Hair Transplants for Eyelashes and Eyebrows
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Why buy mascara when you can redo your eyelashes or eyebrows... with real hair?
Yes, hair restoration surgery to fill in thinning eyebrows or to enhance less-than-lush eyelashes is the latest trend in the quest for the aesthetic ideal.
According to statistics released from a recent member survey conducted by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), hair restoration procedures performed on the eyelashes, eyebrows and face increased 14.2% from 2008 to 2010.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTLocal expert Robert Leonard, MD
“An accident, injury, or simple genetics can lead to hair loss in very visible areas of the body other than the scalp,” said Dr. Robert Leonard, chief surgeon and founder of Leonard Hair Transplant Associates, with offices in Cranston. "This can make someone self-conscious in both their personal and professional life. But, thanks to continued advancements in hair restoration surgery, hair loss can be corrected on almost any spot on the body.”
Overall, 92.8% of hair transplant procedures performed worldwide in 2010 were on the scalp, while the remaining 7.2% targeted non-scalp areas of the body, including the eyebrows (4.4%), face/moustache/beard (1.5%) and eyelash (0.6%) areas. 0.7% of procedures were performed on other areas.
Little, tiny follicular units
In the case of eyebrow restoration surgery, tiny single follicular units typically from a donor area at the back of a patient’s head are transplanted to the eyebrow area during a single outpatient procedure. Dr. Leonard says that donor hair is determined by the texture and orientation to ensure it mimics the look of the eyebrow. The transplanted hair grows slowly over several months and will continue to grow over time, requiring the eyebrow to be trimmed.
Dr. Leonard notes that while non-scalp hair restoration is a good option for most patients with hair loss, patients should consult a hair restoration physician who deals in non-scalp hair transplantation to discuss whether a certain procedure is right for them.
“In my practice, we treat many types of hair loss, including traditional hair loss on the scalp and hair loss that occurs with the eyebrows and eyelashes,” said Dr. Leonard. “I think the demand for non-scalp hair restoration procedures will continue to increase, as more people decide they want a permanent solution.”
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