It’s everywhere you look. Big, sexy, beautiful hair. TV Shows, Magazines, the Internet, and everywhere in between. For years, women have asked for an extension technology that could address thinning at the top of their heads. Many women have pattern loss, and even though this pattern may not be as severe as we see with male pattern loss, it’s still uncomfortable.

Honestly, when have you ever seen a movie star, actress, or model with thinning hair? You don’t. We see hundreds of women each month who have what’s known as a thinning part. Others have temporal thinning, which limits the style options, and fullness around the temples. Still others have generalized thinning, which makes hair volume thinner, and forbids many of the current styles.
For 15 years, Legacy Hair Center has been the Southeast’s premier expert in hair extensions, hair replacement, and restoration. We are happy to announce a new breakthrough in the hair extension industry. Legacy’s New Bombshell Extensions gives instant fullness, length and style seen in Hollywood.

Most extension methods only add length to the sides and the back of the head. This new method adds fullness to the area that’s most important to a women- the top. They are quick to apply, painless, and SAFE. Many extensions are sewn in, melted in, or glued in with a compound that’s similar to crazy glue. Just imagine the damage done to your hair.
Bombshell Extensions safely integrates the carefully matched, high quality extension hair with your own, in an innovative safe new way. Come in and visit us for a complimentary consultation, we’ll be happy to show you exactly how it works.

“That’s a question I’ve had to answer thousands of times…” says Ronnie Talent, owner of Legacy Hair Center in Charlotte, N.C. “It depends on several different factors. But there are ways to increase your chances.”

Hair loss will affect over 50% of men, and 25% of women in their lifetimes. The cost of surgical and non treatment options could potentially be thousands of dollars.

There are several determining factors.

1. The type of hair loss. People can lose hair for a variety of reasons, including

 -Cancer
 -Alopecia
 -Male and Female Pattern Loss
 -Burns and Accidents
 -Thyroid Disorders
 -Lupus
 -And other medical conditions.

2. Your Insurance Carrier. Some carriers are determined to do everything they can to deny insurance claims, no matter how severe the situation. Others are more sympathetic, and will be happy to help you quickly with a legitimate claim.

3. Which hair loss remedy you are pursuing.   I’ve seen a handful of cases where Insurance companies would consider surgical hair restoration and even laser hair therapy, but most have some consideration for non surgical hair replacement if the case is presented properly.

4. How organized you are.     Documentation is crucial if you are serious about moving forward with your options.
When seeking hair replacement for medical hair loss – some Insurance companies actually will cover between 80%-100% of the cost. NEVER FILE A CLAIM FOR A WIG!!! Always use the term “Cranial Prosthesis”.

Follow these steps to file your claim to the Insurance company:
• Check the booklet given to you by your Insurance Company. Look under “Covered Expenses” relating to “prosthesis”.
• Obtain a written prescription for a “Cranial Hair Prosthesis” on an actual prescription form, as well as a detailed letter from the doctor explaining your hair loss and distress you have experienced due to your treatment. It’s also best to include your own personal letter detailing the emotional effects hair loss has had on your life. Include that a Cranial Prosthesis is just as necessary as a prosthetic arm or leg. Also, explain the importance of you having hair for your job.

• Take some pictures of yourself without your hair. This will prove that your claim is NOT for Cosmetic purposes.
• Send your receipts, prescription, photos, and letters from the doctor and you to your Insurance company.

If your insurance company denies you coverage, you CAN appeal by sending a letter to the claims department supervisor.

Bear in mind, sometimes you’ll have to actually pay out of pocket initially, but the insurance company can reimburse you. If you are denied- keep trying! Persistence can pay off in a big way, and get you the help you need.

Hair loss affects people differently.

Most people have a genetic predisposition to lose hair at some age.

 It could be when you’re 80. For most of us – its sooner.

Most of the time it’s simply pattern loss, passed down our family tree.  But there are times when this response is actually triggered by something. Shock , stress, hormones, as well as combinations of medications can  factor in, but there are some lesser know events that could trigger hair loss.  

