Dilworth Facial Plastic Surgery

Restore Confidence and a Full Head of Hair

Nearly one out of every five people in the United States experiences some form of hair loss. Many people lose their hair their hair due to genetics, and the problem usually occurs during the aging process. In rarer cases, young men and women may develop early hair loss in their later teenage years or early twenties. Some people lose hair due to medical conditions, like autoimmune diseases, stress-related disorders, and vitamin and nutrient deficiencies. Less commonly, injury to the scalp, like a burn, can permanently damage hair follicles leading to hair loss that cannot regrow on its own. Once half or more of a person’s hair volume has gone, thinning is visually apparent.

Hair Loss Treatments | Charlotte, NC

Hair loss can age a person’s looks, and it makes some people feel the need to the cover their head with hats or cut and color their hair into styles that help camouflage thinning and balding. Because partners Dr. Andrea Garcia and Dr. Josh Surowitz believe that people should dictate their looks and not the other way around, the Dilworth Facial Plastic Surgery practice in Charlotte, NC offers some of the best modern solutions available to treat hair loss.

The Science behind Hair Loss

Hair is formed from cells of keratin, which is a protein found in the human body. As hair grows from the scalp, the collection of older cells is pushed out by new keratin cells, forming a strand of hair. The process of keratin cell generation is cyclical and produces hair growth at the rate of about half an inch a month. A healthy head of hair consists of up to 150,000 strands of hair that sheds about 100 hairs every day. Hair loss patients may notice that the rate of daily loss is accelerated and new hairs may not regrow from the follicles

The hair growth cycle occurs in four phases where hair grows (anagen), stops growing (catagen), the scalp releases the hair (exogen), and the follicle rests until there is new hair growth (telogen). Factors that shorten the hair growth phase, such as medical conditions and lifestyle choices, cause hairs to grow in shorter and thinner in a process known as miniaturization. If this continues, the hairs can ultimately be lost. A chemical of the body, DHT, can impact the hair follicle and prevent the normal cycle of hair production and growth. DHT is what testosterone converts to, and can actually cause the hair follicle to decrease in size. The most prevalent forms of hair loss, which are male and female pattern baldness and alopecia, are at least partially attributed to DHT’s effect on the hair follicles

Dr. Garcia and Dr. Surowitz are passionate about hair restoration. During your consultation, they will review your unique individual needs and help tailor a hair restoration treatment plan best suited to deliver the results you desire. Choices for surgical restoration include the “strip” procedure, which makes use of follicular unit transplant (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE).

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) in Charlotte, NC

Hair loss, which can range from minor to severe, occurs in both men and women. Androgenic alopecia, or pattern baldness, is generally gender-specific due to hormonal imbalances in the sexes. Male pattern baldness tends to affect the hairline and crown leading to a thinning or near-bald scalp, while women tend to retain their hairlines but will have associated thinning in the crown. There are a number of solutions for hair loss, including topical medications like minoxidil, oral medications such as finasteride, and cosmetic treatment plans to restore hair to the head. Hair restoration surgery provides hair loss patients with fuller heads of hair-permanently. Dr. Andrea Garcia and Dr. Josh Surowitz are an expert plastic surgery team specializing in follicular unit extraction (FUE) at Dilworth Facial Plastic Surgery in Charlotte, NC.

Follicular Unit Extraction | Charlotte, NC

What is an FUE?

Follicular unit extraction is a hair restoration procedure that uses a “punch” method to extract a single hair follicle from the scalp so it can be grafted to a location of hair loss or decreasing hair density. The vertical motion preserves the surrounding skin, ensuring the components of the new hair are not damaged during the transplant process. During this procedure, hairs may be collected from different parts of the tscalp in a distributed fashion. Finer hairs than tend to grow at the nape of the neck may be used to create the “baby” hairs found in a natural hairline. There are various techniques utilized to ensure the most natural-looking results. After the harvesting portion of the procedure, the recipient site is prepped for transplant. Through the same punch method use to extract the hair follicle and hair, the skin is removed from the site so the new follicles can be strategically implanted.

Performing FUE with FUT

Hair restoration techniques may be part of a more inclusive treatment plan to ensure the best aesthetic outcome. FUE, the punch method of hair restoration can be performed alongside FUT (follicular unit transplantation), the strip method, to tailor the treatment plan to a patient’s specific needs. Depending on a patient’s remaining viable hair, both forms of hair transplant could be the best solution for his or her case. FUE may also be paired with PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections or topical application, LLLT (low-level laser therapy) for hair growth, or medications to address the cause of the hair loss.

Charlotte’s hair transplant experts, Andrea Garcia, M.D. and Josh Surowitz, M.D. are North Carolina-educated, board-certified plastic surgeons. The doctors share the same philosophies when it comes to patient care, and generally work as a team of two. Patients can feel at ease knowing that both highly skilled surgeons are present in the operating room.

Combining FUT and FUE Methods for Hair Transplant
Follicular unit transplant can be combined with follicular unit excision (FUE) when incorporating these two methods will result in the best aesthetic outcome. The single unit excision allows the doctors to harvest hair from other areas of the scalp that may not be possible through the traditional strip method. Finer hairs at the hairline and smaller areas of thinning or balding can be treated with the single-unit FUE method.

The doctors utilize the latest developments in medical technology, and skillfully deliver consistent cosmetic results. From non-surgical treatments to reconstructive surgeries, the doctors offer a single setting for a patient’s every need when it comes to facial plastics.

Follicular Unit Transplants (FUT) in Charlotte, NC

A full head of hair is a symbol of youth and good health, and hair loss can cause unwanted changes to a person’s appearance, resulting in self-consciousness and a loss of confidence. While hair loss is generally a cosmetic condition, there may be underlying medical issues that result in thinning and balding of the scalp. Medical doctors can assess a person’s health, and may then refer the patient to a plastic surgeon for further intervention. One of the most effective surgeries available today for hair transplantation is follicular unit transplant(FUT), where a patient’s hair own hair is relocated to an area of loss. The surgical team at the Charlotte, NC  practice, Dilworth Facial Plastic Surgery, Andrea Garcia, M.D. and Josh Surowitz, M.D., collaborate to expertly perform follicular unit transplants.

Follicular Unit Transplant | Charlotte, NC

What is an FUT?

A follicular unit transplant is a surgical procedure where a strip of skin containing a healthy hair supply is removed from the scalp, and the hairs are prepared and transferred to areas with less hair. This procedure is sometimes referred to as the “strip method,” because hair is harvested from an actual strip of skin removed from the scalp. The tissue is typically excised from the back of the head, sometimes spanning to the sides of the scalp, since hair in these locations often resists the hormonal changes that lead to thinning and loss. The hairs undergo microscopic dissection to prepare them for implantation. FUT is considered a more traditional method of hair restoration, and has been performed successfully for years.

Compared to other methods of surgical hair restoration, the biggest benefit of undergoing FUT is that several hairs can be placed at a time, and the results offer natural-looking improvement. A larger amount of hair is available during FUT surgery, and the doctors may be able to transplant more hairs that are of higher quality during the procedure. The treatment is more extensive, and can achieve results during a single procedure.

Charlotte facial plastic surgeons, Dr. Andrea Garcia and Dr. Josh Surowitz offer a unique approach to patient care. The doctors operate together during many patient surgeries and partner together on other treatment plans. Each doctor holds two board certifications and brings years of education, training, and experience to the practice