A new system is promising patients who have hair loss a less invasive and easier solution than hair grafts.
Dr. Peter Malouf, of the Center for Skin and Cosmetic Dermatology in Dallas, is the first doctor in North Texas to offer the Neograft automated hair restoration system.
A technician uses a small wand to extract hair follicles from a donor site on the patient. The hairs are collected in a bin, sterilized and then transplanted where they are needed.
"They're able to get a more precise, accurate and rapid removal of these hair follicles that are then used to improve the balding areas," Malouf said.
Many of the more than 55 million Americans who have hair loss need something more aggressive than over-the-counter and prescription treatments.
Larisa Sadovsky, 36, has been losing her hair since she had her daughter a little more than eight years ago.
"I was told that it was going to grow back; it's hormonal," she said.
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But it never did grow back. Eventually, she was diagnosed with male-patterned baldness caused by hormones and genetics.
"I'm young, and I wanted to look good for my age, and I don't want to feel uncomfortable everyday of my life," Sadovsky said.
Malouf said Neograft is cheaper, faster and less invasive than other surgical treatments.
"To take a surgical strip of scalp and spend many hours dissecting out many individual follicles for transplantation -- that's called the strip method. It has a lot of complications, a lot of down time," he said.
The strip method was the only other option for Sadovsky. But Neograft is also permanent, so she will be able to enjoy it for years to come.
Neograft patients are encouraged to follow up their treatment with laser therapy and topicals to aid the new hair growth, which can take six to 12 months to grow out.