General Surgery

Sometimes hair loss can be triggered by general anesthesia.

I’ve seen hundreds of cases where someone has come to see me for a consultation that had no family history of hair loss. Many times we discovered that the hair loss started a few weeks after they had a surgical procedure. Sometimes it was a major procedure- but  Sometimes it was a minor cosmetic procedure. But one thing stood out- they went under. They had general anesthesia, and many of them started losing hair after the procedure.

Many times, after a period of time, hair would return. But often, we had to use Laser Hair Therapy  to help jumpstart the growth.

Silicone Breast Implants

The FDA produced a document in 1995 document titled “A Status Report on Breast Implant Safety.”

After wide spread reports of adverse reactions to silicone gel-filled breast implants and a lack of evidence supporting their safe use, the FDA ordered them off the market in April 1992. Silicone breast implants have been associated with the possible development of “autoimmune-like” disorders, and among the listed symptoms is “unusual hair loss.”

One medical study  discussed what was called  a “multiple sclerosis-like syndrome” associated with silicone gel breast implants. Out of the twenty six women in the study, twelve had hair loss.

Another study of eighty-seven patients with breast implants found that 13 percent of the women experienced hair loss, and the third study of three hundred women included hair loss in a l ist of “miscellaneous conditions”.

Face Lifts

 It’s estimated that temporal hair loss occurs in just over 8 percent of patients who undergo rhytidectomy, or face lift, according to a study of the American Academy of Dermatology. The Lead researcher  of the study, Cindy Y. Li, D.O., quoted in an article in Dermatology Times, explained: “Commonly, after the skin and a lot of manipulation of the skin, the hair follicles are sometimes temporarily traumatized, and as a result, there may be temporary hair loss in the area where the procedure was done.”

Although the hair typically regrows, she does note that in some cases the loss may be permanent..

What can be done?

For years, medical experts have recommended Laser Hair Therapy for pattern loss and generalized thinning.  Laser Hair Therapy is a painless process where you simply sit under this special light hood- usually for periods of 20 -30  minutes . Light Therapy works great in recent hair loss. It won’t do much if you lost your hair 30 years ago, but, if it’s been a few months, or even a few years… you should give it a shot.Studies show that as far as hair retention, the success rate is 85-94% effective – and up to 66% effective for new growth. If you see things starting to thin- it’s usually the first thing that you want to try.

It doesn’t hurt, and could keep your hair healthier as you recover from your procedure!

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Is my medication causing my hair loss?

Hair loss can be triggered by many different things.  Many people, even women, have a genetic predisposition to lose hair at some age.  It could be when you’re young,or it could be when you’re eighty years old. Different things can trigger that response sooner, and medications, both prescription as well as over-the counter, can contribute to this.

The most familiar case of this is known as Anagen Effluvium , which is associated with cancer treatment.

With Anagen Effluvium, the hair follicles enter a state of suspended animation- almost like they’re frozen in time. The hair fibers fall out quickly,many times within a period of a few weeks.

Once the cancer treatment has been completed, many patients see new hair growth in as little as a month. The hair follicles are not destroyed, so there should be a normal hair growth density. However, sometimes people notice a change in the nature of the hair fiber produced by the follicle . Some find their hair changes from straight to curly, or sometimes there is a change in hair color. These changes may, or may not be permanent.

Some of the most common cancer fighting drugs include:

• Cyclophosphamide
• Methotrexate
• Fluorouracil
• Daunorubicin
• Doxorubicin
• Bleomycin
• Hydroxycarbamide
• Vincristine

 It’s  also been published that over two hundred medications can contribute to what’s called drug-induced telogen effluvium.

These include:

• Anti-thyroid drugs
• Acne treatments (Soriatane and Accutane)
• Statin drugs
• Treatments for high blood pressure-beta-blockers such as Inderal and Lopressor
• Anticoagulants
• Hormone replacement therapy

What do I do?

