New ! Read about Dr. Feller's Motorized Extraction Device, the most advanced FUE instrument to date.
We have new services available including HD VideoTaping of your procedures with post-production editing and uploading to the internet. We also are offering Efficiency and Effectiveness evaluations and Training in your office.
Finding a technically qualified hair transplant technician who can perform follicular unit hair transplants is not an easy task. Over the years hair transplant surgeons have had to utilize on the job training to achieve this, this type of training takes years to complete and is loosely structured without a curriculum to follow. We have changed that, since 1993 we have been developing hair transplant techs in the U.S. and in 2005 we introduced our hair transplant techniques at the ISHRS meeting in Sidney, Australia.
Training in follicular unit dissection and placement is offered to pre-screened R.N.'s, LPNs, Surgical technicians, and other clinically experienced medical personnel. We will not train non-medical staff in hair transplantation, as some hair transplant surgeons are doing. The students will be taught follicular unit dissection using
Mantis microscopes or High Definition Video dissection, which is above the industry standard in hair transplants. This training can be done in your office, saving you additional expenses sending out your staff to an off-site location.
Staffing is provided to hair tranplant surgeons who have had training in hair transplantation through the ISHRS or the AACS. Our
experienced hair transplant techs have over 20 years in this field and only perform the "gold" standard in follicular unit dissection and placement.
Reccomended Automated FUE device:
Dr. Feller from Long Island New York who is an excellent and well respected hair transplant surgeon has developed the most advanced FUE device to date,, I feel it is far superior to the Neograft and is 1/10 of the cost, here are the highlights of Dr. Feller's amazing FUE device:
The Feller Motorized FollicularUnit Extraction Device is a true technological advancement in Follcular Unit Extraction. This device offers many significant advantages over other automated FUE devices. "Modified Elastic Oscillating Mechanism" improves the extraction without damaging follicles and reduces vibration which contributes to Dr. fatigue, I have personally handled the Feller FUE and it feels great, I can see a surgeon doing a very large FUE case and not getting hand and wrist soreness. The Feller punch profile reduces friction and suction resulting in less damage to the follicle.
I have spoken to Doctors that are using the Feller Motorized Extraction Device and there are nothing but outstanding reviews, it seems that Dr. Feller has overcome the primary limitation of FUE and that is time, I have heard that Dr. Feller and other doctors that are using this device are doing large cases within the same time limits as traditional Follicular Unit strip surgery. To learn more about the Feller FUE device call 772-781-0500, or contact Dr. Feller in Great Neck, NY.
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery kicked off the Live Surgery Workshop today, this was the 15th anniversary of the world's most recognized hair transplant training course. This course was started by Dr. Matt Leavitt, and has repeatedly drawn the best hair transplant surgeons and technicians from around the world. What makes this workshop so special is the fellowship and sharing of information among the hair restoration experts and novices who wish to enhance their skills and stay on the cutting edge. This years workshop is being held at the Royal Pacific hotel which is located at Universal Studios, Orlando. The live surgery portion of the meeting takes place at Dr. Leavitt's state of the art facility in Maitland, Florida. The meeting is organized every year by Valerie Montalbano and Madalene Colon.
The first day of the annual workshop is scheduled as the "beginners program", but the content of the lectures and featured speakers draws even the most experienced hair transplant surgeons and their specially trained assistants. The speakers were some of the most well known experts in the field of hair restoration, they included Dr. Matt Leavitt, Dr. David Perez, Dr. Bill Parsley, Dr. Michael Beehner, Dr. Marco Barusco, and Dr. Robert Leonard to name a few. The topics covered everything from the causes of hair loss to the training of hair transplant technicians. Dr. Parsley, the president of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery gave a lecture on "Hairline Design" to a packed room, Dr. Parsley is one of the most requested speakers and authorities on surgical hair restoration, another key lecture was given by Dr. Beehner who gave a lecture on "Creating Recipient Sites". The day concluded with a lecture from Dr. Barusco on the selection and training of hair transplant technicians. Hair transplant technicians have always been recognized within the field of hair restoration as the backbone and key players of a hair transplant surgery. As hair restoration surgery evolved, the responsibilities and skill sets of the technicians increased. Today's state of the art follicular unit surgery requires technicians to dissect and place thousands of grafts every day in support of the surgeons.
ISHRS Live Surgery Workshop 2009, Day 2
Day 2 of the workshop started with 3 live demonstrations covering the art of hair transplant consults, and hairline design. The speakers included Dr. Leavitt, Dr. Callender, Dr. Mangubat, Dr. Ron Shapiro. The lectures then moved on to hair transplant donor harvesting, follicular unit extraction, and trichophytic donor closure, with a variety of hair restoration experts giving their presentations. Following in depth lectures on eyebrow and eyelash transplantation the meeting moved to the surgery center of Dr. Leavitt, as expected Valerie Montalbano and Madelene Colon were waiting to begin the most exciting part of the day.
