Your Hair Transplant Consultation

Welcome to the Quatela Center for Hair Restoration, established in 1987 to provide state-of-the-art hair restoration by facial plastic surgeons Dr. Vito Quatela, Dr. Heather Lee, and Dr. Alex Montague, who specialize in hair transplantation and re-growth. Hair loss affects two out of every three men and one in five women. Some begin to lose hair in their twenties. Much like other cosmetic surgery, hair restoration is an art that attempts to create natural results and restore self-confidence. The Quatela Center for Hair Restoration in Rochester, NY, is designed as a comprehensive resource offering professional and confidential treatment for men and women with hair loss.

Consultations

At the Quatela Center for Hair Restoration, your consultation begins with a one-on-one appointment with Dr. Quatela, Dr. Lee, or Dr. Montague. He or she will share with you a wealth of experience, before and after photos, and discuss which treatment options will work best with your hair type, loss, and desired results.

Hair Restoration Statistics

Based on the data collected in a survey done by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery in July 2013, it is estimated that approximately 310,624 hair restoration procedures were performed worldwide in 2012 by ISHRS members.

ISHRS also estimates that approximately 285,425 surgical patients and 686,035 non-surgical patients were treated worldwide in 2012. In total, ISHRS estimates that approximately 971,460 surgical and non-surgical patients were treated worldwide with hair restoration in 2012.

What results are you looking for?

People seek results from hair transplant surgery that are indistinguishable from a natural head of hair. You want to swim, shower and have the wind blow in your hair with no visible scarring, uniform density and a natural-looking hairline. These things are possible with follicular unit hair grafting. While no hair surgery will replace the exact hairline and hair density of your youth, follicular unit grafting is the most natural hair replacement approach available to date.

History

Hair replacement surgery has evolved from the unnatural “hair plugs” of the early 1980s to the most natural and undetectable follicular unit hair grafting procedures of today. In the late 1980s, hair plugs evolved into smaller sections. In the early 1990s, we welcomed the mini-grafting technique, which included hair plugs with one, two, or three hairs each. This led to a more natural-looking transplant. However, in the mid-1990s, we saw the introduction of micro-grafting, the precursor for follicular unit grafting, first performed in the late 1990s.

Classifications of Hair Loss

Male Pattern Baldness

More than 80% of men experience some degree of hair loss (also called alopecia). At your consultation, we review a well-established system for classifying hair loss in men including receding hair lines and thinning crowns. We pay particular attention to your health history and how it affects your hair growth. This information is combined with a physical exam of your hair follicles and scalp. Based on this information, we establish a hair restoration treatment plan and determine if you are an appropriate candidate for hair restoration surgery.

Female Hair Loss

Expectations placed on women about their hair cause much concern for women with thinning hair. Only recently has the medical community looked at women’s hair loss. Although the cause of hair loss in women may be multifaceted, thinning hair is frequently related to hormonal changes following menopause. Regardless of the cause, a thorough history and physical exam will provide the basis for determining if hair transplant surgery is your best option. Our Patient Consultant will review before-and-after photos of patients who have had hair replacement surgery. A review of alternatives and hair replacement procedure information will provide the necessary details to help you determine if hair restoration surgery is right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

At the Quatela Center for Hair Restoration, men and women find answers to their most frequently asked questions. We have provided many answers on our FAQ page.

• “What is a hair transplant?”
• “How long will a hair transplant last?
• “What is the procedure like?”
• “Will it look natural?”
• “Does Rogaine or Propecia work?”
• “Can I meet with someone who has had a hair transplant?”
• “How much will it cost?”
• “When can I go back to work?”
• “Can women have a hair transplant?”
• “How many grafts will I need?”
• “Is it safe?”
• “Is my surgeon qualified?”
• “Is it painful?”

Listening to You

One of the most important elements in any consultation is the doctor’s ability to listen. While you are learning the ins and outs of hair transplant surgery, your doctor is also learning from you. It is from listening to you that the doctor can:

• Understand your expectations
• Determine if they can meet your expectations
• Begin to understand you and your motivation behind your desire to improve your appearance
• Consider if you are a good surgical candidate or if non-surgical options would be better for you
• Offer a range of treatment options
• Answer your questions and provide information

Do Your Research

Medical research shows that the more you know about your healthcare, the better your experience and outcome will be. There are many ways to learn about hair restoration procedures. Be sure to take time to:

• Look at before and after photos of the hair restoration surgeon’s work.
• Research specific procedures for procedure descriptions, diagrams of incision placement, frequently asked questions, and pre-operative and post-operative care involved with the hair restoration procedure.
• Determine what’s important to you by reading reviews written by hair transplant surgery patients.
• Investigate your hair restoration surgeon and staff for training, education, experience, board certifications, etc. What’s his experience with the hair transplant procedures you discussed? How many has he or she performed?
• Write a list of important questions to discuss with the hair transplant doctor or contact us.

Procedure Information

In discussing realistic treatment options, Dr. Quatela, Dr. Lee, or Dr. Montague will include what can and cannot be achieved, and what is a reasonable result for you. You should receive information about the hair transplant procedure, including the placement of incisions, any risks involved, how to prepare for the procedure, the post-operative care involved and a realistic time frame for each post-operative phase (when you can go back to work, when you can expect the final result, etc.). Along with surgical options, your discussion should include non-surgical options for hair re-growth. QCHR aspires to serve as a resource for many treatment options.

Written Information

Obtain written information about hair replacement surgery. Written information about the procedure affords you the ability to process the wealth of information at your own pace after your hair restoration consultation.

The Rewards

Investing time and energy at the beginning will pay off in many ways. We see it in improved self-confidence, renewed self-esteem, and the smiling faces of our patients. It is what makes this rewarding to us.