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Dr. Barusco’s Answers to Five Hair Restoration Questions

Surgery,

If you have questions about hair restoration procedures, Dr. Marco Barusco—Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Tempus Hair Restoration—has answers! As a leading surgeon in this field, Dr. Barusco is a vocal advocate for consumer education, providing free resources for all who want to learn about hair transplants to get the objective information they need in order to make an informed decision.

Toward this end, Dr. Barusco’s YouTube channel—Hair Loss Medical Advice—features videos in which he answers viewers’ questions. We’ve chosen five that focus on issues that may not immediately come to mind when thinking about hair transplantation, but are certainly worth addressing! Read, watch and learn!

  1. How many hair grafts are necessary to restore a hairline?

The viewer who sent this question provided three photos of his hairline, showing temporal recession on both sides. He would learn that there is no across-the-board number. The circumstances the viewer outlined in his question helped determine Dr. Barusco’s response. For example, the viewer reported that he had been using finasteride with good results, then added oral minoxidil, also with good results. He discontinued use of both medications for one month, which caused a noticeable regression—and now seeks a surgical solution.

“Let’s break this down into two parts,” said Dr. Barusco. “First, medical therapy for hair loss is like anything else. You have to do it consistently, or the hair will continue to be lost over time, little by little.

“Regarding a transplant, he seems to be a good candidate. But I don’t know his age, and I haven’t seen his donor zone [the back of the head, where hair grafts are harvested for transplantation]. If he came to me for a consultation, we would talk about the need to be consistent with medical therapy to prevent further hair loss. Based on what I see here [in the photos], I would recommend an FUE procedure using a few hundred grafts—somewhere around 800 to 1,000 follicular units.”

Click here to watch the video.

  1. Can hair be successfully transplanted into a congenital bald spot?

This question came from a 22-year-old man who has a small area on his right temple on which hair has never grown. Being self-conscious about this irregular bald spot, he asked Dr. Barusco if a hair transplant would be effective and look like natural growth. Moreover, if he has a hair transplant in that area, will the new growth create an odd effect should his hairline start to recede?

“These are both good questions,” said Dr. Barusco. “People can have these bald/thin spots on their scalp where they never had hair. Hair transplants can also be done to cover scars from surgery, accidents, burns, etc. A consultation is required to make sure the hair and scalp are healthy. Assuming they are, the area marked can be transplanted with good results. If you lose hair in the future, this area should continue to look natural, though you may have to transplant the other side to match if your sides recede too much. You may also try medications to prevent hair from thinning.”

Click here to watch the video.

  1. Is fine-caliber hair good for hair transplantation?

A young woman asked Dr. Barusco if she was a good candidate for a hair transplant, as she has hairline recession at the temples.

“It makes my forehead look huge, and it makes me look slightly manly and bald,” she wrote. Her other concern was that her hair is too fine to be transplanted to create the desired appearance of fullness.

Dr. Barusco’s positive reply hopefully gave the viewer an optimistic boost.

“Yes. Fine caliber hair can be used for hair transplantation. In your situation specifically, fine hairs are actually great, since they will provide very soft, natural results for your temples. The only negative with fine caliber hairs is that they don’t have as much mass, so to create the appearance of fullness, more hairs are needed in comparison with coarse caliber hairs, which can provide more density. The flip side of this is that fine caliber hairs look more natural easier with a hair transplant in comparison with coarse hairs, which can be more obvious if not transplanted with perfect technique.”

Click here to watch the video.

  1. Is it possible to fix a cowlick with a hair transplant?

A viewer who did not identify themselves expressed frustration with a cowlick located in an area that made hairstyling difficult, asking Dr. Barusco if a hair transplant could lick the cowlick for good!

“Cowlicks are features that many people have in their hair,” Dr. Barusco replied. “Depending on the location and number, they can make it challenging to style the hair. But hair transplants should not be used to try to correct a cowlick, particularly if there is no hair loss. The transplant itself can cause hair loss, and if hairs are placed in opposing angles and directions in relation to the cowlick, it can exacerbate the inability to style.”

Click here to watch the video.

  1. What can be done to correct a hair transplant that resulted in different hair densities in the temple area?

Dr. Barusco often corrects the results of botched hair transplants performed by surgeons or—inexcusably—non-medical technicians who lack the experience, skill and/or licensure to achieve an aesthetically pleasing effect of natural growth. Dr. Barusco addressed a male viewer who sent photos of his area of concern, which showed incorrect selection and placement of hair grafts in the temporal point—thereby creating an inconsistent appearance.

Fortunately, Dr. Barusco determined that the transplant could be corrected.

“Looking closer at the picture, it appears to me that hair grafts have been placed in your temporal point. I can see that some 2-hair follicular units were placed in that area, and that the transplanted area is sharply demarcated. It should have been feathered a little more. But this can be corrected by maybe harvesting and moving some of these grafts, and by adding a few more single hair grafts to this area. Also, medications may help.”

Click here to watch the video.

The Ultimate Answer to Your Hair Restoration Questions: Choose Your Surgeon Wisely!

Dr. Barusco welcomes questions for Hair Loss Medical Advice. Of course, he also welcomes anyone who wants to explore their hair restoration options to schedule an in-office or virtual consultation! Consultations are free, and there is no pressure to schedule a procedure.

Contact us to schedule your consultation. Dr. Barusco conducts every consultation himself, giving you the opportunity to learn your options in the comfort of your home—or any location, on any internet-enabled device. 

Dr. Barusco conducts consultations in English, Spanish and Portuguese. For your greater convenience, Tempus Hair Restoration offers a two-night complimentary hotel stay to out-of-town clients who travel 100 miles or more to our Port Orange, Florida, surgical center. No matter how far the distance, we welcome the opportunity to help you on your hair restoration journey!

The Handbook to Hair Restoration Surgery

Surgery,

Getting a hair transplant is an important decision. Being a savvy consumer, you’re doing your due diligence by researching online about various procedures and clinics. Hopefully, you won’t base your decision solely upon a slick ad campaign, or the promise of a bargain price—especially at a foreign black market clinic. However, you’ve probably never had a hair transplant before. Without a basis of comparison or experience, it can be hard to judge the quality of the information you’re coming across.

If you’re thinking that it would be helpful to have a handbook to guide you on this all-important first step on your hair restoration journey, our Tempus Hair Restoration team has thought the same. We present the following as a comprehensive compilation of everything you need to know in order to make a well-informed decision about choosing a hair restoration surgeon who is worthy of your trust.

How to Find a Reputable Hair Transplant Surgeon

An excellent starting point is the website of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS). This is a global non-profit medical association comprised of over 1,200 members representing 70 countries, dedicated to promoting the highest standards of medical practice and medical ethics. The leading authority on hair loss treatment and restoration, the ISHRS offers objective, unbiased information, and does not accept advertising or affiliate links.

The ISHRS website provides free resources for consumers—such as its Find a Doctor directory. This is maintained and updated with the name, location, contact information and link to the ISHRS member page of each doctor. The ISHRS does not charge doctors to be included in the directory, nor does it promote individual doctors.

Dr. Marco Barusco—Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Tempus Hair Restoration—is a Fellow of the ISHRS. This is a distinction that is only given to those who achieve certain landmarks on teaching and leadership. Currently, fewer than 10% of the ISHRS members are Fellows.

Whether or not you use the ISHRS Find a Doctor directory, you need to know about the education, training, credentials and experience that each surgeon you’re researching has in the field of hair restoration. Start this process by visiting the website of the surgeons you’re considering. Some of the following points should be in the doctor’s biography or elsewhere on the website:

Training and Credentials

  • From what medical school did the physician receive his/her M.D. (Doctor of medicine, allopathic medical), D.O. (Doctor of osteopathic medicine) or M.B.B.S. (Bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery, also abbreviated as, M.B.Ch.B.) degree?
  • What year did he/she receive the medical degree?
  • When was the physician licensed to practice medicine? Is he/she licensed to practice medicine in your state in which the treatment will take place?
  • Where (hospital or medical center) did the physician complete his/her internship and residency training?
  • Did the physician have additional training in a medical or surgical specialty after completing residency?
  • Is the physician board certified or a diplomate of a legitimate certifying board? Learn more about what this means.
  • Does the physician hold membership in their related specialty professional society? For hair restoration surgery, this is the ISHRS. Do they attend scientific conferences and workshops? Membership and activity in such societies is not essential, but it is an additional indication of commitment and advanced training.

Scheduling a Consultation with a Hair Transplant Surgeon

Once you’ve found a surgeon who meets your criteria, schedule a consultation­—either in-office or virtual. This is a critical part of the process, as you’ll be able to ask questions and better evaluate the surgeon’s ability to perform the procedure. This is particularly important if you have a special circumstance—such as scarring that you want the hair transplant to conceal. Not every surgeon has the technical skill or experience to do so successfully.

