| Please choose your questions from
the list provided below.
Consultation
During
my consultation, am I able to meet with the doctor?
Technical Procedures
Why do
you advertise as International Laser Hair Transplant Surgery Center?
Do you use a laser in your practice?
What
type of grafts do you create? Strips, plugs, micro grafts or mini
grafts? How do you place the grafts? In rows or random placements?
How many
grafts can be placed in one procedure? How many grafts will I need?
Is this
procedure painful?
How long
does it take before the hair starts to grow?
What
kind of hair density will I have or can I expect?
Will
I lose any more of my hair?
If I
do lose more hair, will that affect my new transplanted hair?
Will
I have any scarring?
Can people
see the incisions? Can anyone see the donor scar after the staples
are removed?
How do
you create receptor sites?
How long
does the procedure take?
Will
the back of my head look different after removing the strip?
Is there
any special treatment I have to use after the procedure is done?
Will
I ever lose the transplanted hair?
Will
the grafted hair fall out?
Does
the doctor perform all of the surgery?
How many
doctors do you have at the I.L.H.T. center? Do they also perform
the procedure?
Do you
require a blood test?
Do you
perform scalp reductions?
Personal Considerations & Hygiene References and Cost
Should
I have the procedure performed in the front or the back?
Can I
go back to work?
Can I
shower and wash my hair after the procedure?
Will
I have to comb my hair differently?
Once
the hair grows in will it follow the flow of my hair?
Can I
work out after my procedure?
How soon
can I start the procedure?
References And Costs
Do you
guarantee your work?
Do you
have any referrals I can speak with about their experience?
Do you
have any pictures I can review?
How are
you different from other hair transplant clinics?
How much
does it cost? How much is it per graft?
Why are
your prices so much lower than other physicians?
Do I
get any medication after the procedure? Is this included in the
cost?
I don't
live in the immediate area. What do you offer for travel reimbursement?
Do you
have any financing?
Do you
require a deposit when you schedule the procedure?
Are there
any other extra fees?
Credentials and Legal Matters
What
are the doctor's credentials?
What
are the doctor's qualifications?
How long
have you been specializing in hair restoration?
Have
there been any lawsuits against you?
Do the
doctors specialize in just hair restoration?
How many
procedures can be done in one day?
Equipment
What
kind of tools does the doctor use?
Hairline Planning
Choosing
a Low Hairline
Designing
a Proportional Hairline
Consultation
During my consultation, am I able to meet
with the doctor?
Once you call for a consultation we find a time
that suits your schedule. You are able to meet with the doctor.
The doctor will listen to your concerns and history of hair loss.
Then, the doctor examines your scalp with the help of Densitome
and will be able to tell how fast or slow your hair loss and density
rating will be in the future. The doctor will explain the medical
as well as the surgical cure for your hair loss. If surgery is required
the doctor is able to let you know the number of grafts recommended.
We have many photo albums with pictures of our patients as well
as post-op pictures in the office. These pictures show their before
and after results. You are able to see the superiority of I.L.H.T.
work.
We have a digital imaging system to give you an approximate idea
of how your I.L.H.T. hair transplant will look. The doctor measures
your facial proportions, draws the hairline, and discusses your
new hairline with you. We also provide a list of our previous patients
whom you are able to call and inquire about their personal experience
with I.L.H.T. If you desire you may bring written questions about
the procedure. We can answer those questions during the consultation.
Once you have made up your mind, we can set up an appointment for
your surgery. We are confident our state-of-the-art technique, quality
of work and outstanding customer service will impress you and leave
you highly satisfied.
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Technical Procedures
Why do you advertise as International
Laser Hair Transplant Surgery Center? Do you use a laser in your
practice?
I.L.H.T. was involved in pioneering the
use of lasers in Hair Transplant Surgeries in the United States.
In the past it was not possible to offer hair transplant surgeries
to people having medical problems like hemophilia, heart disease,
high blood pressure and vascular problems, or patients on blood
thinning medications. We have studied and have incorporated the
use of lasers for these special circumstances and have overcome
these limitations.
What type of grafts do you create? Strips,
plugs, micro grafts or mini grafts? How do you place the grafts?
In rows or random placements?
We use follicle units. They are also called
micro grafts. The hair on all of our scalps is in natural groupings,
one-hair, two-hairs, or three-hairs or very rarely four hairs together.
These natural groupings are called follicular units. We use a feathering
technique for follicular unit graft placement. The feathering technique
with random placement creates a gradual natural transition by using
fine single hairs in the hairline and 2 and 3 follicular units behind
the single hairs. Since this is the way that our natural hair grows
this technique avoids any detect ability.
