How does the Hair Transplant procedure work?
We have used two types of hair transplants over the last 41 years. Both of these transplantation methods use “follicular units” to reconstruct thinning and balding areas of the scalp (and/or beard and eyebrows), so that the result looks completely natural. These are not “your father’s hair transplant results” that look “pluggy”.
Follicular units are the way that the hair comes out of the scalp. While some follicular units may contain up to four or five hairs, many grafts will contain only one to two hairs. There are two types of follicular unit transplantation. One, actually the most popular method, is “follicular unit extraction” or FUE. Using a small punch (0.8-0.9 mm) each follicular unit is extracted, leaving little or no trace of scar in the donor area (many FUE surgeons extract with larger punches and leave stippling in the donor area).
Another method is FUT, where a strip of hair is removed from the scalp, and, under a microscope, the individual follicular units are separated out. Our team is skilled at both methods and achieves similar results with either technique. Thousands of follicular units can be transplanted with either method. A consult with Dr. Keller, an experienced physician, is necessary to determine whether to use either or both methods to obtain an optimum result for each individual.
These follicular units are then inserted into tiny slits that we place in the bald (recipient) areas of the scalp. These slits must be constructed in such a way that allows the hair to grow in its natural direction. Using these techniques to place hair transplants, Dr. Keller constructs artistic patterns that appear natural and match an individual patient’s facial structure.
We do this within the limitations of the amount of donor hair that is available, the hair patterns that we need to create, and the shape of the face, to name a few variables. Each patient has an aspect that is somewhat different, and Dr. Keller’s training as a facial plastic surgeon gives him the background to understand the procedural and artistic relationships that are necessary to reconcile these variables to produce an optimum result.
Variations in follicular unit hair transplantation techniques include follicular unit extractions, dense packing, “single” grafts, groupings of follicular units, “linear” transplantation (particularly in the crown area), temporal point grafting, and the use of different knives, needles, and blades. With Dr. Keller’s experience, he is able to recommend the best technique or combination of techniques for each individual patient.
Hair loss continues throughout life. Dr. Keller assesses each patient’s growth pattern. We style today’s transplantation to meet tomorrow’s hair loss needs.
- Male Pattern Baldness
- Hair Loss in Women
- ACell PRP for Hair
Why choose Dr. Keller for Hair Transplant?
Dr. Keller personally performs each procedure and possesses over 41 years of hair transplant experience. A former member of the Premier Hair Transplant Group, which encompassed many of the world’s expert hair surgeons and currently a member of the International Laser Hair Transplant Group, Dr. Gregory Keller utilizes the latest hair transplant techniques and is a member of several national hair transplant societies as well as a board certified in facial plastic surgery. He is a Castle-Connolly rated “Top Doctor”, an honor bestowed on only a few physicians nationwide by peer selection, and was elected as the best Hair Replacement and Restoration business in Santa Barbara from 2012-2015.
Dr. Keller has proudly received recognition awards from both the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery and the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery for his contributions. Dr. Keller is double board-certified in Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery. Dr. Keller is also a Clinical Professor at UCLA and is the Co-Director of the Facial Plastic Surgery fellowship at UCLA. He has taught hair transplantation techniques to 22 fellows and numerous residents at UCLA who are now in private practices nationwide or are teaching others at universities and prestigious clinics throughout the United States. Dr. Keller has over 30 peer-reviewed publications and many medical presentations in his field, including several in hair transplantation.
As a facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Keller believes that our hair patterns match the underlying anatomy of the bony structure of our heads. Hair must follow and be patterned to sit over what lies beneath it. His current research in hair transplantation is in this area. Anatomy is important in art and art in anatomy. Knowledge of both allow Dr. Keller to construct optimum patterns of hair transplantation that give a natural appearance to his patients.
If you are interested in Hair Master Hair Transplants by Dr. Keller in Santa Barbara, contact our office at 805-687-6408.We will be happy to explain hair loss, the hair transplantation process, and our techniques in detail.