Balding Banter:

Artistry in hair restoration is one of the key differentiating points between an average result and an excellent one -- one that is both natural and maximizes the appearance of fullness.

It is not difficult to take hair from the back of the head and move it to a bald or thinning area on the scalp. However, an artistic hair restoration surgeon is not simply in the "moving business".

Since the surgeon is only able to use a small number of hair grafts relative to what was once there, the importance of angle, direction and orientation of the grafts becomes critical for greater hair density and for achieving the most natural, aesthetically-pleasing result.  When I look at a patient, I take into consideration the anatomy of my patient’s face, the shape of their head as well as their facial features. Recognizing that hair restoration is constructed on a three dimensional canvas, is key.  I design a hair line that takes all of these factors into consideration along with the age of the patient, degree of loss, availability of donor hair, family history and hair quality as well as the patient’s desired goals. 

My patients don’t come to me for just surgery; they come to me for results that are life changing, changes that you have to live with -- today, tomorrow and for the rest of their lives.

Surgery itself is not the challenge, rather the challenge is finding an artistic surgeon with an eye for the subtleties that create an undetectable result. Ask yourself, what look is important to you:  Cosmetic or natural?  That answer should guide your search for your personal hair restoration surgeon.

Patients who have never had a hair transplant procedure are often surprised to learn that the surgeon does not perform every step of the procedure by him or herself.  Veterans of the hair transplant procedure are not only relieved but very comfortable with the fact that the formula for success relies on the surgical team created by the surgeon.  This is imperative because today’s procedure often involves the microscopic dissection of 3000 grafts and subsequent implantation which is all performed in one day.  At Ziering Medical the surgeon will establish a short and long term hair restoration plan which includes surgical and non-surgical treatment options and combinations.  Additionally, your surgeon will outline the treatment zone with a surgical pencil to help you visualize the transformation that will take place with your hair restoration.

Our surgical tech teams are composed of at least five members. They microscopically sliver the donor strip and then dissect the individual grafts into one, two, three or four hair follicular units which are then placed into the recipient sites that have been created by your surgeon.

Our highly qualified and selectively chosen senior staff has been trained specifically in the latest industry and Ziering patented techniques.  Completing a year-long intensive training program is a requirement for every member of every surgical team. We have a Team Leader as well as Surgical Coordinator for every case, so there are always checks and balances during your surgery which is orchestrated by the surgeon.  It’s a very meticulous process that requires great attention to detail over long periods of time. The ability to rotate and tag team fresh hands and eyes, preventing fatigue, insures that the highest quality of care can be delivered to every surgical patient throughout the entire procedure. 

A great surgical team can make a good surgeon even better, but a bad team can make a great surgeon have poor results.  That is why we take great care in hiring, training and continually investing in our Ziering family of surgical technicians. I take great pride in my team whom I consider to be highly skilled craftsmen.  We will not compromise in our staff, as they contribute in making a difference in our patient’s lives every day.

From time to time I'm asked, what's the difference between follicular unit transplant and follicular unit extraction?  In Follicular Unit Transplantation the hair for relocation is obtained by surgically excising a strip of hair bearing skin from the donor region of the scalp.  The skin edges of this wound are then sutured closed and the result is typically a thin, fine line scar oriented horizontally across the back of the head.  Follicular Unit Extraction or FUE is a contemporary revival of an antiquated technique of obtaining donor hair in which a small circular cutting instrument is used to harvest follicular units one at a time from the donor area.  Each harvest or extraction creates a small circular scar and a transplant session creates a number of discontinuous, individual scars contrasting with the continuous liner scar of FUT.  Short hair styles are well supported with either method of harvesting.  Large session sizes are much more easily accomplished utilizing FUT technique and costs for FUE are often quadruple the cost of FUT on per graft basis.

“Alopecia’s in black women are common.  It is the fifth most common dermatoses in African Americans, with chemical and traction alopecia cited as the predominant types” as Dr. Ziering stated, addressing a full crowd, standing room only of over 61 African American men and women from the Marina del Rey community.

His poignant lecture of the psychological impact and differences of hair loss due to hair styles and grooming practices among the African American community hit close to home for many men and women.  Dr. Ziering empathized with the masses as he has found that women in particular, regardless of race with hair loss has largely been unheard by the larger medical community.  In fact, there is less social acceptance with increased social anxiety, more stress and decreased psychosocial well being.  Patients are often told that there is no treatment available and that she should consider wearing a wig. 

Well Dr. Ziering found this to be unacceptable. As an industry pioneer, leader and lecturer he remains in constant pursuit of seeking and developing new technology and surgical procedures like the Sneak Peek Long Hair Transplant Technique. He also specializes in facial hair aesthetics and corrective procedures to camouflage scars from burns, trauma and other cosmetic procedures including outdated “plug” techniques.  Ultimately, as Dr. Z expressed to his listeners, those that benefit from his skills are the one’s whom he cares about the most: his patients.

However, what separates Dr. Zieirng from the rest of his competitors is that he recognizes there are differences and certain keys to success which must be utilized when performing hair transplant surgery successfully in African American patients.  And it is this greater understanding of these differences as to why so many seek Dr. Z’s talents.