Hair Restoration

What types of surgical hair restoration procedures are available?

Hair loss due to male and female pattern baldness typically affects the crown, or top of the head and the hairline. A transplant procedure uses hair from the back of the head, which is resistant to the hormones that cause hair loss. These hair follicles typically produce hair which is thicker, stronger, and healthier. During transplant surgery, the surgeon will isolate these follicular units and then precisely place the grafts into balding and thinning areas.

Hair transplant surgeons use two techniques to treat hair loss: FUE and follicular unit transplantation, or FUT. The two differ mainly in the way that the hair follicles are harvested. During FUT surgery, a strip of skin is taken from the back of the scalp. During FUE, small circular punches (smaller than one millimeter) are used to remove the most superficial layers of tissue. Since FUE is minimally invasive, the technique results in less pain during and after the transplant, a lower risk of complications, and negligible scarring.

Robotic surgery sounds expensive. Is it really that different?

Manual FUE techniques using handheld devices already offered a vast improvement over FUT, or strip surgery. But Dr. Galitzin has invested in the ARTAS Robotic system, the only technology of its kind to be approved by the FDA, for several reasons:

Like any type of surgery, surgical hair restoration does involve some degree of risk. If patients settle for a poorly trained practitioner, they are more likely to suffer from rare but serious side effects including infection in the donor or treatment site, numbness of the scalp, and prolonged pain or bleeding. In extreme cases, the grafts might be rejected altogether. It also goes without saying that a lack of training or trusted methods can result in extremely unnatural-looking results.

Dr. Galitzin is trained and certified to provide treatment with the ARTAS Robotic System. His unique background and specialization have helped many patients restore their hair.

We understand that some people suffering from hair loss are disappointed to hear it could take a substantial amount of time–several months or even up to a year–in order to see new hair growth and real results. Many men and women still turn to wigs and there is no denying that custom, quality hairpieces can be incredibly lifelike. Women, in particular, can also find satisfying results from tinted cosmetic sprays designed to temporarily fill in areas of the scalp.

It is important to keep in mind that some types of hair loss, such as alopecia areata, may naturally resolve within a year or so. The only way to determine whether a hair transplant or other type of restoration is right for you is to meet with a qualified doctor.