Hair transplant surgery recovery

Many patients ask us what will happen after they’ve had a hair transplant. What is the hair transplant surgery recovery period post-surgery? Will people notice? Will they have to shave their heads? When can they return to work? When can they return to the gym? Here at HRBR we try and address some of these questions and give prospective patients a guide as to what to expect in the first 12 months after their hair transplant procedure. (Please note, should you proceed with a hair transplant with HRBR, detailed pre and post-operative instructions will be provided to you at the time of booking.)

Most patients are concerned by the thought of shaving their head before having a hair transplant. At HRBR you will not be asked to shave your hair before your hair transplant. In fact we request that you keep approximately 3cm in length in your hair, particularly at the back, to ensure the sutures you will have are well covered and can go unnoticed until they are removed around day 7-10.

On the day of surgery you will be with us for the whole day, normally heading home after your procedure at about 5pm. You are awake the entire day as local anaesthetic is used, similar to a trip to your dentist. That night you will be asked to spray the transplanted hair and the sutures every 15 minutes for 12 hours. This has been proven to help the healing process. Your sutures will be concealed by your hair at the back. The transplanted area may appear red during these initial hours.

Over the next couple of days post-transplant we request that you spray the transplanted area half hourly during waking hours. The transplanted area will still appear a little pink but this should gradually decrease as the days progress.

Most patients will return to work around day three or four as much of the redness has gone now and the transplant in most cases will be virtually undetectable.

Up to 14 days after the hair transplant the newly transplanted grafts will need extra care until they have secured themselves in their new location. This means no hat or helmet wearing, no vigorous washing, no cutting or colouring etc. We recommend a tea tree shampooing routine during these days, details of which are given when arranging your procedure.

Your sutures will be removed at HRBR between day 7-10.

From week 2-4 many patients report losing some or all of the transplanted hairs. Do not to worry, this is normal. Although the hair has fallen out the roots remain secure and the new hairs will begin to grow over the coming months.

To ensure that any scarring around the suture line is kept to a minimum, no vigorous exercise or heavy lifting is possible in the first month following your hair transplant.

Once the first 14 days have passed you are free to cut, colour or curl your hair.

Patience is a virtue. Now it is time to wait. The transplanted hair will take 12 – 18 months to grow fully, before you get to see the final results. During this time you will be back to HRBR for check ups with your consultant surgeon. There is no additional charge for these appointments as they, and all future appointments, are included in your surgery fee.

For more information or if you would like to schedule an appointment with HRBR call 00353 1 209 1000 or email info@hrbr.ie.

What causes hair loss in men

There are a number of myths surrounding what causes hair loss in men..

These myths can often be confusing for those suffering from this problem and it is important that, before any man seeks treatment, he understands what is causing his hair loss.

To help men suffering from hair loss, we’ve explained the main causes below and have also dispelled some rumours about why men lose their hair.

Male pattern hair loss

In the majority of male hair loss cases, the cause is androgenetic alopecia or male pattern hair loss.

Men’s hair begins to naturally thin out soon after puberty. This process progresses the older the man gets with around 20% of men in their twenties showing signs of male pattern hair loss. This number increases to 40% for men in their forties and to 50% for men in their fifties.

There are three main factors that contribute to male pattern hair loss, genes, hormones and time.

Genes:

Male pattern hair loss is inherited genetically from ones parents however; it is not certain how exactly these baldness genes are passed on. For example, one sibling may suffer from baldness while another has a full head of hair.

It is possible for you to be a carrier of baldness genes and not suffer from baldness yourself. It is also accepted that predisposition to baldness inherited on the mother’s side is greater than predisposition inherited from the father’s side.

It is important to note that baldness genes on their own will not make you lose your hair, the presence of hormones and time are what enable the genes to express themselves.

Hormones:

Dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, is a hormone related to testosterone that is responsible for triggering the balding process and is created when testosterone reacts with an enzyme called 5 alpha-reductase.

When hair follicles are exposed to DHT they begin to shrink. This results in the hair from these follicles becoming finer and shorter. Over time, hair from these follicles stops growing all together.

Men usually begin to notice hair loss when more than half of the follicles in a certain part of the head have been exposed to DHT.

Time:

DHT does not just impact hair follicles overnight. It takes time to effect follicles and for the results to show themselves.

The levels of DHT present, a person’s genes and their age all contribute to how quickly hair loss happens. Men with excessive hair loss tend to lose a lot of their hair before they are 30, while others won’t see any issues until they are in their late thirties or forties.

In general, sufferers of male pattern baldness will notice different periods of slow and rapid hair loss as well as periods of no hair loss at all.

Norwood Classification of Male Pattern Hair Loss

This is a system used to help categorise genetic hair loss in men. It shows, very simply, the different stages of male pattern baldness. The system has two basic patterns of hair loss, one that starts in the temple and one that starts in the crown. You can find out more about this system here.

Myths surrounding what causes hair loss in men

Now that we have outlined the reasons for male hair loss, we can debunk any myths or rumours about why men lose their hair.

Poor Circulation:

Poor circulation to the head is not a reason for male hair loss. If it was, then transplanted hair would not grow at all and, as you can see from previous hair transplant results, it most definitely does.

Hats and helmets:

Wearing a hat normally, not in a way that is too tight or causes friction, does not cause hair loss. It may be that, because many men who suffer from hair loss wear hats, people began to think hats were the cause.  This is not true.

Poor scalp hygiene:  

This theory is not supported by any scientific evidence and if it were true, those living in poorer countries where washing is less frequent would all be bald. It would also mean that anybody with balding on a particular part of their head managed to avoid getting any water or soap on that particular section, which is of course not possible.

Excessive scalp hygiene:

Similar to the poor scalp hygiene theory, this is also not true. Hair loss occurred in men well before frequent washing and shampoo became the norm and there is no evidence to suggest that, since men began washing more frequently, the numbers suffering from baldness have increased.

Frequent blow-drying:

Using a hair-dryer incorrectly can burn hair and cause it to fall out, however, except in extreme cases, new hair would grow from the follicle to replace the burned hair.

Stress:

Stress can lead to hair loss but it is believed that somebody cannot lose their hair through stress unless they already have the genetics for male pattern baldness. Stress can result in a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium but this is not the same as irreversible male pattern hair loss.

We hope this has helped to clarify why you are suffering from hair loss. If you would like to discuss possible treatment options please contact us to request a consultation.

You can also follow HRBR on Twitter @HRBR_Ireland or on Facebook.

To read more about hair loss in men visit the ISHRS website.

X Factor winner Matt Cardle discusses his hair transplant

X Factor winner Matt Cardle has spoken out about his decision to undergo a second hair transplant with HRBR, Hair Restoration Blackrock, in Dublin, Ireland.

Matt first visited HRBR in 2011, after he had won the X Factor competition the previous year. Matt said of the decision, “I first noticed I was losing my hair probably in my late twenties, more so when I was actually on X Factor, and you have all the lights and cameras around you. I thought, ‘wow, that doesn’t look as thick as it used to!”

“It’s a confidence thing at the end of the day. You feel confident with a full head of hair and if there’s an opportunity to maintain that and hold onto that for a little bit longer then I don’t see why not.”

Second hair transplant

This year Matt decided it was time to visit HRBR for a second time as he wanted to add more density and depth to the original transplant area. Both of Matt’s hair transplants were performed by the experienced Consultant Surgeon led team at HRBR, who have treated both Louis Walsh and James Nesbitt in the past.

Speaking about Matt’s transplant, his surgeon at HRBR said, “Matt was delighted with his first hair transplant which he had with us in 2011 and decided to return to add density to the area. He decided to keep his first transplant private, but, following on from the success of the first transplant, it has given him the confidence to discuss his hair loss more openly”.

 Hair loss advice

Matt hopes that his speaking about his hair transplant will help others who may be suffering with hair loss. He said, “There are thousands, probably millions of guys out there losing their hair. If it bothers you, there is something you can do about it. For a patient it’s straight forward, it’s painless and it’s totally worth doing. Before you know it your hair is transformed on your head and you can really see the difference.”

