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Dr. Barusco’s Answers to Five Hair Restoration Questions

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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!

What You Need to Know About Hair Transplant Pricing

Surgery,

If you’re researching your options for a hair transplant procedure, you’re most likely visiting the websites of a variety of clinics and practices – including this one, obviously. However, pricing structures vary widely, which can cause confusion. Because we at Tempus Hair Restoration believe that well-informed consumers are able to make the choice that’s best for their individual situation, we’ll cover the different types of pricing that some hair restoration practices offer, and how we determine our pricing – as well as why price shouldn’t be the main factor in this important decision.

Per-graft Pricing

This pricing structure is perhaps the most frequently promoted by hair transplant clinics. Based on search engine results about how pricing is determined, consumers tend to ask about the cost of 2,000 or 5,000 hair grafts. Thinking about the cost of a transplant in this way is counterproductive, however, as it leads people to believe that a set number of grafts will produce the desired result.

An ethical practice may refer to a price-per-graft, but emphasize that each person is unique, and the number of grafts needed can only be estimated during an in-person or virtual consultation. A common practice is to charge less per-graft as the number of grafts increases, so a patient doesn’t pay double the cost for a 2,000 per follicular unit graft over a 1,000 per follicular unit graft.

The Type of Hair Transplant Procedure Performed – FUT or FUE

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) refers to the “strip” method of hair transplantation. In this procedure, the surgeon takes hair grafts by removing a strip of skin from the back of the scalp.  Once the donor site is sutured, the strip is split into smaller sections with a surgical tool. These smaller sections are then implanted at the recipient site.

Traditionally, the FUT has been a less expensive procedure than the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), which harvests hair grafts by way of a tiny circular incision made around each follicular unit. The follicular units are individually extracted directly from the scalp, then implanted in the recipient sites. Because this method is more time-consuming than the FUT, it typically is more expensive.

Red Flags to Look for With an FUE Transplant

The way in which follicles are harvested in an FUE transplant has given rise to devices that harvest and/or implant follicular units. This complicates matters, as practices that use such devices often promote them by brand name, and position them as a selling point. There are two basic types of these devices:

  1. Machines that use pneumatic pressure to power a hollow circular punch, then suck the hair graft into a container where the grafts are gathered for implantation.
  2. Robotic hair transplant systems, which are guided by a computer algorithm to identify and harvest follicular units.

We mention these devices because they’re used in advertising for the clinics that employ them, and you may assume they figure into the pricing. This could be a factor in the case of the robotic system, which tends to be higher because the practice has to recoup the cost of the machine – which can cost about $200,000. However, we strongly caution against choosing such a clinic, as it is common practice for them to use technicians and other unlicensed personnel to harvest follicular units.

Legally speaking, these devices are considered an extension of the hand of the surgeon. Florida and a few 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 have not already done so, we recommend you read Dr. Marco Barusco’s eye-opening report – “The Truth Behind Advertising Devices Instead of Surgeons” – for the complete story of the consequences of unqualified clinic personnel performing hair transplants with these devices.

Other Factors that Affect the Cost of a Hair Transplant

The overall cost of living in your area – as well as the number of hair transplant surgeons in your vicinity – can affect the cost of a hair transplant. Also important is the surgeon’s experience and professional reputation.

Keep in mind that hair transplant surgery is surgery. At Tempus Hair Restoration, the cost includes guarantee, local anesthesia, post-operative kit and follow-ups. Patients do need to pay for post-op pain medication at their local pharmacy with a provided prescription.

How Tempus Hair Restoration Determines the Cost of Your Hair Transplant Procedure

Tempus Hair Restoration charges per-graft. However, pricing is determined only after Dr. Marco Barusco – Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Tempus Hair Restoration – conducts a one-on-one consultation with the prospective patient. During this consultation, he will diagnose the cause of your hair loss, discuss your hair restoration goals with you, and provide and discuss a treatment plan. To state the obvious, because each person is different, each treatment plan will be different. Therefore, pricing will ultimately be tailored to the individual.

We cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance of choosing a transplant surgeon based on experience, skill, results and integrity rather than a bargain deal. You do get what you pay for. Dr. Barusco’s long list of accomplishments, his notable artistic ability and his successful surgical team make Tempus Hair Restoration a renowned practice.

We want to help you achieve the best possible result that restores your self-image and boosts your confidence. Here at Tempus Hair Restoration, we understand the investment this involves, and offer many great financing options to place this important goal within reach.

Contact us to schedule your free virtual or in-person 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!

Don’t Let a Technician Perform Your Hair Transplant Surgery

Surgery, , , , ,

We at Tempus Hair Restoration have been witnessing a disturbing trend over the last few years. An increasing number of hair restoration practices and clinics offering a range of aesthetic services (such as cosmetic surgery) are using non-medical technicians to perform hair transplant surgeries. This practice is becoming so prevalent, that consumers have come to accept this as a typical, legitimate situation – which it is definitely not. These clinics gear their marketing and advertising to mislead the public into believing that technicians have a high degree of training and are just as capable as a surgeon to perform most – if not all – of the procedure. And that doing so allows them to offer hair restoration surgeries at a discount.

Don’t believe it. So serious is this problem that the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) – the world’s leading medical authority on hair loss treatment and restoration – has initiated a patient awareness campaign designed to help people understand why a surgeon is the only person who should be performing the procedure, and how to see through misleading marketing that makes technician-performed surgery seem safe and foolproof.

What is the ISHRS?

The ISHRS 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 organization is dedicated to achieving excellence in medical and surgical outcomes by promoting member education, international collegiality, research, ethics, and public awareness.

