Please choose your questions from the list provided below. Consultation
During my consultation, am I able to meet
with the doctor?
Technical Procedures
Why do you advertise as International Laser
Hair Transplant Surgery Center? Do you use a laser in your practice?
What type of grafts do you create? Strips,
plugs, micro grafts or mini grafts? How do you place the grafts? In rows
or random placements?
How many grafts can be placed in one
procedure? How many grafts will I need?
Is this procedure painful?
How long does it take before the hair starts
to grow?
What kind of hair density will I have or can
I expect?
Will I lose any more of my hair?
If I do lose more hair, will that affect my new
transplanted hair?
Will I have any scarring?
Can people see the incisions? Can anyone see
the donor scar after the staples are removed?
How do you create receptor sites?
How long does the procedure take?
Will the back of my head look different after
removing the strip?
Is there any special treatment I have to use
after the procedure is done?
Will I ever lose the transplanted hair?
Will the grafted hair fall out?
Does the doctor perform all of the surgery?
How many doctors do you have at the I.L.H.T.
center? Do they also perform the procedure?
Do you require a blood test?
Do you perform scalp reductions?
Personal Considerations & Hygiene References and Cost
Should I have the procedure performed in the
front or the back?
Can I go back to work?
Can I shower and wash my hair after the
procedure?
Will I have to comb my hair differently?
Once the hair grows in will it follow the flow
of my hair?
Can I work out after my procedure?
How soon can I start the procedure?
References And Costs
Do you guarantee your work?
Do you have any referrals I can speak with about their experience?
Do you have any pictures I can review?
How are you different from other hair transplant clinics?
How much does it cost? How much is it per graft?
Why are your prices so much lower than other physicians?
Do I get any medication after the procedure? Is this included in the
cost?
I don't live in the immediate area. What do you offer for travel
reimbursement?
Do you have any financing?
Do you require a deposit when you schedule the procedure?
Are there any other extra fees?
Credentials and Legal Matters
What are the doctor's credentials?
What are the doctor's qualifications?
How long have you been specializing in hair
restoration?
Have there been any lawsuits against you?
Do the doctors specialize in just hair
restoration?
How many procedures can be done in one day?
Equipment
What kind of tools does the doctor use?
Hairline Planning
Choosing a Low Hairline
Designing a Proportional Hairline
Consultation
During my consultation, am I able to meet
with the doctor?
Once you call for a consultation we find a time that suits your
schedule. You are able to meet with the doctor. The doctor will listen
to your concerns and history of hair loss. Then, the doctor examines
your scalp with the help of Densitome and will be able to tell how fast
or slow your hair loss and density rating will be in the future. The
doctor will explain the medical as well as the surgical cure for your
hair loss. If surgery is required the doctor is able to let you know the
number of grafts recommended.
We have many photo albums with pictures of our patients as well as
post-op pictures in the office. These pictures show their before and
after results. You are able to see the superiority of I.L.H.T. work.
The doctor measures your facial
proportions, draws the hairline, and discusses your new hairline with
you.
We also provide a list of our previous patients whom you are able to
call and inquire about their personal experience with I.L.H.T. If you
desire you may bring written questions about the procedure. We can
answer those questions during the consultation.
Once you have made up your mind, we can set up an appointment for your
surgery. We are confident our state-of-the-art technique, quality of
work and outstanding customer service will impress you and leave you
highly satisfied.
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Technical Procedures
Why do you advertise as International Laser
Hair Transplant Surgery Center? Do you use a laser in your practice?
I.L.H.T. was involved in pioneering the use of lasers in Hair
Transplant Surgeries in the United States. In the past it was not
possible to offer hair transplant surgeries to people having medical
problems like hemophilia, heart disease, high blood pressure and
vascular problems, or patients on blood thinning medications. We have
studied and have incorporated the use of lasers for these special
circumstances and have overcome these limitations.
What type of grafts do you create? Strips,
plugs, micro grafts or mini grafts? How do you place the grafts? In rows
or random placements?
We use follicle units. They are also called micro grafts. The hair on
all of our scalps is in natural groupings, one-hair, two-hairs, or
three-hairs or very rarely four hairs together. These natural groupings
are called follicular units. We use a feathering technique for
follicular unit graft placement. The feathering technique with random
placement creates a gradual natural transition by using fine single
hairs in the hairline and 2 and 3 follicular units behind the single
hairs. Since this is the way that our natural hair grows this technique
avoids any detect ability.
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How many grafts can be placed in one
procedure? How many grafts will I need?