Don’t panic. These things are often temporary.  Sometimes your body just needs a little time to adjust to your  new treatment. Do  let your prescribing doctor know immediately if you suspect that the medication is having this effect, for there might be a different prescription that they could try.

Call a hair loss specialist.  There are new advanced therapies that are available nowadays that work well with hair recently lost. Laser Hair Therapy works well with people who have lost hair within the past 3-7 years.  They have incredible options that can help it come back sooner, and options to help you look the way you want to look while you wait.

Have you ever seen a “ Muffin Top” take a walk down the Victoria’s Secret Runway ? How about “Lady Lumps”, double chins, badonkadonks, spare tires, chicken wings, and all those bumps in between?

You know why? They’re NOT sexy, ladies– and they never will be. You try to do the right things—but there’s some fat that just won’t go away. Sometimes cardio, dieting and yoga are just NOT ENOUGH.

If you have to lay on your bed and fight with your skinny jeans just to button them, or actually considered shopping in the maternity section to find a loose fitting top,(you know who you are!) then this information is for you. There is a shortcut to a smaller size, and it’s available right here in the QC. Lipo Laser is a non surgical, pain free procedure that can drastically reduce inches from each of those stubborn areas , and its available behind Park Road Shopping Center at Legacy Hair Center.

How does it work – you ask? The laser frequency actually pulls the glycerol, fatty acids, and excess water out of your fat cells and release it into your Lymphatic System. It doesn’t hurt, and each session is less than an hour. Some people actually lose up to 3 inches in one treatment! You’re measured before and after so you can see your exact inches lost. The best part is that for 40 minutes you get to lay back, relax, and catch up on all your reality TV. Yes, you can actually watch your Real Housewives pull out each other’s extensions while stealing one another’s husbands, or catch up on your trashy talk shows while you get skinny!

 Remember, It’s about confidence, ladies. A confident woman is a sexy woman. Thanks to genetics, stress, and emotional eating, some of us are faced with certain areas that no matter what we do, they stick to us like a crazy ex boyfriend.

Except fat is a lot easier to get rid of! And believe it or not, the procedure actually feels good! For more information on the Lipo Laser, call Legacy Hair Center at 704 522 3866, or visit the website at www.legacyhaircenter.com.

Today I’d like to talk a little bit about Hair loss options and Dating.

I have been around  the hair loss industry for about 20 years now, and I’ve seen well over 10,000 consultations in my life from my time with Bosley Medical Group, Hair Club for Men, and Legacy Hair Center. Whenever somebody checks in for a consultation here at Legacy Hair Center , they have to fill out a consultation info sheet that asks them a bunch of questions about their lives.

One thing that many of these consultations had in common was this line.- Marital status.

Most  of the NEW people that come in to see us for consultations are not married. Many times they’re divorced, separated, Single, or otherwise unattached.

Surprised?

I’m not. Here’s the deal- most people who are in a happy loving relationship that has a supportive, loving partner, don’t care if they are a little thin up top, and that’s great- god bless them. 

But the fact remains.. .most new people are looking to improve their appearance, they don’t like the way their hair looks, and they come to somebody like me to turn that around.

The big question that people REALLY want to know is this. Can it make a difference? I will say this emphatically…..YES..

In my opinion- for most people- hair makes them look better.  It gives  you options.

And if you’re unattached, and you’re in the market- I can’t lie- It gives you a  LOT more confidence.

Come here. Let me tell you a story.

Years ago.. I was a single guy, that thought I had a little “game”. I was a bartender, and I was in a rock and Roll band, and I did OK with the ladies. But.. My hair was thinning- BAD. I wore a hat everywhere I went. But- you can’t wear a hat everywhere.

I obsessed about doing hair replacement for 3 years before actually doing it. The process took about an hour and a half. And swear to god- I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.  I looked ten years younger. This was in Atlanta back in the late 80’s. At that time the hot place to meet the ladies was called American Pie. . So now, I have my long 80’s rocker hair.. and I head off the same day to American Pie. Within the first 45 minutes. Not one but TWO beautiful women actually bumped into me and started a conversation. And they were HOT!

