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Are Men Giving Up On Hair Loss Treatments And Heading Straight For Transplants?

Men suffering from hair loss may be getting fed up with all the miracle pills and potions being touted on the internet.
According to an opinion poll of hair experts conducted by WhatClinic.com, there has been a 260% increase in men enquiring about hair transplants, and a staggering 180% increase in men actually traveling abroad for cheaper hair transplant procedures.
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HuffPost UK LIfestyle spoke to Dr Maurice Collins, medical director of Hair Restoration Blackrock, to find out why there is a surge of interest.
He said: “Two factors, the technology of hair transplantation has improved dramatically over the last 10 years. A good hair transplant carried out by a trained team of technicians and a specialist hair transplant surgeon should not be noticeable, not even to ones barber.
“The old toilet brush style transplants of the 70s are definitely a thing of the past. Secondly, the likes of James Nesbitt and Wayne Rooney going public has helped remove the stigma of having a hair transplant. Men in their 40s, 50s and 60s are still unlikely to talk openly about their hair loss concerns, but men in their 20s and 30s are much more open.”
Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) is where a strip of the scalp, including the hair follicles, is removed and replanted at the front of the head. Follicular unit extraction (FUE), sometimes called FUE Harvesting, takes individual hair clusters (of between one and four hairs) and replants them one by one, which although more time-consuming, gives better results and less chance of scarring.
In a recent poll of cosmetic surgeons, 78% confirmed that interest from men in cosmetic surgery was definitely growing. Of those asked, almost nine out of 10 (89%) said they believe men are now far more conscious of their appearance than ever before.
The bottom line, says Dr Collins, is that there is no cure for hair loss. “The drugs that are currently available (Minoxidil and Finasteride) can arrest hair loss for a limited number of years but do not reverse hair loss. Hair transplantation takes existing hair from the back of the head and plants it on top and at the front. It restores a hair line and fills in the gaps, but it is not a cure. It is likely that if a cure is found it will come from stem cell research. ”
As for men travelling overseas for the procedure, Turkey has proven to be the destination of choice for UK men, aided by the considerably lower costs, and affordable flights. India boasts the most competitive average prices, however it may well be the cost of flights that has deterred patients.
So are transplants the only option if you’re worried about your hair? No, says Dr Collins.
“Only one in four men who visit proceed to have a transplant. For those who choose not to have a transplant, the first option is to accept your hair loss and shave your head. Many men are not too worried about their hair loss and look great with a shaved head – think Andre Agassi or Bruce Willis. Others are not suitable candidates. For example they may not have enough donor hair for transplantation. The donor hair comes from the back of the head, which is immune to hair loss. Budget and age are also factors.
“Many men benefit greatly from taking Minoxidil and Finasteride. The synergistic effect of taking both drugs can arrest hair loss and strengthen the existing hairs for a number of years, which has the effect of more hair, as if the patient has new hair. Young men will often opt for this option for a number of years before considering a hair transplant. Lastly, a patient may not be suitable if their hair loss pattern is not yet established, meaning it would be too soon for a transplant. Men in their mid-thirties and older, where their hair loss pattern is established are more suitable than those in their 20s.”
For men who are considering transplants however, Dr Collins advises doing your research.
“Shop around, compare a few clinics,” he says. “Don’t got for the cheapest. You get what you pay for. Look for a clinic that is run by trained surgeons. Look for experience and qualifications. The industry is currently unregulated, meaning anyone can set up a clinic, a GP, a nurse, a salesman. Make sure your consultation is with the surgeon who will carry out your transplant, not a salesperson. If the consultation is free then it’s a sales pitch not a consultation. Look for patient testimonials on the clinic website.”
This news is brought to you courtsey of Dr. Mark Bishara and The Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa, with offices in Mansfield and Southlake, TX
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For the very latest technology in hair restoration, Dr. Bishara is now using the ARTAS System. This interactive, computer assisted equipment employs image guidance to enhance the quality of hair follicle harvesting. ARTAS is the first hair transplant robot to improve the most challenging aspects of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). We do this procedure on both men and women. Please conact out office for more information at (817) 473-2120 or click below.
 

