as opposed to the density of the hair, which is equal to the amount of hairs per square inch.
13. Hair cloning is still many years away; at least 10 or more.
14. The risk factors for poor growth of transplanted hair are: Patients over 50 years of age, Being overweight, High blood pressure, Smoking, Diabetes, Having multiple procedures
15. The most common problems of the old plug-style procedures are that the plugs are too large, too low, the hair line being too flat, the hair growing in the wrong direction, hair growing where it is not normally found, i.e. the temples, the donor hair taken from too high on the back of the head, donor area scarring, the “slot effect,” when hair at the sides of the head continues to be lost, receptor necrosis secondary to transplanting too many grafts too close together, poor planning for future hair loss (every patient should be thought of as ending up a class 5).
Thank you,
Randall Sword, MD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Revolutionary Video Consultation Network Do you know that Dr. Sword can be in two places at one time? Only Sword Medical Center allows you to meet Dr. Sword and discuss with him your options for hair restoration from any of the conveniently located offices all over Southern California and in Albuquerque. The wide band video conferencing system allows you to see the doctor, REAL TIME. He can examine you and you can get all of your questions answered by one of the world's leading experts in hair restoration face to face! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Give Us Your Feedback Is there a topic you would like Dr. Sword to talk about? Let us know. Dr. Sword established this report to help educate and inform YOU his patients! His passion is helping men and women to enjoy a fuller and more enriching life that comes with the confidence of having a full head of hair. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A Virtual Hair Restoration Consultation Now you can have a virtual consultation with Sword Medical Center with just a recent photograph of yourself and an Internet connection. By sending your photo to Sword Medical, the doctor can get an idea of your hair loss pattern and recommend a possible course of action. Just go to www.swordmedical.com/vc and complete the brief form. You will receive our evaluation and recommendations based upon your photos. Know that strict security and confidentiality will be assured. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meet Dr. Sword and some of his patients at an upcoming One-on-One with the doctor in your area. Call 1-800-242-6900 to RSVP or go to www.swordmedical.com/signup.html to sign-up. Contact us at info@swordmedical.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn the facts about hair loss, become familiar with the different forms of restoration and meet Dr. Sword himself at one of our upcoming One-on-One with the doctors:
Albuquerque One-on-One with the doctor
Torrance Open House
Want to know more about the many options available to you in hair restoration, hair maintenance and hair replacement? Contact the Sword Medical Center office nearest you 1-800-242-6900 or go to www.swordmedical.com
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