As the ISHRS states the situation, the organization “… is concerned about the growing risk to patients of unlicensed technicians performing substantial aspects of hair restoration surgery. The use of unlicensed technicians to perform aspects of hair restoration surgery, which should only be performed by a properly trained and licensed physician*, places patients at risk of: (i) misdiagnosis; (ii) failure to diagnose hair disorders and related systemic diseases; and (iii) performance of unnecessary or ill-advised surgery all of which jeopardizes patient safety and outcomes. There may also be a risk that unlicensed technicians may not be covered by malpractice insurance.”

The ISHRS believes the following aspects of hair restoration surgery should only be performed by a licensed physician*:

  • Preoperative diagnostic evaluation and consultation
  • Surgery planning
  • Surgery execution including:
    • Donor hair harvesting
    • Hairline design
    • Recipient site creation
    • Management of other patient medical issues and possible adverse reactions
    • Post-operative care

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. As such, Dr. Barusco and the Tempus Hair Restoration team are proud to help the ISHRS in this important mission.

ISHRS policy states that hair restoration surgery should only be performed by qualified physicians who possess education, training, and current competency in the field of hair restoration surgery or other licensed health care professionals who are properly trained, performing the procedure within their scope of practice, and supervised by a qualified and experienced physician.

Penalties are now being handed down to physicians who commit such professional misconduct. The ISHRS reported on the suspension of Dr. Dennis Daly’s medical license by the New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct for allegedly allowing unqualified and unlicensed individuals to perform a hair transplant procedure at the SNY Surgery Center in 2017. Effective February 7, 2020, the Board suspended Dr. Daly’s medical license for a period of three years (which suspension was stayed) and placed him on probation for 36 months, among other penalties, including dissolving his practice.

Hair restoration surgery is surgery

It is important to understand that hair restoration surgery is the practice of medicine. Although patients receive a topical anesthesia and are awake during the procedure doesn’t mean that a hair transplant is without the potential for a disastrous outcome with permanent damage if performed incorrectly. Imagine a heart surgeon allowing a technician to perform any step of a bypass, and you’ll get the idea.

Even minimally invasive hair restoration procedures are, in fact, surgery requiring medical expertise. Important clinical decisions requiring expert clinical knowledge must be made during each procedure. For example, diagnostic decisions are continually being made – along with full thickness incisions into the skin. Follicular unit hair transplantation (FUT) involves hundreds to thousands of tiny incisions. This is also the case for hair transplant procedures using the strip-FUT and follicular unit extraction (FUE) methods.

As the ISHRS states, any procedure involving a skin incision for the purpose of tissue removal from the scalp or body, or to prepare the scalp or body to receive tissue by any means – including robotics – is a surgical procedure.

“Such procedures must be performed by a properly trained and licensed physician. All FUE harvesting tools, including robotic devices, are considered extensions of the hand of the operator, and as such, all operators of these devices must be physicians.”

“Physicians who perform hair restoration surgery must possess the education, training, and current competency in the field of hair restoration surgery.”

Now, a minute to address anesthesia. If your only experience with anesthesia has been at the dentist office, you may consider it a minor issue. However, appropriate dosing of anesthetic medication is critical to patient safety, and patients must be medically monitored.

There are no shortcuts. Any doctor, practice or clinic that advertises otherwise needs to be avoided.

A look at deceptive tactics

Unethical clinics that employ technicians to perform surgery aren’t always easy to identify at first glance. Some may have attractive websites that make their methods seem advanced and high-tech. Those that offer a variety of cosmetic procedures typically position this as an advantage – a convenient “one-stop-shop” for any aesthetic improvements you may want to achieve. They also often claim that their technology-assisted techniques make possible a high volume of transplants, which results in bargain prices.

It is typical in such clinics that physicians purchase a robotic device that can help perform one step of the hair transplant procedure. Instead of performing the procedure themselves, they hire technicians to perform most, if not the entire, procedure – including surgery planning, hairline design, graft removal and making incisions to place the grafts in the scalp. Patients are led to believe that a doctor will be performing the procedure, or assured that the technicians are “experts” and just as good as the doctor in performing hair transplants.

As we noted earlier, hair clinics that advertise heavily can mislead those unfamiliar with ethical practices and safe surgical procedures. In particular, the widespread use of robotic and power-assisted devices greatly enables technicians to perform procedures – which can lead to disastrous outcomes. As the ISHRS website notes:

“Only a doctor has been trained to maintain high patient safety standards, care for unexpected medical problems, has medical board oversight, and has taken an actual oath to keep your best interest in mind while you’re in his or her care. If your doctor allows technicians to do surgery for them, they are neglecting their oath, and you should shop elsewhere!”

We also invite you to read Dr. Barusco’s insightful post about the risks of robot-assisted hair transplant surgery. Dr. Barusco relates his experience with an ever-increasing number of patients seeking help whose initial procedure was botched – sometimes irreversibly – by unqualified personnel using such devices.

“Over the years, it would be fair to say that I’ve developed a unique perspective on these machines. I closely follow their development and release in our industry. First, they were aimed to experienced, competent hair restoration surgeons. Then, since many of us did not see the advantages of having them, the number of machines sold was too small to sustain business and profit, and they started advertising to cosmetic surgeons, plastic surgeons, family practitioners and others who had no training and no experience in hair restoration surgery. These doctors are pitched a quick-profit procedure that they really do not have to understand, since one company supplies the technicians to do all of the work, and the other will train them on how to operate the robot and its software—as if this did not require good cosmetic sense and a deep understanding of hair loss and hair restoration. The result? Many unhappy patients.”

As for the deep discounts that such clinics claim, a botched hair transplant is no bargain at any price. The additional expense to correct bad results will be greater than had you initially chosen an ethical practice – assuming enough hair remains in the donor area to be harvested.