A consultation also allows you to determine how well you and the surgeon communicate. A doctor can have all the right qualifications, but if you don’t feel that he/she connects with you, consider it a sign to continue your search. As they say, trust your “gut.”

But first, be sure that you’ll be talking to the surgeon who will be performing your procedure—not a salesperson or medical technician. If you’re told the doctor cannot or will not meet with you, don’t schedule the consultation—or leave if you’re already in the office and suddenly been informed you’ll be seen by someone else, instead. This is a red flag that should not be ignored!

Questions a Hair Transplant Surgeon Should Ask You

Hair loss is a medical condition, the cause of which requires a diagnosis in order to determine the right procedure—or even if you are an appropriate candidate for surgery. You shouldn’t be surprised that a good hair transplant surgeon will take your medical history. In fact, you should expect it! The following are questions that Dr. Barusco asks his prospective patients during consultation:

Hair loss history—Asking about when you started noticing your hair loss, which areas of your scalp were first affected, how the loss is progressing, etc., provides important information that can help the doctor start to form a complete picture of the cause and treatment options for your individual case. Even if you think a detail may be insignificant, mention it to the doctor.

Your family history of hair loss—You should be asked if your immediate family members (including females) had/have hair loss, and if so, what kind. How did it start and progress over time? This is important in order for the surgeon to provide the right diagnosis.

Your medical history—The doctor should ask for a detailed medical history. Such conditions as diabetes, heart or thyroid disease—and the medications you take for them—can affect or accelerate hair loss.

Your past and current medications—Some prescription medications can cause hair loss.

Your allergy history—Your doctor should ask if you are allergic to any medications or have had an allergic reaction to anesthesia. Knowing if this has occurred is important in prescribing an alternative medication.

Your surgical history—Your doctor should ask if you’ve had surgery of any type. Again, this can provide additional information about a medical condition that could be relevant to your hair loss, as well as your ability to tolerate anesthesia.

A timeline of your hair loss—A good hair restoration surgeon should start creating a timeline of your hair loss based upon all of the previous information he/she has gathered from your answers. A prescription medication you started five years ago may coincide with the time you noticed your hair loss was becoming worse. Such a timeline would provide evidence that the medication could be the cause.

During the consultation, the surgeon should also examine your scalp. If the consultation is in-office, he/she should look for miniaturization of the hair follicles, patchy areas, redness/inflammation, swelling, dandruff and skin cancer. The doctor should also have such tools as a magnification camera. If the consultation is virtual, you should be asked to take pictures of your scalp with a smartphone. An examination of your scalp is necessary for an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your hair loss. If the doctor doesn’t take this basic step, continue your search.

Finally, the surgeon should ask about your hair restoration goals. Dr. Barusco has had patients who wanted hair on areas of the scalp that he considered secondary—that is, not as obvious as the hairline—yet that was the area on which the patient wanted to see hair growth. Learning what the patient wants is an important part of the consultation. Moreover, an ethical surgeon will tell you if your expectations aren’t realistic—for example, if you want the volume and/or hairline you had at age 18.

Questions to Ask a Hair Restoration Surgeon During Your Consultation

A good consultation is a two-way process. The following are key questions you should ask the surgeon:

  • How long have you been doing surgical hair restoration procedures?
  • How many hair restoration procedures have you performed?
  • How many types of procedures do you perform on a regular basis? The answer can reveal the surgeon’s limitations. Some perform only one or two types of procedures. This means the surgeon may not be proficient at the others, and can’t (or won’t) advise you if a different procedure would be more appropriate for your individual case. Moreover, if the surgeon only performs the Follicular Unit Excision (FUE), a robotic device may be used. The following paragraph addresses the risks involved.
  • How many hair restoration procedures do you perform per month? A busy practice can be one indication that a surgeon is skilled and well-respected by patients.
  • Is hair restoration surgery your only practice, or do you perform other types of cosmetic surgery?
  • Will you provide names of patients who are willing to be references?

It is important to understand that unqualified, non-medical technicians and other staff are increasingly performing hair transplant surgery using robotic devices to harvest and implant hair follicles. The practice is becoming so prevalent, that consumers have come to accept this as a legitimate situation—which it is definitely not. On its Consumer Advocacy page, the ISHRS urges potential patients to ask the following questions during consultation, as well as questions regarding costs, risks, and short and long-term benefits and planning:

  • Who will evaluate my hair loss and recommend a course of treatment? What is their education, training, licensure, and experience in treating hair loss? Only physicians, Physician’s Assistants and Nurse Practitioners are legally allowed to diagnose a patient and to recommend medical treatments. Otherwise, the person recommending procedures and/or treatments is practicing medicine without a license, a felony crime in Florida and many other states.
  • Who will be involved in performing my surgery, what role will they play, and what is their education, training, licensure and experience performing hair restoration surgery?
  • Will anyone not allowed by the State Medical Board be making incisions or harvesting grafts during my surgery? If so, please identify this person, explain their specific role and why they are legally permitted to perform it.
  • Is everyone involved in my surgery covered by malpractice insurance?

During your consultation, the surgeon should answer all of your questions to your satisfaction, in a manner you understand. You should not feel that the surgeon is dismissing your concerns, or providing vague replies. Transparency is essential.

Other Ways to Tell if You’ve Found a Good Hair Restoration Surgeon

Assuming the consultation has gone well, here are other factors to look for in choosing a hair restoration surgeon:

Transparency about pricing—You should be told the cost of the procedure, with no “hidden” fees. Financing options—also without hidden fees—should be available.

A thorough discussion of your hair transplant plan—This should cover the type of procedure, as well as the amount of grafts to be harvested from the donor area and the distribution of grafts to be implanted to the recipient areas of your scalp. In explaining this, the surgeon should tell you that this plan is being made in anticipation of your next procedure. Hair loss will progress over time. A conscientious surgeon will plan to leave an adequate amount of donor hair for a subsequent transplant.

A discussion of possible risks—Your surgeon should disclose the risks of the procedure, including potential complications and side effects.

How to prepare for the day of surgery, and post-surgical care—You should receive printed instructions, but a good surgeon will discuss each point with you to be sure you understand, and to answer any questions you may have.

Post-surgery follow-up, and follow-up appointments—Your surgeon should call you soon after the procedure to make sure you’re comfortable and your immediate post-operative recovery is going as expected. You should also have your surgeon’s phone number in case of an urgent situation. You’ll be scheduled for follow-up appointments at certain intervals so the progress of your new growth can be monitored.

Knowledge is Power—Choose Your Surgeon Wisely!

Now that you have your Handbook to Hair Restoration Surgery, use your knowledge to choose your surgeon wisely! If this blog post is too long for you to print out and take to your consultation, our Hair Loss Consultation Checklist includes all of the important points to cover, in a convenient one-page format. Just click here to download.

We also invite you to visit Dr. Barusco’s YouTube channel, Hair Loss Medical Advice, where you can learn as he discusses such issues as the types and causes of hair loss, hair transplant procedures, and much more. And of course, our blog features informative posts, updated every month.

Ultimately, choose your surgeon based on experience, results and integrity. Dr. Barusco’s long list of accomplishments, his notable artistic ability and his successful surgical team make Tempus Hair Restoration a renowned practice. We understand that the main concern you may have is cost, which is why we offer financing options that can place this important goal within reach.

Contact us to schedule your free virtual consultation. Dr. Barusco conducts every consultation himself, giving you the opportunity to learn your options in the comfort of your home – or any location, on any internet-enabled device. 

Dr. Barusco conducts consultations in English, Spanish and Portuguese. For your greater convenience, Tempus Hair Restoration offers a two-night complimentary hotel stay to out-of-town clients who travel 100 miles or more to our Port Orange, Florida, surgical center. No matter how far the distance, we welcome the opportunity to help you on your hair restoration journey!

Why You Should Avoid Practices That Don’t Specialize in Hair Restoration

Male Hair Restoration,

There is no shortage of clinics and medical practices that offer hair restoration. And it’s no wonder. Considering that hair transplants constitute a $53 billion dollar global market, the incentive to do so is great. However, if you’re considering a hair transplant, be careful about who you choose, and avoid practices that don’t specialize in hair restoration.

You may wonder why this would matter. After all, aren’t hair transplants a standardized surgical procedure? If a medical practice is offering them, shouldn’t the doctor be qualified to perform them safely and achieve the desired result? The answers may surprise you—and not in a pleasant way!

Not All Hair Transplants are Created Equal

As a consumer, all you know about hair transplant clinics and medical practices that offer them is likely through their advertising. Be it online or in print, of course, ads present these services in the best light—and always beneficial to the consumer. But if you’re looking for a bargain and/or are impressed by the use of high-tech robotic devices that claim to deliver a perfect outcome with a minimum of human intervention, there is much that you’re not being told.

