Arocha Hair Restoration Articles RSS Feed

Which is better FUE or FUT?

Bernard Arocha - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:00:00 GMT

Which is better FUE or FUT?

There are advantages to both techniques as there are some disadvantages to each. Each technique is worthwhile having in the armamentarium to battle hair loss and for a complete approach to state of the art hair restoration. Remember that no matter which donor harvesting technique is employed the actual transplant is performed the same way. In essence, these are donor- harvesting techniques so the “paint” is obtained. The painting or picture is then drawn through the site creation process.

The use of punches to harvest donor tissue is not new. A 4mm punch was employed decades ago to harvest donor. In today’s state of the art FUE a 1 mm punch is used to incise the scalp followed by blunt dissection to free the rest of the follicle. This modern day technique has been developed by Dr. Harris in his safe-scribe system. I find FUE useful in: 1. Small sessions; 2. In repair cases to remove grafts or follicles that are not optimal or appear unnatural due to improper location, aberrant angle or improper direction; 3. In very tight scalps or after maximal harvest through FUT; 4. In small cases in patients who desire to style hair very short: 5. In body hair transplants ie to transplant chest to scalp; 5. To hide scars; and 6. In patients that cannot or will not limit tension on the neck for 6-12 months or until the scar matures.

To be continued ....................

22-Dec-11 3:00 PM

Advice on How Women can Slow the Shedding

Dan Keeney - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:00:00 GMT

USA Today recently published an excellent article, "Five ways to put a crimp in hair loss," and we thought the hair restoration community might be interested in the advice offered. The article was written by Kim Painter who can be found on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/KimPainter.

She writes that women are less likely than men to go bald. But, as women age, their hair does thin. Some women lose more than others, which can at least partly be blamed on genetics. But it is clear that women can slow the shedding. According to studies examining twins, environmental factors play a bigger role in female hair loss than is the case for hair loss among men. Studies of twins can be especially useful when comparing environmental versus genetic causes of hair loss.

Here are the five recommendations Painter gathered in discussions with Bahman Guyuron , chairman of the plastic surgery department at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland for women trying to hold on to their hair:

1. Don’t smoke. Smoking was a “very significant” risk factor for hair loss in a study Guyuron led among 90 pairs of female identical twins. Those who smoked for the most years had the most hair loss around their temples. Smoking impairs blood circulation, which is vital in hair growth, and makes the scalp oilier, which can encourage bacterial overgrowth and damage harm follicles.

2. Wear a hat. Don’t worry so much about messing up your hair style and developing a temporary case of “hat head.” You may be rewarded with thicker, healthier hair in the long run if you make a habit of protecting your head from the sun.

3. Watch what you drink. In the study of twin sisters, those who drank one to two cups of coffee a day and those who had up to four alcoholic beverages a week fared best. The reasons are not clear, but a bit of alcohol may help by increasing blood circulation to the scalp. It is important to keep in mind that more alcohol won't deliver more benefit. Moderation is key.

4. Manage stress. Hair loss is greater among women who were divorced, widowed or married multiple times. The common factor is probably stress. Stress raises levels of the hormone cortisol, which might trigger chemical changes that damage hair follicles.

5. Hair stylists can help. While the study could not determine whether chemical hair-straighteners played roles in hair loss, braids and weaves were linked with hair loss by researchers at Cleveland Clinic. They focused on a pattern of hair loss on the crown of the head that is common in African-American women. Very tight styles held in place for weeks or months may cause damage. Women should tell their stylists not to make the braiding so tight.

All of this is very good advice. Of course, this should not be confused with Female Pattern Hair Loss, which affects an estimated 30 million women in the U.S., according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Female Pattern Hair Loss is a broad term, which encompasses many possible causes. FBHL usually occurs post-pubescent or after hormonal changes such as post-menopause or after discontinuing birth control pills. This pattern hair loss usually spares the hairline and manifests with thinning in the frontal, and mid-scalp areas Ludwig I and II. Ludwig III is the most severe pattern in which the thinning on the top is most severe and it also thins in the back or occipital area. Fortunately, the Ludwig III is rare occurring in only 1 in 7 patients.

To learn more, please see Dr. Arocha's Presentation on Hair Loss in Women.

Unlike traditional methods of hair restoration, such as extensions, weaves and wigs, the Arocha Hair Restoration method uses your own natural hair for an undetectable and lasting solution for natural hair restoration.

Contact Dr. Arocha for your consultation in Houston or Dallas for Hair Replacement options.

http://www.arochahairrestoration.com/pattern-hair-loss-in-women/

28-Oct-11 11:00 AM

An Update on Hair "Cloning" Predictions

Dan Keeney - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:00:00 GMT

What would you say if I told you that someday in your lifetime scientists will be able to take a piece of skin the size of a postage stamp and grow it in a laboratory to create enough skin cells to cover an entire football field?

This is not science fiction. It has already been proven feasible in humans. The implications are amazing. These laboratory grown cells could be used to treat numerous patients.

Likewise, if the cells of a hair follicle could be multiplied in the laboratory and placed back into the balding scalp, it may be possible to create thousands of hair follicles from an original follicle. No hair transplant patient would lack the necessary number of suitable donor follicles.

Now that we are more than three quarters of the way through 2011, we wanted to take a moment to share with you some thoughts about hair follicle cloning from Dr. Jerry Cooley, M.D., who is heavily involved in the subject. In our article, "Prediction for 2011: Further Advances in "Auto-Cloning" Hair," published before the start of the year, we pointed toward potential developments in hair follicle cloning, so we wanted to provide this follow-up.

First, Dr. Cooley, in his paper presented at the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery’s 19th Annual Scientific Meeting, says that it is not accurate to describe the possibility of creating a large number of hair follicles from a single hair follicle as “hair follicle cloning.” Instead, the mechanism where a single hair follicle could be turned into hundreds or thousands of hair follicles is not ‘cloning’ but tissue engineering. It can also be described as cell therapy.

This is an important distinction and every interested person in the hair loss community should understand the differences.

The term cloning is used by scientists to refer to the technique where genes are inserted into a cell, and the daughter cells all have the same gene. In contrast, Cooley's study of tissue engineering does not involve the insertion of particular genes but works at a higher level: the cell. While cells are the basic building blocks of life, genes are sequences of DNA which code for a particular protein necessary for the proper functioning of the cells of our bodies.

Cells can be isolated from an organism and then can be grown in the laboratory by keeping the cells bathed in special medium (culture medium) and controlling the amount of oxygen and other gases around the cells. Cell therapy consists of taking these cultured cells and placing them into a patient to correct a particular condition. Conditions that are likely to be treated by cell therapy include skin ulcers and burns, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, liver failure, to name a few. No wonder cell therapy is one of the most exciting areas of medical research today.

Several research groups around the world are actively trying to see how this idea could be used to treat hair loss. But Dr. Cooley points to two very important obstacles that must be understood, evaluated and overcome, including:

What the lab-grown hairs look like. If cell therapy were ever proven successful for producing hair growth, that would not be enough. It would have to produce natural looking hair. If they can't ensure that the implanted cells produce hair that has the same cosmetic characteristics of the original hair, it will not be a success. Just as in hair transplantation procedures performed today, one key feature would be hair growth direction. The difference between an acceptable hair transplant and a truly superb, undetectable transplant can be as simple as the latter having hair growing at the natural acute angle to the skin. Even one-haired micrografts may not look natural if they grow straight up at a right angle.