The number of grafts depends on the person. Most of the patients needs
range from 200 to 2,000 grafts. If a patient needs more than 2,000
grafts in one procedure the surgeon will make the judgment by examining
the scalp and its laxity. If the scalp is very tight, as in the African
and Chinese races, then performing more than 2,000 grafts might put a
stretch on the donor area that can lead to delay in healing and
scarring. This should most likely be avoided. Caucasians, however, can
receive up to 3,000 grafts without putting a strain on the donor area.
Is this procedure painful?
At I.L.H.T., the hair transplant procedure is virtually painless. Due to
Dr. Khan's highly developed system, known as the Expansion Technique,
many of the discomforts associated with a hair transplant procedure of
the past have been eliminated. The Expansion Technique involves
injecting saline into the donor area resulting in a raised area. This
keeps the surgery site away from the neurovascular plane underneath.
How long does it take before the hair starts
to grow?
After the transplant procedure most of the transplanted hair goes
through a healing phase of two months. After the initial two months the
hair starts growing at the same rate as your non-transplanted hair. The
average rate of growth is half an inch per month.
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What kind of hair density will I have or can
I expect?
With Dr. Khan's ingenious Expansion Technique we are able to achieve 100
hairs per square centimeter, which provides a natural looking density in
one procedure.
What percent of the grafts permanently root?
Almost every hair that is transplanted will grow. Scientific studies on
our technique show that the I.L.H.T. grafts have more than a 97%
survival rate.
Will I lose any more of my hair?
As we grow older the balding process gradually slows down. If we start
losing hair at a younger age the balding process is usually very fast.
If we start losing hair after our fifties then the process is usually
slow. Fortunately, the science and art of hair transplant procedures is
so advanced, that we can restore the bald area naturally, permanently
and can avoid losing remaining hair with the help of medical therapies
available today.
If I do lose more hair, will that affect my new
transplanted hair?
The hair transplant procedure at I.L.H.T. has been designed anticipating
your natural future hair loss. One of I.L.H.T.'s guiding principles is
that the first surgery should never leave a patient in need of
additional surgeries. In other words, if you never get another hair
transplant procedure you should have the appearance of natural thinning
hair due to future hair loss but still look great for life. Of course,
those with severe hair loss would benefit from additional surgeries by
further filling in these areas, but it is not necessary.
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Will I have any scarring?
There is no scarring involved in the transplanted area. The donor area
where follicular units are harvested is left with a very fine scar. This
fine line is usually completely undetectable even by someone trying to
find it by lifting the hairs in that area.
Can people see the incisions? Can anyone see
the donor scar after the staples are removed?
Your own hair covers the incision in the donor area. It is not visible
even right after surgery because your hair covers the area. Once the
area is completely healed it is hard to find the incision line. Before
harvesting the grafts from the selected donor area the hair above the
selected area are lifted up. After removing the donor strip the lifted
hair is released and naturally covers the area just after your surgery.
How do you create receptor sites?
Receptor sites are made by these different techniques:
In the hairline area they are created using the titanium needles (by
depth controlled technique). These receptor sites can accept only single
hairs.
In the area behind the hairline, depth controlled titanium micro punches
are used to create a receptor site that can accept two- or three-hair
follicular units.
In the thinning area, special micro needles are used to avoid damage to
the existing hair.
In special circumstances, especially people on blood thinning medication
or have bleeding tendencies like hemophilia, lasers are used to create
the sites.
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How long does the procedure take?
It depends upon how many grafts are required; usually a procedure for a
thousand grafts takes 2-3 hours. 1,500 grafts take about 3-4 hours. If
more than 2,000 are required the procedure would take about 5-6 hours.
Will the back of my head look different after
removing the strip?
The back of your head looks the same after removing the donor strip. We
take advantage of the natural laxity of the scalp. The donor hair is
usually selected from the center of the back of the head. In addition,
Dr. Khan has invented the Densitome that enables us to evaluate the
quality and density of potential donor hair. If selected from the wrong
place, the donor area will produce an unsightly scar. That is why we
take such care to determine the optimal donor location on an individual
basis.
Is there any special treatment I have to use
after the procedure is done?
There is absolutely no requirement for any special product to help
transplanted hair after the procedure. Unlike drug therapies, for the
rest of your life your transplanted hair behaves naturally. That is the
beauty of an I.L.H.T. procedure. I.L.H.T. gives unwavering attention to
minor details through each step of the procedure. First, selecting the
proper donor area with the Densitome, our own invention, is paramount.
