Lustrous Locks Forever

Dr Viral Desai

It is no secret that hair is important to everyone – Dr Viral Desai, specialist in the field, knows all there is to know about restoring this crowning glory. Dr Desai has always had a special interest in the field of hair restoration, but, given the widespread and urgent problem of hair loss, he was further prompted to explore the field of hair restoration. “We have achieved great success with the use of evidence-based medicine in our patients,” he says, and shares more on consultation and techniques for hair renewal.

HOW IS MALE PATTERN BALDNESS DIFFERENT FROM FEMALE PATTERN BALDNESS? AND WHAT CAUSES THIS TYPE OF BALDNESS IN EACH SEX?

In men, hair loss starts from the front or vertex and progresses causing them to go completely bald. Women lose hair mainly from the frontal hairline region and are less likely to go completely bald. Androgenetic alopecia or Male Pattern Hair Loss (MPHL) can begin for some men in their teens and continue throughout their life. In men, it is due to mainly genetic and hormonal causes. In women, hair loss can happen at a later stage in life, commonly influenced by hormonal fluctuations, metabolic disorders, vitamin, and mineral deficiencies, especially towards menopause. The most common cause can be a genetic predisposition, stress, lifestyle changes, prolonged illnesses or infections and habits like excessive smoking and alcohol.

ARE THERE DIFFERENT TREATMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR MEN AND WOMEN?

Most common treatments for hair fall include non-surgical and surgical hair transplant. In most cases, women tend to opt for non-surgical methods and a cosmetic transplant for hair rejuvenation, while men often require a hair transplant due to a severe grade of hair loss.

HOW DO YOU CONDUCT CONSULTATIONS?

At our clinic, we believe that diagnosis is the basis for a successful and permanent treatment of hair loss. We have developed a sophisticated diagnostic system for hair loss – the Unique Diagnostic System for Alopecia (UDSA). Most clinics across the globe do not diagnose alopecia, however, at our clinic, each patient undergoes a thorough dermatological examination and alopecia test before a treatment is suggested. As a result, each patient receives a treatment plan that is unique to their needs. UDSA examines each specific case individually, including psychological aspects, dermatological examinations, mathematical aspects and the DHI alopecia test, before determining the appropriate treatment plan. A patient is asked briefly about his expectations and desires regarding the treatment plan beforehand. A detailed medical history is also obtained, and the patient’s doubts are cleared, after which, they can decide best about their treatment plan.

CAN YOU INTRODUCE US TO THE TYPES OF HAIR TRANSPLANTS – WHICH IS YOUR PREFERRED TYPE, AND WHY?

Hair transplant techniques have evolved over the years starting from the initial FUT to the more advanced FUE method, which produces less visible scars, resulting in faster healing. FUT gives more meaty grafts and more numbers in a single session. FUE has no stitches and no visible linear scar, leading to faster recovery. The success of a technique depends on the skills and training of the surgeon and team. Both techniques can give excellent results if done properly.

WHAT MAKES DHI BETTER THAN OTHER METHODS OF HAIR IMPLANTS?

DHI is not a technique but a system that is followed. There are certain SOPs and protocols along with certain technological steps, which are to be followed to ensure safe, certain, natural, and predictable results in all patients. We only use manual extractors in-order to cause minimal damage to grafts and implanters for implantation. This system minimises confusion and maximises results. Starting from consultation, evaluation, diagnosis, surgery, pre- and post-operative protocols – steps are all standardised.

COULD YOU SHARE DETAILS OF THE TREATMENT/PROCEDURE FOR US; HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR THE RESULTS TO SHOW? TO WHAT EXTENT CAN A NATURAL LOOK BE ACHIEVED?

It all begins with formulating an appropriate treatment plan as per the patients’ expectations. In transplant-FUE method, hair follicles are removed from the donour area one-by-one using a fine extractor with a diameter of 1 mm or less. The hair is then placed using a single-use implanter directly on the treatment area. DHI’s implanter gives a surgeon full control over the depth, angle, and direction, ensuring natural results. The transplanted hair grows naturally just like the scalp hair with the same texture and characteristics. Besides, you can also shave the newly implanted hair and style them like you want. Since the technique does not cause visible scarring, has a maximum survival rate of hair follicles (more than 90 per cent), close to 100 per cent natural results can be expected.

ARE THERE ANY CONTRAINDICATIONS AND HOW CAN THEY BE DEALT WITH?

There can be some relative contraindications including some serious medical conditions such as uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, and habits such as excessive smoking, alcohol, active fungal or bacterial infections of the scalp. Absolute contraindications would be alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease, which causes irreversible hair loss and tendency to keloid scarring, which could result in incomplete healing of the donor and recipient sites. Being aware about these help in preventing complications in patients.

WHAT IS THE APPROXIMATE TREATMENT COST?

Hair transplant cost depends on certain factors. Primarily, it is calculated according to the number of hair that needs to be implanted. Furthermore, it also depends on the choice of clinic, the surgeon’s experience, guarantee of graft survival rate, and the results. Additionally, the choice of hair transplant technique also influences the hair transplant cost. Thus, it is always better to visit the clinic for a consultation and be personally informed of the exact price of the treatment.

ON A CONCLUDING NOTE, IS THERE A MESSAGE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOUR SURGEON COLLEAGUES, ESPECIALLY THE NEW ENTRANTS?

Hair transplantation is not taught in most medical colleges across the globe; Doctors learn about it from other doctors on the job, without proper training, assessment, or certification, thereby compromising on safety. At DHI, each doctor is extensively trained on the DHI Total Care System and is certified by the DHI International Hair Restoration Academy. Hence, proper training, careful patient selection, and employing the right techniques for hair restoration would help in giving the best and safest possible results to patients.