If you would like to discuss possible treatment options please contact us to request a consultation.  You can also follow HRBR on Twitter @HRBR_Ireland or on Facebook.

HRBR media enquiries: please contact Michael Collins, HRBR, michael@hrbr.ie, +353 86 8583585.

Matt Cardle media enquiries: please contact Nathan Charles Smith, +44 (0) 7977 914 530.

There are a number of reasons why hair loss treatment is important and men choose to have hair transplant surgery

Even now, a decade and a half since I first started my work in hair restoration, I find myself thinking about hair loss treatment and why so many people visit clinics to discuss hair transplant surgery. I can understand why someone with appendicitis goes to an A&E ward, but nobody has ever died from going bald. It’s simply less hair. And yet it matters.

Hair loss throughout history

Baldness mattered to the ancient Egyptians who began wearing wigs four thousand years ago. And it mattered in the court of Louis XIV, where some of the world’s richest and most powerful men competed to have the most elaborate wigs. In later times, wigs became more discreet but still performed the same function – to allow men hide the fact that their hair was disappearing. This was also true for some of the world’s most popular entertainers. One might have thought that the loss of some hair wouldn’t have mattered to people whose talents and riches were in such abundance but it did. Frank Sinatra, Liberace, Humphrey Bogart, Bing Crosby, Jimmy Stewart and Elton John all wore wigs.

Hair transplant surgery patients

It mattered to them just as it matters to you and the thousands of others who come to our clinic looking for a solution to their hair loss. In each case, the person they see in the mirror does not tally with the person they are comfortable seeing and it is diminishing the quality of their life.

These patients include an architect who was reluctant to show models of his buildings to clients because it necessitates him bending over and revealing his thinning crown. They include many successful musicians and actors who avoid bowing at the end of their performances so the audience can’t see their bald spots. Other patients have adopted hats and bandanas as their trademark accessories but live in fear of being photographed during the rare moments when they take them off.

One patient told me that he bribed the cameraman before he appeared on a live TV show so that he would not focus the camera on his hairline. Then there’s the young man who was so upset about his hair loss that he refused to remove his baseball cap when he came for a consultation. And the elderly lady who came to me for a hair transplant because she feared being seen in her coffin wearing a wig that had not been correctly attached.

Effects of hair loss

Hair loss is often an extremely sensitive issue for the men and women affected. It distracts from their work and their relationships, and can have knock-on effects on their mental and physical well-being. Those who do not suffer from hair loss often see hair restoration as a vanity issue, but such a view denies the clear psychological effects it can have.

I meet few, if any, patients who come to me hoping that having more hair will make them more handsome or more attractive. They sometimes make such comments after their hair loss has been treated, but generally they speak of greater self-esteem, self-confidence and peace of mind. So
I don’t agree that hair restoration is a vanity issue.

Benefits of hair transplant surgery 

The main benefits are inside the head, not outside. Hair loss is a psychological issue caused by a physical condition. Fortunately we live in an age when effective remedies are available, safe and affordable. At HRBR we talk through the various solutions available so that you can make an informed decision about the best treatment for you.

The feedback from patients is remarkably consistent, usually containing one or more of these phrases –  self-esteem, self-confidence, a sense of contentment and peace of mind. To me, the ultimate compliment is, “I haven’t thought about my hair in the last year.” It means we have succeeded in getting hair out of the person’s mind and back on their head where it belongs. When I get patients to stop thinking about their hair and start leading a normal productive life, then I have served my function as a doctor. Because hair shouldn’t really matter, but baldness does. All we do is remove that problem from people’s lives.

If you are suffering from hair loss and would like to discuss possible treatment options please contact us to request a consultation.

You can also follow HRBR on Twitter or on Facebook.

To read more about hair loss in men visit the ISHRS website.

– Dr Maurice Collins

Discover if you’re a good candidate for hair transplant surgery

One of the most common questions we are asked at HRBR is “am I a good candidate for hair transplant surgery?”.

Most men with significant thinning or baldness, and in good general health, are candidates for hair transplantation. That said, only about one in three patients who visit HRBR proceed to surgery. Surgery, though possible, may not always be the best immediate option. It is not uncommon for a HRBR patient who wants hair transplant surgery to be advised to wait or consider other options.

Younger candidates for hair restoration

Younger men in their 20s may not be suitable candidates as their hair loss pattern may not yet be fully established. If hair transplant surgery is carried out before someone’s hair loss is fully established, an island of transplanted hair will appear at the front of the head as the hairline on the crown and surrounding hair continues to recede over time.

Many women who have pattern baldness are also suitable candidates. Roughly 20% of patients at HRBR are women.

Pre-surgery consultation

During consultation the surgeon will determine a patient’s suitability for transplant by checking the density of donor hair and the laxity of their scalp. When an individual has high donor density, it means their follicular units usually contain multiple hairs. Low donor density means they have follicular units often containing only one hair. If an individual has a very loose scalp, a larger donor strip of hair-bearing skin can be removed, whereas a tight scalp means only a thin donor strip will be possible.

A plan is then devised to achieve the best possible hair restoration for the particular patient, taking into account their balding pattern, how much donor hair is available and how many grafts they can afford. The plan may call for one or several hair transplant surgeries, or a combination of surgery and pharmacological treatments.

Risks of hair transplant surgery

Although hair transplantation is considered minor surgery, it is still invasive so carries certain risks. Surgeries often take up to 10 hours which can pose a potential risk to the patient’s heart due to the prolonged exposure to adrenaline. That is why HRBR, and a small number of other responsible clinics, always check their patients’ hearts by electrocardiogram (ECG) if surgery has been requested. In the 12 months previous to the writing of this blog, HRBR referred three patients to a cardiologist whose conditions were uncovered during their pre-operative assessment.

For many female patients, the cause of their hair loss is not obvious and is most likely resulting from a skin disease. In such cases we recommend investigation by a Consultant Dermatologist before deciding on a hair restoration plan.

If you are suffering from hair loss and would like to discuss possible treatment options please contact us to request a consultation.

You can also follow HRBR on Twitter or on Facebook.

To read more about hair loss in men visit the ISHRS website.

HRBR is delighted to welcome Dr Siun Murphy to the team. Dr Murphy is a Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgeon holding appointments at HRBR and at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin.

Qualifications

Dr Murphy qualified from Trinity College Dublin in 1999 with honours in Surgery. After completing an internship in Tallaght Hospital, she completed her basic Surgical Training (RCSI BST) in 2002 and pursued a career in Plastic Surgery.

Dr Murphy completed her first post as Senior House Officer in St James’s Hospital and Crumlin and went on to complete a Masters Degree and Thesis through Trinity College. She studied neovascularisation (formation of new blood vessels) in the British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, and was awarded the Postgraduate Edward Hallaran Bennett Medal and fellowship through Trinity during this tenure.

Experience

On her return to Ireland, Dr Murphy was appointed to the Higher Training Programme in Plastic Surgery (RCSI) in 2005. She then went on to complete the FRCS (Plast) examination (Intercollegiate Examination) and finished her training with a Fellowship in Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery in Sydney, Australia where she trained in skin cancer reconstruction. She is a specialist in the latest techniques in plastic surgery, including short scar surgery of the breast, face and abdomen.

Academic publications

Dr Murphy has a strong academic interest and has published extensively and presented work at both national and international levels. In addition to private practice she remains committed to the public hospital system with clinical and teaching roles.

Find out when hair transplant surgery or a wig is the most suitable option

This blog post deals with artificial hair solutions – the options available to hair loss patients which do not involve surgery or pharmacology. First, let’s be clear on the terminology. The traditional word for artificial hair that is placed on a person’s head is a ‘wig’. The word ‘toupee’ is often used to describe a small piece of artificial hair that is worn to cover a specific bald area, particularly by men.

In recent decades the words ‘hair piece’ have been used to mean wig, especially if the item covered a large part of the scalp. Nowadays, the words ‘hair system’ have been introduced, possibly adding a more sophisticated and bespoke connotation. Other such terminology include ‘non-surgical hair transplants’, ‘hair additions’, ‘transformation’ and a variety of less complimentary terms such as ‘rugs’ or ‘units’.

