The hair restoration practice of board-certified plastic surgeon Jeffrey Epstein, MD, FACS, FISHRS, has been rebranded as Foundation Aesthetic Hair Restoration, coinciding with the official launch of the Foundation Aesthetic Hair Restoration Method by Dr. J. Epstein. This method will be introduced across several practices within the Inspire Aesthetics Group, a management services organization (MSO) supporting plastic surgery and aesthetic clinics.

Practice Locations and Providers

The Foundation method will initially be offered at the following locations:

• Inspire Aesthetics (Delray Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Fla) – Dr Daniel Crane
• Garramone Plastic Surgery (Fort Myers, Fla) – Dr Ralph Garramone and Dr Nick Garcia
• Marietta Plastic Surgery (Woodstock and Marietta, Ga) – Dr Atanu Biswas
• McCollough Plastic Surgery (Gulf Shores, Ala) – Dr Carrie L. Morris

The rollout is expected to continue at additional locations across the United States.

Strategic Integration Within MSO

Chanda Fulgium, CEO of Inspire Aesthetics Group, stated the move is part of a broader strategy to diversify service offerings across affiliated practices and attract a wider patient demographic, including more male patients. The group anticipates that providing hair restoration services will offer both clinical and business growth opportunities.

Training and Technique

The method, developed by Epstein includes techniques such as No-Shave FUE, body hair transplantation, and specialized procedures for female patients. Surgeons offering the service are board-certified and hand-selected by Epstein. Training focuses on advanced aesthetic outcomes, minimally invasive techniques, and personalized treatment planning.

Background on the Method

Epstein, a facial plastic surgeon with decades of experience in hair restoration, designed the Foundation method to emphasize individualized care, natural-looking outcomes, and continuity in surgical excellence. The approach is intended to standardize quality and expand access to high-level hair restoration services across a network of qualified providers.

Photo: ID 355712512 | Ai © Tatsiana Kuryanovich | Dreamstime.com

Plastic Surgery Practice: How have you observed societal perceptions of hair restoration evolve over the years?  

Anil Shah, MD, FACS: I think when hair restoration first started, it was not a well-regarded procedure. The standard practice resulted in either a “plugged” look, where the hair grafts appeared obvious, or bizarre flaps that are rarely used today, such as the Juri flap. With the Juri flap, the hair pattern was altered, making it resemble a toupee. However, as with many things, a better understanding of anatomy has allowed hair restoration to achieve a more natural look.

Surgeons began using smaller grafts called follicular units. Furthermore, as evidenced by many celebrities, a properly planned hairline can make someone look significantly younger and frame the face in a way that enhances attractiveness and youthfulness. With advancements in technology, the use of robotics has further revolutionized hair restoration, enabling precise planning, harvesting, and even site-making for patients.

PSP: What are the differences between follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT), and why might one be preferred over the other?

Shah: FUT is commonly known as strip surgery. This is where a linear scar is made on the back of the head to harvest hair. This surgery has received a bad reputation due to rogue surgeons who may not use proper techniques. With proper facial plastic techniques, the scar from the harvested hair can look like a very thin line, imperceptible in a patient with hair longer than 2 mm.

For those patients who wish to have a shorter hairstyle, FUE may play a role. FUE is where hair is harvested individually from the back of the head. This is sometimes known as scarless hair harvesting. However, this is also a misnomer, as patients can have small marks of hypopigmentation. In addition, hair can be overharvested, leaving a sparse posterior head of hair. In my practice, I offer both treatments to patients. For patients who wear their hair short, FUE can be advantageous. For patients who have longer hair, FUT may be more beneficial. And for patients with extensive hair loss, they may benefit from a combination of both over multiple sessions.

PSP: What role does PRP therapy play in hair restoration, and who would be the ideal candidate for this treatment? 

Shah: PRP helps supply growth factors to hair. Since hair is considered a non-vital organ, it can undergo permanent death through senescence. PRP provides growth factors that help prevent this premature process. These growth factors “trick” the hair into behaving as though it is younger. Multiple PRP sessions—typically at least six—are often required to see significant results. PRP is an excellent option for addressing female hair loss, early hair loss, and supporting nearly all patients with some degree of hair loss.

PSP: How do nutraceuticals like biotin and medical treatments like finasteride complement surgical hair restoration procedures?  

Shah: Biotin actually plays a very minor role in supporting hair health. Several studies have examined biotin, and its inclusion in hair care products is primarily due to its association with hair rather than strong scientific evidence.

Finasteride, on the other hand, is a powerful DHT blocker. It prevents hair from undergoing premature miniaturization, which can lead to permanent hair loss—a hallmark of androgenic alopecia, the most common cause of hair loss worldwide. Finasteride also has the added benefit of shrinking the prostate and has even been shown to potentially increase lifespan.