Choose your surgeon wisely

Choosing a hair transplant surgeon based solely upon the amount of advertising the doctor or practice does is no guarantee of good results. The ISHRS provides a Find a Doctor list, which is maintained and updated with the name, location, contact information and link to the ISHRS member page of each member.

In conducting research on individual surgeons, the ISHRS recommends learning about the surgeon’s training, credentials and experience in the field of hair restoration. This is important, as a plastic surgeon may perform great liposuctions and facelifts and be an authority on these procedures, but no experience in hair restoration surgery. Be certain the surgeon will give you the names and contact information of patients you can talk to, as well as show you several before-and-after photos to ensure you like the aesthetic quality of their work.

Questions you should ask a hair restoration surgeon

Our blog post – “Undoing the Damage of a Bad Hair Transplant” – includes the following questions:

  • 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?

Knowledge is power

The best defense against falling prey to unethical clinics using technicians to perform hair restoration surgery is to learn as much as possible about the professional qualifications and standards that ethical surgeons attain and uphold. We hope we’ve provided you with the facts that you need to make an informed decision.

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!

Transgender Hair Transplants – Becoming Your True Self, Beautifully

Surgery, ,

The journey to becoming one’s true self is filled with challenges when that journey involves transitioning from the gender assigned at birth to one’s authentic identity – be it from male to female, or female to male. Transgender hair restoration surgery is typically the last step to achieving the natural appearance that aligns with the patient’s gender identity. Understanding the differences between male and female hairlines is of critical importance in hair transplants for both transgender females and males – as well as possessing the experience, skill and sense of aesthetics to successfully work with concealing scarring from previous procedures, such as surgical facial feminization.

As we celebrate Pride Month, Tempus Hair Restoration has been honored to help our transgender patients complete their journey, happy that the person they see in the mirror finally, truly reflects who they have always been inside.

As with all other surgical procedures in the transitioning process, choosing the right surgeon is critically important to attaining the desired result. Dr. Marco Barusco – Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Tempus Hair Restoration – has more than 20 years of experience in performing and innovating advanced procedures, such as the No-Shave FUE. His artistic eye and unsurpassed technical skill allow him to create the best effect for each patient.

The differences between male and female hairlines

The hairline and growth patterns for males and females are noticeably different.

The male hairline has the following characteristics:

  • A lower overall position
  • M-shape
  • Forward flow pattern frontal hairs
  • Male pattern baldness

The female hairline is characterized by:

  • A higher overall position
  • Inverted U-shape
  • Frontal hairs in a backward-facing whorl flow pattern
  • Overall thinning

In a male-to-female transition, surgical feminization of facial features consists of such procedures as brow bone reduction, tracheal shave (Adam’s apple reduction), jaw contouring and rhinoplasty. Feminizing the hairline completes the desired aesthetic effect.

This is where the skill of an experienced hair restoration surgeon is essential. Unlike female hairline lowering for biological (also known as “cis”) females – which brings down the hairline to correct the effects of hair loss at the front of the scalp – the procedure must convert the M-shaped male hairline into the feminine U-configuration. Cutting a long incision to advance the hairline cannot fill in the outer temple areas. In addition, hairs in the male hairline grow in the opposite direction and flow to those of a female.

Complicating factors may include permanent forehead scarring as a result of brow bone reduction surgery. Much like the scarring caused by a facelift, healing can be successful, yet leave undesired evidence of the procedure. Scars can be concealed through utilizing advanced hair transplant techniques, which requires a surgeon with a proven record of performing challenging procedures.

Finally, the creation of an attractive hairline is not a one-technique-fits-all process. A surgeon with basic technical skill can construct a female hairline. However, to create a flattering hairline that complements the client’s facial features requires an artistic eye and the ability to correctly place each graft so that the hair grows and falls around the face in a natural, pleasing pattern. As we always emphasize, not all doctors who perform hair restoration procedures have the ability to provide the highest level of natural-appearing aesthetic results.

With transgender hair transplants, another factor in the equation can be male pattern hair loss. Male-to-female transgender clients who begin transitioning at a young age are less likely to experience this type of hair loss, due to the early intervention of hormone therapy. However, if balding has begun at the time of transition, hair restoration treatment will be necessary. Estrogen therapy may prevent further loss, but cannot restore hair that has already been lost.

In the case of female-to-male transgender clients, those who have a genetic predisposition to male pattern baldness may start to experience hair loss. Again, an evaluation of the client’s individual situation will determine the best course of treatment – be it adipose tissue and growth factor therapy, a hair transplant procedure, or a combination of treatments.

As with transgender women, cosmetic surgery is available to create masculine features for transgender men. Facial hair transplant surgery is a popular option to achieve the client’s ultimate goal of being at ease in the world as a self-confident man – as well as to create this appearance without intensive cosmetic surgery. While hormone therapy may promote facial hair growth, it often is not dense enough to grow a full beard, mustache or sideburns. An eyebrow transplant may also be needed to provide the fullness typical of male eyebrows.

Techniques used for facial hair transplants differ from those used for the scalp, because the length, texture, characteristics and growth patterns of the hair differ. An experienced surgeon – such as Dr. Barusco – understands how hairs from different areas of the body behave, and has the skill and artistry to harvest those that are the best match, and ensure the hair follicles are angled correctly when transplanted.

Although June is designated as Pride Month, the long journey for transgender women and men deserves recognition and respect no matter what the calendar date. We provide a supportive environment for our transgender clients, and are here to help you achieve your desired outcome.

