OC NeoGraft© Surgical Treatment

Irvine Institute of Medicine and Cosmetic Surgery(IIMCS) Surgical Treatment for Hair Loss.

At the IIMCS we perform the traditional STRIP procedure as well as automatic FUE using the NeoGraft device. Dr. Williams is our primary surgeon and he intimately participates in all surgical phases (pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative) of our patients hair transplantation experience. In other words, unlike most surgical offices and facilities where a surgical technician performs the entire surgical procedure, Dr. Williams performs the entire procedure and is assisted by his clinical staff who possess over forty years of hair transplant surgery.

Traditional Strip surgery

The Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) or Strip technique is currently the major surgical treatment procedure used by hair restoration surgeons according to a 2011 survey by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS). At our surgical facility located in the beautiful city of Irvine, Orange County, we perform this surgery technique using the Trichophytic closure technique and PRP therapy for our patients who do not meet the criteria for FUE or who desire a less expensive procedure.

Actual Patient- The initial incision	Actual Patient-After the Donor strip is removed
Actual Patient-Suturing the skin edges together	Actual patient-Slivering of the donor strip into individual follicles

Automatic FUE with NeoGraft

Our office specializes in FUE technique and our surgeon in 2009 was one of the first surgeons in the United States to begin using the automated FUE device, NeoGraft. Automated FUE with NeoGraft is the least invasive method of hair restoration surgery and is a generally better tolerated surgical experience. With FUE there is no excision of a donor linear strip from the scalp. Thus there are no sutures, staples, or linear donor scar. Automated FUE compared to the manual technique, reduces the surgical time and increase the harvested hair grafts. There is nominal bleeding and decrease risk of complications.

A known outcome of FUE surgery is the potential of hypopigmented lesions where the follicular units are removed from the donor site. FUE has been called "scarless" in the past, but this term refers to the lack of a linear donor scar and not tissue changes in the donor site. In fact, in some patient's donor site there are areas resembling hypopigmented "freckles." But in many patients these hypopigmented lesions don't exist or are barely visible in the donor site even when the hair is cut to less than 1mm. The rate of hypopigmented lesions in the donor site varies from one patient to another and there no tests available that predicts this hypopigmentation. Genetics, cell and tissue health play an important role in this phenomenon.

Using the automated FUE device, hair follicles are individually removed with a 0.8mm or 1.0mm diameter punch. At IIMCS, the follicles from the back of the head are safely stored in Hypothermasol and PRP before the are subsequently reinserted in balding areas of the scalp. Our office uses the traditional hand placement technique by experienced technicians.

The placement of the follicles are based on the cosmetic priorities of the patient and consultation with Dr. Williams. The hair follicles from the posterior or back portion of the scalp are chosen because it is considered the "safe or stable" area. The follicles at this site are genetically programmed to remain healthy and thick for a person's entire lifetime. These follicles do not miniaturize or fall out unlike the hair follicles on the top of the head.

Our patients have the option during the procedure to watch television, listen to music, or have a casual conversation with the surgeon and surgical team. The surgical procedure is virtually a painless procedure aside from the initial injection of local anesthesia. The procedure is typically performed with oral sedation to help the patient relax.

Automated FUE with NeoGraft leaves no visible linear donor scar and eliminates the fear of people seeing a scar at the back of the scalp. As early as three (3) days postoperatively there is minimal perception that a surgical procedure has been performed. There are no staples of sutures to remove and the donor site heals naturally.

Recipient Ste three (3) days Post-Op with NeoGraft

A complication sometimes seen with the STRIP surgery is a feeling the scalp is too tight from the suturing together of the scalp. Compared to NeoGraft nerve pain or damage to major blood vessels has not been reported in the medical literature. The post operative care after NeoGraft is much easier.

Donor site three (3) days post op	Well healed donor site six (6) days post op
Donor site twenty-one (21) days post op

Few Hair Surgeons Perform Automated FUE

Very few doctors offer a manual or automated FUE for hair restoration because it is more time consuming and costly. Also, many doctors are not willing to train in the FUE procedure, especially if they have a busy practice doing STRIP surgeries. In promoting automated FUE with NeoGraft we do speak judgmentally about our surgical colleagues. Rather, we view our efforts as promoting new and better surgical techniques that patients demand.

Many doctors try to discourage their patients from an FUE hair transplant by speaking of the transection rate of an FUE transplant but fail to point out that with a STRIP surgery hundreds of follicles are transected when a piece of scalp is cut out. Furthermore, follicles may be damaged when suturing the scalp together. In addition, the scalp has to be cut into small units to be given to several technicians who will then separate the follicles to prepare them for transplantation.

Ideally, the transection rate should be between 3-5 percent of hair restoration surgery. Our rates our very comparable and in some procedures the transection rate is much better. All hair restoration procedures may damage the follicles depending on the skill of the surgeons and technicians. Antagonists of FUE point out in FUE hair transplant the follicles have to be pulled, twisted and squeezed in order to extract them. Automated FUE with NeoGraft eliminates this problem because of the technology built into the NeoGraft device. With NeoGraft there is no twisting, pulling and squeezing of the follicles as NeoGraft applies just the right amount of pneumatic pressure (suction) to allow for easy removal of the hair follicle.

Over 8000 transplants have been done to date in Europe and Asia with excellent results. It is a simple procedure for men and women who want to restore their youthful appearance.

Sample NeoGraft Case

Norton Grade 5 patient received 2380 grafts by means of automated FUE with NeoGraft.

Pre-Op Photo	Recipient Site Three (3) Day
Recipient site three (3) days post-op	Three (3) Months Weeks post-op
Three (3) Months Weeks post-op

 

Home

Our Services

Contact Us