However, it’s not all upsides (pun intended). Some men may experience erectile dysfunction, and others may notice a decrease in libido. Choosing the right supplements or pharmaceuticals requires an in-depth conversation with a hair loss specialist to determine the best option for your specific needs.

PSP: Can you elaborate on the potential of emerging treatments like senolytics and red light therapy in combating age-related hair loss?  

Shah: Perhaps the most underrecognized source of hair loss is senescence. Our hair, like all other cells in the body, eventually ages and perishes. Senolytics are among the most exciting advancements in supplements. As we age, our bodies accumulate more “zombie cells”—damaged cells that fail to die off and instead promote aging and degeneration in neighboring cells, much like a rotten apple spoiling the bunch.

Senolytics are supplements and medications that help eliminate these zombie cells. Many of these products are widely available, including on platforms like Amazon. Some of my favorites include fisetin and quercetin. However, there are many other options, many of which I personally use and tailor to each patient to enhance their overall function and, by extension, their hair health.

Photobiomodulation, also known as low-level light therapy, particularly around 660 nm, can be applied to the scalp to encourage hair growth. Red light therapy is effective in reducing oxidative stress, improving mitochondrial function, and offering a range of additional health benefits. However, I find that red light caps can become quite hot and may not penetrate the scalp as effectively as desired. For most of my patients, I recommend red light therapy in the setting of a sauna. Exposing the skin, including the scalp, to red light in this context increases the surface area affected, providing systemic benefits. Hair loss is just one of the many parameters that can be improved. Additionally, saunas offer numerous health benefits, including improved vascular function, enhanced longevity, and overall well-being.

PSP: What advice would you give to someone considering hair restoration but hesitant due to stigma or lack of information? 

Shah: If you are considering hair restoration, you should act now. Once you experience hair loss, no regenerative effort or pharmaceutical supplement will fully restore your lost hair. The best way to treat hair loss is to prevent it. Focus on improving your overall health while addressing your hair at the same time.

If you already have substantial hair loss and are a male, consider undergoing a hair transplant procedure sooner rather than later. By the age of 25, most men’s hair loss patterns and the extent of hair loss become more predictable. Treating hair loss early with smaller procedures and adopting preventative lifestyle changes can help ensure you maintain a full head of hair while also supporting a healthy, fulfilling life.

In addition, the treatment should promote the hair’s own color and density while also improving the scarring, which can allow the healing to appear more organic, Kahen says.

“I have been exclusively implementing SmartPRP during my hair transplant procedures for more than 10 years,” says Kahen. “The infusion of the platelet-rich plasma during the hair transplant process has increased the survival rate of the follicles and expedited the healing process. Patients can expect to see thicker, more voluminous, and most importantly, stronger and healthier hair.”

Smart PRP therapy is a 30-minute inpatient procedure, performed onsite, at Kahen’s practice facility in Beverly Hills, Calif. Patients experience no downtime and can get back to their regular routine upon completion of the treatment.

“Thousands of people from all over the world visit Turkey for top-notch and competitively priced hair-transplant procedures,” Ekrem Keskin, MD, of Istanbul’s Capital Hair Center says. “This has served to make Turkey a leader and provided Turkish doctors with unrivaled experience.”

Keskin is a plastic surgeon who performs hair transplants with an aesthetic vision. He received his training in aesthetic surgery at Cleveland Clinic’s plastic and reconstructive and aesthetic surgery department in Ohio.

Cutting-Edge Techniques

Along with their wide-ranging expertise, Turkish clinics are also known for employing the latest hair-transplantation methods, including scalp analysis and anesthetics to ensure pain-free transplantation procedures.

Capital Hair Center offers patients cutting-edge ozone therapy, which boosts the survival rate of transplanted hair grafts and accelerates the recovery process. “This means patients can return to their daily routines relatively quickly,” Keskin says.

Aesthetic considerations, meanwhile, also represent a crucial component of hair-transplantation. “Patients’ primary motivation is to look younger, healthier and more attractive,” says Keskin, who has received extensive training in facial aesthetics. “After performing a scalp analysis, the center’s experienced staff can determine how many hair grafts are needed, and where. Then we select the placement, frequency and direction of grafts based on a patient’s unique facial type.”

‘Total Holiday Experience’

In the last two years, nearly 2 million foreign tourists came to Turkey for health services. Health expenditures in Turkish tourism increased by 121.5% in the second quarter in 2022. This is largely because Turkey offers more affordable prices than other leading destinations, Keskin says.

“Those visiting Turkey for hair-transplant procedures can also enjoy its historical, cultural, and natural attractions,” says Keskin, “which together make for a total holiday experience.”

There are some effective treatments for hair loss, but nothing gets it done as fast and effective as hair transplants. With today’s technology, the procedure can be painless and easy. However, aftercare is what matters most.