Why choose hair transplant surgery

A hair transplant is permanent, real, and often a less expensive option than wigs. The availability of top level modern hair transplant surgeries means that wigs are no longer needed for a great number of people who have suffered hair loss, be it through pattern baldness or some other process.

But that is not to say that the modern wig does not have its place in helping people who have suffered hair loss. For a small proportion of our patients, hair pieces provide the most suitable solution for their condition, either on their own or in conjunction with hair transplant surgery and/or pharmacological treatments. Sometimes a hair piece is a suitable option but there are several reasons why a hair transplant is more often a better one.

Fear of detection

Most wearers of hair systems will admit that they live in fear of a strong gust of wind, literally bumping into people, a sharp eye or long memory – anything that might betray the fact that the hair on their head is not what nature provided. They maintain a ‘no-touch zone’, an invisible border around themselves that discourages hugging or kissing on the cheek at social gatherings. They are harbouring a secret, a bald area of flesh just centimetres from other people’s eyes. The protection of this secret is emotionally draining. In contrast, a hair transplant puts real hair on that area of flesh, and it stays there for life.

Cost

There is a common misconception that a hair transplant is the most expensive solution to hair loss, and a wig is a more affordable approach. The opposite is usually the case – over time. Whereas a hair transplant can be an expensive procedure, once it’s done, it’s done. Maintenance of real hair costs little more than shampoo and a trip to the barber every couple of months.

The purchase of a wig is far cheaper than a hair transplant – at first. However, wigs have to be maintained, usually going for a ‘service’ every six weeks so there is a significant ongoing cost. When a wig is being serviced, the owner still has to go about their ordinary lives, so a second wig will be required, or a third. Those wigs too will require regular servicing and will have to be replaced as they wear out, or as their owner’s locks and hairline changes colour. Of course, wigs can be purchased cheaply but the most natural-looking ones can cost several thousand euro each.

So, what started off as a low-price wig advertised in a magazine can in reality become a set of expensive wigs with regular maintenance costs. When those costs are added up over a thirty or forty year period, it becomes clear that wigs are a far more expensive option than a hair transplant.

Another disadvantage of having a wig is the odour. Oils, wax and sebum are produced naturally by the scalp and build up under the foundation of the hair piece. If the wearer does not have a regular cleaning schedule, these products will combine to cause odour.

Baldness

Wigs can also cause baldness. A particular kind of baldness is often caused by the attachments used for keeping wigs in place. It is called traction alopecia and it is associated with the weave method which uses strands of natural hair, woven through the foundation of the wig to keep it in place. Over time, the weave pulls on the existing hair, some of which may be already weakened by the balding process. This tension on the natural hair eventually pulls it out, causing traction alopecia, a permanent baldness in that area.

When a wig is a suitable option

Undoubtedly, the modern hair system is a triumph of modern science. Using human hair or a synthetic version, the result is a head of hair that looks and feels natural. Plus, a wig can achieve better hair coverage and density than a hair transplant. It’s ‘hair’ supply is unlimited, whereas a hair surgeon can only transplant what is available in the patient’s donor area.

Temporary baldness

For people undergoing chemotherapy, childbirth, fever or some other stress that is causing temporary baldness, a hair piece is a more suitable solution that hair transplant surgery. Women, more so than men, take this option, often buying several wigs in different styles and colours.

Diffuse baldness

Sometimes the loss of hair from the person’s scalp is so great that there is insufficient donor area to make a hair transplant worthwhile. This can happen though diffuse alopecia, alopecia areata, alopecia universalis, scarring alopecia and alopecia totalis. Even extreme cases of pattern baldness can leave too much scalp to cover, with too little hair to do it with. In each case, a wig or complete baldness are the only suitable options.

Burns and other traumas

Often a patient who has suffered burns, or some other trauma, will have lost so much hair-bearing skin that they will not have enough donor hair to facilitate a worthwhile hair transplant. Sometimes, there will be enough donor hair to allow a skilled surgeon reconstruct the patient’s eyebrows, locks and hairline. This will help shape the face and make a wig look more natural.

Conclusion

The development of gold standard hair transplant surgery has made wigs mostly redundant as a solution for most cases of baldness. However, they remain the best solution for some hair-loss patients, particularly those with either temporary or extensive baldness. The quality of wigs available today along with the development of better attachment procedures allows wig-wearing people more confidence than ever before.

If you are suffering from hair loss and would like to discuss possible treatment options please contact us to request a consultation.

You can also follow HRBR on Twitter or on Facebook.

To read more about hair loss in men visit the ISHRS website

Discover what causes hair loss in women

Female pattern baldness affects only around 20% of women, compared to over 50% of men as they get older. It is similar to its male counterpart but there are obvious visual differences. This blog post will underline what causes hair loss in women, paying particular attention to hormonal and medical factors.

Differences between male and female hair loss

Women tend to lose their hair in the forelock area, which is the zone behind the frontal hairline and on the top of the scalp. Unlike men, they tend not to lose all their hair from the affected areas – instead they are more likely to experience extreme thinning throughout. For this reason it might be more correct to call it female pattern hair loss although the official term is the same as for men, androgenic alopecia.

Scientists don’t yet understand why female and male pattern hair loss is different. An obvious explanation is that women have less of the hormone testosterone than men. This in turn means they have less dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is the hormone that works on susceptible follicles to cause baldness.

In order for DHT to be created from testosterone there must be a significant presence of an enzyme called 5 alpha-reductase. Women have only half the amount of this enzyme as men.

In addition, women have significant levels of an enzyme called aromatase in their scalps. Aromatase is believed to block the formation of DHT and hence inhibit the pattern balding process. Women have particularly large concentrations of aromatase in their frontal hairlines, which may explain why women do not go bald in this area.

Ludwig classification of female pattern hair loss

The system used to classify genetic hair loss in women is called the Ludwig Chart. It is a simple, but accurate, portrayal of the typical progressive stages of female pattern baldness. Those stages are described in the chart below:

Non-pattern hair loss in women

Apart from genetics, hair loss in women can arise from a variety of causes such as hormonal changes (including pregnancy), an underlying medical condition and stress. That is why the management of hair loss in women is different than it is for men.

Hormonal causes

Following the menopause, women are far more susceptible to hair loss than they were in their younger years. They develop significant levels of miniaturisation (thinner hair shafts and loss of hair), which often starts just behind the frontal hairline and extends to the back and sides of the scalp. This condition may be linked to the loss of estrogen hormones during the menopause which had previously served as protection against the male hormones that cause thinning.

The effect of estrogen (also called oestrogen) is to make the growth phase of hair longer. This means that more hairs are in the growth phase at any one time and there is an appearance of a full head of hair. Following menopause, estrogen levels are lower and the growth phase of hair is shorter. More hair goes into the resting phase, also called the telogen phase, which is characterized by continued shrinkage of the follicle.

Women who are pregnant often notice that their hair is thicker and healthier looking than normal. This is because pregnancy causes increased production of estrogen, which has a positive effect on hair growth. It causes more hair follicles to enter the anagen (growth) phase which means they are actively producing hair.

However, after the baby is born, estrogen levels drop and more hair lapses into the telogen (resting) phase. In a process similar to the one outlined above relating to menopause, miniaturising occurs and hair is shed during washing and brushing.

The good news is that hair loss during pregnancy should be a temporary issue. The follicles that have recently lost hair should return to a growth phase in two to six months, although it takes longer for nursing mums. At a rate of growth of around 1.5 centimetres per month, the woman can expect the normal appearance of her hair to return after around a year.

Medical causes

There are certain dermatologic scalp disorders that can result in hair loss, such as lupus, lichen planopilaris and alopecia areata. Other underlying medical conditions that cause hair loss in women include anaemia, thyroid disease, connective tissue disease, gynaecological conditions, weight loss owing to severe dieting, and use of medication such as oral contraceptives, beta-blockers, vitamin A, thyroid drugs, prednisone and sedatives.

