New Survey Finds Hair Restoration Procedures Performed Worldwide Increased 34 Percent in 2006

Approximately 225,800 hair restoration procedures were performed worldwide in 2006, up 34 percent from 2004, according to statistics released today from a recent member survey conducted by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) -- the world's leading medical authority on hair loss and hair restoration.

This large increase in hair restoration procedures coincides with a significant jump in the total number of hair restoration patients worldwide -- from 361,077 patients in 2004 to 645,281 patients in 2006.

"The tremendous growth in hair restoration can be attributed to the continual refinements in modern day hair transplants and proven medical therapies that produce natural-looking results that are virtually undetectable," said Paul C. Cotterill, MD, president of the ISHRS. "Increased public awareness about hair restoration procedures and the range of treatment options now available to both men and women are driving this increased demand around the world."

While men have traditionally dominated the hair restoration patient base, the proportion of women undergoing surgical hair restoration procedures appears to be on the rise. Since 2004, the percent of female surgical hair restoration patients has risen by 2.4 percent -- from 11.4 percent in 2004 to 13.8 percent in 2006.

In addition, the survey found that patients are seeking treatment for hair loss at a younger age. ISHRS members provided percentages of male and female surgical patients treated by age category, and more than half (57.9%) of patients fell between the ages of 30 to 49 years old.

Surgical patients in their 30s represented the age group with the largest number of patients undergoing hair restoration surgery (31.4 percent males and 26.4 percent females) -- a shift from 2004 in which patients in their 40s comprised the largest number of surgical patients.

Specifically, the survey found an increase in the number of younger men undergoing hair restoration surgery from 2004 to 2006. In 2006, 17 percent of men aged 20 to 29 sought surgical treatment for their hair loss compared to 15 percent in 2004.

The number of male surgical patients between the ages of 30 to 39 years old also increased -- with 31.6 percent seeking treatment in 2006 vs. 28.7 percent in 2004.

When ISHRS members were asked the average age of their patients who underwent hair restoration surgery for the first time in 2006, nearly half (48 percent) of patients were between 30 and 39 years old, with patients in their 40s representing the second-largest age group of first-time surgery patients (36 percent).

"It's not uncommon for people to start noticing hair loss or thinning in their 20s and 30s, which can make them feel very self-conscious and add years to their appearance," added Dr. Cotterill. "Early detection and intervention are essential to treating and preventing future hair loss, and, as our survey shows, more men and women are deciding that they want to address the problem while they're younger instead of delaying treatment."

Other key findings of the survey include: --

In 2006, 92.9 percent of hair transplant procedures targeted the scalp area, and 7.1 percent of procedures targeted non-scalp areas of the body, including:

* Eyebrows (3.4 percent in 2006 vs. 3 percent in 2004)

* Face/moustache/beard (1.5 percent in 2006 vs. 1 percent in 2004)

* Eyelashes (1.4 percent in 2006 vs. 0.35 percent in 2004)

Founded in 1993, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery is a non-profit medical association dedicated to the advancement of the art and science of hair restoration.

With a membership of over 650 physicians worldwide, the ISHRS provides continuing medical education to physicians specializing in hair loss and restoration surgery and serves as a resource for the public on the latest medical and surgical hair restoration treatments for hair loss.

For more information and to locate a physician, visit http://www.ishrs.org/.

Conducted by RH Research of Chicago, IL, the ISHRS 2007 Practice Census survey is a compilation of information provided solely by participating physicians.

The information published in this survey was developed from actual historical information and does not include any projected information.

The margin of error for the sample is plus or minus 6.5% at the 95% confidence level. For a full reprint of the ISHRS 2007 Practice Census Report, visit http://www.ishrs.org/mediacenter/media-statistics.htm.

International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery

Web site: http://www.ishrs.org/