Ensuring the lab-grown hairs are safe. The chief worry with using laboratory grown cells is that they might cause tumors when placed back into the skin, so the most important consideration for government regulators such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be ensuring the safety of cell therapy for hair loss. So far cell therapy for other applications has not been known to be associated with tumor formation. Before granting approval, the FDA would require adequate proof that implanted hair follicle cells did not give rise to any tumors.

We agree with Dr. Cooley that the potential application of tissue engineering for treating human hair loss is exciting. However, this research is currently still in the most preliminary of stages and there are numerous obstacles that must be overcome in order to make this treatment safe and effective.

The potential for cell therapy to provide an answer to those experiencing hair loss is indeed great, but the finer points are sure to present challenges to researchers. We remain optimistic, but we believe it is realistic to expect many more years of basic research before we know what role cell therapy will play in the treatment of hair loss.

7-Oct-11 10:00 AM

Pattern Hair Loss Among Women: Hair Restoration Can Help

Dan Keeney - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:00:00 GMT

Many people mistakenly believe that pattern hair loss is strictly something men experience. The fact is that women make up a significant percentage of Americans who experience hair loss. In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, 40 percent of women -- approximately 30 million in all -- have visible hair loss by the time they are age 40.

The patterns of hair loss in women are not as easily recognizable as those in men. Male Pattern Baldness is manifest with distinct patterns described by Hamilton in 1941, later revised and expanded upon by Dr. Norwood in 1975. Ludwig described the Female Pattern Hair Loss in 1977 and his description has become the standard.

Hair loss in women can be devastating for self image and emotional well-being. Unlike the case for men, thinning scalp hair in women does not uniformly grow smaller in diameter (miniaturize). As you can see in the photo at right, women with hair loss due to androgenetic alopecia tend to have miniaturizing hairs of variable diameter over all affected areas of the scalp. While miniaturizing hairs are a feature of androgenetic alopecia, women usually do not progress to complete baldness, which usually makes it easier for them to mask the thinning with comb over hair styling.

Female scalp hair loss may begin at any age through 50 or later, may not have any obvious hereditary association, and may not occur in a recognizable "female-pattern alopecia" of diffuse thinning over the top of the scalp. In fact, a woman who notices the beginning of hair loss may not be sure if the loss is going to be temporary or permanent. For example, if there has been a recent event such as pregnancy or illness that may be associated with temporary hair thinning.

In the video below, Dr. Bernardino Arocha of Arocha Hair Restoration details the various categories of pattern hair loss in women.

Patterns of hair loss among women can vary considerably in appearance. Patterns that may occur include:

Diffuse thinning of hair over the entire scalp, often with more noticeable thinning toward the back of the scalp.
Diffuse thinning over the entire scalp, with more noticeable thinning toward the front of the scalp but not involving the frontal hairline.
Diffuse thinning over the entire scalp, with more noticeable thinning toward the front of the scalp, involving and sometimes breaching the frontal hairline.

Possible causes are many. Pattern hair loss among women can occur post-pubescent or after hormonal changes such as post-menopause or after discontinuing birth control pills. This pattern hair loss usually spares the hairline and manifests with thinning in the frontal, and mid-scalp areas Ludwig I and II. Ludwig III is the most severe pattern in which the thinning on the top is most severe and it also thins in the back or occipital area. Fortunately, the Ludwig III is rare occurring in only one in seven patients.

The treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss is both medical and surgical. The medical treatment includes Spironolactone, and Rogaine. The Spironolactone has weak anti-androgen action hence it needs to be used at higher dosages and for a prolonged time. The dosage should be 100-200 mg per day.

Caution needs to be employed that if the woman is fertile birth control needs to be used because of the potential feminization of male fetus. Also the monitoring of the serum potassium (K+) needs to done monthly since Spironolactone is a K + sparing diuretic. Rogaine 5% should be used twice per day for the first 6 months then once per day. This regimen ensures a more rapid response and it is much easier to be compliant with a once per day regimen. The use of 5% Rogaine carries a greater risk of the growth of facial hair.

The best results are obtained with the surgical treatment in the appropriate patients, which employs the use of ultra-refined follicular unit transplantation. The follicular unit transplantation (FUT) can be used to maximize the density in strategic areas to facilitate hair styling options. The FUT can also restore the hairline in those women with male pattern recessions.

30-Sep-11 11:00 AM

More Patient Testimonials Offer Feedback and Advice

Dan Keeney - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Several times a year we like to present feedback we see online from our patients here so you don't have to search around for it. If you prefer to go to the source for this information, we encourage you to visit Citysearch.com to click through the various patient feedback we get. We recognize that patients are not obligated in any way to post reviews and we appreciate very much the time it takes for them to do so. These first-person accounts of what an artistic hair restoration procedure is really all about from a patient's point-of-view is more powerful and valuable than any amount of advertising could ever be.

Dr. Arocha, an amazing hair restoration surgeon

by Steven762, 09/25/11

I first met Dr. Bernardino Arocha in the summer of 2010. He quoted me a reasonable price, based on my research of several other hair transplant surgeons, and indicated that I needed approximately 3,000 graphs in the frontal area to get a look of fullness. At the time, I was a full-time law student, and needed to wait until I had adequate funding.

So, I returned to see Dr. Arocha about one year later. He not only remembered me, he kept all of his promises, and I was able to have the hair restoration surgery on 9/1/2011. His staff was excellent, attentive, and always polite. Today is 9/25/11, about three weeks since my surgery, and I have absolutely no discomfort.

I highly recommend Dr. Arocha. He is an artist, a man who keeps his word, and someone I completely trust. I am truly grateful to Dr. Arocha for his integrity, and mainly for just caring.

Thank you!

Steven

Natural Looking Results from Dr. Arocha

by Pablos, 09/04/11

Most posts on Dr. Arocha will tell you how easy and comfortable the procedure is and how professional and concerned his staff treat you. My experience would echo those posts and I would encourage anyone not to let fear of the procedure sway you from having the procedure done.

I was most impressed with the outcome and how natural looking the results are. The transplanted hairs at my scalp look indentical to the natural hairs at my scalp. You cannot tell one from the other, a natural look that was most important to me in deciding to get the procedure done.

I remember back in the early to mid 90s seeing guys who had had a transplant done and it was so obvious. Back then, the point where the transplanted hair went into the scalp had larger "holes" than normal hair, almost like tiny scaps, and they often had multiple hairs coming from the same "scab". In my opinion it would have been a step in the wrong direction to have the procedure done and have an unnatural look scream to everyone that I had a transplant. I would have rather stayed balding.

But, technology in hair restoration has come a long way since then and Dr. Arocha is on the forefront of the advances. After meeting some of his patients and seeing first hand the naturalness of his results I was assured of the natural look he would be able to provide.

