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Contact UsThick, luxurious hair is often a hallmark of youth, serving as both a feature of vitality and a personal statement of style. So, when hair begins to thin or the hairline starts to recede, it can affect not only appearance but also self-confidence. Fortunately, at ESK, you can restore all of that—and more—with one of the finest hair restoration options in NYC has to offer.
There are several reasons for hair loss, although the most common one is androgenetic alopecia, or male/female pattern baldness. This is the result of aging, genetics and sometimes hormonal factors.
Hair transplants can help reverse the negative effects of hair loss and cosmetically revitalize the hairline. Thousands of patients have successfully undergone hair transplants in cases where non-surgical means failed to produce adequate results. When other “quick fixes” haven’t produced a significant improvement, it may be time to consider hair restoration surgery in NYC for long-lasting, natural hair growth in thinning or balding areas.
At ESK in New York, our primary focus is on the head, neck and face. Dr. Kwak is double board certified in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology, and has spent the majority of his career enhancing and improving these delicate and highly visible areas. Dr. Kwak is known for his skillful, discerning eye and aesthetic artistry. He is always careful to cater to the individual rather than perform generic operations that produce banal outcomes.
During your initial consultation, Dr. Kwak will examine your scalp, ask questions about what other strategies or medications you have tried in relation to hair loss, and listen as you describe your goals for the procedure. The doctor will then present a fully detailed treatment plan outlining the method of hair transplant he will use and what to expect at every stage of your surgery. Most of our NYC hair transplant patients find that Dr. Kwak instantly sets them at ease, and is able to respond candidly to all concerns and questions.
Get StartedHair grows from follicles, the most significant part of which is called the dermal papilla. Each follicle unit of 1-4 hairs is nourished by the scalp’s blood supply. The hair grows in 3 distinct stages. The first is the Anagen Phase of active growth. The second is a transitional period and is called the Catagen Phase. The final segment is called the Telogen Phase and represents a resting period for the follicles. As we age, the growth phase gets shorter, and the resting phase gets longer. The follicle will eventually shrink and produces a shorter, finer hair. As the condition progresses, the hair will eventually stop growing, leading to thinning patches or baldness. Other areas of your scalp continue to produce thicker, lusher hair, and has healthy follicles, making our NYC hair restoration surgery possible.
There are several treatments for thinning hair or baldness, each of which works differently. A change in hairstyle can temporarily disguise bald patches, but as the thinning progresses, the hairstyle becomes less and less effective. Eventually you may choose to wear a hairpiece or wig, but most people find them uncomfortable, and are unhappy with the troublesome routine of positioning the hairpiece correctly, and removing it every evening. Some types of hairpieces can be sewn or glued to the scalp, but these treatments are uncomfortable and pose the risk of infection.
Once the hair growth cycle is understood, hair restoration surgery emerges as being the most effective option for treatment. While other hair restoration options may be cost-effective, hair restoration surgery presents a truly natural-looking solution for baldness, as you will once again grow natural, healthy hair. The surgery utilizes your existing healthy follicles to reintroduce hair growth.
Today, advanced surgical techniques for hair restoration are quite popular and effective. They include FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and FUT (Follicular unit Transplantation). Each of these hair restoration surgical methods has advantages, and Dr. Kwak will discuss which surgical method will be most beneficial to you, based upon your level of hair loss.
During this process, hair follicles from a donor area such as the back of the scalp are grafted onto the hairline via a specialty engineered device. The transplanted follicles are grafted gradually from front to back, ensuring a natural progression that mimics the organic hair growth process. The patient is provided with local anesthetic so little-to-no pain is experienced. FUE takes approximately 5-10 hours to perform.
Also called the “strip” method, this procedure involves removing strips of follicles from the donor site, creating grafts of 1-4 hairs and then placing them across the hairline via micro-incisions. Sutures are used in the donor area to close the gaps. The transplanted follicles then enter the Telogen (resting) phase, but can soon resume their normal Anagen (growth) phase, and continue to grow just like normal hair does. FUT usually takes 2-6 hours to perform.
There are basically two kinds of hair transplant procedures:
Some of the ideal candidates for this procedure include:
FUE or ‘Follicular Unit Extraction’ is the most advanced hair transplant technique available today. In this method, the surgeon uses a special extraction instrument to extract hair follicles and transfer them to the recipient location with the aid of a tiny surgical needle.
The hair transplant procedure begins with the surgeon numbing the surgical site with local anesthesia. Micro holes are made with a needle or blade in that part of the scalp where implantation needs to occur. The hair is gently placed in the holes and the implantation allows you to flaunt natural-looking growth. In a single treatment session, your surgeon may end up transplanting several hundred or thousand hairs.
The transplant size determines the length of the surgery. A hair transplant procedure usually takes about four to eight hours. Patients might require another session sometime later if they continue experiencing hair loss or wish to have thicker hair.
