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The
following are transcripts of conversations between HairSite and Dr.
Gho. HairSite has not verified the scientific basis of the new
techniques discussed herein. Readers are advised to conduct their
own research and investigation before choosing a hair transplant
doctor.
Preliminary
Research in Hair Multiplication Led to Breakthrough in Hair
Transplantation: "Follicle Transplantation". Dr. Gho
Introducing The World's Most Follicle Efficient, Scars Free and
Patient Friendly Transplantation Technique
Gho called this new hair
transplant technique "Follicle Transplantation". According
to Dr. Gho, Follicle Transplantation is conceptualized based on his
preliminary research in Hair Multiplication. In Dr. Gho's own words,
"Follicle Transplantation is derived from a
"pre-study" for Hair Multiplication. The goal of the
study is to determine what are the minimum requirements necessary
for hair follicles to obtain normal hair growth." In the study,
Dr. Gho experimented with different parts of the hair follicle and
examined their potentials to generate hair growth. It was discovered
that contrary to traditional hair transplantation technique which
requires a traumatic strip incision deep into the skin to extract the
entire hair follicle, successful
transplantation using his new technique can actually be accomplished
with removing as little as 2/3 of the entire hair follicle with a tiny needle. This
means that using Dr. Gho’s new technique, hair transplant can now
be accomplished with a minimal of skin & tissue removal, a
minimal of scarring, pain, and other post surgical traumas.
Compare the
difference between traditional hair transplants that involve the
removal an entire strip of hair and skin bearing flesh measuring up
to several inches wide and Dr. Gho’s
new technique that extracts hair follicles using tiny needles one or
a few hairs at a time.
In Follicle
Transplantation, hair follicles are extracted using a 0.75mm
needle one or a few hairs at a time and then transplanted to the
recipient area. No scalpels are used in the entire process.
It is a very labor intensive procedure and one session
would normally last a full day. Unlike the typical linear scars
that are associated with traditional hair transplantation,
Follicle Transplantation leaves no visible scars besides the 0.75mm
needle holes which will subsequently shrink to about 0.5mm in
diameter and virtually disappear after the surgery. This is a
breakthrough in hair transplant as conventional procedures usually
leave a linear scar that is fairly visible and can run up to several
inches wide. With Dr. Gho’s technique, absolutely no stitches or
bandages are required.
An even more
astounding aspect of Dr. Gho’s new technique is that it is by far
the most “follicle efficient” hair transplant technique
in the world. Individual results vary but it has been shown in Dr.
Gho’s patients that with the Follicle Transplantation technique,
the donor site has the ability to continue to generate hair growth
even after the incision. This remarkable achievement is made
possible by the fact that during the incision, only a small portion
of the entire follicle is removed and transplanted to the recipient
area. The donor site still retains a portion of the donor follicle
after the surgery is completed. In essence, the hair follicle is
divided into two during the process. One in the back and one in the
front. A certain company in the U.S had attempted a “similar”
technique without success a few years ago. This company basically
employed the traditional strip incision method (removal of an entire
strip of hair and follicles bearing skin) to extract the follicles
and then divided each follicle into two before they were
transplanted into the recipient area. The technique was introduced
commercially in the U.S for a very short period of time before it
was pulled from the market citing that further research was needed.
Note that Dr. Gho’s technique is fundamentally different from what
was attempted in the U.S several years ago. For one thing, with Dr.
Gho’s technique, the donor follicle is never completely removed
from the donor site during the process.
Follicle
efficiency in Dr. Gho’s technique also comes from the fact that
each follicle is extracted and transplanted one at a time using a
needle. No donor follicles are wasted as each and every single
follicle is used in the process. On the other hand, donor hairs
wastage is often an issue with conventional hair transplant due to
excessive cutting, dividing and dissecting of the incision strip.
The cost per
Follicle Transplantation session is about Euro2,250 or approximately
US $2,250. About 250 grafts can be transplanted in each session. Each graft
contains anywhere from 1 to 3 individual hairs. According to Dr. Gho,
it will take about 3 sessions of Follicle Transplantation to
complete the work for someone who is a Norwood 3.
Unlike
conventional hair transplant procedures, Follicle Transplantation
does not require intra-cutaneous injections to anesthetize the donor
or recipient area. Topical in combination with local
anesthetic are used instead without any needles. This is made
possible by the fact that only a very small portion of the donor
follicle is extracted one hair at a time in the procedure by means
of a tiny needle, unlike traditional hair transplant where a scalpel
is used to remove an entire strip of hair and follicles bearing skin
from the patient’s scalp. Dr. Gho’s new technique is minimally
invasive and many times more patient friendly than traditional hair
transplants. Post-surgical traumas and complications are unlikely.
On the other hand, with the use of strip incision employed in
traditional hair transplant, there is a higher risk of nerve and
vascular damage as well as the possibility that the linear scar will
“stretch out” over time.
Follicle
Transplantation works very well on scar tissue too. Dr. Gho had treated burned
victims with this procedure and had successfully transplanted hair
to scar tissues. Previous hair transplant patients with extensive or
unsightly donor scars may benefit from this technique.
As previously
mentioned, Follicle Transplantation is a very labor intensive
procedure. A typical session normally lasts a full day. Technicians
are present to perform the mechanical parts of the procedure under
Dr. Gho’s supervision while the more sophisticated and intricate
details are performed directly by Dr. Gho. All patients who wish go
on the waiting list will have to be examined by Dr. Gho in a
consultation first. For medical indications such as burns, scars,
congenital syndromes, etc there is practically no waiting list for
the Follicle Transplantation procedure. For the cosmetic indication,
there is currently a waiting list of +3 months. For overseas
patients, arrangement can be made so that both the consultation and
surgery can be completed in one trip.
In an attempt
to shorten the waiting list for this procedure, Dr. Gho’s clinic
is currently training physicians and technicians in the Netherlands
who are interested in learning this new technique. There are plans
to introduce this technique to other doctors worldwide in
about 12-16 months.
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Note to HairSite Readers:
I am considering a hair transplant for 200 grafts or fewer just to satisfy myself how well these new generation techniques really work. My choices are either Dr. Gho, Dr. Woods or Dr. Bernstein. At the moment, I am leaning toward Dr. Gho because of significant cost savings compared to Dr. Woods'. Note that I am not 100% committed to this yet, but I would appreciate hearing from existing patients of Dr. Woods and Dr. Bernstein as this would help finalize my decision. Please email hairsite@aol.com Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
If I eventually decide to proceed with this, my before and after pictures will be posted in HairSite Gallery
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