The caution “consumer beware” should be your attitude in your response to advertising claims. If an ad for a clinic or practice that doesn’t specialize in hair transplantation gets your interest because of what seems to be a good price for a follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedure, you should ask yourself why this practice is now performing hair transplants, how long it’s been doing so, and who is doing the actual planning, harvesting and implantation of hair grafts—and what their qualifications are.

Dr. Marco Barusco – Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Tempus Hair Restoration—is a vocal advocate for consumer education. In his three-part YouTube podcast series—“The Current State of Hair Transplant Surgery”—Dr. Barusco provides his personal perspective on this situation. In part three of the series—“Do It Right or Don’t Do It At All”—Dr. Barusco talks with podcast host Peter Roman about how such cosmetic surgery practices came to add hair transplantation to their services.

Dr. Barusco reveals that while you might assume a physician or cosmetic surgeon reached this decision after a good deal of thought and additional training, such typically isn’t the case. Instead, the purchase of a robotic device prompted this new service. Get ready to have your eyes opened!

Says Dr. Barusco:

“What they [the robotic device manufacturer] do is go to a plastic surgery conference and buy an exhibitor’s space and set up with the machines and some sales people. They tell the surgeons, ‘Look, you can add hair transplant surgery to your practice. It’s a 50 billion dollar industry you can get a piece of. Just buy my machine. You don’t have to do anything. I will send the staff to do the procedure for you, and do the advertising.’ So it became very popular.”

Let this sink in. A manufacturer’s sales representative pitches doctors a turnkey solution that requires no knowledge or skill on their part to operate so they can enjoy a new revenue stream. Other personnel who are hired by the device’s manufacturer will be sent out to perform the FUE procedure. The extent of their training does not qualify them to harvest and implant hair grafts – which is, by definition, surgery, as both require cutting into the skin.

Hair Restoration Surgeons Sound the Alarm About Unethical and Illegal Practices

Dr. Barusco is not alone in sounding the alarm. As Modern Aesthetics reports, hair transplant surgery is surgery.

“Unfortunately, some FUE medical device companies deceive some doctors into believing that after they buy this FUE motorized surgical drill that they can delegate these steps of hair transplant surgery to hair transplant technicians. Hair transplant technicians are medical assistants (MAs). MAs do not have to graduate from any school (even high school), do not have to pass any test, and are not licensed/certified by any medical governing body. A medical device company has no authority to provide MAs medical licenses to practice medicine. However, some FUE medical device companies are deceiving the public and doctors by giving these MAs certificates stating that they are certified and can be delegated to do these critical aspects of the surgery. This is illegal and probably criminal since it is aiding and abetting the unlicensed practice of medicine.”

Florida and other states in the U.S. have passed legislation which deems that harvesting hair and making incisions on a patient are functions that only a physician, a Physician’s Assistant (not the same as a technician or nurse) or a Nurse Practitioner are allowed to perform.

“If you don’t see any of them in the room, the surgery is being done illegally,” says Dr. Barusco. “Technicians and any other such individuals are practicing medicine without a license, and the doctor who allows them to do it in their practice is also aiding and abetting the illegal practice of medicine and may lose his or her medical license and/or face felony charges.”

In a highly publicized case, the owner of a surgical center in Virginia Beach, VA, was arrested in 2023 for performing hair transplants without a license. The investigation began after a patient filed a complaint, claiming long-lasting medical issues as a result of his procedure.

The Potential for a Botched Hair Transplant is Real

You don’t need to try hard to imagine the potential for a botched outcome or even a risk to your health if you get a procedure from someone whose shingle lists “hair transplants” under other specialties. Also, consider the professional ethics of a doctor who sees you as just a quick buck, rather than a patient who deserves respect and the utmost care. Dr. Barusco has consulted with far too many such people who suffered poor outcomes as the result—including those whose transplant can’t be corrected because too much hair was harvested from the donor area of the scalp.

“I meet with patients almost every day who have trusted doctors and practices because they had these devices, only to find out later that they would need me to fix what’s been done to them. And what is even worse, is that these patients are coming to me not only with poor results on their hairline, but also scarring and thinning of their donor hair caused by taking too many hairs with incisions that are too close together and/or larger than they should be.”

It’s Important to Choose Your Surgeon Wisely

One big tip-off as to whether a practice has literally bought into using a robotic device as its sole means of performing hair transplants is if it only offers the FUE. A practice that does not also offer follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and/or the No-Shave FUE—which Dr. Barusco developed to completely conceal harvested donor sites immediately—does not have an experienced hair transplant specialist on staff, and should be avoided.

Also known as the “strip” method, the FUT involves harvesting a very small strip of hair and skin from the donor area, then placing it under a microscope to be prepared for implantation as hair grafts. The FUT has undergone refinements over the years so that the only evidence is a pencil-line linear scar easily concealed by hair—even at a shorter length. As this procedure cannot be performed by a robotic device, look for a practice that offers the FUT and other procedures besides the FUE. Tempus Hair Restoration offers the procedures mentioned in the previous paragraph, as well as the groundbreaking combination FUE and FUT, which covers large areas of baldness in a single surgery without having to wait one or two years between procedures.

Avoiding practices that don’t specialize in hair transplants is just the initial step in ensuring your procedure will be performed by a qualified, experienced, skilled surgeon who puts the well-being and hair restoration goals of the patient first.

Dr. Barusco’s long list of accomplishments, his notable artistic ability and his successful surgical team make Tempus Hair Restoration a renowned practice. We understand that the main concern you may have is cost, which is why we offer financing options that can place this important goal within reach.

Contact us to schedule your free virtual consultation. Dr. Barusco conducts every consultation himself, giving you the opportunity to learn your options in the comfort of your home – or any location, on any internet-enabled device. 

Dr. Barusco conducts consultations in English, Spanish and Portuguese. For your greater convenience, Tempus Hair Restoration offers a two-night complimentary hotel stay to out-of-town clients who travel 100 miles or more to our Port Orange, Florida, surgical center. No matter how far the distance, we welcome the opportunity to help you on your hair restoration journey!

There’s No Time Like the Present for a Hair Transplant!

Male Hair Restoration

Are you considering a hair transplant? If so, how long have you been thinking about it? Hopefully, you’re spending your time researching hair restoration procedures and surgeons through credible sources in order to make a good decision. However, there’s no time like the present to take the big step to improving your appearance and self-confidence! The new year offers new opportunities. Being the best possible version of yourself can help you make the most of them!

The World is More Competitive – You Need Every Advantage You Can Get!

Maybe you keep up with today’s rapidly changing technology out of necessity for your job, or just because you enjoy it. Although in the recent past being a rock star in your field was enough to keep you employed or position you as a desirable job candidate, we need to be honest about today’s situation. Projecting a dynamic, fit appearance now counts a great deal in how your employer—or potential employer—sees you. A balding scalp has an aging effect on even a young man. For a mature man, it can be a serious deterrent to job security or advancement.

Moreover, video conferencing is here to stay. Whether you’re interviewing for a job or meeting with coworkers and clients, that flattened-out, washed-out on-screen image is unflattering to most people as it is. Add hair loss to the equation. An increasing number of hair transplant patients specifically name Zoom as the motivation that brings them to the surgeon’s office.

The often unspoken concerns regarding age discrimination in the workplace are widespread and justified. According to Hiscock’s 2019 Ageism in the Workplace Study, more men than women feel that their advancing age has adversely impacted their careers—with 43% of men surveyed believing their age has prevented them from finding a new job. Our blog post—“Does Hair Loss Hurt Your Career?”—covers this topic in detail.

In addition to the job market, the dating scene is highly competitive. Hair loss can cause women to “swipe left” when they view your profile picture on dating apps. While it’s true that your positive qualities should outweigh physical appearance (the same could be said when you search such apps for an eligible bachelorette), many factors play into selecting a potential mate. And if that word seems a little prehistoric, there is much about how we subconsciously select a partner that’s hard-wired into our brain. A male with a full head of hair projects a desirable image of health and potency.

Again, let’s be honest. Women traditionally have been aware of the social price to be paid for showing signs of aging. But the bar is now being raised for men. If you’ve seen—or at least are aware of—the reality series, The Golden Bachelor, you know that men who have reached (or passed) their 50th birthday are expected to look robust and sport a full head of healthy hair. Also, highly promoted skincare brands marketed to men are making inroads, finding customers who want to fight wrinkles, under-eye bags and sagging skin. The ante has been upped when it comes to bringing your “A” game!

The Influence of Social Media, Pop Culture and International Culture on Perceptions of Male Attractiveness

We don’t live in a bubble. Expectations of physical appearance are now higher due to social media, as well as international influences on perceptions of male attractiveness. Instagram, TikTok and K-pop boy bands permeate our culture, setting style standards. Also, an openness to international cultures has introduced different aesthetic preferences.