Second, we avoid damage to the hairs, nerves, and vessels by using Dr.
Khan's Depth Control instruments. Third, we prepare follicular units
used for transplanting under I.L.H.T.'s special powered microscope
projection (PMP) magnification. This allows us to save the tiny
sebaceous glands required for healthy, shiny hair for the rest of your
life. Last, we place the follicular units in the thinning or balding
area using a depth control technique which assures maximum survival and
healthy growth of hair.
During the first ten days after the procedure, for faster recovery, a
special spray that contains copper peptide can be used to promote
healing.
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Will I ever lose the transplanted hair?
The transplanted hair is permanent. They will continue to grow for the
rest of your life. The transplanted hairs are taken from the back or
side of the scalp. They have a different genetic makeup than the already
lost hair and are genetically permanent. Once they have moved to the
thinning or balding area they will continue to grow for the rest of your
life.
Will the grafted hair fall out?
No. The grafts never fall out. The grafts are trimmed before being
transplanted. After being transplanted they look like the size of an
unshaven face after a week. Within a few weeks most of the hair stubs
fall out. The actual grafts, which are inside the scalp, go through a
six-week process of a healing resting phase. After this dormant phase,
hair starts growing from these grafts, and will grow for the rest of
your life. The average growth is half an inch per month. In six months
your hair can be styled the way you like.
Does the doctor perform all of the surgery?
Yes. The procedure is performed by the doctor and aided by medical
assistants to help complete the procedure.
How many doctors do you have at the I.L.H.T.
center? Do they also perform the procedure?
In each of I.L.H.T. facilities there is a highly trained doctor who
performs all the procedures. Dr. Khan gives each of these I.L.H.T.
doctors extensive, personalized training in all the necessary surgical
techniques along with training in artistry of the procedures.
Do you require a blood test?
Yes. This is important for your safety. We perform a blood test to
identify any bleeding tendencies or active medical problems. This is to
protect your health.
Do you perform scalp reductions?
I.L.H.T. does not believe in scalp reductions. There is extensive
scientific research to indicate detrimental effects, such as the stretch
back phenomenon. With this procedure there is an association of visible
scarring. The procedure also lose its effectiveness within 12 weeks.
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Personal Considerations & Hygiene
Should I have the procedure performed in the
front or the back?
It's truly the patient's choice. What bothers you the most, the front or
the back? We always recommend that you do the front and the crown
together. However, we will still focus on your main area of concern. If
you want to focus on only one area, we strongly recommend you to do the
front first. The front hairline restoration brings out the best features
of the face. It restores your individual symmetry, harmony, and resets
your natural proportions.
Can I go back to work?
Yes. You should be able to resume your work schedule immediately after
the surgery. Some patients go back to work the very same day. In fact,
one patient, a plastic surgeon drove back to his practice and saw
patients that very afternoon. For certain people with high stress
occupations where physical exertion is common you may want to wait a few
days or so.
Can I shower and wash my hair after the
procedure?
The answer is yes; however, you must be very gentle with your
transplanted hair for the first week after surgery. After the first week
you will be able to resume your regular shampooing routine
Will I have to comb my hair differently?
An I.L.H.T. hair transplant provides freedom for you to style your hair
the way you desire, because no graft is bigger than your natural
follicular unit. The transplanted hairs are no different from your
naturally lost hair. So, enjoy styling your hair as you did in the past.
Once the hair grows in will it follow the flow
of my hair?
After the healing phase, once the transplanted hair starts growing, they
grow exactly at the same rate as your other hair grows. Remember that
these are your own hairs and they have the same genetic makeup.
Can I work out after my procedure?
Yes. Routine workouts can be resumed after one week. If your workout
includes heavy weightlifting or swimming, we recommend that you wait
longer and resume exercise after two weeks.
How soon can I start the procedure?
Once you reached an informed decision to have surgery at one of our
I.L.H.T. facilities, we can set an appointment to have it performed
within a few days.
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References and Cost
Do you guarantee your work?
We guarantee our work. It is that simple. It is more than a promise.
These are words by which we live. That is why we do not have any unhappy
patients. Our commitment to you is ongoing service after your transplant
to assure your complete, continued satisfaction.
Do you have any referrals I can speak with
about their experience?
Yes. We have a list of patients who would love to help answer any
question best answered from a patient's perspective. Since they have
already gone through all the phases, they can give you an informed
opinion about their experience and their personal results.
Do you have any pictures I can review?
