At The Krochmal Center for Plastic Surgery
Watch the explanation of why we lose hair where we do, and how we can reestablish your hairline in a natural-appearing fashion through transplantation and restoration.
Dr. Daniel Krochmal, MD, FACS answers your most common questions about Hair Restoration.
Hair Restoration (also known as a Hair Transplant) is a very precise procedure that over the years has become less and less invasive. When artistically done by an experienced team, it looks completely natural and is virtually impossible to detect.
Hair restoration has become a very easy, safe surgical procedure that works on both men and women who are experiencing thinning or complete hair loss or baldness.
There are two techniques that are used today that will move hair “from the backyard to the front yard” — or from the back of the head to the front and top of the head. FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) is the newest technology and provides a spectacular result because the follicles are extracted one hair (or follicle) at a time. This technique is essentially non-invasive and the postop recovery is quite quick and comfortable for the patient. FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant), also known as the “strip method”, was the classic technique that most patients chose to use in the 1990’s and up to about 2014. Today it is only used on special cases for specific reasons.
Hair restoration is a wonderful procedure for anyone from 18 to 80 years old, and provides phenomenal results for both men and women. Basically, it’s usually a great option for anybody who is bothered by hair loss (because if hair loss is on your mind, it’s because it’s not on your head). Are you a man with thinning hair who doesn’t want to become bald? Are you bald and do not want to go through life looking older than you are? Are you a woman suffering from Female Pattern Hair Loss? Are you bothered by a patchy beard or over-tweezed eyebrows? FUE Hair Restoration is something you should look into further.
If you don’t have enough hair in your donor area, or have expectations that cannot be achieved, then Hair Restoration may not be the best option for you. On occasion we can use hair from other parts of your body (such as the neck or back) to compensate for a lack of hair at the usual donor site, so if you have been turned down from other hair restoration centers, you may want to see us for another opinion.
The procedure is usually 4.5-6.5 hours for hair restoration for the scalp. The procedure can be shorter for smaller areas such as restoring eyebrows.
Hair Restoration typically uses local anesthesia (Lidocaine) that is carefully placed into the areas we will work on to get you good and numb. Some patients also elect to take a pill to reduce anxiety around the time of the procedure. You are awake during the procedure unless you want to take a nap (which happens frequently). Most patients watch movies or just relax and listen to music. Since it can be a long day, we will offer you lunch.
Hair Restoration is permanent! You may continue to lose your native hair in the area, and therefore become thinner, but you will always have thicker hair than you otherwise would have (had you not done the procedure). Some patients elect to have additional grafts placed in areas that previously underwent Hair Restoration for that reason.
The recovery after Hair Restoration is not bad at all. Just sleep with your head elevated for a few days and avoid exertion for a week. We will teach you the best way to shower in order to protect the grafts.
There is no “best” surgeon for any procedure. But, there are some qualifications and credentials that improve the chance that you will achieve your desired result safely. Make sure your doctor is qualified to practice medicine. Make sure the techs helping to harvest and place the grafts are highly experienced. Read their reviews to get a sense of what other patients have experienced. Check out their before/after pictures to get a sense of their technical and artistic style.
And most importantly, schedule a consultation with that doctor to see if they are a good “fit” for you. Every doctor has his or her own personality and approach to patient care, so you will want to see if you like that particular approach. Do they inspire confidence and trust? Are they calming and reassuring? Do they take the time to answer your questions? Do they discuss alternative approaches and say why those approaches may or may not work? Do they seem like they will continue to care for you after the procedure? Do they offer other services to help you achieve your desired results?
There is no “Best Hair Restoration Doctor”, but there is a “best” doctor for you. You just may need to consult with several to find the right one. Hopefully Dr. Krochmal is on your “short list” of Chicago and Hinsdale plastic surgeons to interview. We’re happy to help Shape Your Future!