That is why it is important that a woman with undiagnosed hair loss is evaluated by a dermatologist or endocrinologist before a hair restoration plan is considered. The specialist will usually recommend a series of laboratory tests to include a blood count, iron levels and a thyroid study. A biopsy may be taken to test for the presence of certain skin diseases and the woman may also be tested for hormonal imbalances.

Following a dermatologist or endocrinologist’s report, hair restoration clinicians are in a better position to recommend a suitable plan of action to restore hair to the scalp.

Stress

Although stress can speed up hair loss in women, it is not the primary cause of female pattern hair loss. The necessary combination of genes and hormones must be present to cause this condition and stress can serve to move that process along at a quicker rate.

Stress does cause a particular type of balding called telogen effluvium and women are more susceptible to this than men. Unlike androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness), telogen effluvium is usually reversible. It happens when an unusually large number of follicles enter the telogen (resting) phase and this is followed by a shedding of the hair from those follicles. The result is often significant thinning. However new anagen (growth) hairs usually begin to appear in the place of those that were shed.

Telogen effluvium can be caused by severe mental anxiety. It can also be brought on by hormonal changes associated with childbirth, termination of a pregnancy, other types of surgery and high fever.

Certain drugs can also precipitate this condition, especially heparin, warfarin, lithium and valproic acid. Drug cessation (HRT or oral contraceptives) can also cause telogen effluvium.

Treatment of telogen effluvium will be focused on the causative disease or the associated drug. Once the underlying problem has been treated, the hair usually re-grows in two or three months. If, after a year, the hair density has not been restored, it could be a case of the condition ‘unmasking’ dormant androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness).

A particular type of telogen effluvium can result from hair transplant surgery. It’s often called shock loss and can result from an interruption of blood supply to local hair follicles by incisions made for receiving grafts. In this instance too, the hair is expected to recover in two to three months.

Self-induced hair loss

There are two main types of self-induced hair loss and both are far more common in women than in men. They are traction alopecia and trichotillomania.

Traction alopecia is caused by prolonged physical tension on the hair – the hair is literally pulled out over a long period of time. It can be caused by ponytails, pigtails, braids, tight roller curlers or repeatedly pulling the hair when straightening it. Traction alopecia can also be caused by hair extenders because these additions are attached to the existing hair. The condition is particularly common in women of African descent among whom braiding is common or Caucasian children who have wild curly hair.

Parents should note that this problem can start in childhood when they tie their little girls’ hair in pony tails and plaits. Persistent traction alopecia is irreversible and can lead to bald patches and scarring.

Trichotillomania is a term used to describe patients who continuously pluck out their hair. Hair is pulled out of the scalp in distinct patches or out of eyebrows and eyelashes. The resulting bald patches can be permanent and only fixable by a hair transplant. However, this is a psychological condition and should be treated as such first.

Women and hair transplant surgery

If your hair loss is caused by scarring resulting from burns or trauma or if a dermatologist has diagnosed female pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia), then you may be a suitable candidate for hair transplant surgery.

However, many of our female patients are not suitable candidates for hair transplant surgery because their hair loss is caused by one or more of the wide variety of other factors that cause women to lose their hair.

Hair transplantation involves the movement of hair from an area of greater density and fullness at the back of the scalp to an area of hair loss near the front, top or crown. Women who have generalised thinning (unpatterned alopecia) will have hair that is thin all over the head. This means that the donor area (back of scalp) will have weakened hair which will continue to thin over time, making it unsuitable for a transplant.

When hair is transplanted into a part of the scalp that is thin, but not completely bald, there is a risk that some of the hair that is weak will not regrow in its new location. There is also the possibility that the hair in the recipient area is fragile and some of it may be lost in the process called telogen effluvium (described above). However, it is usually reversible in a two to three month time frame.

If you are suffering from hair loss and would like to discuss possible treatment options please contact us to request a consultation.

You can also follow HRBR on Twitter or on Facebook.

To read more about hair loss in women visit the ISHRS website.

Aonghus McAnally talks hair loss and hair transplant surgery with Marian Finucane

RTE’s Aonghus McAnally was a guest on the Marian Finucane Show on RTE Radio 1 this Saturday (June 20th).  Aonghus choose the Marian Finucane Show and his 60th birthday to talk about hair loss and his decision to have a hair transplant.

Listen to the interview here or on the RTE website.

In the interview Aonghus discuss the impact loosing his hair had on his confidence and self image. “Over the last 10 years initially and in the last 5 years particularly the problem just exacerbated a lot, I noticed my hair was thinning and suddenly began to disappear,” he said.

Discover the differences between FUT and FUE hair transplant surgery

HRBR is an expert in Ultra Refined Follicular Unit Transplantation (URFUT) which has many advantages, one of which is producing a high yield of grafts for transplantation. Some other hair transplant clinics choose to use FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction), an alternative method of obtaining donor hair for transplantation. In this blog post we discuss the differences between FUT and FUE hair trainsplant surgery.

FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation)

During the mid-1980s it was discovered that hair doesn’t grow individually and it is not spread out evenly across the scalp. Instead, hair grows in bundles, known as follicular units. Those units usually contain between one and four hair follicles. With the FUT technique, a strip of hair-bearing skin is taken from a donor area (usually the back of the head). The wound is stitched or sutured closed, leaving a scar that should be difficult to detect once it has healed and hair has grown over it.

This skin that has been removed is dissected in order to isolate the individual follicular units. These units, also known as grafts, are then replanted in the bald area. Hypodermic needles are used to punch tiny holes in the bald area to create recipient sites for the transplanted hair. The transplanted hair will be further apart than they were before they were moved. This allows the surgeon to attain greater coverage than what would have been achieved had the follicular units not been separated.

However, greater coverage means less density and the surgeon must always be aware of the trade-off between these two factors. The human eye cannot detect a difference between the normal density on a man’s head of around 200 hairs per square centimetre and a density of around 100 hairs per square centimetre. If the density drops below this, it will become more noticeable. Therefore the surgeon will usually ensure that the density of the transplanted hair does not drop below 50% of what it was before surgery.

Benefits of the FUT technique

With FUT, two important factors are in the surgeon’s control and a natural look is delivered. By changing the angle of the hole for the recipient hair, the surgeon can control the direction that that hair will grow. And by placing follicular units with one hair or two hairs on the hairline where they are most visible, and larger units beyond that, the surgeon can create a transition from the forehead to full thickness that makes a good hair transplant undetectable.

FUT is a very labour intensive technique. Each strip of hair-bearing skin must be dissected to isolate each individual hair follicle. This is carried out by a skilled team of technicians using powerful electronic microscopes along with tweezers and scalpels. At HRBR up to 14 skilled technicians will isolate follicles in this way throughout the day of a patient’s surgery.

A further team of six or eight will work at 30-minute intervals to insert the individual grafts in the pre-arranged pattern on the patient’s scalp. The reason for the short intense intervals is to ensure the technicians’ concentration is at an optimum during this extremely focused work. A regular FUT procedure on a patient with male pattern baldness may see 4,500 individual grafts inserted in a single day.

It is the labour intensity of FUT that makes up the bulk of the costs of the procedure. Some clinics can achieve lower cost hair transplants by employing smaller teams of grafters but that jeopardises the survival of each graft. A smaller team means that the follicular units must spend a longer time outside the body waiting to be dissected. This increases the chance of the hair units drying out or becoming infected.

The key to a successful hair transplant therefore is to have each hair follicle outside the body for as short a time as possible. That is why we remove half the strip of hair-bearing skin in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. The first grafts are planted by lunch time and the second set of grafts are planted before tea time. The alternative is to remove all the donor hair in the morning and spend the rest of the day planting. But that would mean some hair follicles are out of the body by as much as nine hours and far less likely to survive than those planted in the morning.

URFUT (Ultra Refined Follicular Unit Transplantation)

URFUT, as the name suggests, is an improved version of FUT. The distinction comes about as technology allows thinner follicular units to be cut from the donor strip and smaller incisions to be made in the planting area. Thinner follicular units ensure greater coverage and a more natural look. Smaller instrumentation allows for smaller incisions, which helps the surgeon bring the follicular units closer together, just as nature does. Another advantage or URFUT is that less damage is done to the follicles during extraction and dissection which ensures a much higher yield of grafts for transplantation. HRBR uses the most advanced microscopes (Nikon SMZ1000 stereoscopics) to achieve international gold standard URFUT results.

FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)

FUE is an alternative method of obtaining donor hair for transplantation. Instead of removing a strip of hair-bearing skin from the scalp as normally happens with FUT, the hair is removed as individual follicular units using a special punch tool. This means the follicular units can be transplanted directly and don’t require the dissection process that is a necessary step in FUT. From the transplant stage onwards, there is no difference between the two processes, except for care of the donor area where the FUT technique will have created a linear scar.

It would be a mistake to assume that FUE does not leave a scar. Skin cannot be broken without leaving a scar. In the case of FUE, the scars are small and circular, but large in number. The area of scarring will be much larger than that from FUT. If the donor area is somewhere exposed, such as at the back of the neck, the scarring will show as an area of discolouration mostly. If the donor area is the back of the head, the patient will normally grow their hair over the scarred area rendering it unnoticeable.

It is more difficult to obtain a natural distribution of follicular units with FUE as, for ease, the larger ones are targeted. These larger follicles do not look as natural on the hairline.

Comparing the FUT and FUE hair transplantation techniques

FUE has several advantages over FUT including:

• No linear scar in the donor area.
• No sutures or staples to be removed, so a quicker recovery time.
• Less discomfort in the donor area and a quicker recovery because there is less of a wound to heal.

However, FUT has significant advantages over FUE including:

• The follicular unit graft yield of FUE is lower than with FUT, which means the patient gets less donor hair for transplantation.
• Follicular units are more likely to be damaged during FUE because the instrument blunt punch tool that is used has difficulty capturing the entire follicular unit. This further lessens the graft yield of FUE. Around 10% of the grafts can be lost in this way, compared to almost 0% when the follicles are removed from a strip under microscope.
• Not everyone is a good candidate for FUE owing to the structure of their follicular units which might be more susceptible to damage during the harvesting process.
• FUE does not leave the linear scar that results from FUT, but it does have many smaller scars that appear as small white dots. In total, FUE causes more scarring than FUT. However it should be noted that neither process produces much scarring and usually the scarred area will be hidden under hair.
• FUE takes longer than the strip procedure, sometimes twice as much time. Therefore FUE is a more expensive procedure, sometimes costing twice as much. Some of the extra costs are offset because a much smaller team is required to perform the operation.
• FUE can result in grafts being pushed into the fat on the scalp which may result in cysts.
• For transplants involving a thousand grafts or more, a large area of the patient’s head will have to be shaved.

For most hair transplant surgeries HRBR recommends FUT over FUE because it yields more living grafts and it is less expensive for the patient.

If you are suffering from hair loss and would like to discuss possible treatment options please contact us to request a consultation.

You can also follow HRBR on Twitter or on Facebook.

To read more about hair loss in men visit the ISHRS website.

Irish rugby star Brian O’Driscoll recently made a surprise visit to Hair Restoration Blackrock (HRBR) to show support for a young rugby fan who received a hair transplant. Shane Corrigan is a 14 year old boy who suffered with a congenital scalp condition. Shane had to undergo multiple surgeries on his head as a baby, which resulted in significant scarring on his scalp.

Shane’s initial consultation

In early 2013, Shane was referred to the team at HRBR by a specialist plastic surgeon. It was agreed that HRBR’s surgeons would use their expertise to transplant hairs into the scar area, thereby camouflaging it. Following two years of extensive consultations and planning, Shane and his parents returned to HRBR in July 2015 for final preparations in advance of the procedure.

On a bright July morning, Shane was met by Dr Maurice Collins, hair transplant surgeon at HRBR and brought into the consultation room. Here the initial 20 grafts, transplanted into the scar as a test, were checked. These had healed very well and started to camouflage the scarring that had caused Shane to feel self-conscious over the years. It was decided that Shane’s full hair transplant would take place at the beginning of August. Excited about what the surgery would mean, rugby fan Shane had one major concern – “When can I put my scrum cap on?”

Brian O’Driscoll’s surprise visit

Little did Shane know that HRBR and his parents had a massive surprise in store for him – Irish rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll. As Brian’s dad and Dr Maurice Collins are old friends, he had heard about Shane’s case and wanted to show his support. Brian surprised Shane midway through his July visit and spent time talking to him about rugby, as well as surgeries he had gone through himself. He discussed how important it is to embrace difference – to be proud of the battle scars that make us who we are and tell our story. Brian also joked about Leinster’s shaky season and the need for young supporters like Shane to be in the best possible shape to cheer them on.

Shane’s hair transplant

One month later, August 2015, Shane returned to HRBR for his hair transplant surgery, which was to be carried out using the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) method. This method involves transplanting individual hair follicles one by one without the need for linear incision. Shane was kept awake during the surgery and, because of local anaesthetic, couldn’t feel a thing. Over 400 follicles were gathered from the back of Shane’s head for transplantation before Shane took a well-deserved break.

Halfway through Shane’s surgery day, Brian O’Driscoll popped in to surprise him once more. He wanted to get an update on how the procedure was going and see how Shane was feeling. Both Brian and Dr Maurice Collins commended Shane on his bravery and courage in the theatre. As a parting gift, Brian presented Shane with his old Leinster rugby training bag, rugby socks and a signed jersey – something nice to focus on during his last 30 minutes of surgery when the gathered hairs would be transplanted into the scar area. Before leaving he wished him the best of luck in the future.

A successful surgery

Everything went according to plan in Shane’s surgery and he will have the scrum cap back on in a few weeks’ time. In six months, the transplanted hair will begin to grow and camouflage his scar.

Every year, HRBR assists patients with scars like Shane. While the majority of HRBR patients experience male pattern hair loss, androgenetic alopecia, this is not always the case. Hair restoration can help patients like Shane conceal medical scarring on the head and live normal lives.

Hair transplant surgery questions to ask and points to bear in mind

Here at HRBR we pride ourselves on our wealth of experience and professionalism when it comes to hair transplant surgery. With three qualified surgeons and a dedicated general practitioner in the HRBR Clinic, Samson House, we offer the highest standards of service and care to patients at all times. We take into account hair transplant surgery questions patients typically have and work hard to ensure that our patients understand what the procedure involves. The results of a successful procedure can be life-changing – something we see every day in our facility.

Unfortunately, we work in an unregulated industry, where many hair transplant clinics make claims they cannot keep and use language that purposefully confuses patients. Even as technology is advancing and hair transplantation is spoken about more openly, illegitimate practices operate in our midst. It is extremely important that prospective patients research clinics and methods before they commit to surgery and are aware of misleading jargon commonly used.

Hair Transplant Questions – Be wary of inaccurate language

To help break down on illegitimate hair restoration clinics, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) has established guidelines to help members avoid what can be universally considered as misleading or unacceptable messaging. The following terms have been recognised as “red flags” – if these are used in a doctor’s marketing material, it’s best to avoid the practice at all costs!

• “Scarless surgery”
• “No incision”
• “No touch”
• “No cutting”
• “Cloning”
• “Hair multiplication”
• “Non-invasive”
• “Eliminates the need for additional procedures”

Unauthorised use of logos and false credentials

It’s not just language that can result in empty promises. Some practices include inaccurate credentials or align their clinic with an established board to encourage patients to trust in them. Practitioners may claim that they have received FISHRS (Fellow of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery) status, for example, even though this is the not the case. It should be noted that nobody except the ISHRS is allowed to use the official ISHRS logo. So, when preparing your list of hair transplant surgery questions don’t forget how important it is to verify your surgeon’s credentials.

