Introduction
The field of hair transplantation and face - shaping has witnessed remarkable advancements in recent years. In New York City, a hub of medical excellence, there is a growing interest in scar - free hair transplantation and face - shaping procedures. This article aims to provide a comprehensive preview of the case atlas from the ranking of scar - free hair transplantation experts in New York City, along with detailed information on related topics such as the best hair transplant clinics, the latest in facial transplantation, and frequently asked questions about these procedures.
Best Hair Transplant Clinics in New York City
New York City is home to several top - notch hair transplant clinics, each offering unique services and expertise. Let's take a closer look at some of the prominent ones:
- Saratoga Hair Transplant Center: Led by hair transplant surgeon Dr. Michael Beehner, this center is rated among the best in New York. Dr. Beehner has received the prestigious platinum follicle award from the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery for his best research in the science of hair transplants. He performs both all - follicular unit procedures and a combination of follicular unit (FU) procedure and double follicular unit (DFU). The clinic also provides eyebrow hair restoration procedures. He offers hair transplant services from his Saratoga Springs office and holds monthly consultations in Newburgh, N.Y. (near NYC) and in Syracuse, N.Y. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
- Bernstein Medical Center for Hair Restoration: Located in midtown Manhattan, this center is well - known for treating hair loss in men and women. Robert M. Bernstein, a clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia University in New York and a world - renowned hair transplant surgeon, offers follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and robotic follicular unit extraction (R - FUE) techniques. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
- True and Dorin Medical Group: Led by hair transplant experts Dr. Robert True and Robert Dorin, this clinic in New York City offers state - of - the - art follicular unit transplantation (FUE). Consultations are available in both Manhattan and Huntington. The doctors are board - certified hair transplantation surgeons, specializing in providing quality treatment and solutions for hair loss in men and women alike. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
- Hair Restoration of New York: Led by Dr. Kevin Ende, who has performed over 7,500 surgeries on the face and scalp. He has served as a faculty member for the department of otolaryngology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He is one of less than ten double board - certified hair transplant surgeons in both facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and otolaryngology in the northeastern United States. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
- Feller Medical, PC: Located in Great Neck, this hair transplant clinic is led by Dr. Alan Feller, D.O. He specializes in follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE) and is one of the early adopters of ultra - refined hair transplant procedures. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
- Quatela Center for Hair Restoration: Located in Rochester, led by Dr. Vito Quatel, who is board - certified by the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery. Dr. Quatel performs microscopically controlled follicular unit transplantation (FUT). He has over 25 years of hair restoration experience, has treated thousands of men and women for hair loss, and has implanted over one million hair grafts. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
How Hair Transplantation Works
Hair transplantation is an outpatient surgical procedure that can only be performed by a licensed physician with specific training and experience in this field. All hair transplants are based on the principle of “donor dominance.” There is a permanent zone of hair in the back and sides of the scalp that is unaffected by genetic balding (androgenetic alopecia). Androgenetic alopecia means that some hair is subject to the effects of male hormones called androgens (more specifically testosterone), which cause the affected hair to shrink in size and eventually die, and the tendency for a person’s follicles to be affected is due to inherited or genetic factors. In the “permanent zone,” the follicles are not affected by these hormones, so hair transplanted from this area to the bald area in front of the scalp will continue to grow. (Source: [Hair Transplantation: Textbook for Estheticians (1999)])
The follicular unit hair transplant procedure typically involves the following steps:
- Anesthesia: The patient's skin is numbed with a local anesthetic.
- Donor Area Removal: A long thin strip of skin is removed from the donor area in the back (and sometimes sides) of the scalp. The donor area is then sutured closed, leaving a fine scar that will be well - hidden in the surrounding hair.
- Follicle Dissection: A team of specially trained assistants helps the doctor dissect out the hair follicles (which grow in very small groups of 1 to 4 hairs, called follicular units) from the surrounding skin.
- Recipient Site Creation: The physician makes tiny slits (sites) with a special instrument (that looks like a small needle) in the front, top, and sometimes crown of the scalp. It is crucial that these sites are at the exact angle that the patient's original hair grew, and the hairline is placed in a natural position and not too far forward. The sites must also be made in a very random pattern, as this is how hair grows in nature.