For example, as our blog post—“Hair Restoration Around the World: A Cultural Perspective”—observes, the male beauty standards in East Asian popular culture – from Korean K-pop to Hong Kong’s movie industry—often favor big hair and boyish looks. With South Korea being a global leader in skincare and other beauty trends, the number of hair transplant clinics is growing. Moreover, hair transplant procedures are popular among Chinese males, with the number of Chinese patients in Asian clinics described by a CNN report as “booming.”

If you’re noticing more men sporting a hairline that’s closer to the forehead, there’s a reason! The hairline of Caucasian males is forward in youth, gradually receding from the temples somewhat until reaching its mature M-shape. Even when seeking a hair transplant for androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss), Caucasian men typically are comfortable with a certain amount of recession remaining in this area.

However, a more forward hairline has long been favored by men of Black, Hispanic, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern heritage—who show a specific preference to restore this hairline when they undergo a hair transplant procedure. The aesthetic goal is toward a hairline that signals the vigor and virility of youth, which an increasing number of men of all backgrounds find appealing as the image they want to project.

Hair Restoration Techniques are Better than Ever!

Today’s hair restoration procedures and technologies are better than ever. When performed by an experienced surgeon who combines skill with an artist’s eye—such as  Dr. Marco Barusco—founder and Chief Medical Officer of Tempus Hair Restoration—a hair transplant achieves the look of natural growth.

Dr. Barusco offers the following procedures and treatments:

Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) — In this procedure, follicular units (hair grafts) in groupings of one, two or three hairs are individually extracted from the back of the head (donor area) using small circular punch blades instead of a scalpel. The grafts are then transplanted to the thinning or balding areas of the scalp. Once the desired number of grafts are obtained, the donor sites are left to heal without suturing. The resulting scars are not readily visible and are easily concealed even by very short hair.

No-Shave FUE — Developed by Dr. Barusco, the no-shave FUE completely conceals harvested donor sites immediately, allowing you to resume your regular activities with virtually no evidence of the procedure.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) — Also known as the “strip” method, the FUT procedure has undergone refinements over the years so that the only evidence is a pencil-line linear scar easily concealed by hair—even at a shorter length. Although many hair transplant practices encourage patients toward the FUE, there are circumstances in which the FUT will produce the more successful outcome.

Combination FUE and FUT — This technique covers large areas of baldness in a single surgery. Patients with advanced hair loss are typically required to undergo multiple hair transplant procedures to obtain coverage of their entire bald scalp—having to wait one year or more between procedures. This allows patients to achieve their ultimate goal sooner, with one procedure versus many.

So What Are You Waiting For? Don’t Let Another Year Go By Without Getting Your Hair Back!

This is the time to take action! Letting your hair loss continue will only make restoration more challenging should you eventually decide to explore your options for a hair transplant procedure. Meanwhile, the world will continue to turn faster, and standards for appearance will be set even higher. Don’t get left behind as others get the opportunities you want!

Start by scheduling your free virtual consultation with Dr. Barusco today and explore the solutions that best fit your needs—all from the comfort of your home. With over 25 years of experience and a reputation as an innovator in his field, Dr. Barusco leads Tempus Hair Restoration with a commitment to delivering personalized care. Every consultation is conducted by Dr. Barusco himself, ensuring that you receive expert advice tailored to your unique situation. We also offer financing options to make your hair restoration journey as accessible as possible.

Consultations are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. For out-of-town clients, we offer a complimentary two-night hotel stay for those traveling 100 miles or more to our Port Orange, Florida, surgical center.

No matter the distance, we are here to help you restore your hair and your confidence. Contact us today, and let’s start your journey together! You deserve to live your best life! There’s no time like the present!

Can a “Pluggy” Hair Transplant be Corrected?

Male Hair Restoration,

Are you living with a hair transplant that gave you a “pluggy” or “doll-head” look? If so, you’re not alone. And if you’re reluctant to undergo another procedure to correct it because you’re apprehensive about making it even worse, help is available if you choose the right surgeon. Of course, we will soon talk about Dr. Marco Barusco—Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Tempus Hair Restoration—and his extensive experience in correcting botched hair transplants. But first, let’s look at the reasons this kind of bad result has occurred over the years, and why it continues to this day.

Pluggy Hair Transplants: A Brief History

Back in the mid-1970s through the ‘80s—when hair transplants were first gaining popularity—the technology and surgical procedures for harvesting and implanting hair grafts were primitive by today’s standards. Doctors harvested hair with a circular punch device, and each graft contained as many as 20 hairs. The surgical team placed the transplanted grafts far enough apart to ensure they had a sufficient blood supply to survive. The hair then grew out as isolated clumps, similar to those on a doll’s head, resulting in an unnatural look.

Fortunately, hair transplant technology has come a long way since then. When performed properly, the outcome has the appearance of natural growth—thus achieving the desired effect that no one can tell you had a hair transplant!

So Why Are Pluggy Hair Transplants Still Out There?

Unfortunately, there are a lot of unqualified or minimally qualified people performing hair transplant procedures. Regular readers of our Tempus Hair Restoration blog have learned about foreign black market hair transplant clinics where non-medical staff members harvest and implant hair grafts—often without supervision by a licensed surgeon—under unsanitary operating room conditions. In such clinics, a pluggy result would probably be the least of what could go wrong.

Even here in the United States, clinics and medical practices that use robotic devices to harvest and implant hair grafts can cut corners by using unlicensed technicians or other staff members to operate the machine—in effect, performing surgery. Our blog has covered this situation in depth, and Dr. Barusco has written this eye-opening article about why you should avoid choosing such a practice for your procedure.

Today, we can add changing taste in male hairline aesthetics to the reasons why pluggy hair transplants persist. Unlike their fathers, the new generation of men seeking hair restoration procedures tend to favor a more forward hairline, which is characteristic of a youthful hairline. In the hands of a surgeon who has a poor sense of how to place hair grafts to have some variation to avoid a straight-across look, however, the growth pattern appears “off,” with the hairs seeming to grow up from the hairline instead of subtly blending in.

Dr. Barusco’s Advice for a Viewer Unhappy with His Pluggy Hairline

Dr. Barusco answers questions from viewers of his YouTube channel, Hair Loss Medical Advice. One viewer said he had a hair transplant in England in 2016, and has a concern about his hairline and the direction of the graphs. There were multiple hair graphs placed right on the hairline, resulting in a pluggy look. His question to Dr. Barusco: What can be done to fix it?

Looking at the viewer’s photo on screen, Dr. Barusco identified where the transplant went wrong. Of course, you should watch the video, but the essence of the issue is the hairline is at once too forward and too similar to that of an inverted U-shaped female hairline. While Dr. Barusco provides detailed advice regarding correction in the video, he recommends surgically removing some of the hairs from the hairline, dividing them into smaller units, and re-implanting them in a more natural pattern to soften the hairline. This is typically achieved by using advanced follicular unit extraction (FUE) techniques to achieve a less obvious, denser appearance that softens the pluggy effect.

Dr. Barusco also recommends removing some grafts from the corners of the hairline frontotemporal angles) to make them appear more natural.

Will the viewer follow up by booking an appointment with Dr. Barusco for a one-on-one consultation and undergo the corrective procedure? We don’t know yet, but watch this space for a follow-up blog post if he does!

Key Steps in Correcting a Pluggy Hair Transplant

While we just looked at one specific individual with a pluggy hair transplant issue, the general steps in performing a corrective transplant procedure are as follow:

Removal of old grafts—The primary step involves carefully extracting the large, visible “plug”grafts using a punch tool, essentially reversing the previous transplant procedure. 

Graft manipulation—Depending on the size and quality of the removed grafts, the surgeon might divide them into smaller follicular units for a more natural distribution. 

Strategic re-implantation—The newly separated grafts are then strategically placed in the recipient area, following a natural hair growth pattern to camouflage the previous unnatural appearance.

Camouflage techniques—In some cases, where the donor area is limited, the surgeon might use existing hair to “camouflage” the remaining visible pluggy areas. 

Factors to Consider when Correcting a Pluggy Hair Transplant

Severity of the “pluggy” appearance—The extent of visible plugs will determine the complexity of the revision procedure. 

Donor hair availability—The quality and quantity of remaining donor hair will influence the potential for achieving a natural result. 

Surgeon’s expertise—Choosing a highly experienced surgeon with a strong aesthetic sense is crucial for a successful correction.

Living with a Pluggy Transplant? Don’t Give Up Hope! Choose Your Next Surgeon Wisely!

When you get a hair transplant, you deserve the result you expected. If you didn’t, don’t resign yourself to living with it—as well as the dissatisfaction and diminished self-confidence you feel every time you look in the mirror. When it comes to hair restoration, you deserve care from a surgeon with experience, integrity and a proven track record. With over 25 years of experience and a notable reputation in the field, Dr. Barusco leads Tempus Hair Restoration with a commitment to delivering personalized care. Every consultation is conducted by Dr. Barusco himself, ensuring that you receive expert advice tailored to your unique situation. We also offer financing options that can help place this important goal within your reach.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re looking for answers to your specific hair loss questions, schedule your free virtual consultation with Dr. Barusco today. Consultations are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. And for out-of-town clients, we offer a complimentary two-night hotel stay for those traveling over 100 miles to our Port Orange, Florida, surgical center. We will be with you at every step of your hair restoration journey!

