STEVE HIGHTOWER
Follow Steve Hightower’s personal hair restoration experience
As a renowned hairstylist and longtime Atlantan, Steve Hightower understands the transformative power of great hair. When he faced hair loss himself, he turned to Dr. Ken Anderson at the Anderson Center for Hair. Join us as we follow Steve’s inspiring journey from thinning hair to renewed confidence.
STEVE HIGHTOWER’S JOURNEY
Paperwork: Upon arrival at the surgical center, Steve completes all necessary consent forms and provides medical history details. This ensures that Dr. Anderson and the team have all the information they need to deliver a safe and personalized procedure.
Blood Draw: A small amount of Steve’s blood is drawn to prepare platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This sample will be processed to isolate growth factors that will later be injected back into the scalp to aid in healing and support hair growth after the transplant.
PRP Processing: The blood sample is spun in a centrifuge to separate the red blood cells from the platelets and plasma. The resulting platelet-rich plasma is set aside until later in the process when it’s injected into the areas of need.
Baseline Photos: Next, in the surgical center’s professional studio, Dr. Anderson takes 360-degree baseline photographs of Steve’s head. These comprehensive images will help compare his “before” state to the eventual results, showcasing the transformation over time.
Hairline Discussion and Design: Working closely with Steve, Dr. Anderson designs a natural, age-appropriate hairline. They discuss Steve’s facial structure, hair goals, and long-term outlook, ensuring that the final result looks authentic and aesthetically pleasing.
Donor Area Hair Trim: To prepare for the procedure, the donor area on the back of Steve’s scalp is trimmed – just enough to allow precise extraction of a small strip of skin. Minimizing the trim ensures discretion as his hair grows back.
Hair Wash: Steve’s scalp was thoroughly cleansed with surgical soap to remove loose hair clippings and disinfect the area. This reduces the risk of infection and ensures a clean working surface.
Anesthesia: Dr. Anderson provides a mild sedative and administers local anesthesia to fully numb the treatment area. This approach keeps Steve relaxed and comfortable, eliminating any potential discomfort during the procedure.
Strip Extraction: Dr. Anderson carefully removes a narrow strip of skin containing healthy hair follicles from the donor area. Employing the trichophytic closure technique, the incision is closed so that hair grows through the scar, making it nearly undetectable as it heals.
Site Creation: Next, Dr. Anderson creates tiny recipient sites in Steve’s scalp, determining the location, direction, and angle for each transplanted hair. This vital step is where the true artistry takes place and sets the foundation for a natural-looking hair growth pattern.
Graft Slivering and Trimming: Highly trained technicians dissect the donor strip under magnification. Each follicular unit – consisting of one to four hairs – is isolated, trimmed, and sorted with the utmost care to ensure a high survival rate.
Follicle Placement: Up to three technicians work simultaneously to place the prepared follicles into the recipient sites, ensuring minimal time outside of the scalp. This efficient teamwork promotes better graft survival and paves the way for healthy, long-lasting new hair growth.