Our client, Ronie, took her time to provide a video testimonial about her hair replacement experience at Tempus Hair Restoration. Ronie wore wigs and hats for years to cover her hair loss. After learning about hair restoration surgery, she wrote an emotional letter to doctors all over the country asking for their help. Dr. Barusco was the only surgeon to respond. We thank Ronie for sharing her story and having the courage to prevail. Contact us to schedule your free virtual consultation with Dr. Barusco to learn your options, so that you can live your best, true life!

 

 

Hair Transplants to Conceal Facelift Scars – What You May Not Know

Surgery, , ,

Once only within reach of millionaires and movie stars, facelifts are now more affordable – as well as more socially acceptable. Today’s emphasis on youth has made turning back the clock through cosmetic surgery a matter-of-fact procedure rather than a “secret” that nevertheless gave itself away when the recipient resumed their regular activities looking significantly younger!

Yet for all the open discussions about facelifts, many prospective patients may not realize that the surgery that refreshes their appearance also leaves permanent scars which – depending upon the patient’s hairline and amount of hair – are easily visible. For this reason, following a brow (forehead) lift, face lift or other cosmetic facial surgery, many people need a hair restoration procedure to conceal scarring, lower their hair line back to its original position or conceal hair loss that may have occurred at the incision site.

As an internationally renowned board-certified hair restoration surgeon, Dr. Marco Barusco – Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Tempus Hair Restoration – has extensive experience in performing this final step in perfecting the patient’s desired aesthetic effect of an invigorated, youthful appearance. Here is what you need to know about scarring from facial cosmetic surgery, and how a skilled hair transplant surgeon can artfully conceal the results.

Do all facelifts leave scars?

A facelift is performed by the surgeon making incisions along the natural contours of the ears and face. Incisions can be made in the hairline starting at the temples, continuing down and around the front of the ears and ending behind the ears in the lower scalp. A skilled, experienced surgeon will work to ensure the incision heals with the absolute minimum amount of scarring possible.

However, each patient experiences different rates of healing. Also, the commitment to following the surgeon’s post-operative care instructions play a role in the amount of visible scarring that results. Lifestyle choices are another factor. Heavy alcohol use and smoking hinder the healing process. Smoking, especially, deprives tissues of the oxygen essential to healthy function and, of course, healing.

In addition, the surgeon’s level of experience, skill and artistry can determine how well scars are concealed. As we well know, these qualities are extremely important in the results that hair transplant patients can expect, and not all doctors who perform hair restoration procedures have the ability to provide the highest level of natural-appearing aesthetic results. The same is certainly true of cosmetic surgeons.

Although this is not a definitive answer, two different people can undergo the same facelift procedure, yet one may experience more obvious scarring than the other. As we always recommend to our prospective patients, choose your surgeon carefully based upon thorough research. If you have not yet undergone a facelift but are in the consultation process, ask the surgeon direct questions about the type and amount of scarring your procedure will involve, and how he or she will work to minimize it. Also ask if the procedure will affect the position of your hairline. If you feel the surgeon is underplaying or dismissing your concerns, you may want to continue your search.

Other post-facelift issues that can necessitate a hair transplant

Scarring is not the only issue that a facelift patient may have to deal with. A facelift sometimes results in a hairline that is higher or farther back than desirable. And patients who are already experiencing hair loss – or who start losing hair after surgery – could find that previously hidden scars become more visible or exposed.

Hair transplant options for facelift patients

It does seem ironic that a surgical procedure performed to restore a youthful appearance can create its own issues that need to be corrected with additional surgery. Fortunately, achieving an aesthetically pleasing, natural-looking result is possible. Despite the misconception that hair cannot grow in scars, the transplanted hair continues to grow and look natural. Again, selecting the right surgeon is essential. Dr. Barusco employs several advanced techniques to conceal facelift scars. These procedures include the following:

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) – This is commonly known as the “strip” method of hair transplantation. In this method, hair is removed from the donor area of the scalp by removing a strip of skin and hair before the area is then stitched up. Advances in the closure methods and the healing of the donor incision results in a small, thin linear scar that is easily concealed without having to grow the hair very long.

Be aware that some hair restoration practices that specialize in the Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) procedure try to steer patients toward the FUE by using misleading marketing material depicting “after” FUT photos of patients with a pronounced scar. Again, today’s advanced FUT technique provides greatly improved results. For a variety of circumstances, the FUE is not appropriate for every patient. Some may be a better candidate for the strip surgery than the FUE procedure.

Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) –  Typically done as a shaved procedure (where the donor area is shaven) at Tempus, Dr. Barusco created an improved technique known as the “no-shave” procedure.This technique allows clients to have the benefits of an FUE procedure without having the downtime of waiting for the hairs of the donor site to grow in. Advantages include complete concealment of harvested donor sites immediately, and a quicker return to normal activities, as no suture removal is required .

Choose your surgeons wisely

As previously stated, cosmetic surgery and hair restoration surgery are, after all, surgical procedures, to be taken with the same degree of due diligence as choosing a surgeon to repair or replace a major organ. Most people wouldn’t consider looking for a bargain heart surgeon, yet too often do just that when seeking aesthetic surgery. You get what you pay for, and a never-ending supply of heartbreaking patient accounts about botched procedures should provide good reason to exercise caution.

When you have a consultation with a hair restoration surgeon, you should expect (in fact, demand) an open, detailed discussion about your concerns and aesthetic goals. The surgeon should not only assess your scarring, but the overall condition of your scalp, possible donor area and your general health.

Dr. Barusco examines and evaluates each patient on an individual basis. Because he is experienced and skilled in every hair transplant procedure, Dr. Barusco will recommend the option that is best for the patient – unlike many other hair restoration surgeons, who are only familiar with a limited range of techniques, and so promote them over a technique that could be more beneficial.

