Hair Restoration

Thinning hair can undermine the self-esteem of even the most confident men. For women, hair loss can be devastating. Fortunately, at Dr. Richard Chaffoo’s La Jolla practice, there is a safe, advanced, minimally invasive alternative to the outdated hair restoration or transplant techniques that many San Diego clinics still offer.

Procedure

Thinning hair can undermine the self-esteem of even the most confident men. For women, hair loss can be devastating. Fortunately, at Dr. Richard Chaffoo’s La Jolla practice, there is a safe, advanced, minimally invasive alternative to the outdated hair restoration or transplant techniques that many San Diego clinics still offer.

NeoGraft is a breakthrough process that automates the latest techniques in hair transplantation, resulting in a less costly procedure that is more effective than “strip” hair transplant surgery. Even better, the recovery time is shorter because it is a minimally invasive method that doesn’t leave a linear scar.

Dr. Chaffoo is the only triple board-certified plastic surgeon offering hair replacement with NeoGraft in San Diego. At his dedicated Hair Surgery Center, he and his highly trained and experienced team achieve optimal, natural-looking results with this technology.

As the only physician board-certified in plastic surgery in San Diego who directs a hair surgery practice, Dr. Chaffoo for years has been the choice of patients seeking quality hair restoration. We can help you, too. Please  request a complimentary consultation  online, or call (800) 373-4773 to schedule an appointment.

Before and After Photos

View More Photos

How It Works

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is the newest method of hair transplantation. It takes hair grafts from the back of the head (where the hair is genetically programmed not to fall out), so they can be placed in thinning or balding areas. Compared to the more common “strip” or follicular unit transplantation (FUT) surgery, the FUE procedure maximizes the use of the finite amount of donor hair available. FUE can be performed with a local anesthetic and results in little bleeding.

When performed manually, FUE can be a time-consuming, tedious, and expensive process. It can also be a tricky procedure for physicians to master, so most continue to rely on the faster “strip” method. The drawback with both manual FUE and the strip method is that they require extensive handling of the grafts, and the survival rate of donor grafts decreases the more they are handled.

Treatment

A NeoGraft treatment is a relatively simple process, but it can take several hours, depending on the extent of the procedure, to ensure the results are natural-looking and effective. For this reason, we work with only one patient a day to devote the attention necessary in a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere. When you arrive at our Center of Excellence on the campus of Scripps Memorial Hospital, you will be given Valium — a sedative that will help you relax. Then a member of our team numbs your scalp with a local anesthetic. No general anesthesia is required, so you are awake during your NeoGraft treatment and can take breaks to get up and move around or use the restroom. Dr. Chaffoo and our team of technicians then perform your procedure, removing follicular units — tiny clusters of one to four hairs — from one area of your scalp, and inserting them where your hair is thinning. Dr. Chaffoo strives to deliver the best hair restoration San Diego has to offer and takes special care to recreate a natural-looking hairline by carefully adjusting the angle of follicle insertion. During this time, you rest comfortably, with breaks as needed. There is no incision, and you cannot feel anything on your scalp during the treatment.

“I went to 5 different surgeons before I visited Dr. Chaffoo. When I spoke with Dr. Chaffoo, I knew he was the one.”

— Todd

Your results may vary. Read more testimonials from Dr. Chaffoo’s patients.

Considerations

The NeoGraft device eliminates the problems associated with manual FUE hair restoration. It makes the process simpler, quicker, and more effective than either manual FUE or “strip” surgery, leading to the best possible aesthetic result.

One drawback of manual FUE transplants is that they require a surgeon to handle each hair follicle for some time after being removed and transplanted. The longer a follicle is dealt with, the more likely it will be damaged. Also, this is tedious and takes a long time, leading to surgeon fatigue and compromised results. The sections of the scalp that are removed also tend to be large, sometimes requiring stitches that later need to be removed and often resulting in noticeable scars on the back of the head.

The NeoGraft system is a special kind of FUE transplant that uses a handpiece to extract follicles and transplant them using pneumatic pressure. The follicles are stored in a chamber in the handpiece before they are transplanted, cutting down on damage and ensuring more follicles produce hair. Using the NeoGraft system, the surgeon can remove follicular grafts that are tiny — far smaller than is required in a manual FUE transplant procedure. As a result, it takes much less time than manual transplantation and doesn’t leave a linear scar behind.

Ideal Candidate

Patients who like to wear their hair short are perfect for NeoGraft hair restoration because it leaves no linear scar, as other methods do. Most adults with hair loss can benefit, and people who have concerns about activity restrictions after surgery appreciate the quick turnaround of NeoGraft.

Expectations

You’ve already taken the first step by beginning your research into hair replacement. The next step is booking a complimentary consultation at our North San Diego practice and getting to know Dr. Chaffoo. He believes in the value of a thorough consultation, where you talk extensively about your goals for your hair, as well as your medical history and current health. Dr. Chaffoo examines your scalp, and he encourages you to bring in photos that show your hair when you were younger before thinning, or loss began to occur. He discusses possible causes of your hair loss, from genetics to hormone imbalances, and then lays out your treatment options. Dr. Chaffoo works closely with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Susan M. Stuart, who treats the medical causes of hair loss. Our team also features several dedicated technicians who are the most highly trained in our area and have extensive experience with NeoGraft hair restoration — the state-of-the-art system used at our center.

Once he recommends the best approach to treatment, Dr. Chaffoo encourages you to ask any questions you have. His goal is to be very candid about the results you can expect, what the procedure is like, and how recovery will go. He may also discuss his own experiences undergoing a NeoGraft procedure to give you a personal look into the process. If you decide to proceed with a NeoGraft treatment, you work with our team to schedule the best time to begin your transformation.

Post Procedure

After your hair transplant in La Jolla, you may have a bandage on your scalp that you wear overnight. You may have some mild discomfort at this time, but most patients find that over-the-counter pain relievers are all they need. Because the NeoGraft system essentially uses tiny pinpricks instead of a long incision, healing is quick and comfortable. Some patients even return to work the next day. You should avoid exercise for a few days.

In the coming months, the hairs that Dr. Chaffoo transplanted go through a natural cycle of falling out and then regrowing. To ensure that you’re healing well and to monitor the growth of your hair, Dr. Chaffoo has you come in for regular follow-up appointments. After about 6 months, your final results become evident. At that time, you can choose to undergo further treatment if you’d like even thicker hair, but most San Diego hair restoration patients are satisfied with their outcomes after a single session. Your transplanted hair will last as long as it would have at its donor site, which, for most patients, makes for a thick head of hair for many years to come.

Why Choose Neograft

Why Choose La Jolla Hair Surgery Center For Hair Restoration?

Successful hair restoration surgery requires selecting a plastic surgeon with the special training and experience necessary to get excellent results. Dr. Chaffoo, the director of the center, possesses the credentials you should look for when choosing a hair transplant surgeon. Unlike many doctors who offer hair transplants, only a select few plastic surgeons have the experience and specific training to truly be called a hair restoration surgical specialist. Learn what to expect during the process of planning and undergoing hair restoration surgery with Dr. Chaffoo.

Our Hair Surgery Center also includes board-certified dermatologist Dr. Susan Stuart, who has the training and experience needed to diagnose and treat all medical causes of hair loss. That’s especially important for our female patients because the cause of hair loss in women is often a treatable medical condition.

To begin your journey to hair restoration surgery, request a complimentary consultation online, or call (800) 373-4773 to schedule an appointment.