Other nasty tricks of the trade include using other physicians’ before and after photos as their own and violating the copyright of others with photos or texts. We would like to clarify that HRBR’s Founder and Medical Director, Dr Maurice Collins, has no association with any other hair transplant clinic and HRBR only boasts one location, in Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

What to look for in a hair transplant clinic

It’s important to remember that legitimate clinics will not rely on false advertising to spread the word about what they do –patient testimonials and a comprehensive consultation will ease the minds of prospective patients and tell them all they need to know about the surgeons’ abilities. Any practice that cannot produce proof of doctors’ qualifications or makes wild claims about rapid hair growth or incision-free surgery should be avoided. Hair transplantation is not an overnight fix and hair restoration surgeons need to be realistic about the results of hair loss treatments with patients. When in doubt, read reviews and check that the clinic is registered with the appropriate medical body.

You can find out more about the ISHRS guidelines for hair transplant clinics here.

We hope you find this article on hair transplant surgery questions useful and informative. If you are suffering from hair loss and would like to discuss possible treatment options please contact us to request a consultation.

You can also follow HRBR on Twitter or on Facebook.

Find out about the FUE technique of hair transplantation

There are two surgical techniques in which hair can be removed from a patient’s scalp – Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). The way that grafts are transplanted back into a patient’s scalp following their removal is the same with both techniques. It is how the hairs are removed that is different. In the case of the FUE technique each hair graft is removed from the donor region one by one using a punch tool. Both the FUT and FUE technique form scars – FUT forms one linear scar whereas FUE forms multiple circular scars spread across a large area.

What happens in a FUE hair transplant?

When undergoing a FUE procedure, the entire scalp must usually be shaved in advance. As the FUE technique only allows a surgeon to take every second hair graft from the donor zone, the yield of grafts from the area is lower. Many clinics are forced to go outside of this zone which means these transplanted hairs will become thin and may be lost as a patient becomes older. It can also result in circular scars in the donor region becoming visible over time. The survival rate of grafts in an FUE technique is lower than it is with FUT as the accuracy of the punch tool is lower than that of a technician using a microscope.

Benefits of FUE method of Hair Transplant Surgery

There are, however, some instances where the FUE technique may be suitable. Patients who like to wear their hair very short may choose this method as the resultant scars can be less noticeable and more spread out. The FUE method is also useful when only a small area of hair needs to be transplanted, such as in the repair of scars or eyebrow transplants.

Disadvantages of FUE method

At HRBR we offer both FUT and FUE hair transplants. A hair transplant surgeon should always assess the patient’s individual needs and advise on the best hair transplant technique for each individual case. At HRBR we generally favour the FUT technique as the results are generally far superior, especially for larger hair transplants. At a later stage, should a patient decide to have a second or third hair transplant, a skilled surgeon can go back and remove the linear scar from the first FUT procedure. This means that the patient will only have one scar, which is not possible with the FUE method.

FUT and FUE Hair Transplants at HRBR

If you are suffering from hair loss and would like to discuss possible treatment options please contact us to request a consultation.

You can also follow HRBR on Twitter or on Facebook.

To read more about hair loss in men visit the ISHRS website.

Hair transplant surgery is a delicate procedure. The days and weeks following your transplant procedure are critically important, which is why our patients are provided with individual post op instructions by their HRBR hair transplant surgeon and medical team. Your adherence to these post-operative instructions is essential for optimal results. To ensure a successful outcome, it’s vital that patients follow all hair transplant post op care instructions. This hair transplant surgery post op timeline should help patients to understand what to expect in the days and weeks after surgery. These instructions are meant to accompany the individual hair transplant post op instructions given to each patient.

Immediately after surgery

Post op care instructions for the time period immediately after your surgery involves spraying the transplanted area with a saline solution. You’ll need to spray the transplanted area, the stitches and the donor area every 20 minutes for the first 12 hours.

A small spray bottle of saline solution will be provided upon discharge from the clinic. Before you spray, place some towels around your shoulders and as you spray let all the water drip down onto it. When spraying keep the bottle approximately two to three inches from your head and spray vigorously.

Tips for spraying the transplanted and donor areas.

• Use your left hand to spray your left side and the right hand to spray the right side.
• Ask a family member or friend to spray for you if it’s more convenient
• Once you’ve completed the 12 hours of spraying you should sleep for a few hours.

Hair transplant post op days 1 to 3

It is essential for the survival of the transplanted hair grafts that they are kept well hydrated throughout this post op period. Spraying also prevents any scab formation in the transplanted and donor areas. For the next three days you’ll need to spray the transplanted area every half hour during your waking hours. You can sleep as normal at night. In the days immediately post op it is important that you do not touch the transplanted hair.  If you need to comb your hair only do so if it’s soaking wet, gently skim the comb over your hair and do not press the comb down onto your scalp.

Hair transplant post op video

This helpful video provides practical demonstrations of HRBR’s hair transplant post op care instructions such as spraying the hair, how to comb the hair and washing the hair.

Hair transplant post op days 4 to 14

On day four following your hair transplant surgery you will commence your tea tree shampoo regime following the steps below:

• Fill a clean bowl with tepid water
• Add a dollop of tea tree shampoo and mix it well with the water until it is soapy
• Use a cup or a jug to pour the solution carefully over the transplanted and donor areas
• In the transplanted area pat down gently on the grafts and wash the suture line gently using a circular motion
• Ensure all the sides are rinsed off using ordinary clean water

We recommend that you allow your hair to dry naturally, but if necessary, you may pat it dry gently with a clean towel. This regime should be followed once per day from days four to fourteen.

Hair transplant post op instructions

Other important points to note in the days and weeks after your hair transplant.

During the initial 14 days post op

• Please do not wear a hat
• Before spraying and before applying the tea tree shampoo use the alcohol hand gel provided
• Do not use a power shower
• Do not use any hair products
• Do not use a hairdryer

For four weeks post op

• It’s vitally important to avoid heavy lifting
• Avoid strenuous exercise, including but not limited to, gym work, swimming, cycling, tennis, golf. This is to avoid any stretching of the scar
• Throughout this period wash your hands regularly

Your stitches will be removed seven to ten days after the procedure.

FUE Hair transplant post op instructions

For FUE hair transplant procedures follow all the same post op instructions as indicated in the above information, however, you may return to exercise after 14 days.

Eyebrow transplants post op care

Eyebrow transplant patients should follow all the same post-operative instructions but be sure to use a towel to protect your eyes while spraying.

HRBR Post op contact information

If you have any concerns or questions during the post op period the staff at HRBR will be happy to assist and can be contacted by phone on + 353 1 209 1000 or by email at info@HRBR.ie. If the office is unattended and you have an urgent problem, please contact the mobile number of your attending surgeon.

Pat Nevin is a former Scottish International football player; he now works as a broadcaster and has appeared on BBC Scotland, Channel 5, and other channels. Recently Pat was told by a colleague that his TV work was likely to dry up as a result of his receding hairline. Although shocked, Pat took the comments in the spirit that they were intended and following some thorough research decided to have hair transplant surgery at HRBR, Hair Restoration Blackrock.

“I have to tell you I’m very, very happy with how it went. It’s been fantastic. I do feel younger; the pictures you see show that there has been an improvement. You feel more comfortable and confident in yourself.” Pat Nevin

Pat Nevin’s Hair Transplant at HRBR

As Pat Nevin said, the initial decision to have a hair transplant came following a conversation with a colleague in the broadcasting industry. Balding didn’t bother Pat or affect his confidence. He had thought that his insight, experience and knowledge of the game were sufficient, but the unfortunate reality is that there is an expectation for broadcasters to have a certain image. Having tried the option of shaving his head, Pat decided to investigate hair transplant surgery rather than risk the possibility of missing out on broadcasting opportunities due to his appearance.

Pat started the process of researching his options with regard to hair transplant surgery online. He also talked to his friends and colleagues and sought recommendations from them.  Pat wanted an excellent hair transplant surgeon and a professional team. His research led him to visit HRBR. Pat underwent an FUT hair transplant procedure in January and six days later was on television broadcasting to about 5 million viewers. Nobody noticed that he had had a hair transplant.

Pat Nevin Hair Transplant – Video Testimonial

Pat also discussed the hair transplant procedure itself; having had a number of operations during the course of his professional football career, Pat commented that the hair transplant surgery was not painful, just a little uncomfortable and he was awake throughout, as are all patients at HRBR.

