At a certain point, birthdays transform from exciting milestones as children to something many would rather forget as adults. Gone are the storms of wrapping paper and mountains of toys only to be replaced by cliché birthday gifts and the inevitable hallmarks of times past.
What did you get for your last several birthdays? A tie? Cologne? Some homemade macaroni art? Socks? As is the case in life, you don’t always get what you want for your birthday (if you don’t believe me, ask the Rolling Stones). For many men, the “gift” received as one approaches middle age and beyond is one which was never asked for. Your father or grandfather’s thinning hairline stares back at you from the mirror as yet another stinging reminder that you are a year older and a year balder. The worst part of it all is that this very same present is re-gifted year after year. You will unwrap that very same gift next year when you look in the mirror and take stock … only it will, in all likelihood, be more advanced. Men have a 50 percent chance of experiencing hair loss by their 50th birthday!
Hair loss is a concerning and emotional herald of the inevitable march of time. It’s easily recognized and hard to conceal. Approximately 50 million men (and 30 million women) suffer from thinning hair or baldness. Some can experience hair loss even before age 21. By the age of 35, two-thirds of American men experience some degree of measurable hair loss, and by the age of 50, approximately 85 percent have significantly thinning hair, according to the American Hair Loss Association. The good news is that treatment is getting easier and more successful for this universal problem!
At IAS (Institute of Aesthetic Surgery) we offer both preventative and restorative (and the two are not mutually exclusive) treatments, as well as surgical and nonsurgical options. Often, a combination of treatments is most effective. Treatment options include Hairmedica all-natural non-prescription grade shampoos, conditioners and topicals as well as prescription-grade (Minoxodil and Finasteride) medical therapy. PRP (platelet rich plasma) and LLLT (low-level light therapy) have grown increasingly common and show great potential.
Hair restoration surgery continues to surge in popularity. In the United States, the number of hair restoration procedures performed grew by 18% from 2014-2016, according to a survey by The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. In the past, many potential patients shied away from (or are not candidates for) the traditional “strip method” of hair replacement because of the slow recovery time, the loss of feeling at the incision site, the linear scar on the back of the head, or the amount of post-operative pain involved. Our preferred technique is a one-day outpatient procedure known as Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), also known as Follicular Transfer (FT). FUE has eliminated those concerns and opened the doors to hair restoration to all men – including those who have had a traditional strip graft procedure in the past.
The FUE method of hair transplantation removes individual hair follicles from the scalp in their naturally occurring groupings of about one to four hairs and are then placed in the areas of the scalp where balding has occurred. NeoGraft FUE advanced technology offers a discrete solution to hair loss, allowing patients to achieve natural-looking results with no linear scar, minimal downtime and a shorter recovery period. The design of the hairline, as well as the placement of each type of follicle in its correct place, allows for natural-appearing results. Careful planning allows for further treatments if necessary to achieve a fuller appearance of hair in key areas. As fully board-certified plastic surgeons, IAS doctors can offer this treatment in conjunction with others to boost your results of fuller hair and even treat wrinkles or jowls to add to your youthful appearance.
While no one can turn back the clock, make the choice to join others who have decided to fight the progression of looking older. Improving your hairline can go a long way to improving happiness by improving self-confidence. This year, as you blow out your candles, IAS invites you to break the cycle of socks and shaving cream, make a wish, and open a very special gift to yourself that will last a lifetime. Let IAS roll back the clock and roll your hairline forward.
Join us for a complimentary consultation where we can explore all of the options available. The saying goes, “You can’t have your cake and eat it, too!” However, they said nothing about combing a full head of hair just before you blow out the candles. Happy Birthday from IAS!
Dr. Donovan Rosas, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained and Ivy League-educated plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery. A New York City native, he received his undergraduate education at Princeton University followed by his medical degree at the University of Rochester. He undertook both his general surgery internship and his residency in plastic surgery at Brown University in Rhode Island, completing his tenure there as Chief Resident before going on to a prestigious fellowship in reconstructive/aesthetic breast surgery at the esteemed Harvard University/Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
