What is your role at Medi Tresse?
I am the Chief of Surgery of Medi Tresse Surgical and also the Medical Director of Medi Tresse Westchester, which is a role I have held since March of 2018. In August 2019, due to patient demand, Medi Tresse made the decision to start offering hair restoration surgery and I was named the Chief of Surgery of Medi Tresse. As Chief of Surgery I see patients at the Medi Tresse Boston, Medi Tresse Worcester, and Medi Tresse Scarsdale offices.
What is your experience treating hair loss?
I started over 25 years ago and have treated thousands of patients both women and men for hair loss. I have performed over 8,000 surgical hair restoration procedures.
You have performed significantly more surgical procedures on men than women, is there a reason for that?
There are several reasons for this.
The first is that in my experience, as hair loss treatments for men are more well known, men feel more comfortable seeking treatment, including hair transplants. The women I have met with, often share their stories of embarrassment and shame, and how that kept them from seeking treatment. Many of the female patients I have met with often share stories of trying to hide their hair loss for years before finally deciding to seek treatment.
The second reason is that surgery is often a better option for men than for women. Men lose their on the top of their head and often completely in those areas of loss, whereas women lose hair more diffusely. Medical therapy is often a better option for women, while hair transplants are often a better option for men. In the last 10 years, the medical treatment options for women have almost replaced the need for hair transplants in women,
Female patients used to make up 20% of my surgeries just 15 years ago, but now they only make up between 3-5%. For many women Optimal Platelet Concentration™ Therapy, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy, or Low Level Laser Therapy are better options.
Why are non-surgical options better for many women?
Women have diffuse hair loss which is more responsive to medical treatment versus surgical treatment. Men tend to have the horseshoe pattern and this is less amenable to medical therapies, so surgery is often a better option.
Are any women good candidates for hair restoration surgery?
Absolutely, but we need to make sure the patient has a strong donor area, which is where we take the hairs from to transplant. As many women experience diffuse thinning, or hair loss throughout, we need to make sure that the donor area has enough density. If an area of the scalp has complete loss of hair, then medical therapy will not work. In that situation, a hair transplant is the only way to get hair in a place it did not exist before. Women that have hair loss in the temples, hair line, or crown may be good candidates for a hair transplant procedure.
Do you enjoy what you do?
I have been blessed because for the last 20 plus years I have had the privilege to practice hair restoration, which has given me the opportunity to help thousands of people restore their hair, but more importantly their confidence.
I have been fortunate enough to train over 15 physicians throughout the world in hair restoration, as well as, lecturing at conferences all over the world. This has allowed me to meet physicians and patients from all walks of life. Hair restoration has been my passion and the journey was so much more rewarding than I could have ever imagined.
Contact Medi Tresse Surgical for a hair transplant consultation to schedule an appointment. We’ll make sure to have all your questions answered!