After now having two procedures I have also learned that not only are his results natural in appearance but your hair will actually look better than it did before you lost it. In other words, Dr. Arocha not only restores your hairline but brings it back more attractive than it was before. He actually will work with you to help you achieve your desired optimal look. I will be going back for my third procedure soon for this purpose.

If you're on the fence because you fear an unnatural result, my results should encourage you to do it. And you will never have to worry about losing those hairs again. I wish I had done it earlier.

Great Experience of my 2nd Hair Transplant with Dr. Arocha

by Sabby2, 07/28/11

I had my second hair transplant procedure done at Arocha Hair Restoration during the last week of July 2011 (photo at right is the "before" photo prior to Sabby's first procedure). While my first procedure with Dr. Arocha was mainly aimed at transplanting hair grafts in my crown, this time the main concentration was my hairline and the temples which had receded very badly, although a fair number of grafts were also put in my crown to increase the density there.

I must say that I am very happy with the kind of treatment that I got from Dr. Arocha and his able, experienced, skillful and friendly team that includes Craig, Maria and Jose. They are all nothing less than fantastic!! I feel that I am very well a part of the Arocha Hair Restoration Family! But, let me justify myself. A year ago, I had selected Dr. Arocha after doing a lot of internet research when I came here for my first procedure. Even though it was the first time, Dr. Arocha and his team never let me feel that way. They made me extremely comfortable before, during and after my surgery.

This time during my second procedure with him, he even went one step ahead! I had been travelling all alone from the northern part of the US down south to Houston and was staying at a hotel from the day before my surgery. On the day of my surgery, and even on the day after (when Doc took a look at my condition and his team washed my hair), I was picked up from the hotel by doc’s team and was provided breakfast and lunch at the clinic and was again dropped back to the hotel.

Today, when I am leaving Houston, I decided to meet Doc and his team as a courtesy visit, and now that I writing this experience of mine, my stomach is yet again filled by a heavy lunch that I was provided here by them.. This is what I mean when I say that they make you feel a part of their family, as they did all these things for me voluntarily!

I mentioned all these mainly because - firstly, I feel that this is as much important as the transplant procedure itself; secondly, I guess that Dr. Arocha and his whole team is so very experienced and skillful, that the results of his patients in the form of photos and videos in his website can speak volumes about his ability. If you are interested in seeing my journey of hair restoration, please check my hair restoration journey from the photos that I have posted on the Hair Transplant Network, under author name – “Sabby”.

Honestly speaking, if I was not convinced of his technical ability, I wouldn’t have travelled over 2,000 miles to get back here for my second procedure! But as a patient I would also like to draw your attention to another very important thing. Last year when I had the procedure with around 2,400 grafts, I felt a bit of pain only on the night of surgery. Even that is a rare case, I had expected the pain to remain for atleast 2 or 3 days.

This time I was surprised again because unlike my first procedure, I didn’t even have pain on the night of my surgery, wherein I had received around 3,300 grafts!! And let me also mention that this was not because of an overdose of a pain medication, as I had only half a tablet of pain medicine that night! When I told about this to Dr. Arocha, with a comforting smile on his face, he just told, “We keep on improving everyday Sabby. This time I had used some new techniques..” I guess, that’s the secret recipe of any successful surgeon who always keeps himself updated with the latest state of art.

So without any doubt, I can say that he is probably the best Hair Transplant Surgeon in the world and definitely the best in Houston, TX! So, I would suggest prospective patients to be in touch with him as soon as you can. And, if you are thinking about the cost involved in such kind of a surgery, I can only end by saying that Dr. Arocha is a very kind hearted surgeon and values his patients’ smile more than money!

Worth every penny... He is an Artist!

by houtx2020, 06/03/11

I cannot be more pleased with the work that Dr. Arocha performed on me. Dr. Arocha and his staff were exceptionally friendly and professional. It is amazing to me how natural looking he was able to restore my hairline. Dr. Arocha is an artist (literally), and he uses that artistic ability and eye when he performs his work. I had the procedure performed (2,000 grafts) just over a year ago, and to this day, not one person has asked me if I had received a transplant. It's amazing to me how little I notice my hair now....when just over a year ago I would constantly look at my rapidly receding hairline in every reflection and get depressed. When I say going to Dr. Arocha was worth every hard earned penny....I mean every word of it.

28-Sep-11 10:00 AM

How Young is Too Young for Hair Restoration?

Dan Keeney - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:00:00 GMT

Over the years we have seen numerous posts online from people in their teens and early 20s seeking advice about their hair loss. The question seems to always come back to, "how young is too young?" The answer is that it is complicated and age is only one of many factors to be considered.

First, it is essential to understand that hair loss does not cease after undergoing hair restoration treatment. Male pattern hair loss is hereditary and is a lifelong process. Medicinal therapies can slow or even stop hair loss, but if those treatments are halted, the hair loss will continue. If our consultation determines that an artistic hair transplant may be an appropriate approach, we explain the importance of having realistic expectations of the overall result and discuss the fact that additional future hair transplant procedures could be recommended.

As Dr. Bernardino Arocha describes in the video below, hair loss at a young age can cause lifelong trauma. It is common for young men suffering from Alopecia Androgenetica to suffer from a lack of self-confidence, withdraw socially and in the most severe cases even think about harming themselves. Through our consultation, we work to bring these feelings to the surface. They must be addressed because the actual physical loss of hair is just one aspect of the torment these patients are experiencing. In many ways, the hair loss is relatively simple to address compared to the complex psychological challenges.

None of this is imaginary. Young men who experience hair loss are usually estimated to be much older than they are. Studies have found those who lose their hair at a young age are also considered to be less attractive by society. Professionally, people are judged by their appearances, and those experiencing hair loss may experience bias in the workplace that holds them back.

As described in the video, Dr. Arocha would advise a young patient to consider medicinal therapy, including finasteride (Propecia), which has proven to be 70 percent effective at blocking DHT and can slow or stop hair loss in nine out of 10 patients. He would further recommend the use of minoxidil (Rogaine) 5% to be used twice daily. That combination slows or stops the progression of male pattern baldness and the Rogaine can increase the caliber of the hair -- making it thicker for the appearance for more density.

These are the only two prescription drugs for hair loss that have been approved by the FDA. Rogaine is sold over the counter. It has been scientifically proven to be effective at reducing hair loss and can even stimulate hair growth for some users. However, any new hair that grows could fall back out if Rogaine use is stopped. Hair care products with a higher dosage of minoxidil are more effective than those with lower dosages, so make sure you check the ingredients label for the dosage.

Propecia is an oral medication originally developed to treat enlarged prostate in men, but many men who have taken the drug for that reason noticed it diminished hair thinning. This drug has been approved by the FDA to reduce male pattern baldness in men. However, it should not be taken by women, as mere exposure to the drug can cause serious complications and birth defects.