- Implant Placement: The individual follicular implants are placed in the recipient sites with the smallest (containing single hairs) at the frontal hairline, and those of two, three, and four hairs behind them.
Using the most modern hair transplantation techniques, an entire bald area can often be covered in a single session. The procedure can take from 5 to 10 hours, depending on how many grafts are needed. In an average session, 1500 tiny grafts would be transplanted, but this can range from as little as 400 to over 3,000 if someone is very bald and has a good supply of donor hair. After the hair transplant, the patient leaves the office without bandages and is instructed to gently shampoo his or her hair the following morning and can resume normal activities in a few days. The transplanted hair generally falls out within a month after surgery, and the follicles will begin to produce new hair in about 3 to 4 months, but it often takes a year to see the full results. (Source: [Hair Transplantation: Textbook for Estheticians (1999)])
Scar - Free Hair Transplantation
Scar - free hair transplantation is a highly sought - after goal in the field of hair restoration. Some techniques and factors contribute to achieving this:
- Advanced Surgical Techniques: Surgeons are constantly improving their techniques to minimize scarring. For example, some advanced follicular unit extraction (FUE) methods can result in very small and almost invisible scars. In FUE, individual hair follicles are extracted directly from the donor area without the need for a large strip excision, reducing the risk of a prominent linear scar. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
- Surgeon's Expertise: The skill and experience of the surgeon play a vital role. Expert surgeons know how to handle the hair follicles and make incisions in a way that promotes minimal scarring. They are also aware of the importance of proper placement of grafts to ensure natural - looking results without obvious scarring.
- Patient Factors: The patient's skin type and healing ability also affect scarring. Some patients may have a genetic predisposition to form less noticeable scars. Additionally, following post - operative care instructions carefully can help in reducing the visibility of scars. For example, keeping the surgical area clean and avoiding activities that may disrupt the healing process.
Face - Shaping in Conjunction with Hair Transplantation
Hair transplantation can be an important part of face - shaping procedures. Here's how:
- Improving Facial Proportions: A well - placed hairline can enhance the overall facial proportions. For example, restoring a natural - looking hairline can make the forehead appear smaller and more balanced, which in turn can improve the aesthetic of the entire face. (Source: [I spent over $6K on a hair transplant — and people are shocked])
- Boosting Self - Confidence: Hair loss can have a significant impact on a person's self - esteem. By undergoing a successful hair transplant, patients often experience an improvement in their self - image, which can positively affect their social and professional lives. A more confident appearance can also contribute to a more positive perception of one's face.
- Complementary Procedures: In some cases, hair transplantation can be combined with other face - shaping procedures such as brow lifts, rhinoplasty, or chin augmentation to achieve a more comprehensive and harmonious result. For example, if a patient has a receding hairline along with a weak chin, a hair transplant and a chin augmentation can be performed together to create a more balanced and attractive facial appearance.