We are very appreciative of existing clients who have permitted us to
share their pictures with future patients. These pictures are very
helpful in your making a well-informed decision. We also have a 60-page
color booklet (The online brochure in large magazine full-color format)
of 34 patients for you to take home and share with your friends and
loved ones, to help you to make that important decision to proceed.
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How are you different from other hair
transplant clinics?
Dr. Khan has been a key force in the transformation of hair transplant
surgery from plugs - the old standard and an extremely unnatural look -
to today's state-of-the-art I.L.H.T. hair transplant procedure. Dr. Khan
invented the depth control techniques that changed the way donor grafts
are harvested, done without damaging blood vessels and nerves. This lead
to faster healing and no damage to existing donor hairs.
Dr. Khan invented the Expansion Techniques to provide the natural
density in one procedure.
Dr. Khan has incorporated computer technology into the hair transplant
surgeries. Dr. Khan prepares grafts by looking at a high-resolution LCD
screen. Doing so enables Dr. Khan to avoid any damage to the individual
follicular unit and its glands. This provides a more vibrant and healthy
hair transplant.
We must stress that even this state-of-the-art surgery is incomplete if
it is not combined with artistry. In hair restoration, recreating the
hairline requires understanding of the facial proportions, angles and
ratios for various components of the face and a lifetime of study. Dr.
Khan developed a unique arithmetic system for designing your new
hairline, bringing back symmetry, harmony, and proportions to your
unique facial features. I.L.H.T. is known for Dr. Khan's aesthetic
hairline artistic ability. Having restored the beauty of a natural
looking hairline to so many patients, Dr. Khan can assure you that your
procedure will be exactly right for your face.
How much does it cost? How much is it per
graft?
The cost of the Hair Transplant procedure varies depending on how many
grafts are needed and it also depends upon whether or not it is a
corrective surgery due to prior transplants. We offer a free
complimentary consultation. During the consultation, the doctor will
evaluate you and suggest the number of recommended grafts including the
total price. You will get the best value for excellent quality and
outstanding services. For those who need to have previous work altered
and recreated the price is necessarily higher, but we feel the results
are astonishing and well worth the cost.
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Why are your prices so much lower than other
physicians?
In the past this type of surgery was reserved for the rich and famous.
The prices used to be unaffordable for the average person. We feel that
hair loss robs one of their youthful appearance and attractive facial
proportions. Hair restoration surgery should be a basic consideration,
and not considered a vanity. This reasoning led to Dr. Khan's dream to
make hair transplantation affordable to everyone. I.L.H.T. worked
diligently to make this dream come true by inventing techniques and
equipment which minimized cost and overhead. By investing the years
necessary to design a procedure built around convenience for staff, time
compression in both the execution and graft preparation, and defining
the process so that it can be affordable, Dr. Khan created a viable
alternative to what used to be standard practice. Many medical advances
had simply been ignored by our field of practice. Dr. Khan's insight
incorporated the most advanced equipment to drive down the time needed
to perform the procedure. That is why I.L.H.T. offers the world's
highest quality at affordable prices.
Do I get any medication after the procedure? Is
this included in the cost?
Yes. You will need an antibiotic and anti-swelling medication for five
days after the procedure. Pain medication is recommended for the first
day. There is usually no pain after the first day. The prescribed
medication, which costs around $50.00, is not included in the cost of
the procedure.
I don't live in the immediate area. What do you
offer for travel reimbursement?
If anyone travels to one of I.L.H.T.'s facilities by air, we reimburse
up to 50% of the airfare and we provide a one night stay in a hotel free
of charge to the patient. This is part of our commitment to simplify the
procedure and give you the best value for your money.
Do you have any financing?
Yes. We offer financing through one of the
nation's largest customer-oriented credit companies. Their rates are
competitive and worth examining. We also accept most major credit cards.
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Do you require a deposit when you schedule the
procedure?
Yes, when you schedule your surgery, $500 is required as a deposit. If
you cancel your scheduled day with at least 72 hours notice
to our offices, you are able to receive a full refund or you can credit
the existing deposit towards your new scheduled procedure day.
Are there any other extra fees?
We do not have any extra fees. Your anesthesia and
operating room fees are included in your package. All medications we use
for anesthesia are also included in the price. The only outside costs
are the antibiotics and anti-swelling medication which costs around $50
and the Blood Test which is $85.
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Credentials and Legal Matters
What are the doctor's credentials?
All surgeons associated with I.L.H.T. are board certified and they have
extensive training with Dr. Khan. I.L.H.T. surgeons have unique
interactive team approaches, provide an unwavering attention to detail,
and assure an outcome that is uniquely yours.
