Dr. Marotta performs the very latest technique in hair transplantation: "Follicular Unit Transplantation." By utilizing this state of the art technique, Dr. Marotta is able to achieve the most natural results. Gone are the days when hair transplantation looked like doll's hair or corn rows. Today's hair tranplants are undetectable to the naked eye, even to your hairdresser.
The technique Dr. Marotta performs is called "follicular unit transplantation" or "micro-surgical hair transplantation." In order to understand why this technique is superior you have to learn a little bit about how hair grows. The hair grows in follicular units. The follicular unit is the "bulb" or "root" of the hair which actually produces the hair. A follicular unit can make anywhere from 1 to 3 hairs. Old techniques transplanted multiple follicles giving a clumped look. Dr. Marotta is able to transplant 1 follicular unit at a time; these are called "mini-grafts" (2-3 hairs) and "micro-grafts" (1 hair). Because of the small size of these transplants a natural, undetectable result can be achieved.
Hair transplantation is the only permanent solution to hair loss available to medical science. In 95% of cases, hair loss is due to a condition called androgenetic allopecia. This is essentially a genetic condition in which the hair follicles along the hair line and on the top of the head atrophy due to their sensitivity to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone. The hair on the back of the head, however, is resistant to this hormone and will never fall out. Some of this hair ("donor hair") can be transplanted to areas that are bald or have thinning hair. Because the hair on the back of the head is abundant many hairs can be transferred without ever noticing a thinning or change in the back of the hair. Hair transplantation essentially can restore your own natural hair to the hairline, top of the head, or crown.
You will have a comprehensive hair loss evaluation with Dr. Marotta in order to determine the cause of your hair loss. Blood tests may be in order. In addition to hair transplantation, Dr. Marotta may advise medical treatments like Propecia or Rogaine. In extreme cases of hair loss, other surgical procedures, like scalp reduction, may provide optimal results.
Who is a candidate for hair transplantation?
- Men or Women with androgenetic allopecia (genetic hair loss)
- Men or Women with traumatic hair loss
General Procedure
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia in our state of the art facility. Patients report minimal discomfort with hair transplantation. The procedure may take 4-8 hours depending on the number of grafts being transplanted. We like to have patients plan to spend the day with us. Breakfast and lunch are provided and the time may be passed watching movies or listening to music. A mild oral sedative may be given to help keep you comfortable lying down for a prolonged period.
Recovery
You may return to work and light activity the very next day following hair transplantation. You will need to wear a baseball cap during the day and surgical cap at night to protect the grafts from trauma for 3 days. Some scabbing at the graft sites persists for 1 week. Patients report minimal to no discomfort following the procedure. You should avoid vigorous physical activity or heavy lifting for 1 week following hair transplantation.
The transplanted hair will grow in and thicken over 4 months. It will continue to thicken up to a year following the procedure. Every transplant procedure will improve your hairline and any balding areas dramatically. Additional hair transplant sessions are possible after 4-6 months depending on your goals for your hair.