True story. Coincidence–I think not.

Look. Many people who are getting back out there may have less hair now then a few years ago. If this is something you’ve been thinking about, but haven’t been able to pull the trigger on, Let me say this- Through the thousands of people I’ve helped through this process- I can honestly tell you- the one sentence I hear most often is this.

I should have done this a long time ago.

Years ago, when I was a bartender,  I asked hundreds of women what they were attracted to in a man. Surprisingly, most had the same answer. Confidence.

I’ve found that for most people, hair seems to give them more.

On the night of your honeymoon, you remember running your hands through your husband’s hair. You’ve always liked how his hair felt between your fingers: soft, wavy, and almost delicate. That was years ago. Today, his receding hairline and thinning hair cannot conceal the years that have passed since you first met. You know that looks are superficial and that your love for him goes beyond appearance. But somehow, you can’t help but wish he had more hair.

You’ve seen people on TV and on the Internet grow back their hair using the latest trends in hair restoration. The problem is you don’t know how to convince your husband that he doesn’t look good with a shaved head..

“But I don’t want to hurt his feelings…”

Men just don’t admit it, but they also care about how they look. They also want to appear young, handsome, and oozing with sex appeal, especially to their wives. But don’t expect them to say it.

Try to explore his feelings about his hair loss, but do it in the right setting. For example, ask him to accompany you to the salon for hair extensions or keratin hair therapy. While awaiting your hair treatment, browse hair restoration ads and brochures together. In a casual tone, find the perfect timing to say, “Honey, don’t you miss having hair?”

“But he thinks it’s fake and expensive…”

Perhaps he has seen people who have previously undergone hair transplants with less than satisfying results. Old techniques in hair transplantation often resulted in transplants that were pluggy and resembled doll hair, drawing more attention than the balding scalp. Using the latest technique in hair transplantation called follicular unit grafting, a hair restoration surgeon with sufficient experience and artistry can create virtually undetectable hair transplants for your husband.

This also means he doesn’t have to worry about his coworkers noticing that he underwent hair transplantation. On the day of the operation, he can even go home without a bandage on his scalp. When his new hair grows, his barber won’t be able to tell the difference between the normal and transplanted hair.

The cost of hair restoration will depend on the number of sessions that your husband needs and the amount of hair he expects to grow back. Before the procedure, your husband should discuss this with a hair loss professional trained in the latest techniques..

“But he’s afraid”

There are many surgical and non-surgical hair loss options for men today. If your husband doesn’t want to undergo surgery or if he is deemed an unsatisfactory candidate for hair transplantation, his other alternatives include medications like receiving laser hair therapy to stimulate hair growth, or non surgical hair replacement.

“We have surgical clients, and Non Surgical clients.,” says Charlotte, NC Legacy Hair Center CEO Ronnie Talent. “These options can be tailored to fit any hair characteristic, age, or lifestyle. No man has to go bald anymore.”

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Legacy Hair Center specializes in the best hair restoration and hair replacement options for both men and women. You don’t have to suffer from alopecia. Visit the center in Charlotte, North Carolina and be among the thousands of people that Legacy has helped reach their hair restoration goals.

Do you notice how your body changes during pregnancy? Your breasts become fuller,  you experience morning sickness, and you become more prone to infections. These are effects of the changes in hormone levels in your body. Hormones are necessary to make your body suitable for the growth of your still unborn child.

Body hair is similarly affected by this fluctuation in hormone levels. During pregnancy, the increase in the female hormone estrogen stimulates hair growth. There may be an increase in hair volume, length, or both. After giving birth, however, the sudden drop in estrogen level may cause your scalp hair to fall out in clumps, and this can be devastating.