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'Globalization' of Cosmetic Surgery- by Dr. Mark Bishara, MD

Would you consider traveling to Mexico or India for a less-expensive rhinoplasty or breast augmentation procedure? Would you consider traveling to Texas for a Robotic Hair Transplant procedure?  Many Americans are doing just that-and the trend is having an impact on the market for cosmetic plastic surgery.
The paper, by ASPS Member Surgeon Dr. Kevin C. Chung and Lauren E. Franzblau of the University of Michigan, discusses “the rise and transformation of the medical tourism industry, foreign and domestic forces that influence cosmetic surgical tourism, and the pros and cons for all involved parties.” Chung and Franzblau write, “The rapid globalization of the industry also marks a fundamental shift in the world’s perception of elective procedures: patients are becoming consumers and these medical services are being viewed as commodities.”
At the office of Dr. Mark Bishara, with offices in Mansfield and Southlake, TX- we have patients traveling from all over the world for Robotic Hair Transplants.  We perform the surgery in both of our locations, making it even easier for patients to access the closest office for them.
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More ‘Medical Tourists’ Are Traveling for Cosmetic Surgery
Traveling for medical care is nothing new-but in the past, people were more likely to travel from poor countries to obtain higher-quality care in wealthier countries. Today, prompted by the ease and relatively low costs of travel, more patients from the United States and other western countries are traveling to the developing world to access less-costly medical and surgical procedures. Because cosmetic plastic surgery procedures aren’t covered by insurance, they make up a major part of the burgeoning medical tourism market.
Figures vary, but there’s a consensus that medical tourism is growing rapidly: India alone may have more than one million medical tourists per year. Other countries with growing medical tourism industries include Mexico, Dubai, South Africa, Thailand and Singapore.
In many countries, governments are working actively to foster their medical tourism industry. Some destinations even market procedures performed in resort-like settings, encouraging patients to combine a vacation with cosmetic surgery. Traveling abroad also lets patients recuperate privately, without anyone at home knowing that they’ve had plastic surgery.
Raising Potential Concerns Over Safety and Quality
The growth of medical tourism may have a significant impact on the cosmetic surgery market in the U.S., but also raises concerns over physical safety and legal protection. Although destination countries promote the quality and safety of their procedures and facilities, there is often little evidence to support these claims.
“Because the practice of medical travel does not appear to be going away in the foreseeable future, plastic surgeons must understand the international market and learn to compete in it,” Chung and Franzblau write. Since U.S. surgeons may find it hard to compete on price, effective strategies may include emphasizing superior quality and safety of care, or developing “niche markets” of procedures that can be profitably performed at home.
The authors emphasize that medical tourism “is not purely good or bad”-neither for patients nor the countries involved. Patients may be drawn by lower costs, but must consider the potential risks of undergoing surgery in a foreign country, as well as traveling after surgery. ASPS provides information for patients considering travel abroad for cosmetic surgery, including risks and follow-up care.
For the U.S. and other developed countries, medical tourism means fewer patients and less revenue-but may also bring increased opportunities for collaboration with rapidly modernizing countries in other parts of the world. Chung and Franzblau conclude, “To retain patients and be competitive in a global market, U.S. plastic surgery must be vigilant of the changes in medical tourism and must adapt accordingly.”
This news is brought to you courtesy of Dr. Mark Bishara and
The Paragon Surgery & Med Spa
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Wes Welker Speaks About Robotic Hair Transplants- by Dr. Mark Bishara, MD