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How many grafts can be placed in one procedure?
How many grafts will I need?
The number of grafts depends on the person.
Most of the patients needs range from 200 to 2,000 grafts. If a
patient needs more than 2,000 grafts in one procedure the surgeon
will make the judgment by examining the scalp and its laxity. If
the scalp is very tight, as in the African and Chinese races, then
performing more than 2,000 grafts might put a stretch on the donor
area that can lead to delay in healing and scarring. This should
most likely be avoided. Caucasians, however, can receive up to 3,000
grafts without putting a strain on the donor area.
Is this procedure painful?
At I.L.H.T., the hair transplant procedure is
virtually painless. Due to Dr. Khan's highly developed system, known
as the Expansion Technique, many of the discomforts associated with
a hair transplant procedure of the past have been eliminated. The
Expansion Technique involves injecting saline into the donor area
resulting in a raised area. This keeps the surgery site away from
the neurovascular plane underneath.
How long does it take before the hair
starts to grow?
After the transplant procedure most of the transplanted
hair goes through a healing phase of two months. After the initial
two months the hair starts growing at the same rate as your non-transplanted
hair. The average rate of growth is half an inch per month.
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What kind of hair density will I have
or can I expect?
With Dr. Khan's ingenious Expansion Technique
we are able to achieve 100 hairs per square centimeter, which provides
a natural looking density in one procedure.
What percent of the grafts permanently
root?
Almost every hair that is transplanted will
grow. Scientific studies on our technique show that the I.L.H.T.
grafts have more than a 97% survival rate.
Will I lose any more of my hair?
As we grow older the balding process gradually
slows down. If we start losing hair at a younger age the balding
process is usually very fast. If we start losing hair after our
fifties then the process is usually slow. Fortunately, the science
and art of hair transplant procedures is so advanced, that we can
restore the bald area naturally, permanently and can avoid losing
remaining hair with the help of medical therapies available today.
If I do lose more hair, will that affect
my new transplanted hair?
The hair transplant procedure at I.L.H.T. has
been designed anticipating your natural future hair loss. One of
I.L.H.T.'s guiding principles is that the first surgery should never
leave a patient in need of additional surgeries. In other words,
if you never get another hair transplant procedure you should have
the appearance of natural thinning hair due to future hair loss
but still look great for life. Of course, those with severe hair
loss would benefit from additional surgeries by further filling
in these areas, but it is not necessary.
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Will I have any scarring?
There is no scarring involved in the transplanted
area. The donor area where follicular units are harvested is left
with a very fine scar. This fine line is usually completely undetectable
even by someone trying to find it by lifting the hairs in that area.
Can people see the incisions? Can anyone
see the donor scar after the staples are removed?
Your own hair covers the incision in the donor
area. It is not visible even right after surgery because your hair
covers the area. Once the area is completely healed it is hard to
find the incision line. Before harvesting the grafts from the selected
donor area the hair above the selected area are lifted up. After
removing the donor strip the lifted hair is released and naturally
covers the area just after your surgery.
How do you create receptor sites?
Receptor sites are made by these different techniques:
In the hairline area they are created using the titanium needles
(by depth controlled technique). These receptor sites can accept
only single hairs.
In the area behind the hairline, depth controlled titanium micro
punches are used to create a receptor site that can accept two-
or three-hair follicular units.
In the thinning area, special micro needles are used to avoid damage
to the existing hair.
In special circumstances, especially people on blood thinning medication
or have bleeding tendencies like hemophilia, lasers are used to
create the sites.
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How long does the procedure take?
It depends upon how many grafts are required;
usually a procedure for a thousand grafts takes 2-3 hours. 1,500
grafts take about 3-4 hours. If more than 2,000 are required the
procedure would take about 5-6 hours.
Will the back of my head look different
after removing the strip?
The back of your head looks the same after removing
the donor strip. We take advantage of the natural laxity of the
scalp. The donor hair is usually selected from the center of the
back of the head. In addition, Dr. Khan has invented the Densitome
that enables us to evaluate the quality and density of potential
donor hair. If selected from the wrong place, the donor area will
produce an unsightly scar. That is why we take such care to determine
the optimal donor location on an individual basis.
Is there any special treatment I have
to use after the procedure is done?
There is absolutely no requirement for any special
product to help transplanted hair after the procedure. Unlike drug
therapies, for the rest of your life your transplanted hair behaves
naturally. That is the beauty of an I.L.H.T. procedure. I.L.H.T.
gives unwavering attention to minor details through each step of
the procedure. First, selecting the proper donor area with the Densitome,
our own invention, is paramount. Second, we avoid damage to the
hairs, nerves, and vessels by using Dr. Khan's Depth Control instruments.