Hair loss and pregnancy
Approximately 4 out of 10 pregnant women will experience hair loss associated with pregnancy. This usually peaks at 3 months after giving birth. You should be aware that like the other changes in your body, this type of hair loss is only temporary. After your hair follicles return to their normal cycle of hair growth, you can expect to grow your full head of hair back in 6 to 12 months.

If you lose hair early on during pregnancy, or if hair does not grow back as expected, let your obstetrician or dermatologist know. There may be other reasons for your hair loss such as deficiency in vitamins and minerals.

Concealing hair loss after pregnancy
If you are alarmed by your drastic loss of hair at this important moment in your life, do not hesitate to seek help from a hair loss specialist. While waiting for your hair to grow back, you may choose to wear headbands, scarves, and hats to conceal parts of your scalp with thinning hair. Get a new hairstyle to create an illusion of volume.

You may find it more comfortable getting some “instant fullness” from a hair replacement specialist. “We see hundreds of women after they’ve delivered a child”, says Ronnie Talent, CEO of Legacy Hair Center in Charlotte .”There are incredible options available- using the same techniques (and hair) used in Hollywood, and television.”

Hair extensions and integrations immediately add length, volume and highlights to your hair. They also come in different colors and hairstyles- and an expert can get them to match you perfectly. Hair extensions to last for 4 to 6 months, or longer.

Protection and prevention
To prevent hair damage and reduce hair loss after pregnancy, the American Pregnancy Association recommends eating adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables. They contain antioxidants that protect your hair follicles and stimulate hair growth. Supplements containing biotin, zinc, vitamins B, C and E are also recommended.

Do not let hair loss ruin the joys of motherhood. Learn about your hair loss options so you can stop worrying. Before you know it, your child would be taking his or her first baby steps, and you would have your hair back.

Legacy Hair Center specializes in the best hair restoration and hair replacement options for both men and women. You don’t have to suffer from alopecia. Visit the center in Charlotte, North Carolina and be among the thousands of people that Legacy has helped reach their hair restoration goals.

You’re losing your hair. Your doctor has just explained to you that hair restoration is the definite solution to your hair loss. He says that without intervention, you’re probably going to end up looking like your bald uncle. Hair restoration surgery offers hope. Still, you remain hesitant.

But will you let this opportunity to reclaim your hair pass, just because you’re afraid of something you have never tried?

Will it be painful?
Fear of pain is the main reason why most people are hesitant to undergo hair transplantation. You may have heard of relatives or friends who previously underwent the procedure, and complained that it “hurt like hell.” You should realize, however, that the procedure has drastically changed over the past 4-5 years.

Ronnie Talent, CEO of Legacy Hair Center in Charlotte shares, “I used to work for the worlds largest hair restoration and hair replacement chains, and I’ve seen thousands of men and women go through this”. He adds” Many of the larger practices still use the “old way” of administering the anesthesia, which was sometimes a little uncomfortable.
We use the Pyllo Anesthesia Method, our patients described the pain during the entire procedure as almost non-existent. I’ve heard at most 1, in a scale of 1 to 10.”

Using advanced techniques for giving anesthesia, a well-trained hair specialist can ensure your comfort throughout and after the procedure. Before surgery, you may also be given medication to alleviate your anxiety.

Will your friends notice?
The stigma of an ugly hair transplant may be worse than that of a balding head. Perhaps you’re worried about colleagues teasing you on your failed attempt at hair restoration. You wouldn’t want complete strangers to give you the puzzled look, wondering why you have doll-like hair. Besides, you don’t just want more hair. You want a natural hairline, too.

“The most important part of the restoration procedure is the hairline… “ Talent adds.” If you simply need a little more density in the back, many doctors can do that. But if they want an undetectable hairline, they have to see someone who offers advanced frontal and temporal hairline techniques, or they’ll spend their lives having people stare at their hairlines.”

The solution to these concerns is simple: seek an experienced hair loss expert. Do not be misled by large-scale advertisements; they may tell you only half-truths. Try to look for previous clients. Find out if they were satisfied with the outcome and listen to their recommendations. Hair transplantation doesn’t just require surgical skill. Your doctor should have the artistic creativity to give you aesthetically pleasing results.

