5
Alpha Reductase
5 Alpha Reductase is an enzyme which
converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone
(DHT) which is the hormone that triggers
Androgenetic Alopecia in individuals who are
genetically susceptible.
Alopecia
Alopecia Areata:
Hair loss which occurs in patches on the scalp.
Alopecia Totalis: Hair loss
which occurs over the entire scalp.
Alopecia Universalis: Hair loss
which occurs over the entire body.
Androgenetic Alopecia - Genetic
hair loss caused by DHT.
Traction Alopecia
This refers to hair loss which occurs do to
traction place on hair. Traction alopecia is
commonly seen with braids, pony tails and other
hairstyles which create traction on the scalp.
Dermal Papilla
The dermal papilla is situated at
the base of the hair follicle. The dermal papilla
contains nerves and blood vessels which supply
glucose for energy and amino acids to make
keratin.
DHT (Dihydrotestosterone)
DHT is a male hormone that is
suggested to be the main cause for the shrinking
of the hair follicle and for hair loss. DHT is
formed when the male hormone testosterone
interacts with the enzyme 5-alpha reductase.
Donor Area
The donor area is the extracted
scalp removed from the back of the head which is
then divided into grafts or follicular units for
implantion into the recipient area. The donor
area usually consists of the back of the head but
can also include the sides is some cases.
Grafts are taken from this donor
area because they retain their resistance to dht
even after they are implanted.
Finasteride
Finasteride
is the generic name of the brand name drug
Proscar. Proscar is manufactured by Merck and is
FDA approved for the treatment of benign prostate
enlargement. One milligram tablets of finasteride
have been marketed under the brand name Propecia
as a treatment for hair loss.
Hair Grafts
Not all hair grafts are the same and
you should get to know the difference and the
best one to have for your hair transplant
procedure.
Follicular Unit Grafts
- The most popular, widely used and generally
accepted best type of hair grafts are follicular
units. Hairs on your scalp grow naturally in 1 to
3 hair groups in a single unit. These follicular
units are left intact when they are implanted in
the recipient area. Since they are left in their
natural state of 1-3 hairs, they look more
natural and undetectable.
Micro Grafts - are
1-3 hair grafts that are NOT in the follicular
unit group. Although they contain roughly the
same amount of hairs, micro grafts are 1, 2 or 3
hairs that are not growing together as part of a
single follicular unit.
Mini Grafts - Small
mini grafts consist of 3 to 5 hairs into a small
recipient site and large mini grafts are 5 to 7
hairs into a small round recipient site.
Maxi Grafts - Grafts
consisting of approximately 6-8 hairs in a single
graft.
Hair Plugs - Grafts
consisting of 10-50 hairs each. Hair Plugs are
seldom used anymore and you would be hard pressed
to find a hair transplant doctor anywhere in the
country that will give you a "hair
plug."
Strips grafts - as
the name suggests, are long strips of hair
bearing skin. Seldom used.
Small
slit grafts - 3 to 4 hairs into a slit
recipient site.
Large
slit grafts - 5 to 7 hairs into a slit
recipient site.
Hair Growth Cycle
Hair follicles grow in repeated
cycles. One cycle can be broken down into three
phases.
1)
Anagen - Growth Phase Approximately 85%
of all hairs are in the growing phase at any one
time. The Anagen phase or growth phase can vary
from two to six years. Hair grows approximately
10cm per year and any individual hair is unlikely
to grow more than one meter long.
2) Catagen - Transitional phase
At the end of the Anagen phase the hairs enters
into a Catagen phase which lasts about one or two
weeks, during the Catagen phase the hair follicle
shrinks to about 1/6 of the normal length. The
lower part is destroyed and the dermal papilla
breaks away to rest below.
3) Telogen - Resting Phase The
resting phase follows the catagen phase and
normally lasts about 5-6 weeks. During this time
the hair does not grow but stays attached to the
follicle while the dermal papilla stays in a
resting phase below. Approximately 10-15 percent
of all hairs are in this phase at an one time. At
the end of the Telogen phase the hair follicle
re-enters the Anagen phase. The dermal papilla
and the base of the follicle join together again
and a new hair begins to form. If the old hair
has not already been shed the new hair pushes the
old one out and the growth cycle starts all over
again.
Each
hair passes through the phases independent of the
neighboring hairs.
Keratin:
is a highly fibrous protein that is the primary
material in the cells of the skin, hair and
nails.
Mega Session Transplantation
Hair transplant procedures in which
a large number of grafts are transplanted in one
session. Typically 1,500 to 3,000.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil
is the generic name of the brand name drug
Rogaine. Rogaine is manufactured by Upjohn and is
FDA approved for the treatment hair loss.
Minoxidil is available in the form of a topical
lotion with varying strength from 2% to 5%.
Minoxidil was the first drug to be approved by
the FDA for the treatment of androgenetic
alopecia. It requires twice a day application and
is not very effective on replacing frontal hair.
Disclaimer | Contact | Copyright & Use
|