More Hair Loss Myths

Hair Loss Procedures

Separating fact from fiction can be challenging, especially when it comes to personal topics like hair loss. Misconceptions about hair loss are everywhere, and they often discourage people from seeking real solutions. In this post, we’re tackling eight common hair loss myths that might be holding you back from the confidence you deserve. Let’s dive in and separate myth from reality, helping you find the answers that truly support your hair restoration journey.

If you’ve ever wondered if your hair loss might reflect something about you beyond genetics, you’re not alone. But here’s the truth: There’s no scientific evidence linking intelligence to hair loss. The primary cause of male pattern hair loss—known as androgenetic alopecia—is influenced by genetics and hormones, not intelligence. While society sometimes perceives bald men as wise or intelligent, these impressions are just that—perceptions.

  1. Highly Intelligent People are More Likely to Go Bald

The “logic” behind this myth is that intellectual people think so much, their brain overheats the hair follicles—or there’s increased blood circulation through the scalp, thanks to all that active thinking just below. Another variation suggests that high-level thinkers worry more, causing their hair to fall out. There’s a grain of truth here, as stress can trigger temporary hair loss through a condition called telogen effluvium, but this has no connection to intelligence.

Bottom line: Hair loss is not a measure of intelligence. If you’re experiencing it and want to understand your options, Dr. Marco Barusco—Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Tempus Hair Restoration—is here to provide clarity and guidance based on over 25 years of expertise.

  1. Baldness is Inherited from Your Mother’s Side

For those wondering if genetics might hold the answer to their hair loss, know that this isn’t entirely true. While early genetic studies suggested balding was passed down through the maternal line, we now know that genes from both sides of the family can influence hair loss.

To put it simply, both parents contribute to the genes that determine hair loss potential. According to Harvard Medical School, “Contrary to the folk wisdom that baldness is inherited from one’s mother’s family, the condition depends on genes from both parents.”

Bottom line: Genetics play a role, but they’re not solely responsible. Dr. Barusco can help you understand the genetic factors that may be at play in your unique case, giving you a clearer picture of your hair restoration options.

  1. Too Much Exercise Causes Hair Loss

You may have heard that working out too much can cause hair loss. While it’s true that excessive, high-stress workouts might impact hair health, regular exercise does not cause hair loss—in fact, it can boost blood flow to the scalp, supporting healthy hair growth.

For those involved in extreme training, like competitive bodybuilding, there can be additional factors at play, such as anabolic steroid use and nutrient deficiencies, which can indeed contribute to hair loss. The key is balance, along with making sure you’re getting essential nutrients to support healthy hair.

Bottom line: Your workout routine isn’t to blame for hair loss unless it involves extreme factors. Want to learn more about how lifestyle choices impact your hair health? Dr. Barusco is here to provide expert insights tailored to you.

  1. Too Much Testosterone Causes Hair Loss

This myth has staying power, thanks to portrayals of high-testosterone athletes and action movie heroes with thinning hair. The reality, though, is that high testosterone levels don’t directly cause hair loss. Instead, genetics determine how sensitive your hair follicles are to androgens like dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a byproduct of testosterone.

If your follicles are sensitive to DHT, even small amounts can trigger hair loss. For those with this sensitivity, solutions are available that target DHT without compromising overall health.

Bottom line: It’s not about how much testosterone you have, but rather your genetic sensitivity to it. Dr. Barusco can help you understand how your genetics play a role in hair loss and what can be done to manage it.

  1. A High-Sodium Diet Causes Hair Loss

A high-sodium diet certainly isn’t great for overall health, but it doesn’t directly cause hair loss. Instead, an excess of sodium can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney problems—conditions that can affect your hair health over time by limiting nutrient delivery to the scalp.

Bottom line: For a healthy head of hair and a healthy you, a balanced diet is key. If you’re unsure how nutrition might be affecting your hair, Dr. Barusco can offer personalized advice as part of your hair restoration journey.

  1. Sleeping on One Side Causes Hair Loss

The idea here is that sleeping on one side puts pressure on those hair follicles, causing them to weaken over time. In reality, this isn’t something to worry about. Most people shift positions throughout the night, and hair growth patterns are largely genetically programmed.

Bottom line: Sleeping position has no effect on hair loss. Hair restoration is about working with your unique biology, and Dr. Barusco can help you understand your options based on your individual needs.

  1. Frequent Shampooing Causes Hair Loss

This myth likely stems from concerns about harsh shampoos and over-styling, which can cause hair to break. However, regular shampooing, especially with gentle products, actually supports scalp health by keeping follicles clear.

Bottom line: Enjoy the refreshing feel of a clean scalp, knowing it’s only helping—not hurting—your hair. Dr. Barusco can recommend the best care routine tailored to your hair and scalp type.

  1. Blocked Follicles Cause Hair Loss

This is perhaps the most persistent myth of all, with countless products on the market claiming to “unblock” follicles and restore hair growth. However, hair growth isn’t affected by external blockage of the follicles.

Dr. Barusco has addressed this in detail on his YouTube channel, Hair Loss Medical Advice, where he explains that hair grows even when follicles appear “blocked” by sebum or oil. Products that promise to reverse hair loss by cleansing follicles don’t actually target the biological mechanisms involved in hair loss.

Bottom line: Don’t let these claims fool you. Real solutions start with understanding the root causes of hair loss, and Dr. Barusco’s years of expertise make him the trusted choice to help you explore options that work.

When It’s Time to Get Real Answers

Hair loss is about more than just appearance—it can affect how we see ourselves and how we feel each day. At Tempus Hair Restoration, we’re committed to giving you the confidence that comes with knowing you have expert support on your side. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Barusco provides personalized care for each client, ensuring that every step of the journey is crafted with your unique needs in mind.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re looking for answers to your specific hair loss questions, schedule your free virtual consultation with Dr. Barusco today. Consultations are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. And for out-of-town clients, we offer a complimentary two-night hotel stay for those traveling over 100 miles to our Port Orange, Florida, surgical center.

Take the first step toward restoring your hair and your confidence. Secure your consultation now—spots fill up quickly, and we’re here to make this journey as smooth and supportive as possible. Contact us today, and let’s start your journey together!

Does Ozempic Cause Hair Loss?

Hair Loss Procedures,

Originally used to treat type 2 diabetes, Ozempic has gained widespread attention as an effective weight loss solution. But could hair loss be an unwanted side effect of Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications? Some media outlets sensationalize claims that patients are shedding hair along with the pounds, and exaggerated reports on social media can make it hard to separate fact from fiction. Let’s take a closer look at the real story.

What Are GLP-1 Drugs, and How Do They Cause Weight Loss?

GLP-1 drugs—also known as GLP-1 agonists—mimic the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone, which helps regulate blood sugar and hunger. According to Harvard Medical School, GLP-1 agonists stimulate the pancreas to release insulin while suppressing glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar levels. This process is crucial for managing type 2 diabetes.

In addition to controlling blood sugar, GLP-1 drugs act on the brain to reduce hunger and slow down stomach emptying, which can lead to significant weight loss. The FDA has approved these medications not only for diabetes patients but also for individuals with obesity who are looking to lose weight.

Is Hair Loss a Side Effect of GLP-1 Medications?

In early 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began investigating reports of hair loss in people taking GLP-1 medications like Ozempic. However, their findings did not demonstrate a clear link between these drugs and hair loss.

Instead, hair loss during dramatic weight loss is more commonly attributed to telogen effluvium—a temporary condition triggered by physical stress on the body, including rapid weight loss. Telogen effluvium causes hair follicles to shift into the shedding phase of their growth cycle, leading to noticeable hair loss about three months after the stressor.

The good news is that telogen effluvium is usually temporary, with hair growth resuming within three to six months after the underlying cause is addressed. However, it can take longer for your hair to return to its normal fullness, especially if it’s longer. Most people regain their hair volume within six to nine months.

What About Other Types of Hair Loss?

The American Hair Loss Association (AHLA) warns that while telogen effluvium is temporary, there may be more serious concerns for those misusing GLP-1 medications for rapid weight loss without medical supervision. The AHLA has suggested that hormonal changes triggered by these drugs could potentially accelerate androgenic alopecia (male or female pattern hair loss), which is a progressive form of hair loss that can lead to permanent thinning.

Considering Medical Weight Loss? Choose Your Physician Wisely!

Unfortunately, GLP-1 medications have become one of the many “services” offered by telehealth companies that also sell hair restoration and male health products. These companies may downplay the importance of proper medical supervision, turning prescriptions into a transactional service rather than a thoughtful medical decision.

