T3: Through Thick & Thin
Offering Hair Preservation & Restoration With Exceptional Patient Care
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T3 Hair Preservation
800 St Vincents Dr. #610
Birmingham, AL 35205
Phone: (205) 776-7985
Monday–Thursday: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Dr. Michael Beckenstein introduced NeoGraft—a nonsurgical hair replacement procedure—to Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and all of Alabama in 2009. Since then, hundreds of men and women have benefited from the innovative hair restoration treatment without the need to travel to “big-box” practices outside the state. NeoGraft creates results that look remarkably natural without incisions or sutures.
In the hands of an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon such as Dr. Beckenstein, the FDA-approved NeoGraft device uses pneumatic-driven needles to extract individual hair follicles from the back or sides of the scalp where they are plentiful. This technique, called follicular unit extraction (FUE), enables Dr. Beckenstein to remove the follicles without touching them, increasing the transplant success rates and enabling him to transfer many more follicles during a single session than can be accomplished with manual FUE.
Whatever your age, Dr. Beckenstein’s comprehensive hair loss evaluation starts with a thorough assessment of your condition, including a physical examination, lab work, computer analysis, and genetic testing. These are basic treatment trends for various age groups in both men and women.
In this age range, nonsurgical hair preservation therapies are recommended. Hair transplantation is rarely recommended. Therapeutic treatments may include compounded topical or oral medications, which can help restore healthy hair growth. Other treatments include low-level laser therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. Hormonal manipulators cannot be used on women in this age group.
Nonsurgical therapies are usually recommended as initial treatments or to supplement hair replacement. Hair transplantation may be recommended if there is significant thinning resulting in major scalp exposure. Hair preservation must be used with hair replacement, as you must treat the remaining hairs to keep them where they are. Otherwise, that hair will be lost in time. Hormonal modulators are not recommended for women in this age group.
The same treatment options as those identified for younger patients are all possible, along with micropigmentation, tissue expansion, scalp reduction surgery, or hairline lowering surgery. Hair transplant surgery combined with nonsurgical therapies is more common for older patients. Hormonal modulators may be utilized for more mature women.
Over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol or Motrin can reduce any discomfort experienced after the procedure.
Dr. Beckenstein is one of the leading hair preservation and restoration specialists in the South and treats each patient personally. The board-certified plastic surgeon combines exceptional technical skill with a personable demeanor to create a relaxed environment for the men and women concerned about hair loss.
Unlike traditional hair transplant surgery—called follicular unit transplantation (FUT)—a NeoGraft procedure doesn’t require making an incision. FUT is sometimes referred to as the “strip” method because the surgeon removes a strip of scalp from the back of the head.
A NeoGraft procedure, performed at our office, begins with numbing the donor area of the scalp. Then, using a specialized tool, Dr. Beckenstein begins harvesting hair from the head. Patients usually feel pressure or a dull sensation as the NeoGraft device punches small holes and suctions the follicles.
After preparing the follicles for transplantation, Dr. Beckenstein creates small punctures in the area of hair loss and meticulously places the hair to create a natural-looking hairline. A treatment session can last several hours.
What does T3 Hair Preservation offer that "big box" hair restoration practices don't?
Many people aren’t aware that NeoGraft can be used to reconstruct and enhance thinning or asymmetrical eyebrows using hair follicles that match the look of the brow (often harvested from the nape of the neck.) Using NeoGraft’s precise, non-invasive technique, we re-create eyebrows without any visible scars. Our team understands how important it is to properly orient follicles in precise locations to avoid unnatural looking results.
At T3, we offer innovative and exclusive plans to reduce scarring from surgical hair transplantation. Strip and scalp reduction scars often become unsightly and quite visible several years after surgery as hair thins with age.
We use NeoGraft technology to “punch out” areas of the scar, reducing the size and diminishing the straight-line appearance. We then place hair follicles in and around the scar to conceal even more. We may recommend a specialized micropigmentation treatment to enhance the results. These procedures are straightforward and cost-effective. Patients are often able to return to work immediately following the procedure.
Reconstructing and restoring facial hair requires in-depth knowledge of hair orientation as well as precise graft design and placement. At T3, we are experts in this technique. We design and execute procedures that restore harmony and balance to your most noticeable feature—your face.
Men and women with significant areas of scalp visibility can be considered for hair restoration if certain criteria are met: You must be healthy and have normal scalp skin. Most importantly, you must have enough hair to donate to restore the bare areas. The follicles are harvested from the back of the scalp; taking too much hair can result in over-thinning that area. Dr. Beckenstein will discuss strategies to restore your hair with the number of grafts you have available. Some patients are not suitable for FUE/FUT and may be candidates for other surgical procedures.
At the beginning of your procedure, your scalp will be numbed using a combination of T3’s proprietary anesthetic gel and micro injections. You will not experience discomfort during your procedure. Afterward, you may feel some minimal discomfort that patients describe as feeling like a sunburn; it is typically relieved by Tylenol® or Motrin®.
One of the benefits of the NeoGraft procedure is it doesn’t involve making an incision that would result in a long, visible scar. Instead, the NeoGraft device punches small holes into the scalp when the individual follicles are removed, leaving pinpoint scars that are barely visible.
About 2 weeks to 2 months after the procedure, the grafted hair will fall out. The follicles are alive, and this is a normal part of the hair restoration process. After this initial shedding, the hair will start regrowing naturally in the transplanted area about 6 to 9 months after your procedure.
The cost of NeoGraft hair restoration treatments varies from patient to patient. Fees depend on a number of factors, including the complexity of the procedure and the number of grafts needed to produce the desired results. The credentials of the provider and team also influence the cost. T3 fees are all-inclusive with no hidden costs!
Wearing a hat is OK if it doesn’t touch the grafts while wearing it or removing it. You should avoid wearing anything that rubs the grafted areas or puts pressure on the scalp for 3 months.
The hair growth process following FUE/FUT treatment takes about 6 to 9 months. In the first few months following the procedure, the transplanted hair sheds and starts to regrow in about 3 months. You can see the results about 9 months after the procedure.
Hair loss can occur at almost any age. Some young men start to see their hairline receding in their late teens or early 20s. Many men experience some hair loss by the time they’re in their 30s. At our practice, we focus on hair preservation treatments instead of hair restoration surgery for younger patients. Hair replacement can be performed as early as the late 20s. Dr. Beckenstein recommends the best approach only after completing a physical examination, lab work, computer analysis, and genetic assessment.
The primary hair transplant techniques are follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT). NeoGraft is a semi-automated FUE procedure that meticulously harvests follicles and is less time-consuming than manual FUE hair restoration. The other technique, the “strip” method—involves removing a strip of the scalp from the back of the head, and then individual follicular units are removed from the strip. This strip method is painful compared to FUE/FUT and leaves a long, linear scar from ear to ear, while FUE treatments result in pinpoint scars that are virtually imperceptible. FUE/FUT using NeoGraft is a cost-effective treatment that produces excellent results for good hair restoration candidates.
If you’ve been looking for a hair restoration specialist in Alabama, Dr. Beckenstein is ready to discuss your options. He creates treatment strategies based on each patient’s specific needs and always takes the time needed to ensure you feel comfortable about the choice you make. Request a consultation using the online form or give our hair restoration practice in Birmingham a call at (205) 776-7985 to schedule your first appointment.