Author Archive for Peter Panagotacos, MD

For over 25 years Dr. Peter Panagotacos has specialized in both surgical and medical treatments for hair loss at his dermatology practice in San Francisco. He is well respected within the medical community for his technical skill, conservative treatment philosophy, and surgical artistry. Today, with improvements in surgical techniques and advances in medicine, he believes that nearly everyone, male and female, youthful and elderly, can do something about their hair loss. During the initial consultation Dr. Panagotacos gains an understanding of each patient's expectations, while at the same time he explains the limits of what can be done. Actually, he explains what he is willing to do, for some other hair restoration treatment providers are more willing to perform individual procedures that promise faster and greater results, but with a substantial increase in risk of immediate hair loss, or abnormal appearance 10 to 20 years into the future. Each patient has only a very limited supply of "permanent" hair follicles, and if some of these are lost following a risky surgical procedure, they are gone forever. Furthermore, it is very difficult to predict the extent of future hair loss a patient may experience. The best doctors plan their treatment programs with consideration for the worst-case hair loss scenarios. Dr. Panagotacos is a member of the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons and recommended by the American Hair Loss Association. Visit Dr. Panagotaco's Website: www.hairdoc.com

Traveling Outside of the Country For a Hair Transplant

I am considering a hair transplant. I have consulted with two surgeons in San Francisco (near where I live) and am considering having the work done at one of their clinics. The transplant procedure recommended by both surgeons is for about 1800 grafts and the cost would be approximately $8500.-$9000.

I have been considering the possibility of having the procedure done by a well qualified surgeon in another part of the country or even outside of the US (i.e Latin America). I believe that even after considering travel costs I can save money and receive the same quality work that I would receive in the Bay Area. What do you think about traveling outside of the country for hair restoration work?

There are internationally renown physicians around the world. If you are looking at Latin America you will find Dr Carl Bazan and Dr. Hector D. Sandoval both in Mexico, Drs Carlos O. Uebel and Marcelo Gandelman of Brazil are greatly regarded by their peers , as is Dr Guillermo S. Blugerman of Argentina. Also south but not on the same continent are Drs Russell Knudsen and Mario Marzola both in Australia. Read more

How many hairs can be transplanted during one hair transplant session?

How many hairs can be transplanted during one hair transplant session? Can a person just keep going back for more to fill in bald spots?

The answer to that depends on how large the bald spot is to be filled and how large and dense the donor area is. Usually the person who has the greatest need has the least amount of donor. The number of grafts that can be done in one session continues to increase every year due to improvements in instrumentation and techniques. Today some patients can actually get 5,000 grafts moved from a dense donor area to a large shiny bald area. The average large session is 2,500.

Can a person just keep going back for more to fill in bald spots? Almost a yes, but the limit again is the size and density of the donor area. In 1992 a patient of mine who had run out of scalp donor hair asked if I could take the hair from elsewhere on his body. We move 200 grafts from his pubic area and in 1994 the same patient came in and we moved 1200 beard hairs to the top of his head in between the softer finer scalp hair. Read more