Always consult with a licensed physician before beginning any weight loss treatment. Choosing a trusted medical professional ensures that your health is carefully monitored, and any potential side effects—such as hair loss—are properly addressed.

Considering a Hair Restoration Procedure? Choose Your Surgeon Wisely!

When it comes to hair restoration, you deserve care from a surgeon with experience, integrity, and a proven track record. Dr. Marco Barusco, with over 25 years of experience and a notable reputation in the field, leads Tempus Hair Restoration with a commitment to delivering personalized care.

At Tempus, every consultation is conducted by Dr. Barusco himself, ensuring that you receive expert advice tailored to your unique situation. We also offer financing options to make your hair restoration journey as accessible as possible.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Book your free virtual consultation with Dr. Barusco today and explore the solutions that best fit your needs—all from the comfort of your home. Consultations are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. For out-of-town clients, we offer a complimentary two-night hotel stay for those traveling 100 miles or more to our Port Orange, Florida, surgical center.

No matter the distance, we are here to help you restore your hair and your confidence. Contact us today and let’s start your journey together!

August is National Hair Loss Awareness Month

Hair Loss Procedures, ,

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has designated August as National Hair Loss Awareness Month to focus attention on the causes of and treatments for hair loss. According to Penn Medicine, hair loss affects more than 40 million men and 20 million women in the United States. However, statistics are made up of individuals. If you are experiencing hair loss, it’s a personal source of worry, uncertainty and frustration. We at Tempus Hair Restoration want to take this opportunity to cover the various common reasons for hair loss – both permanent and temporary – as well as transplant procedures and the types of hair loss each can best address.

What is Alopecia?

“Alopecia” is a general term for hair loss. There are many types of alopecia, each with its own pathology and set of symptoms. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common form of hair loss in both men and women. In men, this condition is also known as male-pattern baldness.

In men, hair is lost in a well-defined pattern, beginning above both temples. Over time, the “M” pattern that characterizes the mature male hairline recedes. Hair also thins at the top of the head (vertex or crown), often progressing to partial or complete baldness. This condition is genetic, running in families. In females, hair loss is diffuse, so that the scalp is visible. The center part also widens. Female androgenetic alopecia rarely leads to total baldness.

Other common types of alopecia include the following:

Alopecia areata – This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. This can lead to hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere. Typically the hair loss involves totally smooth, round patches about the size of a coin or larger. This disease may affect children, women or men of any age. The hair follicles – the “bulbs” below the skin surface – remain protected, so hair loss typically isn’t permanent. The National Alopecia Areata Foundation provides free information and resources for those living with this condition.

Traction alopecia – This is the term for hair loss from mechanical damage to the hair follicle caused by repeated tension or pulling. This can be caused by wearing the same hairstyle for long periods of time – especially those that tug on the hair, such as tight braids, cornrows and weaves. Tight hairstyles applied to chemically relaxed hair can lead to even greater damage. Our blog post – “Is a Hair Transplant a Solution for Traction Alopecia?” – covers this topic in greater detail.

What Are Other Causes of Hair Loss?

Although many people assume that the cause of hair loss is entirely genetic, lifestyle and health play an important role. No element of the human body exists or functions independently of the others – including hair follicles. Our blog post – “How Lifestyle Affects Hair Loss” – covers this topic in detail.

The following factors can cause or accelerate hair loss:

Stress – Many people experience a general thinning of the hair several months after a physical or emotional shock. Stress hormones – such as corticosterone – can put hair follicle stem cells into a resting phase, preventing them from regenerating hair follicles. However, the demands and uncertainties of modern life have made chronic stress commonplace. Fortunately, stress-induced hair loss is unlikely to be permanent. Using stress-management techniques and/or seeking professional counseling may help the mind-body connection deal with stress in a healthier way.

Smoking – Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor – which makes blood vessels contract. This restricts the delivery of oxygen to every cell of the body, including the skin and hair follicles. Over time, this makes hair regrowth harder, so when strands fall out, they aren’t replaced as readily – or at all. In addition to nicotine starving cells of oxygen, the numerous toxic substances in cigarettes have been implicated in causing damage to the DNA of hair follicles.

Poor diet – Hair is sensitive to nutritional imbalances. An inadequate intake of essential vitamins or minerals can impact the hair growth (anagen phase)/rest cycle (telogen phase). For this reason, a junk food diet high in saturated fat, salt and sugar – and low in essential vitamins and nutrients – not only leads to hair follicles being poorly nourished, but increases the risk for type 2 diabetes. Fad diets likewise tend to be imbalanced in food varieties and essential nutrients, and therefore should be avoided.

Medications and medical treatments – As Mayo Clinic states, hair loss can be a side effect of certain drugs – such as those used for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, gout and high blood pressure. Radiation therapy to the head also causes hair loss.

Steroid use – Bodybuilders and others looking to increase muscle mass and athletic performance have long turned to anabolic steroids, despite their dangerous side effects and risk of addiction. Add hair loss to the list. Those who are genetically predisposed to AGA can quickly accelerate its progression, because the Type II 5-alpha reductase enzyme transforms testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone). DHT clings to receptors on hair follicles and causes them to weaken. Hair loss accelerated by steroid use is permanent. Our blog post – “What You Need to Know About Bodybuilding and Hair Loss” – covers this topic in detail.

Hair Transplant Procedures

Not every type of hair loss can be addressed with a hair transplant procedure. Those whose loss is caused by AGA or traction alopecia can be good candidates for a hair transplant – taking into account such factors as the extent of hair loss, availability of hair in the donor site (the scalp area from which hair follicles are removed) and the overall health of the individual, among others.

For most other causes of hair loss, hair will eventually grow back unless the follicles themselves are no longer viable.

Hair transplant procedures include the following:

Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) – In this procedure, follicular units (hair grafts) in groupings of one, two or three hairs are individually extracted from the back of the head (donor area) using small circular punch blades instead of a scalpel. The grafts are then transplanted to the thinning or balding areas of the scalp. Once the desired number of grafts are obtained, the donor sites are left to heal without suturing. The resulting scars are not readily visible and are easily concealed even by very short hair.

No-Shave FUE – Developed by  Dr. Marco Barusco – Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Tempus Hair Restoration – the no-shave FUE completely conceals harvested donor sites immediately, allowing you to resume your regular activities with virtually no evidence of the procedure.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) – Also known as the “strip” method, the FUT procedure has undergone refinements over the years so that the only evidence is a pencil-line linear scar easily concealed by hair – even at a shorter length. Although many hair transplant practices encourage patients toward the FUE, there are circumstances in which the FUT will produce the more successful outcome.

Combination FUE and FUT – This technique covers large areas of baldness in a single surgery. Patients with advanced hair loss are typically required to undergo multiple hair transplant procedures to obtain coverage of their entire bald scalp – having to wait one year or more between procedures. This allows patients to achieve their ultimate goal sooner, with one procedure versus many.

The Importance of Choosing Your Surgeon Wisely

If National Hair Loss Awareness Month is making you think about seeking help for your own hair loss, you also need to be aware that not all hair restoration practices are equal in getting the best possible outcome. As we always say, “Knowledge is power.” Knowing how to find a skilled, experienced, ethical hair restoration surgeon is essential – yet can be difficult, as there is much misleading “information” regarding hair transplant surgery that works against consumers educating themselves about how to choose a qualified surgeon.

A good place to start is the website of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons (ISHRS). This site provides consumers with unbiased information on a wide range of issues – including how to be sure that a properly trained and licensed physician performs your hair transplant procedure, questions to ask during your consultation and many others.

We also invite you to visit Dr. Barusco’s YouTube channel, Hair Loss Medical Advice, where you can learn as he discusses such issues as the types and causes of hair loss, hair transplant procedures, and much more. And of course, our blog features informative posts, updated every month.

Ultimately, choose your surgeon based on experience, results and integrity. Dr. Barusco’s long list of accomplishments, his notable artistic ability and his successful surgical team make Tempus Hair Restoration a renowned practice. We understand that the main concern you may have is cost, which is why we offer financing options that can place this important goal within reach.

Contact us to schedule your free virtual consultation. Dr. Barusco conducts every consultation himself, giving you the opportunity to learn your options in the comfort of your home – or any location, on any internet-enabled device. 

Dr. Barusco conducts consultations in English, Spanish and Portuguese. For your greater convenience, Tempus Hair Restoration offers a two-night complimentary hotel stay to out-of-town clients who travel 100 miles or more to our Port Orange, Florida, surgical center. No matter how far the distance, we welcome the opportunity to help you on your hair restoration journey!

The Millennial Man’s Guide to Hair Restoration

Male Hair Restoration,

Call the millennials the generation that can never catch a break. Born between 1981 and 1996, its members have dealt with jokes about receiving participation trophies just for showing up, and their appetite for pricey avocado toast. Now for the ultimate indignity, millennial men are going bald. But the generation that’s also known for its spirit of cooperation is coming together to face hair loss head-on (so to speak), and proactively seeking hair restoration solutions that meet its needs. If you’re a millennial man, here is your guide to making the right decision – for both the present and the long term.