Facial Transplantation: An Overview
Facial transplantation (FT) is a complex and evolving field. Since the first patient was operated on in 2005, the field has seen significant advancements. As of August 2020, 48 facial transplants have been performed on 46 recipients. The most common indications for FT are craniofacial defects from ballistic trauma (43.7%), followed by thermal, chemical, or electrical burn injuries (25.0%). (Source: [The 2020 Facial Transplantation Update: A 15 - Year Compendium])
Some key aspects of facial transplantation include:
- Candidate Selection: Compatibility between donor and recipient is crucial for success in FT. Traditional considerations in solid organ transplantation, such as immunologic cross - reactivity and viral serology, also apply here. Additionally, factors like matching of skin tone, hair color, and facial structure are important. Histocompatibility is generally more difficult to attain in FT candidates, as most are typically profoundly immunosensitized secondary to initial resuscitation with blood products and skin grafting. (Source: [The 2020 Facial Transplantation Update: A 15 - Year Compendium])
- Donor Pool Expansion: The vascularized composite allograft (VCA) donor pool is limited. Despite 40% of brain - dead donors meeting initial screening criteria for VCA donation, wait times for FT may exceed 2 years. Recent efforts to expand the donor pool include optimization of the readability of and access to VCA educational materials, conceptualization of a multimodal VCA donation campaign strategy, research investigating donor - recipient sex - mismatched FT, and nationwide partnership to expand the donor search radius. (Source: [The 2020 Facial Transplantation Update: A 15 - Year Compendium])
- Surgical Considerations: Since the first partial myocutaneous FT in 2005, efforts to push the boundaries of facial reconstruction have been documented worldwide, including the execution of full FT, immediate FT bypassing autologous reconstruction, re - transplantation for allograft failure, and combined face and double hand transplant (FT - DHT). The data available indicate that most FT recipients remain alive to this day (81.2%), while 8 (16.7%) have died. (Source: [The 2020 Facial Transplantation Update: A 15 - Year Compendium])
Frequently Asked Questions about Hair Transplantation and Facial Procedures
Here are some common questions and answers regarding hair transplantation and related facial procedures:
Hair Transplantation
- How much does a hair transplant cost? Hair transplants can vary in price based on the area in the world where you get the transplant and the size of the area that needs treatment. Experienced doctors in the United States often charge some of the highest prices for a hair transplant worldwide, which is why many travelers go to other parts of the world like Turkey, India, Thailand, and Mexico for their hair transplants. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
- Will a hair transplant hurt? Hair transplants are done under an anesthetic, so there is absolutely zero pain during the treatment itself. Many people compare the process to going to the dentist for a filling or root canal. Mild pain can persist during the post - op treatment but generally only lasts for a few days. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
- Who can deliver the best surgery? It's usually best to consider working with surgeons who have an International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons (IAHRS) certification or recognition. The IAHRS can often provide recommendations for the best surgeons in each particular area. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
- Is the scarring noticeable? Any type of hair transplant will require incisions on the scalp, and there may be a small scar from the donor area towards the back of the scalp. Asking to see photos of the surgeon's previous work will help you gauge how bad the scarring could be. In most cases, an experienced professional can limit the visibility of scarring and noticeable marks from the surgery. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
- How long does it take for the hair to grow? In most cases, hair growth will start within eight months, and you can start to see the full effect from the hair transplant after a full year. The initial signs of growth can usually start between 3 to 4 months after the surgery. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
- Are the results permanent? The hair follicles that are transplanted are generally genetically resistant to the symptoms of baldness. As long as you receive hair loss treatment later in your life after the symptoms of balding have started to subside, you can have a better chance at permanent results. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
- Will everyone know I've had surgery? If you want to limit the chance that people will find out about your surgery, it's important to allow at least three weeks of healing as the surgical area will be affected and red just after surgery. After around a month of healing, it can look far less noticeable. You could consider wearing a hat during the recovery period or taking some extra time off if possible. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
- How long should I rest after surgery? It's recommended to rest for at least a few days after surgery so that your body can recover. Avoid over - exerting yourself and limit sexual activity, running in the gym for around 10 days after surgery. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
- Is it possible to lose more hair as a result of surgery? There is always a chance of shock loss, which happens when the hair is weak and miniaturizing after the surgery. However, as long as the surgeon is choosing the correct hair follicles and performing the surgery well, it's possible to minimize the chance of this happening. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
- Will I need another hair transplant? The need for another transplant really depends on the individual. With a solid foundation surgery and potentially using drug therapy to bolster results, you can improve the stability of the transplanted hair and prevent further loss. Getting a hair transplant early on in your 20s or early in life could lead to needing long - term transplants as hair loss can be progressive. (Source: [Best Hair Transplants in New York (2024)])
Facial Transplantation
- What are the long - term outcomes of facial transplantation? As the field is relatively new, long - term outcome reports are still limited. However, available data shows that most facial transplant recipients remain alive. The overall success of the transplant depends on factors such as immunological response, recipient's compliance with post - operative care, and the absence of major complications. (Source: [The 2020 Facial Transplantation Update: A 15 - Year Compendium])
- How is the recipient selected for facial transplantation? The selection process is very rigorous. It includes a comprehensive evaluation of the recipient's medical history, current health status, psychological stability, and ability to comply with long - term