What are the doctor's qualifications?
Dr. Khan is a Board Certified General Surgeon and a diplomat of the
American Board of Cosmetic Surgery with extensive micro vascular and
plastic surgery training. This training and background are quite
extensive and are in addition to the study Dr. Khan has devoted to the
specific field of hair transplantation. Dr. Khan is also a fellow of the
American College of Surgeons, which is the very highest award given to
the best surgeons in the country. Dr. Khan is a founding member at the
International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. All surgeons
associated with I.L.H.T. are board certified and have had vast training
with Dr. Khan. We accept nothing less than the best and neither should
you.
How long have you been specializing in hair
restoration?
Dr. Khan has been specializing in hair restoration surgery for over 25
years. Dr. Khan is the inventor of many influential instrumentation used
in today's state-of-the-art surgeries worldwide. All the doctors
associated with Dr. Khan have extensive cosmetic surgery experience
prior to joining our practice and have been personally trained by Dr.
Khan in the most advanced hair transplant surgery methods.
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Have there been any lawsuits against you?
No. There have been no judgments against I.L.H.T. When we say none, we
mean none. We have been in business under the same corporate name since
the business was founded. I.L.H.T. has thousands of happy patients from
every continent of the world. We are very proud of our flawless record
and will not do anything to jeopardize it.
Do the doctors specialize in just hair
restoration?
I.L.H.T. doctors are specialized in cosmetic surgery and further
specialized in hair restoration surgery. These doctors are observed by
Dr. Khan and perform in a unique interactive team approach all under Dr.
Khan's vision and critical management. I.L.H.T. doctors have gone
against conformity and embrace Dr. Khan's innovative techniques and
methods, elevating the surgeon's craft to an art form. Dr. Khan is
recognized as a leader in the field worldwide.
How many procedures can be done in one day?
Each doctor is usually restricted to perform two procedures per day, one
in the morning and one in the afternoon. I.L.H.T. doctors are often
called upon to perform corrective surgery, and then only one procedure
is performed in a single day. This ensures that no physician is ever
physically overtaxed. We demand their total attention to the details of
our individual patients. Our physicians and staff are well paid for
their efforts. By limiting schedules we may limit income, but our
results and reputation are more important than raw earnings. We are
restoring confidence, beauty and youth. You cannot put a price on these.
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Equipment
What kind of tools does the doctor use?
Dr. Khan invented most of the procedure specific instrumentation and
helped in the development of the Densitome, the Depth Control
Instruments and the End Site Preparation Instruments.
Both the Densitome and Depth Control Instruments used by I.L.H.T. have
been custom designed for our practice based on our ongoing research. For
more information regarding these advances please refer to the Background
Section.
Explained in greater detail in our medical procedures section, specially
designed microscopes are key to the precision results for our surgical
team. From examination and harvesting in the donor area, to dissecting
and placing the grafts, our microscopic equipment is the finest
available.
While lasers have many applications, in microsurgery they provide a
clean method to produce receptor sites with no pain or damage to the
neurovascular plane. They are ideal for exceeding the surgeon's physical
skill with a blade or needle alone.
Our Titanium End Site Preparation Instruments are created to make the
most stable, cleanly prepared receptor area.
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Hairline Planning
Choosing a Low Hairline
With old traditional "big" grafts it was not possible to restore the
hairline according to individual facial features. The forehead is almost
straight, up to six centimeters from the eyebrows, and at this level it
can curve back until it fully becomes a flat surface of the scalp.
Larger plugs used to look somewhat natural if placed at the front part
of the scalp. But with the invention of smaller micrografts there was no
need to make them look natural. However, among surgeons, it was very
hard to change the mind set of graft planting at one fixed plane
creating a flat surface of graft placement in opposition to individual
natural unique facial features. I.L.H.T. crossed the barrier and
initially many others considered our hairline low. While it may have
appeared low to some, these newly placed hairlines were not low
according to each individual's unique facial features.
Designing a Proportional Hairline
A proportional hairline is the hairline determined according to each
patient's facial features.
A common approach is that the hairline should be placed according to
age, which never accounts for the significant differences of the
individual facial features. With our micrograft technique, a hairline is
designed according to facial proportion, and looks good for life, not
for any one particular age. Dr. Khan has authored an article describing
the arithmetic proportions of attractive facial features. This approach
is incorporated in designing the new hairline. Dr. Khan is noted for
studying the classical artists and their methods for reproducing
individual facial characteristics. This newly designed hairline is
proportioned to the individual.
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