Third, we prepare follicular units used for transplanting under
I.L.H.T.'s special powered microscope projection (PMP) magnification.
This allows us to save the tiny sebaceous glands required for healthy,
shiny hair for the rest of your life. Last, we place the follicular
units in the thinning or balding area using a depth control technique
which assures maximum survival and healthy growth of hair. During
the first ten days after the procedure, for faster recovery, a special
spray that contains copper peptide can be used to promote healing.
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Will I ever lose the transplanted hair?
The transplanted hair is permanent. They will
continue to grow for the rest of your life. The transplanted hairs
are taken from the back or side of the scalp. They have a different
genetic makeup than the already lost hair and are genetically permanent.
Once they have moved to the thinning or balding area they will continue
to grow for the rest of your life.
Will the grafted hair fall out?
No. The grafts never fall out. The grafts are
trimmed before being transplanted. After being transplanted they
look like the size of an unshaven face after a week. Within a few
weeks most of the hair stubs fall out. The actual grafts, which
are inside the scalp, go through a six-week process of a healing
resting phase. After this dormant phase, hair starts growing from
these grafts, and will grow for the rest of your life. The average
growth is half an inch per month. In six months your hair can be
styled the way you like.
Does the doctor perform all of the surgery?
Yes. The procedure is performed by the doctor
and aided by medical assistants to help complete the procedure.
How many doctors do you have at the I.L.H.T.
center? Do they also perform the procedure?
In each of I.L.H.T. facilities there is a highly
trained doctor who performs all the procedures. Dr. Khan gives each
of these I.L.H.T. doctors extensive, personalized training in all
the necessary surgical techniques along with training in artistry
of the procedures.
Do you require a blood test?
Yes. This is important for your safety. We perform
a blood test to identify any bleeding tendencies or active medical
problems. This is to protect your health.
Do you perform scalp reductions?
I.L.H.T. does not believe in scalp reductions.
There is extensive scientific research to indicate detrimental effects,
such as the stretch back phenomenon. With this procedure there is
an association of visible scarring. The procedure also lose its
effectiveness within 12 weeks.
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Personal Considerations & Hygiene
Should I have the procedure performed
in the front or the back?
It's truly the patient's choice. What bothers
you the most, the front or the back? We always recommend that you
do the front and the crown together. However, we will still focus
on your main area of concern. If you want to focus on only one area,
we strongly recommend you to do the front first. The front hairline
restoration brings out the best features of the face. It restores
your individual symmetry, harmony, and resets your natural proportions.
Can I go back to work?
Yes. You should be able to resume your work
schedule immediately after the surgery. Some patients go back to
work the very same day. In fact, one patient, a plastic surgeon
drove back to his practice and saw patients that very afternoon.
For certain people with high stress occupations where physical exertion
is common you may want to wait a few days or so.
Can I shower and wash my hair after the
procedure?
The answer is yes; however, you must be very
gentle with your transplanted hair for the first week after surgery.
After the first week you will be able to resume your regular shampooing
routine
Will I have to comb my hair differently?
An I.L.H.T. hair transplant provides freedom
for you to style your hair the way you desire, because no graft
is bigger than your natural follicular unit. The transplanted hairs
are no different from your naturally lost hair. So, enjoy styling
your hair as you did in the past.
Once the hair grows in will it follow
the flow of my hair?
After the healing phase, once the transplanted
hair starts growing, they grow exactly at the same rate as your
other hair grows. Remember that these are your own hairs and they
have the same genetic makeup.
Can I work out after my procedure?
Yes. Routine workouts can be resumed after one
week. If your workout includes heavy weightlifting or swimming,
we recommend that you wait longer and resume exercise after two
weeks.
How soon can I start the procedure?
Once you reached an informed decision to have
surgery at one of our I.L.H.T. facilities, we can set an appointment
to have it performed within a few days.
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References and Cost
Do you guarantee your work?
We guarantee our work. It is that simple. It
is more than a promise. These are words by which we live. That is
why we do not have any unhappy patients. Our commitment to you is
ongoing service after your transplant to assure your complete, continued
satisfaction.
Do you have any referrals I can speak
with about their experience?
Yes. We have a list of patients who would love
to help answer any question best answered from a patient's perspective.
Since they have already gone through all the phases, they can give
you an informed opinion about their experience and their personal
results.
Do you have any pictures I can review?
