Limited follicular units are a precious resource that must be used carefully.
Treatment planning should be done well from the start.
There are cases that can be improved by surgery, and cases where medical treatment is preferable. We often see people who regret having an ineffective surgery or who are saddened by having missed the appropriate timing for medical therapy.
If it’s not severe, start with medication
Crown hair loss progresses over time, so independently of whether surgery is being considered, the suitability and necessity of medication should be evaluated with the clinical team first. Mild hair loss can often be sufficiently treated with medication alone. Even if surgery is necessary, medication can reduce the surgical area and allow surgery on healthier hair. If medication will be needed anyway, how about trying it for at least six months before deciding on surgery?
Get the maximum effect from the minimum number of follicles
When crown hair loss is present, donor density at the back of the head is also reduced. There are not enough hairs to fill every empty spot completely. You need to distinguish more important from less important areas so you can achieve the maximum effect with the minimum number of hairs. Trying to fill every empty area at the same density may leave you lacking no matter how many hairs you put in. Instead of simply transplanting a large number, consider where transplanting will make the greatest visible improvement.
Limited follicles are a precious resource that must be used sparingly.
Protecting existing hair while transplanting
Crown transplantation is not just about filling empty areas. We place new grafts among existing hairs that have thinned but remain alive. To avoid damaging existing hairs, we carefully determine the density, angle, and direction of newly implanted hairs following the natural flow of hair across the vertex. However, even with the greatest care, temporary concurrent hair shedding of existing hairs can occur.
If severe, this may make the area look sparser than before surgery and sometimes causes such psychological distress that hats or wigs are needed for a period. We understand how difficult it is to endure that time while waiting for recovery. Although it cannot be completely avoided, we examine and implant even more cautiously to reduce that possibility as much as possible.
We do this because we hope the waiting period for results will be a little less painful.
Bleeding, infection, swelling, scarring, folliculitis, sensory changes, temporary shock loss (concurrent loss) or less-than-expected graft survival may occur. Preexisting hair loss can continue after transplantation, so long-term management is necessary.