SECTION 1
Hair Preservation
SECTION
Hair Systems
HRS of Portland
William
Collier
Wigs
Portland Wig Stores
SECTION 3
Surgical Replacement of Hair
SECTION 4
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This is a topic which is very
important for the transgendered woman. Unfortunately, many
individuals have had serious loss of hair from male pattern baldness by
the time the decision has been made to begin transition. Male
pattern baldness is caused by a hormone called dihydrotestosterone.
This hormone on genetically susceptible males causes the shrinking and eventual
destruction of the hair follicle on the top of the head. The first
signs are recession of the hair line along the temples of the scalp.
The hairline then recedes backward toward the back of the
scalp. At the tip of the scalp, there may also be hair
loss called vernal hair loss.
How Hair Restoration Works
Hair restorations involve surgically removing small pieces of scalp with hair from a donor site (this is the back and the side of the head) and implanting it in a balding area. This technique is called hair grafting and is performed hundreds of times a day by physicians all over they world. There is no new hair added in this procedure. It is just a simple relocation procedure.
These hair grafts come in different sizes ranging from one to two hairs per graft to as many as fifty hairs on a single graft. Here is a rundown on some of the names and sizes of grafts:
* Micro grafts - the smallest of grafts containing one or two hairs
* Mini grafts - the next size up containing two to four hairs
* Slit grafts - these contain four to ten hairs
* Punch grafts - circular grafts containing ten to fifteen hairs
* Strip grafts - long, thin strips containing thirty to forty hairs
It can take up to three sessions for a hair transplant to be fully complete but one session is normally enough. Extra sessions are required if extreme balding is involved. The operation is not very painful as only a local anesthetic is used. The whole surgery usually takes about three to four hours. Immediately following the operation, the patient is free to leave. Painkillers are prescribed, although many patients do not feel any need for it. Patients are usually back to work the next day.
Dos and Don'ts
A qualified surgeon is essential. Upon your decision for surgical hair restoration the next most crucial step is finding a qualified surgeon.
1. Choose a surgeon who performs at least one hundred hair restoration surgeries per year. An experienced surgeon will have some privileges with a local hospital in case of a complication. Avoid the family doctor who claims he can do the job for a small fee.
2. Ask for credentials. See what he has done and what groups he is a member of. Check the BBB for complaints.
3. Get any and all quotes on paper and make sure to carefully read the small print. All too often promises are broken by the small print.
4. Don't be fooled by fake photography. Pictures are easy to manipulate. Look for before and after pictures at exactly the same angles and the same distances. Look for pictures that depicts the person from the front, back and top, not just the front or side.
5. Avoid hair clinics, franchises and hair salons that provide hair restoration. These places usually employ fly by night surgeons with little or no experience. Franchises that claim they have years of experience and thousands of cases usually mean all of their franchises combine and not one particular surgeon.
6. Look for someone who takes extreme pride in his work. These surgeons usually have an artistic side, which will come forth in his work.
7. Get as much material as you can such as videos and brochures and read them all. The quality of their material also reflects the quality of their work.
8. If it is too GOOD to be true, it probably is.
9. Be logical. If you barely have any hair left, the surgeon who promises every bit of hair back on your head is LYING.
As a footnote, I had a chance to meet with Michael of
Hasson and Wong. He answered my questions directly and
intelligently. He directly told me I was not a candidate
even though economically it would have been to his
benefit financially to say I was. Even so, he spent 40 minutes
talking with me and educating me. I believe they
are an excellent source for hair transplantation.
TRANSSEXUAL RESOURCES IN PORTLAND |
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