Topical, non-prescription medical remedies also are available and can typically be found in drugstores. These products come in foams, creams and shampoos. While some people experience success utilizing these products, 40 percent of people do not. Below are a few hair loss “solutions” that are popular on the Internet, even though they have not been scientifically proven:

Avacor - Topical solution and detoxifying shampoo
Hair growth stimulator based on 2, 4-di-amino-6d piperidinopyrimidine3 oxide or 2 percent Minoxidil + sabal serulate (saw palmetto)
Company cites clinical data to support claims but non-peer reviewed, non- double blind
Cost is $220/3 mo.

Nioxin - Scalp cleanser, therapy and serum
Niocidin inhibits demodex produced lipase
Never been a study that implicates Demodex lipase in hair loss

Folliguard - Similar to Avacor containing minoxidil and saw palmetto
Cost is $200/3 mo.

Scalpmed - Minoxidil + saw palmetto
Cost is $300/3 mo.

Hair Advantage - Loniten (minoxidil) and saw palmetto + herbals
Cost is $180/3 mo.

Emu oil - Claims 80 percent hair follicles began to grow hair in nonclinical studies
Cost is $9.50/ oz

Thymuskin - Extract of calf thymus
Claims to boost immune function, admits not effective for AGA
Cost is $210/3 mo.

Continued use of these products typically is required for the benefit to continue. The success of these items are discovered through trial and error, which will determine if they are the best hair loss products for a given individual.

8-Sep-11 3:00 PM

Wayne Rooney's Bold Story Turning Heads

Dan Keeney - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Wayne Rooney is becoming a hero in the hair transplant community. Shortly after the Manchester United and England striker underwent a hair transplant earlier this year, Rooney tweeted a photo of his newly transplanted follicles (see our article on the subject, "Star Tweets Pics of Hair Transplant." By doing that, Rooney broke barriers that have existed for decades. His attitude: why be ashamed? These are his own natural hair follicles and he did it to make himself more confident. By insisting that it was no big deal, it became no big deal.

What a revelation!

Fast forward to today and Rooney's hair continues to grow in nicely. In a story written by Rob Harris of the Associated Press titled, "Hair transplant revives stressed-out Wayne Rooney," the mainstream media is picking up on the fact that hair restoration really is not a big deal. It can make people feel better about themselves -- what's bad about that? Here is an excerpt:

...the results — like United's this season — are unequivocal, with those new follicles now covering his scalp.

"I've spent more time in the mirror," Rooney quipped Tuesday at the England team hotel. "I'm sure some of you who are going bald, it's a bit stressful. So I made a decision to get it done. I thought, why not?"

Meanwhile, Martin Rogers reporting for Yahoo Sports published the story, "Transplanted hair cushions Rooney’s header goals," which suggests that Rooney's teammates attribute his success this season to his transplant.

Wayne Rooney’s teammates believe that a hair transplant is a reason the Manchester United star has return to top form.

Since his transplant he has been outstanding, turning in excellent performances on United’s preseason tour of the United States and again in the opening two games of the EPL schedule.

And remarkable as it seems, the school of thought now emerging in the Old Trafford locker room is that the hair transplant might be partially responsible for Rooney’s resurgence.

“At first the lads were teasing him about playing better and looking more lively now he has got a head of hair again,” a club source told Yahoo! Sports. “But now it really does seem like there is a new confidence about him and a spring in his step. Frankly, everyone is pretty excited about it.”

The fact is that we see this happen all the time. People come to us lacking confidence and feeling like they need a major change. After a hair restoration procedure, they feel better about themselves in many ways -- and it stretches far beyond just how they look or how their hair looks. Patients who have a hair transplant tell us that the procedure has a profound impact on how they feel about themselves -- their whole selves.

That's what we are learning from Wayne Rooney. Addressing what he believed to be a weakness has raised the level of his performance in ways he never could have anticipated.

Keep it up Mr. Rooney! The entire hair restoration community is rooting for you!

31-Aug-11 1:00 PM

The Truth About Hair Transplant Scars: What Every Patient Should Know

Dan Keeney - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 23:00:00 GMT

Do you want scarless surgery? Do you believe in the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny? They are all figments of creative marketing. But they are not real.

There is always a scar anytime surgery is performed on the skin. In hair restoration, this applies to whether the harvest of hair follicles is obtained by strip harvesting or follicular unit extraction (FUE). The scars usually are only minimally visible when proper care is followed, both intraoperatively and post-operatively.

In the video below, Dr. Bernardino Arocha of Arocha Hair Restoration (http://arochahairrestoration.com) offers a factual assessment of the scars experienced by hair transplant patients. In strip extraction, a portion of the back of the scalp is removed to harvest hair follicles used in transplant. The wound is then closed using techniques designed to minimize scarring. In FUE, a punch is used to extract tiny portions of scalp and the scalp is left to repair itself, leaving thousands of tiny little scars.

FUEs are performed employing a small punch either 1 or .75 mm to score the follicle. The wound is very small, but it is left to heal without primary closing. Therefore, a small scar will result. In FUEs there are numerous punctate scars producing a “bird shot” pattern of diffuse punctate scars.

Strip harvest typically produces a linear scar. If the principle of minimizing surface tension is adhered to, the scar can be minimally visible. Proper intra-operative technique employs closing in one or two layers, the deep layer serves to minimize surface tension. Sometimes a tricophytic closure is employed in which one of the wound margins is beveled so the hair will grow throught the scar making it very difficult to see the scar. Using these methods, we are often successful at minimizing post-surgical hair transplant scarring to less than 1 mm.

Post-operatively, we advise the patient to limit performing exercises that cause pulling of the neck until the scar has matured. It can take the wound 6-12 months for the scar to mature. Alternative exercises can be substituted that limit pulling of the wound margins in the neck.

Please review our before-and-after photos of post-surgical scars.

To determine which approach is better for you, get the facts and ask questions, but don't believe the hype that any method is "scarless."

17-Aug-11 6:00 PM

10 Most Read Artistic Hair Restoration Articles from July 2011

Dan Keeney - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Below are links to the most frequently read articles on the Arocha Hair Restoration website for the month of July 2011:

1 Prediction for 2011: Further Advances in "Auto-Cloning" Hair

2 Forget the Potions and Lotions - This Stuff Works

3 Results of a 2,000 Follicular Unit Tranplant

4 Tips for Finding Your Hair Restoration Surgeon

5 Our Patients Describe Their Experiences

6 Eyebrow Restoration

7 Post-Surgical Hair Loss

8 Follicular Unit Extraction or Follicular Unit Isolation versus Strip Surgery

9 Non-surgical Hair Replacement versus Follicular Unit Transplantation

10 Eyebrows Hit the Big Time with New York Times Feature

If you have questions or suggestions for article topics, feel free to submit them in the comment box below. Thanks for visiting, and please consider scheduling a free consultation with Dr. Arocha regarding your hair loss. It could change your life!

3-Aug-11 1:00 PM

Results of a 4,000 Unit Artistic Hair Transplant

Dan Keeney - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:00:00 GMT

When we recently posted the photos from this hair tranplant on the Hair Restoration Network, we didn't expect to spark a debate about the patient feedback we get. We described how some patients have told us that they like their post-transplant hair better than they liked their hair prior to experiencing hair loss. Some in the hair loss community said that was an exaggeration. For instance, the member who goes by hdude46 posted the following comment:

I think its unfair and misleading to say "Some patients have said that even before their hair loss, their hair was never been this good!" I think that's ridiculous. A hair transplant creates an illusion of density, not a full head of hair. To think someone's hair was worse before hair loss and then better with a hair transplant after losing significant native hair is absurd.

