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Hair Loss News Archives
February 2006
Journal Article Validates The Coming Of Age Of Hair Replacement Surgery
Feb 2006
More than half of all men and one third of all women in the United States are
going bald. But in the past, hair transplantation procedures were not designed
for everyone.
Now, new technology has arrived to give all patients a shot at
"good hair," according to a new study published by James Harris, M.D., of the
Hair Sciences Center of Colorado.
Published in the January 2006 issue of Dermatologic Surgery, the article
examines a study piloted by Dr. Harris to determine the efficacy of the SAFE -
Surgically Advanced Follicular Extraction (SAFE) System.
The SAFE System SM,
developed and patented by Dr. Harris in 2004, utilizes a small, self-contained
device to isolate, extract and transplant singular units of hair without the
trauma associated with other types of hair transplantation surgery.
Twenty-two patients were enrolled in this pilot study, followed by an additional
37 based on the success of the first group. Final results of the study indicate
lower follicular transection rates, the cutting or damaging of hair follicles,
than traditional follicular unit extraction.
The results of Dr. Harris' study are positive news for the roughly 40 million
Americans experiencing hair loss. Lower transection rates mean increased
accessibility for African-American and elderly patients who may not have
qualified for the procedure due to particular hair qualities.
Other benefits of
the SAFE System methodology include virtually pain-free surgery, faster recovery
time and increased efficiency for physicians performing the procedure.
"These results are very exciting for anyone who has considered hair
replacement," explained James Harris, MD. "I feel strongly that this is the
future of our specialty - offering excellent options for every candidate."
Prior to the development of the SAFE System, hair transplant surgeons had to
rely on traditional, invasive surgical procedures that required the surgeon to
surgically remove strips of scalp from the sides or back of the head, resulting
in a linear scar and a lengthy healing time.
In recent years, technological advancements have led to the development of Follicular Unit Extraction. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) involves the removal of singular follicular units of hair.
While less invasive than traditional transplants, traditional FUE
is time consuming, more expensive and only appropriate for a small percentage of
patients. The SAFE System was developed to improve upon the difficulties
associated with this system of FUE.
A survey by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery underscores
the growing popularity of hair replacement surgery.
The survey found that more than 168,000 hair transplant procedures were performed worldwide in 2004, with about half of those procedures being performed in the United States.
The survey
found that 40 is the average age of men and women seeking these procedures.
Dr. Harris will present the SAFE System and further advancements in hair
tranplantation as the host of the first-ever International Society of Hair
Replacement Surgery Regional Workshop.
Physicians from around the world will gather in Denver on April 21-23 to participate in live surgery demonstrations and listen to lectures by leaders in the area of FUE.