Dr. Chu Memphis

IS HAIR LOSS IN YOUR FUTURE?

hair restoration Hair loss in men & women is not uncommon - some form of hair loss occurs in nearly 2 of every 3 men and almost as commonly in women over 50 years of age. However, with correct diagnosis and treatment, many patients with hair loss can be helped.

A person's hair goes through a continuous cycle of growing and resting. At any given time, 90% of a person's scalp hairs are in the growth phase, which lasts 2 to 6 years. Following the growth phase, a hair enters a 2 to 3 month resting phase. At the end of this resting phase, this hair will shed, to be replaced by new hair, beginning the growing cycle again. Most people lose 50 to 100 hairs per day through shedding that occurs in the normal hair cycle. This level of shedding is not cause for alarm. However, if you are concerned about more rapid thinning, we can help.

HAIR RESTORATION BEGINS TODAY

Throughout time, hair has been an important aspect of a person's appearance and personality. Color, length, style, and certainly amount have often been associated with youth, sex appeal, health and power. It's no wonder then, that balding, thinning hair or a receding hairline, is a serious concern for those coping with hair loss.

What ARE THE CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS?

hairrestoration1 Everyone loses hair regularly - about 100 per day. Under normal circumstances, a hair that is shed is replaced by a new hair from the same follicle. However, when many of the hairs stop being replaced naturally, hair loss begins. This problem impacts the lives of approximately 35 million men and 22 million women in the United States. Common causes of permanent or temporary hair loss include; heredity, illness or disease, nutritional deficiencies, stress, medications, injury, high fever, improper or abusive hair treatment, and cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation. Genetic male or female pattern baldness, referred to as androgenetic alopecia, accounts for the vast majority of hair loss.

ARE THERE ANY SOLUTIONS?

Propecia®(finasteride) which treats the underlying cause of androgenetic alopecia and topical minoxidil solution provide options for patients with thinning hair. For those that do not see satisfactory results from medical treatment may be candidates for hair restoration surgery. Dr. Thomas Chu has been performing hair restoration surgery to correct hair loss for over 25 years. He completed an American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery training fellowship under one of the world's hair restoration pioneers, Dr. D. Bluford Stough. He has been a member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery since its inception. He is dedicated to the highest professional and medical practice standards.

Hair restoration surgery has been a successful safe procedure performed in the clinic setting for over 50 yrs. Early techniques sometimes resulted in unnatural results which lead to unsatisfied patients. Technological advances over the last 30 years have led to many new options and techniques that make hair restoration safer and easier for patients while resulting in completely natural results.

Follicular Unit Tranplantation

Follicular unit transplantation is the gold standard to restore or maintain a natural appearing hairline, mid scalp and crown of the head. It is effective for patients of any age, who are experiencing hereditary hair loss know as androgenetic alopecia.

Performed in the office under local anesthesia, hair restoraton surgery uses grafts taken from the back of the patient's scalp. Grafts are dissected into follicular units as they naturally occur and are then implanted in a pattern that will create the most natural appearance. Because they are so small, these grafts can be implanted close together to provide excellent density. The follicular units heal very quickly and with very few complications. Dr. Chu will encourage the patient to shampoo the very next day and return to work as soon as he feels comfortable doing so, usually in 4-7 days.

Who Benefits From Hair Restoration Surgery?

Anyone who has experienced permanent hair loss may be a candidate for hair restoration surgery including:

men with male pattern baldness
some women with thinning hair - female pattern alopecia
people with areas of scarring from injuries or hair loss after face lift surgery
people who have had hair loss due to trauma or radiation therapy

The ideal candidate for hair restoration surgery has healthy, dense hair on the sides and back of the head. These are the sites that are used as donor areas -- the areas from which grafts are taken.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER HAIR TRANSPLANT SURGERY?

Hair transplantation is a very safe, relatively minor surgical procedure. Patients are provided with a mild analgesic to relieve any discomfort felt the night following the procedure. Small crusts may form on each graft that can be camouflaged by any existing hair or by the use of scalp concealer(such as Toppik). These crusts will resolve in 7-10 days after the surgery. The transplanted hair seen above the scalp will initially be shed, however the roots will remain dormant for 6-12 weeks, at which time the new hairs will all begin to grow. Numbness that may occur in the donor or recipient area usually disappears in 2-4 months following surgery.

Actual patients of Dr. Chu

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