Others backed us up, saying that their post-transplant hair looks better and is easier to manage and falls just right. We are happy to be able to share our patient results with before-and-after photos. The after photos below show the results at seven months post-transplant for a male patient who underwent a 4,000 follicular unit transplant.

The fact is that our patients love their post-transplant hair and some really have told us they are happier than they ever have been with the way their hair looks. Unlike the hair we are born with, transplanted hair gives a skilled hair restoration surgeon the advantage of being able to angle the hair so it falls naturally. It is the artistic component of hair restoration.

Nonetheless, it is a good discussion to have because sometimes it can be a challenge to articulate how transformative a hair transplant can be for a man or woman. Patients do a better job than we could ever do. For instance, we recently saw an online review on Citysearch from a patient reporting on his experiences with Arocha Hair Restoration. Here's an excerpt:

My new hair looks phenomenal. Any licensed/trained doctor can perform the procedure, but can he/she perform it WELL? Hair transplantation is an art: Does the hair 'fall' naturally? Does the hairline look fake? Does the density appear natural? I live and work in Europe, and have seen many guys over here with very obvious transplants because their hair just doesn't look right. But my hair looks 100% natural. In fact, it 'falls' so perfectly that I think I look even better than I did as a teenager.

We love it when our patients let each other know about their experiences and what to expect. Here are several more before and afters from the same patient showing the top of the head and his excellent results.

For the man with hair loss, who has good donor density and favorable hair characteristics, the Arocha Total Restoration procedure can produce excellent results like this. The positive results from hair restoration surgery can be maximized by:

A detailed scalp examination;
Careful selection and harvesting of the donor hair;
Optimal handling of the donor tissue to maximize donor yield;
Creating recipient sites with careful attention to angle and direction;
Expedient and careful placing of the grafts.
Expert mending and repair of the donor scar area.

In the hands of an experienced hair restoration surgeon, these techniques ensure excellent results that developed gradually over the course of six to 12 months.

2-Aug-11 11:00 AM

Hair Straightener Warnings Spread Worldwide

Dan Keeney - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Late last year, Arocha Hair Restoration echoed the warnings of the attorneys general of a number of U.S. states (see our articles "Help for Hair Straightener Victims," and "Brazilian Blowout Under Fire"), and now those warnings have spread overseas.

The article, "Killer hair straighening products spark health warnings," by Briana Domjen in The Sunday Telegraph describes how authorities in Australia are responding to the health concerns. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is taking action, claiming that women have suffered hair loss and had difficulty breathing after using certain hair treatments containing up to 20 times the safe limit of the cancer-causing chemical formaldehyde.

The Sunday Telegraph story explains that the ACCC has warned hairdressers and consumers to check the levels of formaldehyde in hair straightening products following a spate of safety recalls in recent months.

The ACCC has been inundated with complaints about the hair products.

The permitted limit of formaldehyde as a preservative ingredient in products is 0.05 per cent but products labelled with warnings can have up to 0.2 per cent. Officials with the ACCC say their examination has found that some of the products used to straighten hair had levels up to 10 percent.

Domjen's article quotes ACCC deputy chair Peter Kell as saying, "We have had complaints from customers who have received hair loss, suffered skin sensitivity and itchiness. We have also received complaints from salon workers, who not surprisingly are concerned the products they use on a daily basis may pose significant health risks."

Six brands have been recalled in the past eight months. Mr Kell said it was unusual to see so many similar products recalled in such a short time.

"The workers have alerted us to issues when they have had runny eyes, headaches, skin rashes and breathing difficulties," said Kell.

Recognizing that reports such as these can elevate the public's awareness of hair loss, the dangers of chemical hair treatments and popular hair straighteners, Dr. Bernardino Arocha of Arocha Hair Restoration is offering a free consultation to anyone concerned about their rapid hair loss so it can be correctly diagnosed.

Dr. Arocha says he believes most people aren't aware of the dangers of these chemical procedures and urges people would do research before allowing their hair stylist to use chemicals on their hair. If they don't, they may be shocked by their hair falling out.

Dr. Arocha encourages anyone experiencing hair loss to consult with a hair restoration expert to get a proper diagnosis. If hair restoration treatments are appropriate, Dr. Arocha can recommend scientifically proven and FDA-approved options.

Late last year, tests conducted by Oregon's Occupational Safety & Health Administration found dangerous levels of formaldehyde in Brazilian Blowout that they said were 50 times higher than levels permitted in cosmetics. The California Attorney General has filed suit against the company behind Brazilian Blowout.

30-Jul-11 2:00 PM

Tips for Finding Your Hair Restoration Surgeon

Dan Keeney - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:00:00 GMT

We consult with patients almost every day, many of whom come to us after a lot of research into which hair restoration surgeons really know what they are talking about and which just put on a good show. Incredibly, one of the first things a person considering a hair transplant will learn is that any licensed physician can legally perform hair transplant surgery – even if they don’t have any prior surgical training or accreditation.

Currently, the United States is truly the Wild West; the field of surgical hair restoration is largely unregulated by both the government and the medical community. Any physician, MD or DO, can legally proclaim him/herself a qualified hair transplant surgeon and jump right in with scalpel in hand. In fact, a number of individuals set up shop and claim to be certified and knowledgeable in hair transplantation techniques and procedures, when they have no such certifications at all.

Unfortunately, it can be hard for patients to tell the difference between practices that focus only on helping patients regain their confidence through state-of-the-art hair restoration treatments, and practices that perform hair transplants only once in awhile.

What should you look for? Look for credentials.

The American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS) is the only certification recognized by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery and is considered the gold standard for indicating that your surgeon has completed extensive training and is highly experienced at treating patients with hair loss.

Hair transplant surgeons have two routes to admission for the written and oral examinations of the ABHRS. One requires three years experience practicing hair restoration surgery with a minimum of 150 cases. The other requires the completion of a fellowship in hair restoration surgery lasting one to two years. After completing the fellowship, the applicant needs to have one year in private practice of hair restoration surgery.

Membership in the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) is another indication that a prospective surgeon is committed to staying current in the field of hair restoration surgery. The ISHRS is the largest hair restoration educational organization in the world with more than 700 hair transplant doctors.

The proof is always in the results. Be aware that some practices use limited views to show their before /after photos. It is best to look at a complete set of views to better ascertain the true outcome. Be especially leery of the practice that shows a top down before and frontal view after photo. This is an attempt to maximize the exposure of the hair loss in the before photo while minimizing the thin outcome in the after photo.Ask every hair transplant doctor for a minimum of 10 sets of before and after photos. Make sure the photos aren’t doctored to make the results appear better than they really are. Photos should be taken at the same angle, the same background and the same lighting. Look specifically for a clear view of the hairline, as well as the mid anterior scalp. Review photos of the donor areas as well.