Has hair transplant surgery changed Pat Nevin’s life?

No. What most frequently happens is people don’t seem to say anything about his hair, they just say “you look a bit younger today”, or “you look really well today” but they never seem to know why. Nobody has asked if he has had work done, but Pat is happy to explain the changes. When he talks about having had hair surgery, people usually respond with a nervous laugh, then follow up by asking where he had his hair transplant surgery done.

Pat Nevin’s Advice to people considering hair transplant surgery.

Pat wasn’t overly concerned about the balding process, but acknowledges that for some people it can be a big issue in their lives. That’s part of the reason he is so happy to be open about his own procedure. He acknowledges the vanguard of actors and pro-footballers who have made hair transplant procedures part of main-stream conversation, by acknowledging the work they have had done, and speaking so openly about it.  As Pat says to anyone considering hair transplant surgery, “It’s been a very positive experience for me.”

Pat Nevin hair transplant before and after photos

To find out more about hair transplant surgery or to book an appointment at HRBR Hair Restoration Blackrock, please contact us on 01 2091000 or email us at info@hrbr.ie.

A hair transplant procedure is a permanent hair loss treatment for people suffering from androgenetic alopecia. Androgenetic alopecia is more commonly known as pattern baldness. A hair transplant is a complex procedure and should only be carried out by a consultant surgeon with an experienced team of nurses and technicians.

Donor Region

Patients suffering from androgenetic alopecia will always keep an area around the back and sides of their head, which is not affected by the balding process. In a hair transplant procedure this area is known as the donor region. When hair is removed from the donor region and transplanted into an area of thinning or baldness the hair will keep the characteristics of the area from which it came. This means that the transplanted hair will remain unaffected by the balding process and will stay on the patient’s head for the rest of their lives. No special medication or shampoos are needed to maintain the transplanted hair.

Hair Transplant Procedure – What is a Hair Graft?

A hair graft is a naturally occurring group of hairs which can contain between one and four hairs each. On average there are two hairs in each hair graft. Once removed from the donor region each hair graft is individually prepared for transplantation. At the same time, small incisions are made in the recipient areas of the scalp where the new grafts are to be transplanted. Over 4,000 hair grafts can be transplanted in a single day’s procedure. An average hair transplant procedure for a patient with moderate hair loss involves the transplantation of approximately 2,000 hair grafts.

Hair Transplant Design

The design of every patient’s hair transplant must be well thought out to ensure that it looks natural. The transplanted hair will be on the patient’s head for the rest of their life. A properly executed hair transplant should involve very careful planning with a large team of hair transplant technicians and nurses and should only be carried out by a qualified consultant surgeon.  In the great majority of cases, our hair transplants go unnoticed because they are so natural looking. Our strong emphasis on this aspect of the hair transplant procedure and our experience in the practice of hair restoration are vital to ensuring a natural looking result.

Hair Transplant Procedure – During Surgery

A hair transplant procedure is carried out during the course of a single day, taking between six and ten hours. A patient will be awake throughout their hair transplant and will feel no pain thanks to a local anaesthetic, similar to that used by your dentist. Patients will relax, watch movies or listen to music during their procedure. Most patients return to work within a few days without anyone being aware a hair transplant procedure has been carried out.

Hair Transplant Procedure – Video

Find out more about what’s involved in a hair transplant procedure. Watch this short video from the team at HRBR.

To find out more about hair transplants or to arrange an appointment with HRBR, please contact us on
01 2091000 or email us at info@hrbr.ie.

Patients considering hair transplant surgery will often come across the terms FUE or FUT during the course of their research and wonder how to decide whether an FUE or FUT hair transplant is the right choice for them.  At HRBR our surgical team perform both FUT and FUE hair transplants so our answer to that question is always the same – an expert hair transplant surgeon will be able to advise you on the best hair transplant procedure, be that FUE or FUT, following a detailed consultation. That being said, it’s important to understand the difference between FUE and FUT hair transplants.

FUE FUT – What’s the Difference

FUT or FUE. When carrying out a hair transplant the surgeon must ensure that the donor hair is only taken from the safe donor region. There are two surgical techniques by which hair can be removed from the donor area of a patient’s scalp. Follicular unit transplantation, FUT, and follicular unit extraction, FUE. In an FUT hair transplant a thin strip of hair is removed from the donor region. In an FUE transplant each hair graft is removed from the donor region one by one, using a punch tool. Regardless of whether FUE or FUT is used to remove the hair, the method for transplanting each of the grafts is exactly the same.

Many clinics promote FUE over FUT. This is mainly due to the fact that a smaller team is needed to carry out FUE hair transplants. When carrying out an FUT procedure, a skilled consultant surgeon is required to complete the surgery to an acceptable standard, without putting the patient at risk.

FUE or FUT Hair Transplant Video

FUE Vs FUT – Advantages and disadvantages.

For patients undergoing an FUE hair transplant, in most cases the entire scalp must be shaved in advance of the procedure. For patients undergoing an FUT procedure, only the strip of hair to be removed is trimmed, allowing patients to return to their normal lives much more quickly, without others being aware they have had a hair transplant.

As the FUE technique only allows a technician to take every second hair graft from the safe donor area, the yield of grafts is lower. As a result, many clinics are forced to remove hair from outside of this zone, which means as the patient ages, these transplanted hairs may thin and be lost.

Removing hair from outside of the donor area using FUE can also result in the circular scars outside of the donor region becoming visible as time passes. The survival rate of grafts in an FUE hair transplant procedure is lower as the accuracy of the punch tool is lower than that of a technician using a microscope.

An FUT hair transplant procedure requires a stitch to be used and the patient must return seven to ten days later to have this removed. In an FUE hair transplant procedure no stitches are needed.

FUT or FUE Hair Transplants – Scarring

Even the most skilled hair transplant surgeons cannot perform hair surgery without leaving scars, any claims to the contrary are entirely unscrupulous. Both FUE and FUT hair transplants form scars. FUT forms one linear scar, whereas FUE forms multiple circular scars, spread across a large area. For patients that like to wear their hair very short, FUE hair transplants may be the preferable option, as the scars resulting from the FUE procedure may be less noticeable in very short hair as they are more spread out.

FUE or FUT – Additional hair transplant procedures

At a later stage, should a patient decide to have a second or third hair transplant, with the FUT technique a skilled surgeon can go back and remove the linear scar from the first procedure, leaving the patient with still only one scar.

This is not possible in an FUE hair transplant, where the surgeon will always create new additional scars.

Deciding on an FUT or FUE hair transplant

At HRBR we offer both FUT and FUE hair transplants and we always believe that a hair transplant surgeon should assess the patient’s individual needs and advise on the best technique for each individual case.

Under normal circumstances at HRBR we will favour the FUT technique for larger hair transplants as the results are generally superior. For smaller hair transplants and the transplantation of scars and eyebrows often the FUE technique is the preferable option.

If you would like to arrange a consultation at HRBR, Hair Restoration Blackrock, please contact us.

Broadcaster Aonghus McAnally decided to have a hair transplant at HRBR, hair clinic in Blackrock Co. Dublin. Aonghus decided to keep a video blog to document his hair transplant journey. In the Aonghus McAnally hair transplant video blog, Aonghus shares his thoughts as he goes through the experience; we hear how he felt before, during and after the procedure. Six months after his surgery we see the initial results of his hair transplant at HRBR, of course, full results are seen 12 to 18 months after the procedure, but it gives a good indication of how successful Aonghus’ hair transplant at HRBR has been.

Motivation

So what was the motivation behind Aonghus’ decision to have hair transplant surgery?  He mentions that looking back over his life, starting with his career in a rock band during the 70’s, through to his career in broadcasting; his full head of hair seemed to define him. Over the last number of years, his hair loss has started to affect how he feels about himself.

Day of Hair Transplant Surgery

The video blog gives an insight into the day of the hair transplant surgery itself. Aonghus shares how he is feeling, and his experience of hair transplant surgery at HRBR, before, during and after surgery. The video offers insight into the hair transplant design consultation procedure, and we meet Aonghus half way through the hair transplant where he discusses how painless the whole process is. We also see what he looks like immediately after surgery. It’s a comprehensive insight, through the eyes of a patient, into what to expect from hair transplant surgery at HRBR.