As also previously mentioned, open communication is essential. If you feel the surgeon is not answering your questions to your satisfaction, or otherwise seems dismissive of your concerns, look elsewhere. It doesn’t matter if the surgeon says that he or she has performed the same procedure “a million times” with no complications. You have the right to be fully informed. Our blog post – “What to Look for in a Hair Transplant Surgeon” – provides a valuable guide.

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.

Dr. Barusco also conducts virtual consultations for those who can’t travel to one of our 16 Florida locations, and our office will arrange travel and accommodations for out-of-area patients for their procedures. We invite you to learn more about our procedures, then contact us to schedule your free consultation with Dr. Barusco. We look forward to meeting you and discussing your options.

 

What to Look for in a Hair Transplant Surgeon

Surgery, , ,

You may be surprised to learn that the field of surgical hair restoration is not regulated by either the United States government or the medical community. According to the American Hair Loss Association, any licensed physician can legally perform hair transplant surgery without any prior surgical training or accreditation of any kind. While this is true for any medical specialty (theoretically, any licensed physician may do any medical procedure they want), you won’t see a physician trained in plastic surgery performing a hernia operation. They reason why is that most physicians know their limitations and train extensively before they feel that they are proficient in a given procedure.

However, hair transplantation is pitched to physicians by device manufacturers in the United States and abroad as a simple procedure that does not need to be performed by a physician. Instead, it may be done by trained “technicians.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Hair transplantation is a complex procedure that requires a trained physician and a trained team in order to be successful. Otherwise, horror stories occur. And these have become more common in the last few years.

Under these circumstances, the typical advice of “do your research” is all the more important and challenging for those considering a hair transplant. Even minimally invasive hair restoration procedures are actually surgery requiring medical expertise. Unlike buying a car, most people don’t have experience when deciding who to trust with performing hair transplant surgery. Because we at Tempus Hair Restoration recognize that knowledge is power, a well-informed consumer is one who will ultimately be the best-satisfied with the results. Toward this goal, we offer the qualities to look for, as well as warning signs of who to avoid.

The first area to navigate is finding reliable sources of information. As WebMD acknowledges, “Social media, radio, television, and traditional print media market to the vulnerable hair loss consumer a more risk-free, guaranteed product as opposed to the highly specialized cosmetic surgical procedure it is.” With today’s emphasis on convenience and instant gratification, such pitches have great appeal to people who want a full head of hair in the least amount of time and at the cheapest price. Patients have been lured into going out of the U.S. to have their procedures done. Any marketing that makes it seem everyone will get the same results – despite the required disclaimer that results are not typical – does not have education as its goal.

One excellent starting point is the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) – 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, the ISHRS is dedicated to promoting the highest standards of medical practice, medical ethics and research in the medical hair restoration industry.

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. In addition, Dr. Barusco is an active leader in the ISHRS, with various committees participations, lectures ministered and surgeries performed in the ISHRS’ workshops and congresses.

The ISHRS website is written in consumer-friendly language, easily accessible to those seeking objective information. A section specifically for patients consists of the following:

So, whose advice should you trust in finding a hair transplant surgeon?

You may be surprised to learn that the American Hair Loss Association recommends avoiding referrals for a hair restoration surgeon from your dermatologist or family practitioner.

“While your family doctor or dermatologist might mean well, the fact is that most physicians in this country know very little about the scope and pitfalls of this demanding cosmetic procedure. Unless your doctor has personal experience with the hair transplant physician he [or she] is recommending, our advice would be to say thanks, but no thanks.”

This is good advice. If you ask your dermatologist or primary care doctor for a referral to a hair transplant surgeon, make sure you ask if they know the work of the doctor they are recommending. This is very important. Dr. Barusco receives numerous patients who have been referred by other physicians of many specialties. Many of these doctors are actual patients of Dr. Barusco, so they know first-hand the quality of his work.

Finding a surgeon

Again, choosing a hair transplant surgeon based solely upon the amount of advertising the doctor or practice does is no guarantee of good results. The ISHRS provides a Find a Doctor list, which is maintained and updated with the name, location, contact information and link to the ISHRS member page of each member.

In conducting research on individual surgeons, the ISHRS recommends learning about the surgeon’s training, credentials and experience in the field of hair restoration. This is important, as a plastic surgeon may perform great liposuctions and facelifts and be an authority on these procedures, but no experience in hair restoration surgery. Be certain the surgeon will give you the names and contact information of patients you can talk to, as well as show you several before-and-after photos to ensure you like the aesthetic quality of their work.

Questions you should ask a hair restoration surgeon

Our July 8, 2019 blog post – “Undoing the Damage of a Bad Hair Transplant” – includes the following questions:

  • 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 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?

Once you are at the consultation, make sure all of your questions are answered to your satisfaction and demand to see a physician. If the surgeon who would be performing the procedure isn’t in the office at the time of your consultation appointment, leave. At Tempus Hair Restoration, every prospective patient meets with Dr. Barusco – whether the consultation is in-office, or by video conference. The consultation is the time during which you should make sure you have a clear understanding of what can be accomplished for your unique situation.

The in-office consultation is also the time when you should take note of how the office is run. Is the office staff helpful, considerate and willing to answer questions about billing, insurance, etc.? Is the office or clinic neat and clean?

One very important point we always emphasize is that you should never feel pressured to make a decision before you’re ready. Ethical practices do not use high-pressure tactics to have you sign a contract. You should feel comfortable taking all the time you need.