Insist on meeting with the hair transplant surgeon who will perform the surgery. Find someone that makes you feel comfortable. For the best results, the patient and the doctor need to work as a team. If you get shuffled to somebody else, consider it a red flag.

If still in doubt ask for referrals. Contact at least three or four patients to discuss their experiences. Ask to meet patients that have similar hair and skin characteristics as you. Contact the state medical board to make sure there are no complaints filed.

The American Hair Loss Association and other organizations offer some helpful advice for what to avoid in the search for a qualified hair transplant surgeon, including:

Avoid practices that are not dedicated solely to surgical hair restoration.
Avoid referrals from your dermatologist or family practitioner unless your doctor has personal experience with the hair transplant physician he is recommending. Most physicians in this country know very little about the scope and pitfalls of this demanding cosmetic procedure.
Avoid large hair transplant groups or practices that employ or contract physicians to perform hair transplantation under a common umbrella. Large groups may look impressive because they have offices all over the country, but they are little more than sales offices that may import relatively inexperienced surgeons, some of whom don't even specialize in hair transplant surgery.
Avoid practices advertising through expensive and flashy television, print and radio marketing. Their seemingly powerful presence in the market usually does not equate to superior surgical results. In general these organizations or businesses are considered by experts in the field to be “hair mills” regarding only their bottom line.
Avoid turning to the yellow pages when seeking out a hair transplant surgeon.

Lastly look for patient reviews . Remember that disgruntled patients are much more likely to post reviews . Unfortunately the happy patients are not always very motivated to take time out of their busy lives to post a review if all is well . However reviews are very useful to gain more insight into the strengths and possible weaknesses of any given practice. They also provide valuable information of what it is like to have a procedure at a particular practice. After reading all the reviews you should have a better understanding of your likely experience.

Arocha Hair Restoration is proud to be among a select group of extremely skilled and ethical physicians performing excellent hair transplantation in the U.S. We are part of a small community of practices that have extensive training in surgical hair restoration and focus solely on hair restoration, using state-of-the-art techniques to transform lives.

20-Jun-11 6:00 PM

Results of a 2,000 Follicular Unit Tranplant

Dan Keeney - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:00:00 GMT

We recently posted photos on the Hair Restoration Network illustrating the results of a 2,000 follicular unit transplant. The 35 year old male patient had a norwood III condition and wanted to restore and thicken the frontal hairline.

After a thorough examination and a discussion with the patient about his goals, Dr. Arocha recommended a 3,000 follicular unit procedure, which would have achieved even more dramatic and life-changing results. The patient elected to do 2,000 follicular units to start. Below are a few of the photos we have posted. We encourage you to visit the Hair Restoration Social Network to see the complete portfolio of before and after shots.

These results are 1.5 years after the hair transplant procedure. You can see the results of an artistic hairline restoration with a restored hairline that is natural and a transplant that is undetectable.

6-Jun-11 10:00 AM

Our Patients Describe Their Experiences

Dan Keeney - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:00:00 GMT

The hair loss community is exactly that – a community. Men and women who have experienced hair loss come together to offer invaluable advice and insight to others who are experiencing the same thing. Only people who know what it is like to wake up every morning and be disappointed with the way they look could really know what they are thinking and feeling. The key is to understand that there are options. In the past several years, Arocha Hair Restoration has been proud to both be a part of the hair loss community and benefit from the peer-to-peer advice that is extended.

Aside from some targeted placement of listings on Google, we don’t advertise. We would much rather take the money we would otherwise spend on advertising and spend it instead on making the patient experience the best it can be. As a result, our patients become our best advertisement – and we know the positive words of our patients are more powerful than any billboard or radio commercial.

Below are some excerpts from Citysearch from our patients. We have edited for brevity, but encourage you to read them for yourself.

Definitely Worth It!

05/24/11, by Houston9876 at Citysearch

After doing my homework on which hair restoration surgeon was the most talented and qualified in the country, Dr. Arocha turned out to be the leading candidate. To my surprise, his practices were located in Dallas and Houston, and being a native Houstonian, I was ecstatic about this.

I quickly made a consultation appointment with Dr. Arocha, which was free I might add, and before I knew it I was face to face with Dr. Arocha himself. I went in there nervous, and came out excited and informed. He and his staff were very professional, patient, and caring.

The actual procedure itself was a breeze. I figured it had to be somewhat painful, but it wasn't at all. I went home with some simple post procedure instructions, and that was that. Dr. Arocha and his staff continually checked in with me, and were always available for any questions I had.

It's been six months now since my procedure and my confidence has sky rocketed. The results are amazing, I still can't get over it. If anyone has any doubts about going through with this procedure, I highly recommend at least talking with Dr. Arocha. I know he has made so many people happy, and I am one of them. From the bottom of my heart, thank you thank you Dr. Arocha!

First Class Care and Attention

05/01/11, by appliedengineering at Citysearch

I had my procedure just over 1 year ago. The results have been FANTASTIC!!!

Before the procedure, Dr Arocha sat down with me and carefully walked me through the process, answered all of my questions, and generally made it as easy as possible. No pressure. No sales. Just honest talk.

When the day came for the actual work, they constantly asked about my comfort, while working tirelessly to complete the job. Overall, a relatively painless procedure.

After that, they set up follow-up appointments after 3 days, 10-days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and most recently 1 year. In all honestly, I have never had a medical professional put forth the kind of follow-up care, as Dr Arocha.

These people are GREAT!

The quality of the work, the care, the attention, the follow-up are all FIRST CLASS!!!

I would STRONGLY recommend Dr. Arocha and his staff to anyone considering this kind of procedure!

Excellent results!
04/22/11, by mgj97 at Citysearch

I had my hair restoration procedure performed by Dr. Arocha just over 7 months ago. I had 4,250 grafts implanted, & let me tell you my results so far are outstanding! I'm actually scared to look at my before pictures, which he will show you on your 4 month follow ups lol! It's a night & day difference! When I first approached Dr. Arocha with my hair loss problem, he explained what results I can expect from the procedure, & has more than met those expectations. There are other doctors in the greater Houston area that perform these procedures, but Dr. Arocha was the only one dedicated to hair restoration only. His whole staff is very friendly, and accommodating. I thank Dr. Arocha and his professional team for making my experience as smooth as possible. I would recommend Dr. Arocha to anyone suffering from hair loss.

A great experience

04/10/11, by APS2184 at Citysearch

Dr. Arocha and his team made me feel very comfortable throughout the process for hair restoration. I was happy to meet everyone at his office, because they were all very friendly. This aspect helped me trust Dr. Arocha and his team all the way throughout and in the follow ups. The team at Arocha hair restoration also keeps things very discreet and personalized.

After my procedure, I have had very good follow-ups, an important aspect to the process. I recommend Dr. Arocha to anyone who wants a natural hair restoration and a caring doctor.

Dr. Arocha is excellent all around

11/28/10, by 2000strong at Citysearch

I am posting comments to this website because of the great experience I had with Dr. Arocha in Houston. As an African-American, it was difficult to find a hair transplant surgeon to begin with. My first experience with a hair transplant group in suburban Detroit left me with marginal results and needless to say, I thought I had to deal with the results that were achieved. However, after moving to Texas and gathering my courage, I decided I should at least investigate other hair transplant surgeons in the larger Houston metro area. I can say I was very lucky to come across Dr. Arocha's website.

