 So you have decided to have a hair transplant?
What to look for in a hair loss clinic:
- Follicular Unit Grafting (FUG) method is offered
- Binocular stereoscopic microscope is used
- Experience
- Guarantee
- Ability to meet previous patients
- Price
1.Follicular Unit Grafting (FUG) method is offered
Hair transplantation has evolved a long way since the early days. When hair transplantation was first used, the grafts that were cut out of the donor strip before being transplanted into the thinning regions of the scalp, used to be 4mm in size and contain as many as 20 hairs per graft. Larger grafts require larger gaps in between each of the recipient holes that severely would limit the amount of density that could be acquired out of a procedure. These “plugs” gave the patient an unnatural look that created such terms as, “rows of corn” or “doll's hair.” Then smaller and more improved methods were created such as mini grafts and micro grafts. The micro graft transplantation method was considered as the best available hair transplant procedure for many years until follicular unit grafting was developed.
Today, hair transplant clinics perform their procedures using either micro grafts or follicular units. You should only ever consider a hair transplant via the follicular unit grafting (FUG) procedure method for these reasons:
The highest possible number of grafts in one procedure.
One procedure using FUG will result in more transplanted growing hairs in the one day than with any other method. Depending on the level of density and flexibility within your donor region, it is possible to obtain more than 3000 grafts in one 6 hour procedure.
A regrowth rate as high as 95% - 100%!
The follicular unit grafting hair transplant procedure (with the use of the binocular stereoscopic microscope) obtains the highest possible growth rates of transplanted hair of any hair transplant method available today.
If the microscope is not used, the regrowth percentage with the FUG method will still always be better than what is commonly obtained from a procedure using micro grafts or the follicular unit extraction method. However a regrowth rate of over 90% can only be obtained if the microscope is used.
(Refer to point 2 regarding the binocular stereoscopic microscope)
Follicular Units are smaller than micro grafts. (This means it looks more natural)!
The smaller they are, the more grafts that can be transplanted per square centimetre therefore creating more density and a more natural look. When having a transplant, you will always want the smallest possible size grafts. Ever seen someone with “plugs of hair” in their head?
The undetectable transplant or the natural looking transplant
It was not until follicular unit grafting came into the market, that a hair transplant patient's results were described as “undetectable” or “100% natural.” No other procedure method has ever been labelled with such compliments.
Many hair loss clinics stick with micro grafting because:
- Micro grafting is what they know and have already been doing for a long time.
- Many clinics simply resist change
- Follicular Unit Grafting requires much more skill, training and dedication to learn how to perform the procedure properly, which deters many old fashioned clinics from picking it up in the first place!
- Micro grafts are cheaper than follicular units which appeals to a portion of the consumer market. This is in the best interest of the clinic as the procedure is affordable to a higher percentage of the interested clients.
Follicular Units are clearly superior to micro grafts. Do not believe anybody that claims otherwise.
The key question to ask is, “What hair transplant method do you specialise in?”
2.Binocular stereoscopic microscope is used
To obtain regrowth of 95 – 100% the binocular stereoscopic microscope MUST be used. These growth levels are impossible without it!
Let us repeat that. Regrowth levels within transplanted hair of 95-100%, is impossible unless the binocular stereoscopic microscope is used when disecting hairs from the donor strip.
The National Hair Institute uses this microscope for every graft that is cut out of the donor strip, and has been doing so since 1996 for these reasons:
- The structure of the hair is enlarged so that it can be seen clearly. This enables it to be kept in its original state as a 1, 2, 3 or 4 haired follicular unit upon disection. This allows the graft to be transplanted into the new region of the scalp whilst remaining in its original state. This keeps the newly grown transplanted hairs looking natural and minimizes follicular unit growth retardation that is caused by units being unknowingly divided into smaller sections
- Vital structures such as sebaceous glands and the hair bulb(s) remain undamaged due to the precision that is possible which enhances regrowth percentages dramatically
- Very fine baby or vellus hair that is in the early stages of regeneration and invisible to the naked eye can be extracted as well. This allows us to harvest as much as 20% more hair than if the microscope was not used
No matter how much hair is taken out of the strip, there will never be enough to bring back the density that you once had when you were a teenager. For this reason, regrowth rates are extremely important to obtaining the best possible result with one procedure.
Do realise that there are hair transplant clinics in Australia that perform follicular unit grafting who do not use the microscope. These clinics will average around 65-80% regrowth of the transplanted hairs. This is a reasonable amount of growth but very low in comparison with the levels achieved in follicular unit grafting with use of the microscope.
The key question to ask is, “Does this clinic use the binocular stereoscopic microscope when disecting all the hairs from the donor strip?”
3.Experience
Experience is comprised of two things:
- For how many years has the procedure been performed at the clinic?
- How many procedures does the clinic perform per month/year?
