#strip surgery

this 53 Yr-Old Male patient was concerned with his hair loss at the frontal hairline and crown regions, and consulted with the Gabel Center for options. After meeting with Dr. Gabel, a new hairline was designed by Dr. Gabel, and upon patients approval, the FUT Strip surgery procedure was completed. In all, over 5000 grafts were transplanted in two separate procedures. Patient is extremely happy with his results and highly recommends the Gabel Center.

Hair loss is a very common problem faced by both men and women at some point in life. Losing about 50-100 strands of hair is a common occurrence. However, excessive hair loss shouldn’t be ignored and in order to be successful, it must be treated immediately.

The most common cause of hair loss is genetics. In fact, more than 90% of reported baldness caused in men are due male pattern baldness inherited from father or mother. However, there could be many underlying non-genetic factors that can cause alopecia. Fortunately, there are many treatments that help you fight against hair loss.

Some hair loss treatments can be very effective in managing androgenic alopecia.. There is a wide range of treatment options that can be combined for optimal results.

Topical and oral medications

There is a wide array of topical and oral medications that can help slow hair loss and promote the growth of healthy hair. The most commonly used medications are Propecia, Rogaine, and Aldactone. Each of these hair loss drugs work differently and our for different purposes. For example, Propecia is for men only an works to block DHT, the hormone responsible for hereditary hair loss. Rogaine works by stimulating hair follicles underneath the surface of the scalp and thus, causing nominal hair regrowth.

Laser therapy

Low-level laser therapy has been shown to promote hair growth in men and women with pattern hair loss. Research indicates that the laser light is absorbed into the cells and triggers cellular activity to increase their effectiveness in hair growth. This treatment is not likely to work on those with little or no hair. Studies have shown that laser therapy gives results after a certain period of time for different individuals.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

PRP Therapy for hair loss is a non-surgical treatment in which the patients blood is drawn, processed and injected into the scalp. The PRP injections can trigger natural hair growth by increasing the blood supply to the hair follicles. Candidates experiencing early hair loss tend to respond best to PRP. This treatment is performed once in a month for 3-6 months depending on the individual response.

FUE transplant

Follicular Unit Extraction or FUE  is the one of the two most common hair transplants, where individual hair follicles are removed from the scalp with a specialized extraction device. The hair follicles are extracted and then inserted into the tiny sites using fine blades. The procedure takes around 8-10 hours. This is a minimally invasive procedure and you can get back to routine activities within 24 hours. The results may take about 12 to 18 months to fully mature The new hair growth typically starts around 4 months.

FUSS transplant (Strip Surgery)

Follicular Unit Strip Surgery or FUSS, also referred to as strip harvesting is a surgical procedure where a strip of tissue containing hair follicles is removed from sides and back of the scalp. The surgeon and/or trained technicians cut and divide the hair follicles into small groups and insert them into bald areas of the scalp.

FUSS is considered a bit more invasive and leaves a nominal linear scar that’s mostly covered by existing hair. Like FUE, the hair begins to show around 4 months and takes up to a year to 18 months to appear.  

Scalp Micropimentation or SMP

Scalp micropigmentation (SMP), also called Advanced Tricho Pigmentation (ATP) is another minimally invasive option that works best on very short hair and produces realistic results. It is a pigmentation delivery system that is used to replicate the appearance of natural hair follicles. You can see results instantly after    the practitioner has applied the pigment.

Bottom Line

For men and women experiencing hair loss, the above treatments can either stop the progression of boulders or grow hair and completely bald areas. In many cases, non-surgical solutions can be combined with surgical hair restoration to maximize the appearance of hair

Besides the above treatments, lifestyle and dietary changes, home remedies and over the counter medications may  improve the appearance of thinning hair for non-genetic causes of hair loss.  

This 37 year old transgender patient had been diagnosed with male pattern baldness for several years prior to searching for a hair restoration surgeon. She had consulted with several prominent hair surgeons before deciding to go with Dr. Steven Gabel of the Gabel Hair Restoration Center.  

Dr. Gabel, in his usual low key, low pressure, informational style then presented the patient with several options, including a hair transplant. Although the Gabel Center is not located in her home state, she elected to travel to have this operation done by Dr. Gabel.

The method used by the doctor in this case was a FUT Follicular Unit Transplant procedure, done in one megasession at our surgical center in the Portland Metro area. In this case, 3166 grafts were transplanted from the donor zone in the back of the scalp into the frontal area. The after photographs and video footage were taken 11 months after surgery.