We are very appreciative of existing clients
who have permitted us to share their pictures with future patients.
These pictures are very helpful in your making a well-informed decision.
We also have a 60-page color booklet (The online brochure in large
magazine full-color format) of 34 patients for you to take home
and share with your friends and loved ones, to help you to make
that important decision to proceed.
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How are you different from other hair
transplant clinics?
Dr. Khan has been a key force in the transformation
of hair transplant surgery from plugs - the old standard and an
extremely unnatural look - to today's state-of-the-art I.L.H.T.
hair transplant procedure. Dr. Khan invented the depth control techniques
that changed the way donor grafts are harvested, done without damaging
blood vessels and nerves. This lead to faster healing and no damage
to existing donor hairs.
Dr. Khan invented the Expansion Techniques to provide the natural
density in one procedure.
Dr. Khan has incorporated computer technology into the hair transplant
surgeries. Dr. Khan prepares grafts by looking at a high-resolution
LCD screen. Doing so enables Dr. Khan to avoid any damage to the
individual follicular unit and its glands. This provides a more
vibrant and healthy hair transplant.
We must stress that even this state-of-the-art surgery is incomplete
if it is not combined with artistry. In hair restoration, recreating
the hairline requires understanding of the facial proportions, angles
and ratios for various components of the face and a lifetime of
study. Dr. Khan developed a unique arithmetic system for designing
your new hairline, bringing back symmetry, harmony, and proportions
to your unique facial features. I.L.H.T. is known for Dr. Khan's
aesthetic hairline artistic ability. Having restored the beauty
of a natural looking hairline to so many patients, Dr. Khan can
assure you that your procedure will be exactly right for your face.
How much does it cost? How much is it
per graft?
The cost of the Hair Transplant procedure varies
depending on how many grafts are needed and it also depends upon
whether or not it is a corrective surgery due to prior transplants.
We offer a free complimentary consultation. During the consultation,
the doctor will evaluate you and suggest the number of recommended
grafts including the total price. You will get the best value for
excellent quality and outstanding services. For those who need to
have previous work altered and recreated the price is necessarily
higher, but we feel the results are astonishing and well worth the
cost.
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Why are your prices so much lower than
other physicians?
In the past this type of surgery was reserved
for the rich and famous. The prices used to be unaffordable for
the average person. We feel that hair loss robs one of their youthful
appearance and attractive facial proportions. Hair restoration surgery
should be a basic consideration, and not considered a vanity. This
reasoning led to Dr. Khan's dream to make hair transplantation affordable
to everyone. I.L.H.T. worked diligently to make this dream come
true by inventing techniques and equipment which minimized cost
and overhead. By investing the years necessary to design a procedure
built around convenience for staff, time compression in both the
execution and graft preparation, and defining the process so that
it can be affordable, Dr. Khan created a viable alternative to what
used to be standard practice. Many medical advances had simply been
ignored by our field of practice. Dr. Khan's insight incorporated
the most advanced equipment to drive down the time needed to perform
the procedure. That is why I.L.H.T. offers the world's highest quality
at affordable prices.
Do I get any medication after the procedure?
Is this included in the cost?
Yes. You will need an antibiotic and anti-swelling
medication for five days after the procedure. Pain medication is
recommended for the first day. There is usually no pain after the
first day. The prescribed medication, which costs around $50.00,
is not included in the cost of the procedure.
I don't live in the immediate area. What
do you offer for travel reimbursement?
If anyone travels to one of I.L.H.T.'s facilities
by air(Domestic), we reimburse up to 50%
of the airfare and we provide a one night stay in a hotel free of
charge to the patient. This is part of our commitment to simplify
the procedure and give you the best value for your money.
Do you have any financing?
Yes. We offer financing
through one of the nation's largest customer-oriented credit companies.
Their rates are competitive and worth examining. We also accept
most major credit cards.
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Do you require a deposit when you schedule
the procedure?
Yes, when you schedule your surgery, $500 is
required as a deposit. If you cancel your scheduled day with at
least 72 hours notice to our offices, you are able to receive a
full refund or you can credit the existing deposit towards your
new scheduled procedure day.
Are there any other extra fees?
We do not have any extra fees. Your anesthesia
and operating room fees are included in your package. All medications
we use for anesthesia are also included in the price. The only outside
costs are the antibiotics and anti-swelling medication which costs
around $50 and the Blood Test which is $85.
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Credentials and Legal Matters
What are the doctor's credentials?
All surgeons associated with I.L.H.T. are board
certified and they have extensive training with Dr. Khan. I.L.H.T.
surgeons have unique interactive team approaches, provide an unwavering
attention to detail, and assure an outcome that is uniquely yours.