Will you be able to afford the cost?
The cost of hair transplantation varies from one hair loss center to another. The cost will also depend on the number of sessions you require to cover your scalp’s balding areas. Your hair specialist will take into consideration your age and the quality of your hair among other factors, and should be able to give you a reasonable estimate.

Do not be ashamed to ask about hair loss options within your budget. An honest hair specialist will explain to you the pros and cons of both surgical and non-surgical hair loss options. Your hair specialist should take the time to answer your questions, and not just push you into getting the procedure.

In the end, it is most important that you trust your hair specialist. Only then will he be able to allay your fears, guide you to reasonable expectations, and give your satisfactory results.

Legacy Hair Center specializes in the best hair restoration and hair replacement options for both men and women. You don’t have to suffer from hair loss. Visit the center in Charlotte, North Carolina and be among the thousands of people that Legacy has helped reach their hair restoration goals.

Are you hesitant to get a hair transplant because you’re afraid you might end up with doll-like hair?

You have probably seen horrible before and after pictures of people who have undergone hair transplantation. These photos plague the Internet and tabloids in an attempt to discourage people from getting a procedure, with a safety and success profile that is transforming the lives of many others. Because of a technique called follicular unit grafting, you too can grow natural hair, which even your hairstylist would not recognize as hair transplants.

Hair plugs: Hair transplantation then
In 1959, Norman Orentreich popularized the widely used method of hair transplantation that later became known as hair plugs. In this technique, your doctor would use 6 to 12 mm punches to get circular patches of tissue called “plugs” from healthy, hair-growing regions of your scalp, usually at the back and sides. These plugs, which contain 10 to 20 strands of hair, are then transferred to your balding areas.

Although the hair grafts would grow on your recipient areas, the results are often unsightly. Because of the large number of hair strands in clusters, your new hair becomes doll-like, with a hair growth pattern that resembles the bristles of your toothbrush. These hair plugs are terribly obvious to others, and often, the stigma of your ugly hair transplant exceeds that of your balding scalp. You are also left with large wounds on the donor area. These wounds leave scars, and make it more difficult to obtain subsequent grafts.

Follicular unit grafting: Hair transplantation now
Three decades later, a technique called follicular unit grafting (also known as follicular unit extraction or follicular unit transplantation) revolutionized the way hair restoration surgeons performed hair transplantation.

In this technique, your doctor uses smaller grafts from your scalp’s donor area. This is based on the discovery that your hair naturally grows in clusters of 1, 2, 3 or 4 hair strands called follicular units. For a more snug fit, your doctor inserts these follicular units in linear slits instead of round holes.

What does this mean to you? If your surgeon uses these natural follicular units (rather than artificial circular plugs) as grafts, he would achieve results that look more natural as well. Smaller grafts allow your surgeon to pack hair more closely in areas where they need to be dense. Moreover, smaller wounds bleed less and heal faster.

Skill and artistry
Technique is not everything, however. Hair transplantation is one surgery where creativity of your hair loss specialist is paramount. In the hands of experts, even natural hairlines are possible. Ugly transplants from hair plugs can also be potentially reversed with follicular unit grafting.

“Any physician even with basic training can successfully transplant hair and make it grow,” says Legacy Hair Center CEO Ronnie Talent. “But to make it undetectable requires artistry only hair experts trained in advanced techniques can attain. We can do work now that is truly incredible- we can recreate hairlines today that look virtually the same as what God gave you. ”

Don’t be misled by what you see on TV or the Internet. Know things firsthand. Visit your trusted hair loss expert and ask about your hair loss options. Because of technology, nobody has to go bald anymore.

Legacy Hair Center specializes in the most advanced hair restoration and hair replacement options for both men and women. You don’t have to suffer from Hair Loss. Visit the center in Charlotte, North Carolina and be among the thousands of people that Legacy has helped reach their hair restoration goals.