Hair Procedures:

Hair Transplant Surgery Overview

Overview of the Hair Transplantation Process
(Follicur Unit Microtransplantation)

There is no doubt that hair loss for men and women can be devastating to your self-esteem and self-image. Despite the advent of some medical treatments such as Rogaine and Propecia, more and more patients are turning to more permanent solutions such as hair transplantation. Hair Transplantation procedures have been revolutionized by the introduction of the Follicular Unit Micro-Hair Transplantation procedure. By using a surgical microscope to separate each hair follicle, hair transplantation is not only permanent but it no longer has the appearance of plugs that gave hair transplantation a bad name in the 70s and 80s. This procedure is based on the following principles.

  1. Hair loss is the result of the abnormal sensitivity of hair follicles to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) after it is converted from testosterone
  2. The hair follicles in the posterior scalp and the side of the head appear to be immune to the effects of DHT
  3. Follicular unit hair transplantation uses this principle and the principle of Donor Site Dominance to move or transplant the hair from the back of the scalp to the areas of hair loss
  4. About 2000 hair follicular units can be moved in each session. Depending on the degree of hair loss, some patients may benefit from 1 or more sessions.
Natural History of Hair Loss and Potential Treatments

Premature hair loss can be devastating to the self-image and self-confidence of both men and women. Most of us have experienced some temporary hair loss that we have worried about. There are many reasons for temporary hair loss. These can include

  • Medical Illness ( hypothyroidism, cancer, viral syndromes )
  • Medications
  • Stress
  • Poor diet ( Iron or vitamin deficiency )
  • Direct Trauma
  • Hormonal Imbalance ( pregnancy, perimenopause )

Temporary hair loss is fortunately… temporary. There is often a direct identifiable cause that we can find and treat. I often identify these problems during your initial consultation and the consultation often ends without having to proceed to a more involved hair restoration procedure.

More permanent causes of hair loss can also affect both men and women. Permanent hair loss in both men and women are most often due to hormonal influences initiated by a genetic predisposition. Specifically, hair loss is usually due to elevated levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a male hormone that is also found in women in smaller amounts.  Because hair follicles are ultra-sensitive to DHT, an excess of the hormone often causes the hair to fall out. 

Hair loss or baldness is a genetic trait—but unlike what you may have been told, it’s not necessarily passed down from your maternal grandfather. Medical science has come to learn that baldness genes are actually passed down from both sides of the family—and they affect hair loss in women as well as men. Baldness genes may also skip generations and are utterly random in terms of which siblings (male or female) they will affect. They may even have very different effects on siblings in the same family.

Why Consider Hair Transplantation?

Hair transplantation is widely considered to be the most effective option for restoring hair because it is considered permanent, it is a relatively simple procedure, and it achieves a natural look. Hair transplantation is permanent. Because the transplanted hairs toward the posterior scalp are already resistant to the DHT hormone that causes hair loss, they will not thin or fall out in the future once they are moved to the balding areas.

Unlike hairpieces which may not exactly match your hair color and type, hair transplantation looks completely natural because it is your own hair—just moved to a new spot. It is extremely important to find a cosmetic surgeon who is qualified and skilled to transplant hair follicles in a natural-looking way. Permanent, lifetime hairs are found in good supply in most people—even the severely bald—usually on the back of the head. This is called the “donor area.”

  • The actual surgical process and transplantation is a simple outpatient procedure requiring less than a day.
  • The complex part of hair transplantation is not the procedure itself, but in the artistry of designing a natural-looking hairline for your face shape, features, and age using the correct hair textures and placement.
Why Choose Dr. Chang for Hair Transplantation?
  • Dr. Chang is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has trained at some of the premier centers of plastic surgery in the United States including a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship in Rochester, New York and a Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach.
  • Dr. Chang is the owner and medical director of the Aesthetica Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Center as well as Radiance Salon and Medispas with offices in Loudoun ( Leesburg and Ashburn ) as well as Fairfax ( Reston ) Virginia.
  • Dr. Chang is trained in the latest techniques of performing Follicular Unit Hair Tranplantation, Flap Surgery, or Scalp Reduction Surgery
  • Patient references are available.
What Other Types of Hair Replacement Surgery Does Dr. Chang Perform?
  • Flap Rotation Surgery
  • Scalp Reduction Surgery
  • Micro-Hair Transplantation
  • Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation

Dr. Phillip Chang is a board certified plastic surgeon with offices in Loudoun ( Leesburg ) and Fairfax ( Reston ) Virginia. Complimentary consultations are offered at Aesthetica Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Center as well as Radiance Salon and Medispa. Dr. Chang sees patients from Virginia, Maryland, and DC. Areas including Winchester, Frederick, Leesburg, Ashburn, Chantilly, Sterling, Middleburg, Fairfax, Reston, and Vienna.

Company Endorsements

Allergan.com, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, Natrelle.com, Realself.com, Facebook.com, Radiesse.com, New Beauty Magazine, Mentor.com, Sciton, INOVA Loudoun Hospital, INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital, American Board of Plastic Surgery, American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, University of Rochester, Loma Linda University University

Dr. Phillip Chang is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with offices in Loudoun ( Ashburn and Leesburg ) and Fairfax ( Reston ) Virginia. In addition to hair transplant or hair restoration surgery, Dr. Chang specializes in surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic enhancements including breast augmentation, facelifts, tummy tucks, and other face and body improvements.

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