Dr. Chang

Question: What is your transplanted hair growth rate? Question: Why don't you use all single follicular units (SFU) for hair transplant? Question: Are you concern about the possible pluggy look due to larger grafts size of modified follicular unit (up to 4 hairs in one graft)? Question: Given the same donor size, less number of grafts will be produced with larger graft size. If only SFU are used, it will result in almost double amount of grafts compare to modified FU for hair transplant. In another words, it will increase NHT double income. Why don't you follow the trend? Question: Do you have enough staffs to perform 5,000 grafts per session? Question: Is there any person is contradicting to use whole SFU? Please see Replies to these questions and concerns. Best Regards, Steven C. Chang, M.D.

The ultra thin graft is for eyebrow transplant only, mixed size grafts (FU, modified FU) is for hair transplant only. Please don't get confused. Ultra Thin Graft is almost bare hair only. It is thinner than regular FU. If you would like to see before and after result please see Eyebrow Photo Gallery Eyebrows are located at the center of face; patients require much natural and dense result than hair transplant (This is the reason a lot of physicians perform hair transplant but not eyebrow transplant). 90% of our eyebrow patients finished in one session, 10% requires a touch-up. We did three eyebrow surgeries this week. How close and how many grafts can we implant in one cm2? Slits are made by hand, they are impossible to be exactly even. The best way I will do is to show you the coverage area with ruler on it for you to figure out the size. And close up photo of slits for you to count. Please see Eyebrow Restoration Process According to our calculation the distance between each graft is 0.8mm (11 cm /125=0.8mm), we implanted 92 grafts per one centimeter squares (555 G/6cm2=92 G per cm2). Steven C. Chang, M.D.

If ultra thin graft and dense packing are the best techniques; I already use it for more than 10 years. For the past 10 years, I have performed hundreds of eyebrow transplantation. The ultra fine graft is exactly the size been used. 3 ultra thin graft photos took back in 2001 and 2002 (The grafts come with longer hair because they are used for eyebrow transplantation. With longer hair, patients can see immediate result and it also enables us to check the hair direction easily.) I would like to present a typical eyebrow transplant that I did yesterday (December 7, 2006.) The patient is an Asian male. Each brow is about 5 cm in length, average width is 0.6 cm, and the area is 3 cm2. The total area for both eyebrows is approximately 6 cm2. We transplanted 555 grafts. This is about 92 grafts per cm2. I will post a series of zoom-in photos next week. Our surgical team has the ability to perform ultra thin graft and extremely dense packing, but I only limit it to certain area. Steven C. Chang, M.D.

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to express my point of view. I will reply all the questions and concerns systematically within a few days. The gentleman who had similar baldness and same donor size used as the patient in the surgical procedures that Pat observed already sent me his letter. I have uploaded his letter, before and 6 months after surgery photos to my website at: my patient's letter and photos Total coverage area is 93cm2. The donor size is 31.9 cm2 (contain almost 3200 F.U.) 1581 grafts. Density is 34%. Total surgery fee is $7005. Best Regards, Steven C. Chang, M.D.

NHT's goal is patients' satisfaction. We strive ourselves to deliver the most fullness and natural looking with minimum donor hairs damaged or removed. If we can deliver the same satisfactory result, we will use less number of grafts to save patients thousands of dollars. We had a patient who had similar baldness and same donor size (1.1 cm by 29 cm = 31.9 cm2) used as the patient in the surgical procedures that Pat observed. The patient had a hair transplant surgery on December 1, 2005; the total graft number was 1581G, which included 300 single follicular units and 1281 modified follicular units. The modified follicular units basically are bi-follicular units but we try limiting the number of hair up to four hairs only. Hair line use single follicular units only. But single follicular unit contains 1-4 hairs to make sure the first line only transplant one hair unit, we call it micro graft. The mixed follicular grafting provides the most natural and fullness looking with minimum damaged or removed donor hairs at a reasonable price. This patient promised that he would share his experience with us in a few days. Why not listen to what he says? Steven C. Chang, M.D.