What are the doctor's qualifications?
Dr. Khan is a Board Certified General Surgeon
and a diplomat of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery with extensive
micro vascular and plastic surgery training. This training and background
are quite extensive and are in addition to the study Dr. Khan has
devoted to the specific field of hair transplantation. Dr. Khan
is also a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, which is the
very highest award given to the best surgeons in the country. Dr.
Khan is a founding member at the International Society of Hair Restoration
Surgery. All surgeons associated with I.L.H.T. are board certified
and have had vast training with Dr. Khan. We accept nothing less
than the best and neither should you.
How long have you been specializing in
hair restoration?
Dr. Khan has been specializing in hair restoration
surgery for over 25 years. Dr. Khan is the inventor of many influential
instrumentation used in today's state-of-the-art surgeries worldwide.
All the doctors associated with Dr. Khan have extensive cosmetic
surgery experience prior to joining our practice and have been personally
trained by Dr. Khan in the most advanced hair transplant surgery
methods.
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Have there been any lawsuits against you?
No. There have been no judgments against I.L.H.T.
When we say none, we mean none. We have been in business under the
same corporate name since the business was founded. I.L.H.T. has
thousands of happy patients from every continent of the world. We
are very proud of our flawless record and will not do anything to
jeopardize it.
Do the doctors specialize in just hair
restoration?
I.L.H.T. doctors are specialized in cosmetic
surgery and further specialized in hair restoration surgery. These
doctors are observed by Dr. Khan and perform in a unique interactive
team approach all under Dr. Khan's vision and critical management.
I.L.H.T. doctors have gone against conformity and embrace Dr. Khan's
innovative techniques and methods, elevating the surgeon's craft
to an art form. Dr. Khan is recognized as a leader in the field
worldwide.
How many procedures can be done in one
day?
Each doctor is usually restricted to perform
two procedures per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
I.L.H.T. doctors are often called upon to perform corrective surgery,
and then only one procedure is performed in a single day. This ensures
that no physician is ever physically overtaxed. We demand their
total attention to the details of our individual patients. Our physicians
and staff are well paid for their efforts. By limiting schedules
we may limit income, but our results and reputation are more important
than raw earnings. We are restoring confidence, beauty and youth.
You cannot put a price on these.
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Equipment
What kind of tools does the doctor use?
Dr. Khan invented most of the procedure
specific instrumentation and helped in the development of the Densitome,
the Depth Control Instruments and the End Site Preparation Instruments.
Both the Densitome and Depth Control Instruments used by I.L.H.T.
have been custom designed for our practice based on our ongoing
research. For more information regarding these advances please refer
to the Background Section.
Explained in greater detail in our medical procedures section, specially
designed microscopes are key to the precision results for our surgical
team. From examination and harvesting in the donor area, to dissecting
and placing the grafts, our microscopic equipment is the finest
available.
While lasers have many applications, in microsurgery they provide
a clean method to produce receptor sites with no pain or damage
to the neurovascular plane. They are ideal for exceeding the surgeon's
physical skill with a blade or needle alone.
Our Titanium End Site Preparation Instruments are created to make
the most stable, cleanly prepared receptor area.
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Hairline Planning
Choosing a Low Hairline
With old traditional "big"
grafts it was not possible to restore the hairline according to
individual facial features. The forehead is almost straight, up
to six centimeters from the eyebrows, and at this level it can curve
back until it fully becomes a flat surface of the scalp.
Larger plugs used to look somewhat natural if placed at the front
part of the scalp. But with the invention of smaller micrografts
there was no need to make them look natural. However, among surgeons,
it was very hard to change the mind set of graft planting at one
fixed plane creating a flat surface of graft placement in opposition
to individual natural unique facial features. I.L.H.T. crossed the
barrier and initially many others considered our hairline low. While
it may have appeared low to some, these newly placed hairlines were
not low according to each individual's unique facial features.
Designing a Proportional Hairline
A proportional hairline is the hairline determined
according to each patient's facial features.
A common approach is that the hairline should be placed according
to age, which never accounts for the significant differences of
the individual facial features. With our micrograft technique, a
hairline is designed according to facial proportion, and looks good
for life, not for any one particular age. Dr. Khan has authored
an article describing the arithmetic proportions of attractive facial
features. This approach is incorporated in designing the new hairline.
Dr. Khan is noted for studying the classical artists and their methods
for reproducing individual facial characteristics. This newly designed
hairline is proportioned to the individual and can be shown to the
person with our enhanced digital imaging system.
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