The cost of hair restoration in NYC can vary based on the patient’s individual needs and their desired results, but in general, the price range for a hair restoration procedure is $4,000-$15,000. Dr. Kwak offers personalized consultations to discuss treatment options and associated costs, ensuring patients receive the most effective and affordable solution for their unique situation. We carry out comprehensive assessments of every patient’s scalp in order to determine the best course of action for their issues.
Like all other surgeries, hair transplants also involve some risks. These usually include infection and bleeding. There is also a risk of scarring in some cases. When then new hair starts growing out, some people experience infection or inflammation in their hair follicles (folliculitis). But antibiotics and compression can easily relieve this problem.
It is a good idea to consult your doctor regarding the risks involved in a hair transplant and the extent of improvement you will likely notice after the surgery is completed.
While there may be multiple products promising increased hair volume and greater hair growth, most of them are ineffective. The ideal way to increase or add hair to a scalp area is to opt for a hair restoration procedure.
Manhattan hair restoration clients do not generally experience any discomfort. Hair transplantation is considered one of the most gentle and non-invasive outpatient procedures. After surgery, do not wash your hair for at least 24-48 hours, as this may damage the new follicles. It’s also a good idea to avoid excess exposure to the sun, and to keep rigorous exercise at a minimum for the first week or two of recovery. To minimize the risk of infection or irritation, take care not to pick at the healing scalp.
Clients can expect to see significant new hair growth at around 10-14 weeks. Occasionally multiple transplant sessions are needed to achieve the look you want, based upon the degree of your hair loss, and the restoration needed. We provide our patients with detailed aftercare instructions to speed healing, and help your new hair follicles to start producing hair.
If you should need any assistance or have questions during the weeks following your hair transplant, do not hesitate to contact Dr. Kwak at his Manhattan office directly.
Dr. Edward Kwak is double board-certified for facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, and in head and neck surgery. He is renowned for his precision and accuracy, and is a true artist in performing delicate procedures. Our patients are extremely satisfied with Dr. Kwak’s natural-looking results and appreciate the use of the most advanced technology and surgical techniques in hair restoration. He and his staff provide warm, caring patient care and always focus on patient health, safety, comfort – and achieving the results his patients want.
Dr. Kwak is a recognized authority in his field, and is regularly called upon as a lecturer, and to contribute to scholarly books and articles in his field. He educates other professionals, serving as an assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine, where he trains facial surgeons at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. Finally, Dr. Kwak also gives back to his community by working closely with Faces of Honor, an organization that gives provides medical services to injured veterans, sponsored by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. If you would like to explore options for some of the best hair restoration NYC has to offer, schedule a consultation with our office to create a treatment plan.
No, with the use of local anesthetics there should only be minor discomfort, primarily when applying the anesthetic.
There are two methods available for hair transplant, and those are the FUE and FUT methods. Both involve the removal of hair follicles from a donor site, typically the back of the head. Those follicles are then grafted onto the thinning or balding area.
FUE stands for Follicular Unit Extraction. This method involves the use of a specialized tool that extracts hair follicles in a random pattern and then transplants them to fill in a receding hairline, or balding or thinning area. This method takes longer but is much less invasive and leaves no visible scarring.
Follicular Unit Transplantation, or FUT, is the method that involves a strip of skin being harvested from the back of the scalp, where follicles are not genetically programmed for balding. This skin has all the donor hair follicles that will be transplanted to the front or top of the scalp. This method is faster than FUE but leaves a horizontal scar at the back of the head, which is not a problem for those who do not wear a very short hairstyle.
If you are experiencing significant hair loss with a receding hairline or balding areas, then this could be an option for you. Setting up a consultation with a surgeon will ascertain whether this procedure will bring about the result you envision – and which procedure will work best for you.
Depending on the method used recovery should be fairly quick. FUT may take longer due to the incision requiring time to fully heal. Full recovery should not be more than a week or two.
There will be a shedding period within the first couple of weeks with new hair growth typically starting within two to four months after the procedure. Noticeable hair growth should be visible in about ten to fourteen weeks.
In general, the results are long-lasting, as the follicles that are transplanted are from scalp areas where balding does not typically occur. These hardier follicles will simply continue to produce hair for the long term.
Scarring is minimal with the FUE method, and typically completely invisible. When using FUT, there will be a scar across the back of the scalp that is only noticeable when wearing a very short hair style at the back.
Only the day of, and potentially the day after the procedure depending if you have undergone the FUE method of hair transplantation. The procedure produces only minor discomfort that will be easily managed with prescription pain relief if needed.
Financing is available in most cases, we offer different plans to suit your needs such as extended payment plans and no interest for six months. Look on our financing page under resources for more information or talk to our friendly administrative staff for help.