Hair Transplant Post Op

Aonghus shares his experience of his hair transplant procedure in the hours and days post op, from spraying the hair regularly during the first 12 hours post op – to spraying every 30 minutes during waking hours on days 1 to 3 post op.

In the video blog, we meet Aonghus 12 days after his hair transplant, where he addresses his concerns that people might notice he has had a hair transplant while out and about. He shares that nobody noticed anything unusual about his hair, other than his friends and family who can see the difference in his hair and how much more confident he is in himself.

Hair Transplant Surgery – 6 Months Later

Aonghus McAnally’s hair transplant video blog finishes six months post surgery, on the day of a follow-up appointment at HRBR.  Aonghus is happy with his progress, as is Dr. Collins, his hair transplant surgeon.

See the full video blog documenting Aonghus McAnally’s hair transplant and his experience at HRBR, Blackrock.

If you would like to discuss your own hair loss with one of our expert doctors, why not contact us today, and make an appointment?

Hair Transplant Diary – Hair Restoration Clinic Blackrock

HRBR, Hair Restoration Clinic, has created a series of videos to assist anyone experiencing hair loss and considering their treatment options.  Meet the team at HRBR, learn about the type of patients that we treat and follow the hair transplant diary of Mark Berry, a 37 year old patient at HRBR, as he goes through the process.

Introduction

Meet the consultant surgeons, doctors, nurses and technicians at the world leading, purpose built, hair restoration clinic in Blackrock Co. Dublin. The team of HRBR doctors and surgeons discuss the profile of their patients. At HRBR, we treat people from all walks of life and our patients are not just men. Ten percent of HRBR patients are women suffering from genetic hair loss, as well as children with congenital defects, burn and accident victims.

Privacy

Privacy is of paramount importance at our purpose built hair restoration clinic, and as a result, patients don’t meet each other. This commitment to privacy is delivered thanks to the use of private waiting rooms and consultation suites for all patients. All patients at HRBR have a private consultation with a qualified doctor and are provided with their treatment options. Armed with the information they require, patients are encouraged to take sufficient time to make a considered decision about their hair loss treatment.

Pre-Operative Appointment and Check Up

Assuming the patient is a suitable candidate for hair transplant surgery and has made the decision to go ahead with the procedure, a pre-operative appointment and health check is required.  Here we meet Mark Berry to join him on his journey, via his hair transplant diary. There are three parts to this stage of the process:

1. A health check consisting of a healthcare questionnaire, which the patient goes through with a registered nurse. This is followed by a detailed discussion of what is required of the patient before, during and after hair transplant surgery.
2. A medical check including blood pressure test and ECG. As this is a surgical procedure, every necessary precaution is taken by the team.
3. Exam of hair density and a hair count within the donor region. The purpose of this is to agree an initial plan for the distribution of the transplanted hair. This is done in consultation with the patient, and will be finalised on the day of surgery.

 Videos of Marks’ Hair Transplant Diary

Day of Surgery

On the day of surgery, Mark is met by a discrete and private chauffeur service to drive him to the HRBR clinic in Blackrock. It’s a service provided by HRBR, meaning transport is one less thing for the patient to worry about on the day of surgery. Mark is then brought to his private room, which will be exclusively his to use.

The surgeons, nurses and transplant technicians meet to finalise the hair transplant design.  Once the design is agreed, in consultation with Mark, the donor area is prepared.  HRBR are experts in both methods of extraction for hair transplant procedures, Follicular Unit Extraction, FUE and Follicular Unit Transplantation, FUT (Strip method). In Mark’s case, FUT was agreed and a long narrow strip of hair was removed from the donor region of Mark’s head. This was then sent for grafting by the team of highly skilled nurses and technicians using high powered microscopes.

Mark explains that the FUT procedure is done in two stints, one before lunch and one after, so that the hair follicles are outside the body for the least amount of time possible, thus increasing their viability. Mark also seems pleasantly surprised by how little pain (if any) he experienced during the hair surgery. Before Mark leaves HRBR hair clinic, the team goes through his post-operative care routine with him, explaining what is required in the next 24 hours before he returns to HRBR for his next appointment.

One Day after Hair Surgery

Fifteen hours after his hair transplant procedure at HRBR, Mark returns for his post-operative check-up. He has been up all night spraying his head, into the transplanted area and the donor area to assist the healing process. As the grafts are extremely vulnerable at this stage it is important for the HRBR team to look things over and ensure everything is as it should be.

Mark’s hair transplant surgeon assesses both the grafts and the donor area to ensure that they are healing well at this early stage. A nurse also runs through Mark’s post-operative care for the next two weeks. They also prepare him for the fact that the grafted hairs will fall out in the next 2 to 3 weeks. The full results of the hair transplant will not be visible for 12 to 18 months once the hair follicles have produced mature hairs.

One Week after Surgery

One week after surgery Mark returns to get his stitches out, he is back to work and life has returned to normal. As the stitches are removed Marks comments that the scar in the donor area is invisible; even with short hair, nobody has noticed it.

What Comes Next?

This video was shot in early 2016, and the full results of Mark’s hair transplant surgery will not be apparent for 12 to 18 months post surgery.  We will continue to follow him on his journey, and will meet him again at his follow up appointments with his hair transplant surgeon at both 6 months and 12 months post surgery.

Make an Appointment

If you have questions about hair loss or are considering your hair loss treatment options, why not arrange a consultation with one of the experts at HRBR?  You’ll be meeting with a qualified doctor, not a sales person; and you’ll be presented with a personalised treatment plan for your consideration. Call us today on +353 1 2091000 or fill in our online enquiry form.

Bryan Robson recently had hair transplant surgery at HRBR, one of the world’s leading hair restoration clinics, based in Dublin, Ireland. Bryan is a former professional football player; he has 90 Caps for England, 65 of those as captain. He was the longest serving club captain in the history of Manchester United and is currently a Global Ambassador with the club. Find out about his experience at HRBR.

Why Bryan Robson had a Hair Transplant

Bryan first decided to take steps to deal with his hair loss as a result of some photos taken during a trophy presentation ceremony at Old Trafford.  The angle of some of the photos, taken from behind and at a slightly elevated angle, revealed that the hair loss on his crown was more extensive than he had perceived it to be.

Bryan has friends and colleagues who have had hair transplant procedures; confident in the results that they had achieved, he decided to have hair surgery himself.  Bryan said that twenty or twenty-five years ago he may not have had the same confidence in the procedure.

It’s because I’ve got friends and I’ve seen people like Wayne have it done over the years, that I’m a bit more confident that this is actually worth going through, because it does actually work

Bryan Robson’s Hair Transplant at HRBR

After thorough research, Bryan decided to have his hair transplant surgery at HRBR, Hair Restoration Blackrock in Dublin. On the morning he arrived he said that he was a bit apprehensive about the procedure, but at the same time, he was excited about what the results might look like six months to a year down the line.

After Surgery

Manchester United Global Ambassador Bryan Robson had about 3,800 grafts into the areas he had experienced hair loss. After his hair transplant at HRBR, he was able to spend the night post-surgery in the privacy of a local hotel. Here, Bryan was able to continue his post-operative care routine with the help of his wife.

So what did Bryan have to say about his experience?

Bryan discussed the fact that in the past men couldn’t or didn’t really talk about their appearance, it was not considered the macho thing to do. Nowadays that’s all changed, and when sportsmen and celebrities and people like himself talk about their experiences, it gives others who might be concerned about their hair loss more confidence to have the procedure done themselves.

And his thoughts on HRBR?

The clinic is immaculate, everything they do before they treat you is immaculate…I’m hoping that in six months’ time if I do all the treatment and the aftercare I’m going to be saying ‘wow that is really good’

Bryan Robson Video Testimonial

If you are concerned about your hair loss and would like to discuss your options for hair restoration or hair transplant surgery, please contact HRBR today on +353 1 2091000 or in the UK on +44 203 551 2583