His bedside manner is excellent. His staff was courteous, friendly and most importantly, highly trained technicians. My overall experience was wonderful. Everything Dr. Arocha promised pre-surgery was delivered post surgery. He provided a comfortable surgery environment, an essentially pain free procedure, post operative products that my first surgeon didn't even mention and post operative care that has been terrific!! I was able to go back to work within seven days and no one noticed my surgery!! I would have flown to Texas for my first procedure had I known about Dr. Arocha.

If you are African-American, Dr. Arocha is worth talking to! Please take a look at the results on his website. DO NOT settle for less! This decision should not be taken lightly. My first decision cost me several thousand dollars with mediocre results and essentially no follow up. A lot of doctors may be listed in the various hair transplant networks, but not all are artists! Dr. Arocha is an artist!!

3-Jun-11 3:00 PM

Forget the Potions and Lotions - This Stuff Works

Dr. Bernardino Arocha - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Some people experiencing hair loss want to be able to wave a magic wand turn the situation around. They are unhappy with their looks -- unhappy with appearing older than they really are and feeling less confident -- so they try unproven but heavily marketed lotions and potions. What they inevitably find out is that there is no such thing as a cure for baldness or hair loss, no matter how many advertisements and spam e-mails claim there is.

Nontheless, for the benefit of giving the hair loss community the facts, let's take a closer look at some of the more widely distributed topical, non-prescription medical remedies available. These products can typically be found in drugstores, coming in foams, creams and shampoos. While some people experience success utilizing these products, 40 percent of people do not. Below are a few hair loss “solutions” that are popular on the Internet, even though they have not been scientifically proven:

Avacor - Topical solution and detoxifying shampoo

Hair growth stimulator based on 2, 4-di-amino-6d piperidinopyrimidine3 oxide or 2 percent Minoxidil + sabal serulate (saw palmetto)
Company cites clinical data to support claims but non-peer reviewed, non- double blind
Cost is $220/3 mo.

Emu oil - Claims 80 percent hair follicles began to grow hair in nonclinical studies

Cost is $9.50/ oz

Folliguard - Similar to Avacor containing minoxidil and saw palmetto

Cost is $200/3 mo.

Hair Advantage - Loniten (minoxidil) and saw palmetto + herbals

Cost is $180/3 mo.

Nioxin - Scalp cleanser, therapy and serum

Niocidin inhibits demodex produced lipase
Never been a study that implicates Demodex lipase in hair loss

Scalpmed - Minoxidil + saw palmetto

Cost is $300/3 mo.

Thymuskin - Extract of calf thymus

Claims to boost immune function, admits not effective for AGA
Cost is $210/3 mo.

It is worth noting that if an individual is among the population who experience success with these products, continued use typically is required for the benefit to continue. The success of these items are discovered through trial and error, which will determine if they are the best hair loss products for a given individual.

At Arocha Hair Restoration we gravitate toward proven methods rather than relying on magic wands. First, we recognize that everyone's specific situation is different. For instance, in cases in which hair loss is a result of medical issues, a consultation with a doctor is a must. Alopecia Areata, a disease that results in thinning hair, may be the result of an underlying autoimmune condition that causes the body to attack and destroy hair follicles. Diagnosing and treating the autoimmune disease may also resolve the hair-loss issue. Medications doctors may prescribe to treat condition-related balding include gels, creams or shots of steroids.

Likewise, for some people, reversing the hair loss many not require medications at all. A simple change in diet may be the best choice of treatment, as various nutritional shortcomings in a person's diet may contribute to hair loss. Vitamins like vitamin A, B, C, and E are some of the best vitamins for hair loss prevention. Also, omega 3 fatty acids in the diet have been shown to contribute to healthy hair. Likewise, a shortage of iron may result in a lower red blood cell count, which is a known cause of thinning hair in women. Vitamin B12 is also important for robust hair growth. Vitamin supplements containing these ingredients may be the best hair loss products for people with dietary issues.

Once we have had an opportunity to consult with the patient and carefully examine the scalp, we can determine the best course of action. Over the years treating thousands of patients, we have had great success using one or a combination of multiple scientifically proven hair loss solutions. Here are the three proven hair loss remedies:

• Surgical hair transplant;

• Propecia (finasteride); and

• Rogaine (minoxidil).

Those are your scientifically proven options. Sure, there plenty of other things that are being developed and tested. We often write about the various research efforts that are underway. But when it comes to proven approaches to hair restoration, transplant, Propecia and Rogaine make up the toolkit.

The effectiveness of hair loss products can vary from individual to individual. Determining the cause of an individual's hair loss can help to evaluate the best hair loss products to try. We have had quite a bit of success with combination therapy, especially performing a hair transplant followed by Rogaine and/or Propecia. A good example of this is a female patient we worked with who was experiencing female pattern hair loss characterized by diffuse thinning over the frontal and mid-scalp areas. She was a Ludwig II in the pre-surgery photos.

We performed a 2,515 follicular unit hair transplant (FUT). Since her hair was very fine because of the overall miniaturization process, we recommended that she start treatment with Rogaine 5% bid. The after surgery photos were taken at nine months post-transplant. Her results confirm what we preach that the most efficacious treatment of male and female pattern hair loss is through combination therapy.

Let's take a closer look at the two prescription drugs for hair loss happroved by the FDA: minoxidil and finasteride. These prescription drugs have been effective in preventing baldness and even growing new hair.

The brand name for minoxidil, Rogaine is sold over the counter.

It has been scientifically proven to be effective at reducing hair loss and can even stimulate hair growth for some users. However, any new hair that grows could fall back out if Rogaine use is stopped. Hair care products with a higher dosage of minoxidil are more effective than those with lower dosages, so make sure you check the ingredients label for the dosage.

Loniten is another brand name for minoxidil, but the difference is that this is a prescription medication.

Initially formulated to treat high blood pressure, doctors discovered that hair growth is one of its side effects, leading to its prescription as a hair loss drug.

The brand name for finasteride, Propecia, this oral medication was originally developed to treat enlarged prostate in men.

Many men who have taken the drug for that reason noticed it diminished hair thinning. This drug has been approved by the FDA to reduce male pattern baldness in men. However, it should not be taken by women, as mere exposure to the drug can cause serious complications and birth defects.

Many of us in the hair restoration community have been debating the use of Retin-A to aid hair growth and offset hair loss.

It was originally formulated to treat skin conditions, and is a combination of minoxidil-based shampoos and treatments, as well as a Rogaine solution that helps hair follicles absorb the minoxidil. Retin-A also has ingredients that prevent sebum block, which is theorized as one of the causes of baldness. Studies have indicated Retin-A could slightly improve the performance of minoxidil in aiding hair growth in people with male pattern baldness.

Of the 80 million U.S. men and women affected by hair loss, only about three percent (approximately 2.5 million people) seek one of these proven hair loss solutions. It is unfortunate that people seek shortcuts and get frustrated by the over-inflated promises of the lotions and potions. If they would just stick with what we know can work, they would be much better off.