You must make sure that the Doctor and the transplant team of assistants have years of experience at performing follicular unit grafting. Just as important is that hair transplantation is a full time job at the hair loss clinic and not something that is simply done on the side a couple of times per month. Many clinics offer hair transplantation but will always push you into their hair regrowth treatment program or a wig as these have the lowest overhead costs and the largest profit margins for the company. Because they may not specialise in hair transplantation, the consultant will only offer this option if all other options are declined.
The key questions to ask are, “How experienced is your hair transplant team at performing this procedure? How many procedures does your clinic regularly perform?”
4.Guarantee
A professional clinic that is confident in what they do will always guarantee a given outcome. You should always ask what type of guarantee the clinic offers on their hair transplant. Will they put their promise in writing? If they do not offer any guarantee or are not willing to provide it to you in writing, then that tells you they are not confident about the success rate of their hair transplant.
Some hair transplant clinics state within their written agreement that they can not guarantee the transplanted hair will grow!? This means that if the transplanted hair did not grow during the first 12 months, you are not entitled to any recourse! Can you imagine paying for a hair transplant with the knowledge that if it does not work out it is simply too bad!? It's not their problem it's only yours!
Look for a guaranteed minimum regrowth rate of 90% with follicular unit grafting. This means that if less than 90% of the transplanted hairs have grown out after 12-18 months have passed since the procedure, that more is put in at no cost.
The key questions to ask are, “Do you offer a guarantee? Can you provide this guarantee in writing?”
5.Ability to meet previous patients
The best way to have a clear mind on whether or not the end result will look natural and produce a dramatic change to your hair is to meet previous patients in person. Every clinic shows before and after photos. These are great reference points but they can not replace seeing results in the flesh. Remember that the photos limit what you can see. Some patients look great from front on, but from the top may have very little density which will not show in the photos selected for viewing in the company's literature or website.
If the clinic does produce a great end result with their hair transplant patients, then they will be more than happy to arrange for you to meet them. This is usually done in the form of a seminar. If the final result of their hair transplant patients is not very appealing in person, then you will not have a procedure with that clinic.
Should you hear the hair loss clinic say that meeting with patients is not an option or not part of company policy, just walk out. We can assure you that if they have satisfied patients, they will always be able to find someone willing to help out the same clinic that helped them regain their hair and improve their life.
The key question to ask is, “Is it possible for me to meet any of your previous hair transplant patients?”
6.Price
The cost of the procedure is important but it should not be the main point that determines your decision. One clinic may be cheaper than the other but it does not mean that they can produce the same quality and end result. There is the well known saying that says, “You get what you pay for!”
Do not sacrifice quality for the sake of saving money. Remember that you will be wearing the end result of the hair transplant for the rest of your life. It is a once in a life time investment. Do it right the first time around!
A number of patients that come to see respected hair transplant specialists do so after having an unsatisfactory hair transplant from another clinic. The patient may admit that they were drawn to the other clinic because of their cheaper cost. Because now they have to pay for a 2 nd transplant to fix up the first one, the end cost is thousands of dollars more than if they went for the better result the first time around.
A person having a hair transplant wants the highest possible number of grafts to be taken in the one day, which will be transplanted with the highest possible amount of regrowth. The end result should produce the most natural looking and thickest head of hair possible from a hair transplant.
Also be aware of hidden extra costs such as Doctor's time, theatre room, anaesthetic and post operation check ups. Many will quote you the price of their procedure during the consultation and later ask you to pay as much as $1500 – 2000 on top of the original cost for the extras . A clinic should show the total cost and you must ensure that there is nothing additional that needs to be paid on top.
The key question to ask is, “Does this price include all costs associated with the hair transplant procedure such as the anaesthetic, Doctor's time and check ups?”
Understand these points before seeing a hair loss clinic:
- One graft (i.e. follicular unit) can hold 1, 2, 3 or 4 hairs
- 75-90% of the extracted grafts will contain 2 or 3 hairs
- As a basic general formula, 1 graft = 2 hairs. This means that 2500 grafts may equal about 5000 hairs.
- 4 haired follicular units exist but are very rare
- The ratio of 1, 2 and 3 haired follicles that one possesses is an individual trait
- Thicker hair shaft size means a thicker end result
- The higher portion of 2 and 3 hair grafts that you have, the more total hair that will result from the hair transplant. This is because having more 2s and 3s will result in a lesser percentage being 1 haired follicular units. Review this example:
“Bob” has 2000 grafts extracted
It is comprised of 500 single hair follicular units
The remaining 1500 grafts are 2 and 3 haired follicular units
Total hair:
500 x 1 = 500 hairs
1500 x 2.2 = 3300 (2 haired grafts are more common hence for a 2.2 average)
500 + 3450 = 3800 hairs
Bob has ended up with 3800 new hairs being transplanted
“Pete” also has 2000 grafts extracted
It is comprised of 200 single haired follicular units
The remaining 1800 grafts are 2 and 3 haired follicular units
Total hair:
200 x 1 = 200 hairs
1800 x 2.2 = 3960 hairs
200 + 3690 = 4160 hairs
Pete has ended up with 4160 new hairs.