What to avoid

As we noted earlier, mass-market hair clinics that advertise heavily can mislead those unfamiliar with ethical practices and safe surgical procedures. In particular, the widespread use of robotic and power-assisted devices places patients at risk of disastrous outcomes – especially when they’re used by technicians to perform procedures. As the ISHRS website notes:

“Only a doctor has been trained to maintain high patient safety standards, care for unexpected medical problems, has medical board oversight, and has taken an actual oath to keep your best interest in mind while you’re in his or her care. If your doctor allows technicians to do surgery for them, they are neglecting their oath, and you should shop elsewhere!”

We also invite you to read Dr. Barusco’s insightful post about the risks of robot-assisted hair transplant surgery. Dr. Barusco relates his experience with an ever-increasing number of patients seeking help whose initial procedure was botched – sometimes irreversibly – by unqualified personnel using such devices.

“Over the years, it would be fair to say that I’ve developed a unique perspective on these machines. I closely follow their development and release in our industry. First, they were aimed to experienced, competent hair restoration surgeons. Then, since many of us did not see the advantages of having them, the number of machines sold was too small to sustain business and profit, and they started advertising to cosmetic surgeons, plastic surgeons, family practitioners and others who had no training and no experience in hair restoration surgery. These doctors are pitched a quick-profit procedure that they really do not have to understand, since one company supplies the technicians to do all of the work, and the other will train them on how to operate the robot and its software—as if this did not require good cosmetic sense and a deep understanding of hair loss and hair restoration. The result? Many unhappy patients.”

The next step of your hair restoration journey

Many people – especially men – typically don’t want to talk about the emotional toll that hair loss takes. Yet this is an important factor in choosing a hair restoration surgeon. Combined with a lack of solid, objective information, making a quick decision based upon emotions can leave you vulnerable to results ranging from unsatisfactory to disastrous.

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.

Dr. Barusco also conducts virtual consultations for those who can’t travel to one of our 16 Florida locations, and our office will arrange travel and accommodations for out-of-area patients for their procedures. We invite you to learn more about our procedures, then contact us to schedule your free consultation with Dr. Barusco. We look forward to meeting you and discussing your options.

 

Consumer Beware – The Risks of Medical Tourism for Hair Transplants

Hair Loss Procedures, Surgery, Uncategorized, , ,

If you’re considering a hair transplant, you have probably conducted online searches for hair clinics. In the process, you’ve also probably found websites for overseas clinics – usually in Turkey – offering transplants at bargain rates, included as a package deal with airfare, luxury hotel accommodations and transportation. But the lure of combining an exotic vacation with hair transplant surgery should raise a major red flag, as black market hair restoration practices are proliferating unchecked – leaving patients with disastrous results and no recourse.

So serious is this problem that the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) – the world’s leading medical authority on hair loss treatment and restoration – has initiated a worldwide patient awareness campaign designed to help people recognize fraudulent hair restoration clinics and misleading advertising claims. The ISHRS has encouraged its members to raise awareness of the risks of medical tourism for hair transplants.

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. As such, Dr. Barusco and the Tempus Hair Restoration team are proud to help the ISHRS in this important mission.

Launched in March 2019, the campaign, Beware of the Hair Transplant Black Market, provides valuable resources to help patients evaluate a surgeon’s credentials, and patient photos illustrating the disfiguring – and many times irreversible – outcomes of botched surgeries by untrained, unqualified staff members.

To define the issue, “medical tourism” can be a confusing term. Patients often travel long distances for a surgeon with an excellent reputation and credentials. Dr. Barusco treats international patients at Tempus’ surgical center in Port Orange, Florida, providing a convenient, complimentary two-night stay at a nearby hotel. However, all travel, additional transportation and other expenses are the patient’s responsibility.

The negative aspect that the medical profession attributes to medical tourism is when unscrupulous clinics leverage the promise of travel to unsuspecting patients, then subject them to treatments performed under substandard conditions by nurses or non-medical technicians.

Why Turkey is the world’s black market hair transplant capital

Popular destinations for hair transplants include Mexico, India and Sweden, but Turkey is where the most aggressive marketing is conducted. Although Turkish law prohibits hair transplant surgery from being performed outside of a hospital setting, black market practitioners get around the restrictions by illegally setting up shop in private hospitals or clinics. Bribery of officials is commonplace, allowing such clinics to operate without consequences. The TURSAB (a committee working with the Turkish Health Ministry) reports that Turkey’s income from medical tourism topped $4.5 billion in 2015.

In addition to lining the pockets of those entrusted to protect the public, black market clinics use the internet to draw in patients. Slick clinic websites making false claims about their legitimacy, staff experience and positive patient outcomes do effective groundwork in misleading potential patients. Their doctors are given a veneer of respectability by paid writers who represent themselves as journalists filing objective reports about the clinics and the successful results they achieve.

According to the ISHRS, “Many of the illegal clinics have sophisticated websites ranking high with Google paid ads to attract the consumer into a clinic that appears on the surface very professional. The marketing tactics are deceptive as it appears like a team of professional doctors with excellent testimonials. However, the reality is your surgery may be done by someone with no medical training. The demand is so high, reports are that Taxi cab drivers and Syrian refugees do the surgery in some overseas countries.”

What is the real cost of a hair transplant?

Consumers who lack knowledge about ethical medical practices and conduct in the hair restoration field are particularly susceptible. But their greatest vulnerability is the pursuit of a bargain. The cost of a hair transplant in the United States varies widely, depending upon many factors – such as the type of procedure, extent of hair loss, amount of donor hair available, etc. The patient can expect to pay several thousand dollars, however.

As the ISHRS emphasizes, hair transplant surgery is still surgery, with all the risks of surgery performed on any other area of the body. Unethical overseas clinics offer procedures at the same price for all patients, ranging from just $600 to $2,000 USD.