25-May-11 9:00 AM

Six Point Process to Restore Your Confidence

Dan Keeney - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Thu, 19 May 2011 21:00:00 GMT

Arocha Hair Restoration uses the latest advanced hair transplant techniques to restore the receding hairline and crown associated with thinning hair. We use the patient's very own hair in the hair restoration process. We never use glues, weaves or synthetic hair. Natural, undetectable results can only be achieved by using your own natural hair, which is what we always do.

For the man or woman with hair loss, who has good donor density and favorable hair characteristics, the Arocha Total Restoration procedure can produce excellent results in less than one year. This procedure combines maximal hair restoration surgery with maximal medical hair restoration to achieve optimal results in record time. The hair restoration surgery is maximized by:

1. Detailed scalp examination - Your initial consultation with hair restoration specialist Dr. Arocha will include a review of your medical history, an examination of your existing hair and scalp and an honest evaluation of your goals and expectations. It is essential to begin by getting the patient to describe their realistic hair transplant goals so we can work to exceed those goals. It is also important to understand what is causing the hair loss to determine if it can be treated effectively with medical treatment, pointing out that not every patient is a good candidate for hair transplant surgery. The article, “Patient Hair Restoration Goals,” has more information about patient goals.

2. Careful selection and harvesting of the donor hair - Your hair restoration session in your own private surgical suite. You will begin the hair restoration process by having a small area at the back of the head shaved and prepared to be surgically removed. Typically, Arocha Hair Restoration starts the hair transplant procedure by scoring the surface of the patient's scalp with a single blade rather than cutting all the way down past the base of the follicles. Once this small piece of your scalp has been removed the area will be sutured together using a double layer closure technique to achieve less tension and pulling on the external skin level sutures, which reduces the chances of stretching and scarring along the donor scar. He closes the donor area by first using internal sutures to pull the subcutaneous tissues beneath the skin together. This takes more time, but is optimal for the patient's healing and comfort, reducing the tension on the surface of the skin so it can be sutured together under minimal tension. The article, “Fundamentals of Artistic Hair Restoration: The Donor / Demand Ratio,” has more information on this topic.

3. Determining proper density and achieving the necessary harvest yield - Determining what density is necessary to achieve the patient's desired results is essential in order to begin designing the dimensions of the donor tissue area to be harvested. Dr. Arocha gently separates the follicles in the donor strip away from the underlying donor area using forceps to minimize the chance of transecting the precious donor follicles along the edge of the donor strip. More information is available in the article, "Hair Transplant Fundamentals: Planning and Harvesting the Donor Tissue."

4. Careful attention to the recipient sites - Dr. Arocha describes the hair transplant procedure as "painting with hair." Like all artists, Dr. Arocha spends considerable time planning. This ensures the end result is appropriate for the patient's age and gender. For instance, it would be unnatural for a middle aged man to have the hairline of a teenager. Even men who do not have male pattern baldness experience some receding at the temples -- so the design takes these factors and others into account. The article, “Artistic Hair Restoration Basics“ has more information on this topic as does the video below.

5. Optimal handling of the donor tissue - To minimize the time the donor tissue and follicles are out of the body, Dr. Arocha typically extracts one section of donor tissue at a time. Individual strands of hair follicular units will be carefully removed and prepared to be surgically implanted in the areas recommended by Dr. Arocha.

6. Expedient and careful placing of the grafts - Tiny incisions will be made in the scalp and the harvested hair strands will be gently inserted into these small incisions. The incisions need to be made with careful attention to both angle and direction, which Arocha Hair Restoration believes are the most critical aspects of artistic hair restoration. Over time and after thousands of hair transplant procedures, Doctor Arocha has developed a sense that allows him to envision the outcomes of placing a hair follicle into a particular place and at a particular angle. The goal is to achieve naturally occurring angles that allow the hair to lie naturally.

The hair restoration process can take from 6 to 8 hours to complete. Once the hair restoration process is completed, the scalp is allowed to heal. In about one week tiny scabs will form and begin to fall from the incisions. The scalp will return to its normal look and feel and patients are free to resume their normal lifestyle and activities.

The maximal medical hair restoration component is achieved through the use of combination medical therapies. In the hands of an experienced hair restoration surgeon, these techniques ensure excellent results that developed gradually over the course of 6 to 12 months.

19-May-11 4:00 PM

Hair Restoration Expert Dr. Bernardino Arocha Says Houston Hairlines Point to Stronger Economy

Dan Keeney - noemail@arochahairrestoration.com — Wed, 04 May 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Strong demand for cosmetic procedures such as hair transplants a leading indicator of economic strength

HOUSTON, May 4, 2011 – Houston Hair Restoration expert, Dr. Bernardino Arocha of Arocha Hair Restoration (www.arochahairrestoration.com), says Houston’s hairlines are indicating the rebound in the economy is for real. Dr. Arocha works with patients experiencing hair loss, offering a range of hair restoration treatments, including hair transplants, and says his practice is growing like a bouffant. Strong demand is a clear sign that men and women are feeling more confident financially and want that confidence reflected in their appearance as well.

Between 2008, when the economy hit bottom, and the end of 2010, Arocha Hair Restoration nearly doubled the number of procedures performed. This outpaces what is happening nationally as well. According to recently released statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), more than 1.6 million Americans underwent cosmetic surgery procedures last year, an increase of nearly nine percent compared to 2009.

“There was so much uncertainty in 2008 and 2009, but now people are feeling more secure and are ready to do something for themselves,” said Dr. Arocha. “Another thing we’ve heard from patients is that procedures such as hair restoration, which provide a youthful appearance, can make them more attractive to employers in a job market that does not typically regard age as an asset.”

A 2009 study by The Cleveland Clinic charted a direct correlation between demand for cosmetic surgery and trends in the three major U.S. stock market indexes, the Dow, S&P 500 and NASDAQ.

Dr. Arocha also reports that Houston is seeing a major gender shift with a rapidly growing number of females who are experiencing hair loss choosing to restore their appearance through a hair transplant. Currently, women make up approximately 20 percent of Arocha Hair Restoration patients, and that number is growing rapidly. Nationwide, according to the ASPS, women made up approximately 30 percent of hair transplant patients, which was an increase of 20 percent from 2009. Overall, nearly 19,000 hair transplants were performed in 2010, an increase of seven percent from 2009.

About Arocha Hair Restoration

Led by Bernardino Arocha, M.D., Arocha Hair Restoration offers patients in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and throughout Texas and the United States a full range of hair restoration options including state-of-the-art hair transplant surgery and medications that promote hair growth. Arocha Hair Restoration uses advanced technology and a sophisticated hair restoration procedure to restore receding hairlines and crowns using the patient's native hair. Recovery is fast and results last a lifetime, are completely natural and usually undetectable. For more information, visit www.dallashairloss.com or www.arochahairrestoration.com.

4-May-11 8:00 AM

Arocha Hair Restoration Articles RSS Feed

Which is better FUE or FUT?

More Happy Patients Tell Their Stories

Couldn't be Happier!