To compare, both Bob and Pete had 2000 grafts extracted during their respective hair transplants. However, Pete ended up with 360 more hairs than Bob simply because his total grafts were made up by a smaller percentage of single haired follicular units (Pete had 200 singles versus the 500 from Bob). From this example you can understand how it is possible for a person with less grafts, can have more total hair transplanted than some with higher graft numbers.
1.8 – 2.2 hairs per graft average in almost all cases
- The total number of hairs that result from a set number of grafts will average out to anything between 1.8 – 2.2 hairs per graft. Therefore 2500 grafts can equal anything between 4500 – 5500 total hairs.
- Some clinics will quote a “3 hairs per graft” average during your consultation to impress you E.g. 2500 grafts or 7500 hairs. In our long experience of performing follicular unit grafting on thousands of patients, we have never had a patient that averaged 3 hairs per graft. If you hear them advise you of this absurd estimation, ask them how this is possible considering that 2 haired grafts are the most common. Also know that for every 1 haired follicular unit extracted, two 4-haired units must be extracted to keep on par with this 3 hair per graft average. It's not going to happen! The fact is that 4 haired follicular units are rare.
Some clinics quote total HAIRS and others total GRAFTS
- Do not get “hairs” and “grafts” confused. You are aware from the information already provided that 1 graft equals about 2 hairs.
- It is possible to have clinic “A” quote you a price for 1600 grafts and clinic “B” quote you a price for 3000 hairs. Both quotes equal approximately the same amount of hair. An unaware client can easily get the two quotes confused and believe that they are getting more value out of the one quoting 3000 hairs which is obviously not the case.
- Grafts are always an exact figure and hairs are usually an estimated figure.
There is no magic cure! There is no secret that one clinic knows that others don't
- Hair loss clinics will often market that they have some new special treatment that nobody else does which works wonders. This magic secret does not exist!
- For hair loss there are only 4 proven treatments people can use which are Minoxidil, Propecia, a hair transplant or a hair piece. Your level of hair loss determines which may best suit you and this is why a consultation is often necessary. Each of the 4 options contains benefits and disadvantages.
- Minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia) are fantastic at slowing (or stopping) further hair loss and they can grow hair in a certain number of individuals. These are the only two treatments that have been proven in clinical trials to grow hair and are more suited to persons in the early stages of hair loss. (Propecia is for men only)
Why choose The National Hair Institute for your hair transplant?
- Follicular Unit grafting is our specialty.
- Binocular Stereoscopic microscope is used. The National Hair Institute uses the microscope to disect every single follicular unit from the donor strip and has been since 1996. Using the binocular stereoscopic microscope ensures that maximum regrowth levels are obtained.
- Experience! The National Hair Institute was the first hair loss clinic to bring follicular unit grafting to Australia (in 1994). We previously used micro grafts until Dr Barry White saw the results and regrowth rates of follicular units whilst in the United States . Seeing that the results were clearly more superior and more natural looking than that from micro grafts, he then made the decision to learn and bring it to Australia and was trained by the very best at it.
The average amount of experience of our hair transplant team at performing this method is 7 years!
The National Hair Institute performs 2 transplants a day, up to 5 days a week for 48 weeks of the year!
- Guarantee! The National Hair Institute guarantees that over 90% of the transplanted hairs will grow within 12 months and will provide this guarantee in writing if requested. We can advise that 69 out of every 70 of our patients do obtain this level of growth. If you do not obtain over 90% growth, we will put more grafts in for free!
- Previous hair transplant patients can be met! Each year the National Hair Institute holds twelve seminars in Sydney and Melbourne, in which a few previous hair transplant patients attend. This allows anyone attending the event to see and ask questions to the previous patients. For people that do not live in Sydney or Melbourne that can not attend the event, we can contact previous patients who live in your city to meet or speak with you. We know that when you see the results in the flesh, you will realise that all your fears will disappear and that your unsure mind will finally be clear.
- Fair and honest Price! Our hair transplant prices do not contain any additional costs. Our quote covers the cost of the procedure, theatre room, anaesthetic, Dr's time, medication and post operation check ups. The quote is based on the graft number required for your level of hair loss.
Because the price of the procedure can increase over time, we ensure that if you attend a free consultation, we will provide you the price in writing with a promise that we will honour this price even if prices do rise, as long as you book yourself in for the procedure within the next 6 months.
There is something you can do about your hair loss!
Isn't it time you finally did?
Call for a FREE consultation!
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