What do patients get for their hair transplant package? Poor growth, improper graft preparation (which means a higher number of grafts become non-viable), misangled graft placement, unnatural hairlines, a pluggy doll’s hair appearance and complete donor decimation are often reported. Severe scarring and disfigurement are also common. Add to that the risk for such infections as hepatitis or HIV. This is because the emphasis for the clinic is volume – performing as many hair transplants as possible each day for maximum profit.

Why don’t victimized patients report black market hair transplant clinics?

Why hasn’t word gotten out? Ironically, many patients are satisfied with their experience – at first. Results from a hair transplant typically require a year to fully activate and grow out. Patients who don’t know what a good transplant looks like during each stage assume that what they see is normal, and that the appearance of their scalp and hair will improve over time.

When they finally realize their surgery has been botched, they have no recourse. Dr. Barusco treated one such patient who traveled back to the Turkish clinic that performed his transplant to have complications corrected, and found the clinic had gone out of business. Actually, the clinic may well have moved to a different location under a new name, continuing to run its illegal assembly line surgeries – as is common practice.

As noted by one observer of Turkey’s booming medical tourism scene, “The market is plagued by corruption, fake clinics and gullible customers looking for a bargain. And the market is only expanding.”

Knowledge is power

Human nature being what it is, we want to believe what we want to be true. But if something sounds too good to be true, it is. This includes a bargain hair transplant performed during an all-expenses-included exotic vacation. Educating yourself about hair transplants and the questions you need to ask any surgeon before consenting to treatment are essential to avoiding unscrupulous clinics and ensuring the best possible outcome. Our July 8, 2019 blog post – “Undoing the Damage of a Bad Hair Transplant” – includes the following questions:

  • 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 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?

Once you are at the consultation, make sure all of your questions are answered to your satisfaction and DEMAND TO SEE A PHYSICIAN. At Tempus Hair Restoration, every prospective patient meets with Dr. Barusco – whether the consultation is in-office, or by video conference.

Investigate other trusted resources

We hope we have provided information that will prevent you from making a serious mistake that can negatively impact the quality of your life and general health. To further educate yourself, we recommend visiting the links we’ve provided in this blog post to the ISHRS website. This organization is an unbiased source of information, and holds its members to the highest ethical standards – as well as establishing and enforcing industry standards.

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.

Dr. Barusco also conducts virtual consultations for those who can’t travel to one of our 14 Florida locations, and our office will arrange travel and accommodations for out-of-area patients. We invite you to learn more about our procedures, then contact us to schedule your free consultation with Dr. Barusco. We look forward to meeting you and discussing your options.

 

 

See Me, Not My Scar – Restoring Hair to a Head Trauma Patient Other Surgeons Turned Away

Male Hair Restoration, Surgery

It had been several years since the motorcycle accident that almost cost K.J. his life. Suffering severe head trauma, he was unconscious in his hospital bed when the doctor told his wife to prepare herself for the worst. But the 40-year-old husband and father fought to live, eventually making a recovery that stunned the doctor who had made the grim prognosis. Now, the only visible sign of his injury was the surgical scar and slightly recessed area where steel plates held a piece of his skull in place. Ready to move forward and make the most of his second chance at life, K.J. wanted to take the final step in healing: restoring his hair.

 

Although K.J.’s story may seem easy to sum up in one paragraph, his journey was grueling, with setbacks along the way. The injury necessitated removing a heart-shaped piece of skull, which was preserved for future replacement. The plate that was originally placed over the area also had to be removed because of high intracranial pressure – a life-threatening development. After he was out of immediate danger, K.J. underwent physical rehabilitation and wore a protective wrestler’s helmet for six weeks prior to surgery to replace the section of bone.

 

“It was pretty intense,” K.J. recalled. “For some crazy reason, I’m still here.”

 

K.J.’s next contact with the medical field was voluntary. Learning about the Orlando Live Surgery Workshop – a conference of hair restoration surgeons sponsored by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) – he submitted his case for consideration. Having attended full of hope, his heart began to sink as surgeon after surgeon declined to treat him.

 

Until Dr. Marco Barusco, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Tempus Hair Restoration, reviewed K.J.’s case and examined his scars – then gave K.J. the answer he had long been awaiting: he was a candidate for hair transplant surgery.

 

What did Dr. Barusco see that the other surgeons had missed? The deciding factor wasn’t so much what they didn’t see, as what they were unable to do.

 

“(The patient’s) case was difficult, and posed a higher risk of serious complications due to the surgeries he had for his head trauma,” said Dr. Barusco. “Particularly the reconstruction of his skull with a synthetic material, which was placed under the area to be transplanted. This made the procedure of transplanting hair more challenging and risky. Most other doctors don’t have the experience or the facilities to perform this procedure under sterile conditions, and with the pre- and post-operative preparations that were needed to do it safely.”

 

However, K.J. would have to wait a little longer for the complete restoration of his appearance. Because Dr. Barusco determined the surgery required more controlled conditions than the live surgery workshop provided to minimize the risk of infection, Dr. Barusco performed K.J.’s hair transplant surgery at Tempus Hair’s Port Orange location, which is designed to provide patients with a safe and comfortable surgical experience.

 

Dr. Barusco chose the Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) procedure on K.J., which he determined would achieve the best results. “Due to his various scalp scars, the safe area for donor hair harvesting was limited to the back and right areas of his scalp,” said Dr. Barusco. “An FUT was recommended in order to move more hair in one procedure.”

 

 

“I had quite a bit of hair loss,” said K.J. “But I started seeing results about six months after the transplant, with full growth after one year. I could hardly believe it! The scarring is covered, and the growth pattern looks natural. Before, I felt like people saw the scar before they saw me.”