Before we begin, let’s state the obvious. Millennials are far from the first generation to battle hair loss. The earliest recorded remedies for baldness date back to ancient Egypt, in the year 1550 B.C.E. Obviously, they were unsuccessful. But if it seems that hair restoration is more important to millennial men than those of previous generations, you’re right!

Why Hair Restoration is More Important to Millennial Men

Several factors account for the reasons hair loss is less acceptable to millennials – with the pervasive use of social media being foremost. Today, your online presence and identity is you! This shift in perception began with Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) profiles and postings, then kicked into high gear when Zoom meetings became the main means of business and social interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. At about the same time, TikTok became a phenomenon, making everyone an online video star. With your digital persona an important part of your self-image, balding is an especially stinging affront.

Which leads to another leading reason – the fear of aging. Hair loss has an aging effect on even the most youthful face. While the popular mantra is “age is just a number,” most people are more realistic. As our blog post – “Does Hair Loss Hurt Your Career?” – covers, appearances count in our society. While we may believe that people should be judged by their merits, abilities and character, such isn’t always the case. In particular, men who are in the job market – or interested in career advancement – and experiencing hair loss could be wondering if their male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia) is harming their chances. The same goes for their social life.

For example, a study conducted by Johns Hopkins University recruited participants to compare photos of men before and after they got a hair transplant. Although they were looking at the same men, participants rated men after they got their hair transplants as more attractive, approachable, and successful.

Moreover, there are indications that men are beginning to experience hair loss at younger ages than any generation before them. However, it has not yet been established if this is a significant trend, or just more noticeable because of increased awareness.

If so, stress could be a contributing factor, considering the numerous personal and societal upheavals that the pandemic created. Poor nutrition may be another factor, as many millennials make fast foods the mainstay of their diet. As our blog post – “How Lifestyle Affects Hair Loss” – covers, hair is sensitive to nutritional imbalances. An inadequate intake of essential vitamins or minerals can impact the hair growth (anagen phase)/rest cycle (telogen phase). For this reason, a junk food diet high in saturated fat, salt and sugar – and low in essential vitamins and nutrients – not only leads to hair follicles being poorly nourished, but increases the risk for type 2 diabetes.

Changing Attitudes Towards Hair Transplants

In previous generations, society judged men who had a hair transplant with some amount of contempt – considering them vain or trying desperately to hold on to youth. Fortunately, public opinion has changed to approval, with the recognition that the desire to enhance one’s appearance is based towards achieving greater self-confidence.

Among millennial men, getting hair restoration treatment or a hair transplant procedure is a standard, acceptable solution to hair loss. Members of this generation have been accustomed to finding a way to meet their goals, rather than just resigning themselves to circumstances – in this case, a future of ever-increasing baldness.

Improved Hair Transplant Procedures

To be fair to your elders, one big reason men of previous generations were reluctant to undergo a hair transplant was because the technology was by today’s standards primitive – typically resulting in an unnatural-looking hairline and pluggy “doll hair” growth patterns. As cringeworthy as the much-ridiculed comb-over was, many men who wanted to conceal their bald spot decided it was preferable to the even odder-looking effect of the day’s usual hair transplant result.  

Hair transplant techniques have since greatly evolved, providing the look of natural growth when performed by an experienced, skilled hair restoration surgeon. Dr. Marco Barusco – Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Tempus Hair Restoration – offers the following procedures:

Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) – In this procedure, follicular units (hair grafts) in groupings of one, two or three hairs are individually extracted from the back of the head (donor area) using small circular punch blades instead of a scalpel. The grafts are then transplanted to the thinning or balding areas of the scalp. Once the desired number of grafts are obtained, the donor sites are left to heal without suturing. The resulting scars are not readily visible and are easily concealed even by very short hair.

No-Shave FUE – Developed by Dr. Barusco, the no-shave FUE completely conceals harvested donor sites immediately, allowing you to resume your regular activities with virtually no evidence of the procedure.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) – Also known as the “strip” method, the FUT procedure has undergone refinements over the years so that the only evidence is a pencil-line linear scar easily concealed by hair – even at a shorter length. Although many hair transplant practices encourage patients toward the FUE, there are circumstances in which the FUT will produce the more successful outcome.

Combination FUE and FUT – This technique covers large areas of baldness in a single surgery. Patients with advanced hair loss are typically required to undergo multiple hair transplant procedures to obtain coverage of their entire bald scalp – having to wait one year or more between procedures. This allows patients to achieve their ultimate goal sooner, with one procedure versus many.

Hair Restoration Pitfalls to Avoid

Now, here is where the guidance comes in. Not all hair restoration practices and surgeons are equal. You may know your way around the internet, but your searches might not lead you to the best surgeon – and could even lead you to one who’ll seriously botch your procedure. Others may not prescribe the right course of non-surgical treatment and might be unable to adequately monitor the progression of your hair loss. Previous Tempus Hair Restoration blog posts have alerted consumers to the following pitfalls to watch out for. In case this is your first time visiting our blog, here is a breakdown.

Online Hair Restoration Subscription Services – Purchasing goods and services online is the preferred way of doing business for millennials. But although there are many telehealth companies offering hair restoration medications, finding the right doctor and treatment for your specific hair loss isn’t the same as buying shoes online.

As reported by Natasha Singer and Katie Thomas in their article for The New York Times – Drug Sites Upend Doctor-Patient Relations: ‘It’s Restaurant-Menu Medicine’ – “The sites invert the usual practice of medicine by turning the act of prescribing drugs into a service. Instead of doctors making diagnoses and then suggesting treatments, patients request drugs and physicians serve largely as gatekeepers. Some of these companies operate in a regulatory vacuum that could increase public health risks … And federal and state health laws, written to ensure competent medical care and drug safety, have not kept pace with online services …”

These telehealth companies downplay the fact that even non-surgical treatment is still medical treatment that involves numerous factors a doctor needs to take into account and evaluate. However, as The New York Times’ article points out, these companies “… argue that they are tech platforms, not health providers. The sites connect consumers – and often process their payments – to doctors who may prescribe drugs and pharmacies that can ship the medications.” Their lack of accountability and responsibility to patient health should negate any perceived convenience in ordering prescription treatments with a couple of clicks.

Overseas Black Market Clinics – You’ve probably read about the advantages of traveling to Turkey for a hair transplant at a bargain price, with accommodations at a luxury hotel. However, much of what you read about Turkish hair transplant clinics are a combination of deliberate disinformation produced by the clinics themselves, social media hype and publicity provided by mainstream publications more eager for readers’ eyeballs than presenting the facts. Such clinics put you at risk for permanent disfigurement by a botched procedure performed by non-medical clinic employees who go to their other jobs, like waiting tables or driving taxis, after their shift at the clinic.

The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) – the world’s leading medical authority on hair loss treatment and restoration – launched a worldwide campaign designed to raise awareness of the risks of medical tourism for hair transplants. Its Fight the FIGHT (Fraudulent, Illicit and Global Hair Transplants) campaign targets the hair transplant black market, which is built upon fraudulent hair restoration clinics and misleading advertising claims. Please click the links to learn why you should avoid such clinics. Our blog post – “The Dangers of Black Market Hair Transplants in Turkey” – provides additional information.

Robotic Hair Transplant Devices – Robotic assisted devices are promoted by many hair transplant clinics as a quick, foolproof tool for performing the FUE procedure. Instead of the surgeon choosing which hair follicles to harvest from the donor area, a robotic assisted system evaluates the hair and – based on a complex algorithm – chooses the follicles that it identifies as being the best for transplantation. The device then harvests these follicles by means of a computer-controlled robotic arm. Although practices that utilize this device advertise it as the future of hair transplantation, there are limitations, even when used according to medical ethical standards and within the law.

Unfortunately, the nature of such devices leads to the slippery slope of unlicensed, non-medical personnel performing some or all aspects of an FUE hair transplant procedure – which is much more common than you may know. If you’re new to our blog, our post – “Don’t Let a Technician Perform Your Hair Transplant Surgery” – covers this topic in detail. We encourage you to read it, as well as our blog post – “The Truth About Robotic Devices in Hair Transplant Procedures” – for additional information.

The Millennial Man’s Guide to Hair Restoration

A valuable online resource for anyone considering a hair restoration procedure is the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS). This is a global non-profit medical association, and the leading authority on hair loss treatment and restoration. With more than 1,000 members throughout 70 countries worldwide, the ISHRS is dedicated to achieving excellence in patient outcomes by promoting the highest standards of medical practice, medical ethics and research in the medical hair restoration industry. The ISHRS offers objective, unbiased information, and does not accept advertising or affiliate links.

The ISHRS website provides free resources for consumers – such as its Find a Doctor database. This is maintained and updated with the name, location, contact information and link to the ISHRS member page of each doctor.