The Denver Broncos receiver had the procedure done prior to last season’s training camp with the Patriots.
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No, the Denver Broncos wideout didn’t have surgery on his knee or ankle last summer but a robotic hair transplant procedure at the Rhode Island office of Dr. Robert Leonard.
“[The growth] doesn’t happen right away,” Welker told For The Win. “You start to see a little bit after two or three months and in six months you get to see a little more. Once you get up to a year you’re really starting to see the difference. It takes a full 18 months till it’s fully grown in.”
While plenty of pro athletes wouldn’t want to make such a public admission of cosmetic procedures, Welker has no problem with his role as the president of the NFL’s new de facto hair club for men.
“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” he said. “If you want to have hair, have hair. I don’t like to sit there and say ‘What are you talking about? I never got my hair done.” People can notice it without wondering.”
And what of Welker’s former teammate Tom Brady? Brady’s hair has been the center of its transplant speculation.
“You know what – that’s still out for debate. He claims he hasn’t but who knows,” Welker said.
Welker said he’s received calls from numerous other NFL players asking him for his doctor’s number, although he didn’t name any specific current or former teammates. He was equally tight-lipped when asked about the effect that the Aaron Hernandez investigation, Rob Gronkowski injuries and acquisition of Tim Tebow could have on the locker room of his former team, the New England Patriots.
“I hope the best for them but it’s not my concern to worry about them,” Welker said. “I’m just trying to worry about myself.”
This news is brought to you courtesy of Dr. Mark Bishara and The Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa in Mansfield and Southlake, TX
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The New Science of Hair Growth- Hair Cloning- by Dr. Mark Bishara, MD

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Many experts think a hair-cloning procedure, may be less than 5 years away.
Intercytex, a public company based in London, may be closest to a marketable product. Intercytex scientists have successfully grown large batches of cloned proto-hairs similar to those that other researchers have been struggling to keep alive.
What’s more, in animal experiments, the Intercytex team has observed cloned hair follicles growing hair again after the original hairs were plucked. This suggests that their cloned follicles cycle through the entire life span of hair—three phases known as anagen (growth), catagen (transitional), and telogen (resting)—something no other researchers have been able to do.
A key to the team’s success has been growing proto-hairs in a special medium, licensed from a Japanese inventor, which contains cultured skin cells known as keratinocytes.
Hair cloning will be pricey initially, so early adopters may be men who are not only wealthy, but also desperate because they don’t have enough hair left to do a follicular unit transplant. Cloning could also be ideal for younger men who aren’t good candidates for follicular grafting.
Nobody is sure how the actual cloning process will be implemented. Most surgeons speculate that they’ll use boring tools similar to the existing ones used for harvesting follicular units. The follicular units will be sent to centralized labs, where industrial incubators will mass-produce millions of follicle cells for a relatively low cost.
Another question is how will the cloned cells be transplanted? Instead of transplanting follicular units, your surgeon may inject cloned cells into micro-incisions, or he may implant lab-grown hair follicles. It could be fast, clean, and painless.
Whatever the outcome, choices will abound. In the future, hair cloning will coexist alongside follicular unit transplants, drug therapies, and emerging technologies still incubating in the labs.
This news is brought to your courtesy of Dr. Mark Bishara and The Paragon Med Spa
(817) 473-2120
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Study May Provide New Hair Loss Solution- by Dr. Mark Bishara, MD

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Scientists appear to have moved one step closer to a solution for hair loss. For the first time, researchers have been able to grow entirely new hairs on human skin.
The new technique would be drastically different than current treatment options available for hair loss, as it would use people’s own cells to generate new hair. In the study, researchers removed cells from the base of human hair follicles and grew them in drops hanging down from the lid of a petri dish. They then injected the cells into hairless human skin that had been grafted onto mice. In five out of the seven grafts, new hair follicles grew. Further tests confirmed that the follicles were human.
But baldness hasn’t been solved just yet. The type of hair produced was very small and fine, according to researchers. Only 22% of the genes that normally operate in follicular cells were functioning in the grafted cells. More work needs to be done to see if longer, thicker, better quality hair can be grown, but researchers are optimistic that an effective treatment for baldness can be developed.
Current treatments for baldness do not involve producing new hairs. Hair transplants, for example, simply shift hair by moving follicles from the back of the head to the front, leaving scars on the back of the head, which may be a particularly unappealing option for women. Other treatments focus on trying to revitalize existing or dying hair follicles, rather than on growing entirely new follicles. This new technique could theoretically be used in both men and women suffering from hair loss.
This news is brought to you courtesy of Dr. Mark Bishara and The Paragon Med Spa
(817) 473-2120
 

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