Patrick Tafoya for the 6th year in a row was tasked with running the follicular unit slivering and dissection lab, this popular lab is SRO and Patrick did not dissapoint. Slivering is one of the most important aspects of follicular unit dissection and doctors as well as technicians were learning this important skill set.
The first surgery that I observed was a female, african american hairline reconstruction, it was staffed by Dr. Valerie Callender and Dr. Gabriel Krenitsky, Dr. Puig, and Dr. Hwang. Dr. Callender is one of the leading hair restoration specialists on this type of case. Dr. Krenitsky was great at explaining the details of recipient site placement and the teamwork between the surgeon and hair transplant technicians. The second surgery observed was eyelash restoration, it was staffed by Dr. Marco Barusco and Dr. Gandelman, as expected it was one of the most observed of the surgeries, with plenty questions being asked by the audience. Dr. Barusco is one of the most experienced hair transplant surgeons in the United States and has been teaching at hair restoration workshops for over 10 years. Dr. Gandelman is recognized around the world as a leader in eyelash transplantation. Dr. Ron Shapiro and Dr. Leavitt directed the follicular unit and follicular extraction surgeries, both of these surgeons are well known and respected within the industry as well as being authors of surgical hair restoration text books. On all of these surgeries various types of recipient site blades were demonstrated to show the doctors and technicians in attendance the best way to perform state of the art procedures. Donor closure is always a hot topic and it was addressed in todays surgery, trichophytic and double layer closures were performed. It's refreshing to see a cosmetic surgery speciality where the doctors and their technicians are always striving to develop and implement the best techniques to benefit the patients, it should be to no ones surprise that hair transplantation is one of the most popular elective surgeries. As the former nursing coordinator for the workshop and a veteran attendee and speaker at ISHRS annual meetings and live surgery workshops I can personally attest to the amount of time and expertise that is required to organize and run a flawless meeting, special thanks should be given to Valerie and Madalene, the administrative and technical coordinators.
Day 3 of the ISHRS Live Surgery Workshop
Lectures on this day started with a comparison of recipient sites, this lecture was give by Dr. Niedbalski, Dr. Parsley, Dr. Keene, Dr. Barusco, and Dr. Perez. This lecture answered the question that everyone is always asking, "what do I use to make my sites with?" This lecture compared various types of site makers, and when to use them, this was an important lecture for all hair transplant surgeons, it simplified this part of the hair transplant process. Other lectures covered the important topics of Dense Packing, Coronal Sites, Sites in the Crown, Frontal Forelock, Temporal Points.
Surgery Center, the first surgery that I observed was a man who needed his mid-scalp filled in. This surgery was directed by Dr. Ron Shapiro and Dr. Matt Leavitt, Dr. Epstein and Dr. Niedbalski were also on the hair transplant team. The patient had undergone 3 previous hair transplant procedures so the donor area needed a expert to remove the strip, this was handled by Dr. Leavitt and Dr. Ron Shapiro, as you watched them work together you might have thought that they work together on a daily basis. They were able to remove a good hair bearing donor strip, and then go back and remove old scar tissue, by the time they were done the donor area was closed with no tension, it was amazing to watch these 2 hair transplant experts work side by side and give this patient an amazing scar free donor closure. Dr. Beehner gave his most requested lecture/surgery "Fronal Forelock", his special technique has been emulated by many surgeons around the country.
ISHRS Live Surgery Workshop Day 4
Dr. Ricardo Mejia from Jupiter Florida is a Board Certified Dematologist and a very respected hair transplant surgeon, he gave an incredible lecture on "skin cancer of the scalp" and recommends that everyone get regular skin cancer checks, and do not forget to have your scalp check, even if you have a full head of hair. The other lectures this day included complications of hair transplant and scalp surgery.
The Surgery Center- Dr. Mejia and Dr. DiStefano demonstrated the Frechet Extender flawlessly, this procedure takes incredible surgical skill, and there are only a few hair transplant surgeons in the U.S. that have the ability to make this procedure look easy, great job Dr. Mejia, and Dr. DiStefano. The second surgery that I observed was performed by Dr. Barusco and Dr. Niedbalski, this was a great demonstration on how to fill in the front 1/3 of a bald scalp. The Dr.s used 0.75mm and 1mm recipient sites in both saggital and coronal orientation, I wish I needed the work done because it looked great, the techs Omar and Dennis were great, placing every graft into the proper sites. I then observed a african american who needed his frontal hairline rebuilt, the surgery was great, the recipient sites were placed perfectly, and the hair transplant technicians took their time to place every follicular unit, after the surgery was done, the hair transplant technicians went back and made sure that they did not miss a single site.
That's the end of my reporting, I have been involved in these types of workshops since 1996, credit needs to be given to the hair transplant technicians that made this happen. Without great techs there would be no hair transplants.
Training Outline