Dr. Marco Barusco – Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Tempus Hair Restoration – is a Fellow of the ISHRS. This is a distinction that is only given to those ISHRS members who achieve certain landmarks on teaching and leadership. Currently, fewer than 10% of the ISHRS members are Fellows.

In conducting research on individual surgeons, the ISHRS recommends learning about the surgeon’s training, credentials and experience in the field of hair restoration. Start this process by visiting the website of each surgeon you’re considering. Our blog post – “Is Your Hair Transplant Surgeon Qualified? What You Need to Know!” – covers this important topic in detail.

For all the millennial men embarking upon their hair restoration journey, we hope we’ve provided helpful information for getting you on the right road! If you participate by choosing your surgeon wisely, you’ll receive a full head of healthy hair as your award!

Ultimately, choose your surgeon based on experience, results and integrity. Dr. Barusco’s long list of accomplishments, his notable artistic ability and his successful surgical team make Tempus Hair Restoration a renowned practice.

We understand that the main concern you may have is cost, which is why we offer financing options that can place this goal within reach.

Contact us to schedule your free virtual consultation. Dr. Barusco conducts every consultation himself, giving you the opportunity to learn your options in the comfort of your home – or any location, on any internet-enabled device. 

Dr. Barusco conducts consultations in English, Spanish and Portuguese. For your greater convenience, Tempus Hair Restoration offers a two-night complimentary hotel stay to out-of-town clients who travel 100 miles or more to our Port Orange, Florida, surgical center. No matter how far the distance, we welcome the opportunity to help you on your hair restoration journey!

Hair Restoration Around the World: A Cultural Perspective

Male Hair Restoration,

People of different cultures and ethnicities have different standards of attractiveness. Fortunately, in recent years, this diversity has become celebrated and accepted in mainstream American society, so that people from a rich variety of backgrounds do not feel the need to conform to one particular “look” in order to be accepted.

As you’ve probably guessed the direction of our blog post by now, this diversity also affects an individual’s preferences and expectations when seeking a hair transplant. While you might assume that everyone wants the same aesthetic outcome from a hair transplant procedure, such is not the case. Hair is often tied to one’s cultural identity and heritage, which strongly influences self-image – which, in turn, also impacts self-confidence.

A native of Brazil, Dr. Marco Barusco – founder and Chief Medical Officer of Tempus Hair Restoration – has been privileged to perform hair restoration surgery on patients of all ethnicities, crediting his adopted home of Florida with being a popular destination for people of every racial heritage throughout the world. Here is the perspective that our practice has on cultural traditions for hair standards.

Hair Standards and Hair Loss Among Asian Men

According to a CNN report by Oscar Holland, while studies have suggested that almost all Caucasian men will eventually face some degree of male pattern baldness – and around half can expect to lose their hair by middle age – Asian men, and East Asians in particular, have historically experienced the lowest incidence of hair loss in the world.

“But losing your hair may be especially difficult in countries where it’s less common,” Holland writes. “The male beauty standards in East Asian popular culture – from Korean K-pop to Hong Kong’s movie industry – often favor big hair and boyish looks.” However, South Korean standards regarding balding for white and black men tend to be more accepting.

With South Korea being a global leader in skincare and other beauty trends, the number of hair transplant clinics is growing. Moreover, the same CNN report indicates that hair transplant procedures are popular among Chinese males, with the number of Chinese patients in Asian clinics described as “booming.”

A skilled hair restoration surgeon experienced in performing transplant procedures on Asian individuals takes into account the fact that their faces tend to be broader and rounder than their Western counterparts – especially Chinese and Korean faces. The hairline shape matches the face shape in that the hairline tends also to be broader and rounder in shape. In addition, the shape of the hairline has less lateral suppression – that is, it tends to stay rounder even toward the fronto-temporal region. Because Asian hairs grow out straight and black, the result can look unnatural if the angles of the hair grafts are not kept very low in relation to the scalp.

Preferences for Black/African-American Hair Transplants

As our blog post – “Why is Ethnicity an Important Consideration for a Hair Transplant?” – notes, black men prefer a more even hairline. In his article for the ISHRS, hair transplant surgeon William D. Yates, MD, writes that his male African-American patients prefer less temporal recession in the design – that is, a less-pronounced “M” shape that characterizes the mature male hairline. Although Caucasian men often seek a transplant to address a receding hairline, they tend to be more comfortable with some degree of temporal recession.

A straight hairline for men in Black American culture is a traditional preference, as it is widely considered a symbol of status and self-worth. As they have over many generations, Black men place great emphasis on personal grooming as a means of self-expression and identity preservation. A straight hairline typically occurs naturally, but is given a sharper edge by barbers.

When assessing an African-American male for a hair transplant, an experienced surgeon who is attuned to hair growth patterns among individuals of each ethnicity will take into account that restoring a straight hairline will produce an aesthetically natural result that would appear “off” if applied to a Caucasian male.

In addition to genetic hair loss – otherwise known as androgenetic alopecia (male and female pattern hair loss) – traction alopecia is a major cause of hair loss among African-American women. Traction alopecia is the term for hair loss from mechanical damage to the hair follicle caused by repeated tension or pulling. This can be caused by wearing the same hairstyle for long periods of time – especially those that tug on the hair. Tight hairstyles applied to chemically relaxed hair can lead to even greater damage. 

Unfortunately, many of the styling techniques – collectively known as protective styles – that cause traction alopecia have a long tradition in Black cultural identity and beauty. A protective style refers to hairstyles that tuck away the ends of each hair strand to protect them from the elements, as the end is the oldest, most fragile part of the strand. Protective styles include but are not limited to twists, braids, updos, weaves and wigs. However, protective styles ultimately have the opposite effect. According to Kimberly Lewis, CEO and co-founder of CurlMix – a clean beauty brand for curly hair – protective hairstyles actually damage hair and hurt hair growth.

If a woman experiencing traction alopecia has enough surviving hair, a transplant procedure can be an ideal solution for permanent hair loss, achieving a natural-appearing outcome that fills in and covers bald scalp areas – while restoring the patient’s self-image and self-confidence. Our blog post – “Is a Hair Transplant a Solution for Traction Alopecia?” – covers this topic in greater detail.

Hairline Preferences in Hispanic Culture

The term “Hispanic” is very broad and encompasses many types of individuals of Spanish descent – including Mexican, Caribbean, European, and Central and South American. A hair restoration surgeon must address the nuances of each when planning a transplant procedure, determining the appropriate hairline to complement the individual’s facial shape, degree of hair loss and specific ethnicity.

Moreover, Hispanic hair can range from straight and silky to curly and coily. The texture of Hispanic hair is typically finer than that of African-American hair, but coarser and thicker than Caucasian hair. Hispanic hair can have a wide range of curl patterns, from loose waves to tight spirals.

Whatever the hair texture or national background of the hair transplant patient, however, a Hispanic male’s hair is a source of pride – with most paying attention to hairstyling and how their hair establishes their status within their social circle and larger community – not to mention increases their attractiveness to women. An increasing number of Hispanic men now explore their hair restoration options when hair loss begins.

As for hairline preferences, many Hispanic men want a lower hairline that is typically associated with youth. As our blog post – “When Should You Have a Hair Transplant Procedure?” – covers, the male hairline continues to form up to approximately age 29. This occurs when the hairline moves back about a half inch to one inch from where it used to be. A mature hairline forms the “M” shape that distinguishes the male hairline from the female oval hairline shape. The preference for Hispanic (as well as many of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern heritage) males for a more forward hairline represents a desire to project the vitality and virility associated with young men.

You Deserve a Hair Restoration Procedure that Respects Your Heritage

Hair restoration is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and its significance varies greatly across cultures. If you’ve decided to have a hair transplant procedure, be sure the surgeon you choose has experience with patients of your ethnic group, and has achieved good results. Our website’s Before & After Gallery provides examples of Dr. Barusco’s outstanding work in creating the look of healthy, natural hair growth for patients of all ethnicities. In addition, ask any surgeon you schedule a consultation with about their experience in performing hair transplant procedures on members of your group. The consultation also is the time to tell the surgeon about your own aesthetic preferences and expectations of the results you want.

Ultimately, choose your surgeon based on experience, results and integrity. Dr. Barusco’s long list of accomplishments, his notable artistic ability and his successful surgical team make Tempus Hair Restoration a renowned practice. Contact us to schedule your free virtual consultation. Dr. Barusco conducts every consultation himself, giving you the opportunity to learn your options in the comfort of your home – or any location, on any internet-enabled device. 

Dr. Barusco conducts consultations in English, Spanish and Portuguese. For your greater convenience, Tempus Hair Restoration offers a two-night complimentary hotel stay to out-of-town clients who travel 100 miles or more to our Port Orange, Florida, surgical center. No matter how far the distance, we welcome the opportunity to help you on your hair restoration journey!