 

When asked what motivated him to undergo one more surgical procedure after he’d been through so many, K.J. reflected:  “I wanted to move on in life. When I see people with scarring, I can relate to what they’ve been through. My life is back to normal. I have my wife and my friends. Once you have hope and the will to survive, you make changes. I work out at the gym five days a week, and lead a healthy lifestyle. I’m in better shape now than when I was 40!”

 

In fact, K.J. recently returned to Tempus Hair Restoration for the same reason as the vast majority of Dr. Barusco’s other patients who trust themselves to his care – to treat standard, typical hair loss.

 

“When you start feeling more confident, you want to keep that feeling,” said K.J. “Dr. Barusco is just a phenomenal surgeon. I highly recommend him. He and his staff were very supportive. Dr. Barusco did his research and took his time.”

 

As remarkable as K.J.’s experience was, he is not the only patient with a challenging situation who Dr. Barusco has successfully treated. In fact, Dr. Barusco created a pre- and post-operative protocol designed to increase safety in these types of procedures. This protocol was published in a scientific journal and in a medical textbook, and today is used by many doctors in the field.

 

We invite you to visit our Before & After Gallery to see a wide range of inspiring results – then schedule a free, no obligation consultation with Dr. Barusco at one of our locations, or by video conference to learn your options. We look forward to meeting you, and helping you achieve the self-confidence to live your best life!

Advanced Treatments for Non-Pattern Hair Loss

Hair Loss Procedures, Surgery

Non-patterned Hair Loss – Causes and Treatments

The stages of hair loss typically follow one of several common patterns – from a receding hairline to the classical horseshoe to the central bald spot. While genetics is the leading cause of male pattern baldness, some types of hair loss occur outside of this category. Hair falling out in patches or during a relatively short time period can have a number of causes, making non-patterned hair loss challenging to treat, as well as frustrating and troubling to those suffering from it. Learning to identify the various characteristics of non-patterned loss can lead to a quicker diagnosis and effective treatment.

As cited by WebMD, heredity accounts for 95 percent of all the cases of alopecia (baldness) in the United States. The remaining five percent can be due to a number of factors, including:

Diet – Unusually high levels of vitamin A or low levels of iron or protein. Iron is essential for the production of hair protein.

Illness – Thyroid disease, severe infection or flu.

Medications – Drugs used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), heart problems, depression or gout; birth control pills.

Hormonal imbalances – Changes in female hormone levels during pregnancy or menopause. Also, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that can cause hair loss by increasing levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Stress – One of the most common causes of non-patterned hair loss, stress can trigger production of higher androgen levels. Androgens can attack the hair growth cycle and shorten it, which can cause hair loss.

Recognizing Alopecia Areata

Often mistaken as stress-related hair loss, alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack hair follicles. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), alopecia areata can cause different types of hair loss: alopecia areata (hair loss in patches), alopecia totalis (total hair loss on the scalp) and alopecia universalis (hair loss on the entire body).

The AAD notes that alopecia areata in all of its variations is not due to nerves, and most often occurs in otherwise healthy people. Hair typically grows back, but can fall out again.

The National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) is a resource for those living with this condition. The NAAF states that although there are currently no treatments that work for everyone, some are effective for some people, depending on which type of alopecia areata is involved, the patient’s age and the extent of hair loss.

The main goals of treatment are to block the immune system’s attack and/or to stimulate hair regrowth. According to the NAAF, this can be effective, especially for those with less than 50 percent hair loss. For those with greater than 50 percent loss, oral and topical medications are available, as well as phototherapy (light treatments).

Recognizing Traction Alopecia

Traction alopecia is a type of hair loss that occurs over time. It is caused by putting the hair under constant strain or tension, and usually results from wearing hair in very tight ponytails, pigtails, tight braids or cornrows. As more hair falls out, sufferers tend to attempt to mask the issue through weaves and hair extensions – which sets up a vicious cycle that worsens the condition.

This was the case with J.D. – a patient of Dr. Marco Barusco who sought treatment for her traction alopecia, made worse by the weaves she used to create the appearance of a full head of hair. In her job as a pharmaceutical representative, presenting a polished, professional image is essential, which led J.D. to research hair restoration specialists before scheduling an appointment at Tempus Hair Restoration. After a successful treatment program, J.D. is now proud to let her natural hair represent her self-confidence to the world. And she is not wearing tight ponytails anymore.

Treatments For Non-Patterned Hair Loss

Unlike male and female pattern baldness, the cause of each individual case of non-patterned hair loss is different. A diagnosis by a licensed physician who has experience with hair loss needs to be made in order for a course of treatment to be planned. While you may suspect a cause, attempting to treat non-patterned hair loss without a diagnosis can make the condition worse – or at the very least, delay effective treatment and the desired outcome of healthy hair.

Dr. Barusco has over 20 years of experience treating all types of hair loss – including non-patterned. His professional credentials include: Diplomate and Past President (2017) of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery; Assistant Professor of Surgery – University of Central Florida College of Medicine; Fellow of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) and Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS).

We offer the latest, most advanced treatments available for non-patterned hair loss. Our blog post, “Non-surgical Treatments for Hair Restoration,” discusses prescription medications and other treatments our practice utilizes, depending upon the individual patient’s case.

If you are suffering with non-patterned hair loss, schedule a free consultation with Dr. Barusco. Unlike many other hair restoration practices, Dr. Barusco conducts all consultations (both in-office and virtually) himself, and performs all procedures.

Should you be reading this article outside of the areas served by our 14 offices throughout Florida, we can make arrangements for a virtual consultation with Dr. Barusco. For your convenience, consultations are offered in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Dr. Barusco and our staff look forward to meeting you, and helping you get the right treatment for your type of hair loss.