Many plastic surgeons will give out post-surgery instructions, and you would do well to follow them to a T. Read below for more on hair transplants.

Read the full article at usa.inquirer.net

The event, designed to help people who have been victims of botched hair transplant surgeries from fraudulent, illicit clinics, will be held on November 11, 2021.

Fight the FIGHT

Launched by the ISHRS in 2019 in response to concern about the growing risk to patients of unlicensed technicians around the world illegally performing substantial aspects of hair restoration surgery, Fight the FIGHT is an acronym for Fight the Fraudulent, Illicit, and Global Hair Transplants. When performed by a qualified physician, a hair transplant is an excellent procedure for treating hair loss safely and effectively, the ISHRS explains in a media release.

“Clinics using technicians to perform hair restoration surgery pose a severe health risk with serious side effects for patients — including permanent scarring, infection, and depletion from over-harvested donor areas,” said Paul McAndrews, MD, FISHRS, president of the ISHRS. “World Hair Transplant Repair Day was created to raise awareness of this illegal worldwide practice and offer affected patients a means to work with a qualified hair restoration physician to try to correct their poor outcomes.”

— Paul McAndrews, MD, FISHRS, president of the ISHRS

Many clinics around the world promote themselves as hair restoration experts — luring vulnerable patients with cheap prices and false advertising presented with misleading information — but are operating illegally and fraudulently and without the proper knowledge or training. In many cases, physicians do not perform the surgery and delegate the procedures to unlicensed technicians. The results of this illegal, black-market practice are often devastating, ISHRS explains.

“The number of hair transplant surgeries has increased in recent years, but, unfortunately, this also brought about many inexperienced and illegal people to take a role in the industry. Poor planning, bad judgment, and sloppy techniques in hair transplantation will result in an unnatural look, cosmetic defects, and poor hair growth. Due to this fact, a lot of patients have endured unsuccessful and unnatural results, and this still goes on.”

— Dr. Ozgur Oztan, MD, member of the ISHRS Fight the FIGHT Subcommittee

In an effort to help victims of botched hair transplants, those affected can learn more by visiting the campaign website and may have a chance to receive a pro bono restorative hair procedure with an expert member of the ISHRS, the ISHRS release continues.

“Our members are reporting an increasing number of patients coming to their clinics who have been victims of these botched hair transplant surgeries and are desperate for correction. The ISHRS’s World Hair Transplant Repair Day is our way of raising awareness of this growing problem and helping people find solutions with qualified physicians of the ISHRS who have the education and training in the art and science of hair transplantation.”

— Ricardo Mejia, MD, chair of the ISHRS Communications and Public Education Committee

[Source: International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery]

Thinning hair, hair loss, and baldness can sabotage the self-confidence and quality of life of people of all genders and ages. Those who suffer these problems struggle to find the right treatments, like changing shampoos, cutting their hair short, taking supplements, avoid using chemicals on the scalp, etc, to no avail.  One of the reasons for the failure is not tackling the problem at its root cause, especially in the case of genetic hair thinning, and hair loss.

Warning Signs of ‘Unusual Hair Loss’

“Whenever more than 70 to 100 strands of hair fall off each day, that’s a sign of abnormal hair loss.  This needs immediate attention and consultation with dermatologists.

“Normally, you can lose some hair when shampooing, blow-drying, or combing every day.  However, if you encounter unusual hair loss during the day, eg, during meals or walking around at work, that is another sign of abnormality, and you should see a hair-and-scalp specialist. Men have short hair, and it’s hard to notice hair loss during the day.  You should pay attention right after you wake up to see if there is any hair on the pillow.”

— Ratchathorn Panchaprateep, MD, Associate Professor and Head of the Hair and Scalp Center, Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society and lecturer of the Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University

For men, thinning hair, and hereditary hair loss usually starts in the front and recedes into an M-shaped hairline. Some develop a bald patch in the crown that gradually spreads out.  For women, thinning tends to start at where the hair parts, and gradually worsen as time passes.

“Hair thinning and genetic hair loss are different from thinning hair caused by an abnormal immune system (Alopecia Areata) that causes round patches of hair loss the size of a 10-baht coin,” Ratchathorn adds.

Thinning Hair, Hair Loss, and Baldness Cause

Statistically, up to 40% of Thai people have thinning hair, hair loss, and baldness problems, Ratchathorn reveals. The number is on the upward trends every year, with the current environment — stress, weather conditions, and bad diet. Hair problems and baldness can occur in both females and males, but in the latter, the problem starts at a young age and the conditions are more severe than in females. The main causes of hair and scalp problems are as follows:

1. Genetics – Outstanding genes from the father or mother with thinning hair, or scalp problems;
2. During puberty, the male hormone testosterone will stick to the hair follicles, causing both the follicles and the hair to become thinner, and fall off easily;
3. Environmental factors such as stress, sunlight, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, etc., can also be the culprit.  Nowadays, hereditary hair loss is increasingly found in younger people.

Low-Level Laser Therapy – a New Alternative

Currently, there are three popular treatments for genetic hair loss: Taking Finasteride medication to stop testosterone from sticking to the hair follicles and to slow down hair loss; applying Minoxidil topically and continuously to the scalp to plump up and thicken the hair, and hair transplant surgery by transplanting the hair from the denser area. This method is suitable for severe and advanced cases. The advantage of this method is that the hair will last a lifetime, and can be permed, dyed, and washed.  People with hair transplants can engage in any sports activities with confidence.

Recently, low-level laser therapy — a new treatment that is effective with fast results became available. There are two types:

1. Laser cap or comb – the accessories that emit red laser light “Low-level laser therapy (LLLT)” to gently stimulates hair follicle cells. Suitable for those who have thinning hair in the initial to moderate stage, this device is portable and can be used at home. Using this device continuously for 15 minutes a day will strengthen the hair and hair follicles, as well as generate new and thicker hair growth. However, patients should consult their doctor for directions on use, and device type.
2. Low-level laser adapted from the laser used for hair removal. It is a low-energy laser to stimulate the hair follicles all over the scalp.

“This low-level laser therapy is suitable for patients with an early stage of hair loss — ie, with mild to moderate symptoms, but not suitable for those in an advanced stage, or already have baldness. Patients should undergo the therapy continuously at least 5 – 10 times, every 2 weeks. They will start to see the result after the 5th treatment. Clearer results can be seen after 3 months. Patients will have new growth of stronger hair.

“Even though genetic hair loss cannot be cured, the current treatment can extend the hair’s life and scalp health. Most important is to keep your body strong with a healthy diet especially protein, get enough sleep and avoid stress,” Ratchathorn concludes.

[Source(s): Chulalongkorn University, Newswise]

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“It’s great to add a Hair Restoration indication-for-use to our long list of treatment clearances from the FDA. Providing a single device that treats whole body aches and pains, fine lines and wrinkles, and hair loss on the scalp is the ultimate baby-boomer anti-aging device. Now the mature individual interested in feeling and looking great, and retaining their youthful appearance, can have a device at home that meets all of their rejuvenating needs.”

— BioPhotas President and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Johnson

Non-toxic, Non-Invasive, Painless

The Celluma RESTORE is non-toxic, non-invasive, and painless. The device is versatile, convenient, and easy-to-use in both a clinical setting or at home. Celluma’s patented, shape-taking design permits customized placement over the head to effectively deliver light energy and promote hair regrowth. Additionally, the Celluma RESTORE can be placed anywhere on the body to reduce pain and improve skin health. Measuring 16″ x 8″ overall with a treatment area of 14″ x 6″, the Celluma RESTORE can be stored flat in a drawer for convenience and easy access.

“Having just celebrated the 10th anniversary of BioPhotas, it is only appropriate that we receive our 10th indication-for-use clearance from the FDA. The Celluma SERIES now has more regulatory credentials than any other LED device in the world and is legally registered for sale in 78 countries around the globe. We anticipate that the new RESTORE will be available to our U.S. customers in mid-August. The new device is already slated for MDR Tech File review later this summer and should be available in the EU and UK in the 4th quarter.”

— Patrick Johnson

[Source(s): BioPhotas Inc, PR Newswire]

Related Content:
Consumer Interest Grows in Hair Loss Solutions, and the Technologies to Create Better Results
Worldwide Demand for Effective Hair Restoration Procedures Continues to Increase, Per ISHRS Survey
Losing Strands? Get Natural-Looking Results With Hair Transplant Surgery
What Is LED Light Therapy, and Is It Safe for the Skin?

Worldwide, about 60 percent of men and 50 percent of women experience some form of hair loss. Despite its widespread prevalence, hair loss can significantly impact self-esteem and confidence. Furthermore, hair loss is primarily caused by a combination of factors that are oftentimes out of our control: aging, family history of baldness, and changes in hormones.

Today, it’s possible to have natural-looking results from hair restoration thanks to significant advances in hair transplant surgery, which has become one of the most exciting and innovative fields in aesthetic surgery. Its effectiveness and ability to produce very natural-looking results have encouraged many balding men and women to opt for this surgical solution.

Read the full article at hauteliving.com

Hair plugs are obsolete and are no longer performed. Currently, the two techniques called follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE) are the most common procedures.

Some people still mistakenly use the terms hair plugs or hair implants to refer to any type of hair transplant including modern FUT and FUE techniques. Let’s examine the history of hair plugs and look at why they’re no longer used today.

Read the full article at www.healthline.com