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SmartGraft Table of Contents

Personalized Hair Transplants, No Scars

Because of each patient’s unique anatomy and hair loss circumstances, hair transplantation requires individualized treatment. The SmartGraft™ system helps with Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) by transplanting single or tiny groups of hairs to produce a natural result. Unlike old-fashioned hair transplant techniques, SmartGraft™ does not leave a linear scar on the back of the scalp.

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Why Choose Dr. Pontell for Hair Loss Treatment?

Dr. Jonathan Pontell has created a cosmetic haven for those seeking natural-appearing enhancements of the face. His practice, the Aesthetic Facial Plastic Surgery Center, is a boutique center that provides a high-touch, personalized experience for his patients.

When it comes to Philadelphia SmartGraft™ hair transplantation, few physicians in the area have his level of expertise and consistency of results. Dr. Pontell treats his patients like family, so you will never feel alone on your journey. From the moment you walk in the door, you will be received by a luxurious, spa-like office that is 100% attentive to your needs and comfort.

Every detail of your experience is met with professional expertise that only highlights the caliber of the cosmetic care delivered. With 27 years in the profession, Dr. Pontell has assembled a highly experienced team of technicians for hair restoration in Main Line, leaving no room for compromise in your facial enhancement.

Hair TransplantationVideo with Dr. Pontell

What Is Hair Restoration?

Losing one’s hair isn’t uncommon; the average person loses 50 to 100 strands daily. Every person has many thousands of hair strands, so minimal hair loss isn’t usually an alarming issue. However, the aging process eventually takes hold, causing some people to lose a significant amount of hair. Thin or patchy hair can start to affect a person’s feeling of overall attractiveness. Dr. Pontell offers hair loss treatment using our FUE hair transplant, SmartGraft™, a virtually painless procedure that permanently solves hair loss problems. As one of the best treatments for hair loss in Philadelphia, the SmartGraft™ hair transplant system creates a completely natural look with minimal scarring and almost no downtime for a fully restored mane.

Hair Restoration Before & After

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What Causes Hair Loss?

As a man ages, the hair begins to thin, causing male-pattern baldness around the hairline or on top of the scalp. Genetics and family history play a huge role in whether or not men will experience hair loss. Although not as common, women can experience hair loss as well. Various medical conditions and lifestyle factors – stress, diet, and childbirth – can cause a woman to lose her hair.

Common medical causes for female balding include:

  • Thyroid problems: producing too much or too little thyroid hormones
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): a chronic hormonal imbalance
  • Alopecia areata: a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy hair follicles and causes the hair to fall out in patches
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What Hair Loss Treatment Achieves

Fuller, More Youthful Hair

Men and women who have experienced hair loss can achieve complete hair restoration when Dr. Pontell performs SmartGraft™ treatment. Although not an immediate outcome, over about one year, the treatment will gradually restore the hair and provide a fuller, more youthful head of hair.

Long-Lasting Results

Many hair loss treatments require constant upkeep to maintain continued hair growth. Dr. Pontell performs SmartGraft™ hair loss treatment to help people regrow their natural hair. Patients can rest assured knowing their hair loss worries will no longer be an issue because the results of this treatment last for life.

Increased Confidence

Hair loss can cause a person to look older than they are. Many people with baldness or thin hair feel uncomfortable with their appearance and may avoid social situations or appearing in photographs. With SmartGraft™, the days of long, noticeable surgery scars are gone. Since there are no incision sites or stitches, patients can return to normal activities more quickly. After hair loss treatment, they will feel confident about their appearance and can proudly show off their newly restored full head of hair.

Benefits

Compared to other hair loss treatments, SmartGraft™ can provide dramatic results that look and feel natural. Other benefits include quicker recovery than alternate approaches and strategic placement to appropriately frame the patient’s unique facial structure for a personalized outcome.

Candidates

In Philadelphia, women and men can benefit from Dr. Pontell’s hair restoration treatment. Anyone who has experienced hair loss and wants to restore hair growth is an ideal patient for SmartGraft™. Patients must be realistic in their expectations and in good physical and mental health to undergo the procedure.

Consultation

Dr. Pontell will review your medical history and perform a scalp evaluation before outlining a recommended surgery plan. He will determine the number of hair transplants needed to provide an effective and natural-looking result and explain the procedure and recovery process in detail so you feel informed. 

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SmartGraft™ Hair Restoration Procedure

Dr. Pontell uses SmartGraft™ for hair restoration. A mild sedative is given to the patient to help them relax. A technician will shave an area at the back of the patient’s head. Depending on the patient’s length of hair, the hair can be shaved in small sections to hide the donor area following the procedure. 

The site is prepped, and a local anesthetic is administered. The SmartGraft™ device gently removes individual or small groups of follicles from the donor area. The donor hair follicles are carefully collected, sorted, counted, and stored in a sterile and controlled environment before implantation.

Our Philadelphia FUE hair transplant system, SmartGraft™, allows the grafted area to be adequately prepared for regrowth. Once the hair grafts from the donor site are collected, the implantation sites are created. Dr. Pontell and his team implant the hair grafts through tiny openings no larger than a pinprick. 

The procedure takes anywhere from three to eight hours to complete depending on the number of grafts needed to achieve the desired results. SmartGraft™ has a quicker surgery time than most, which allows hair grafts to have a higher chance of surviving.

Recovery Process

Our goal is for our patients to experience arguably the best hair restoration Philadelphia offers. Our patients can return home after the completion of the procedure and wear a loose-fitting hat if they desire. Most patients can return to work about one week after surgery and resume fitness and sports regimens within two weeks.

Gradually, the patient’s hair will start growing at the implantation site. The hair will take root in the first few weeks and then shed. New hair begins to develop within three months. Six months after the hair restoration procedure, there will be a significant improvement in hair growth. Patients will experience total hair growth within 12 months.

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Will There Be a Scar?

The scarring is hardly noticeable while the graft area is healing. Once it is finished, there will be minimal scarring. However, when full hair growth is achieved, the little scarring left behind will be concealed by the newly grown hair, revealing a natural-looking growth pattern.

Is the Treatment Painful?

There is minimal pain during the SmartGraft™ procedure. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area so the patient can relax and listen to music while undergoing hair transplantation. Because there is no long surgical scar, SmartGraft™ is less painful overall.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections for Hair Loss

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections use the platelet portion of the patient’s blood, which has a high concentration of growth factors with healing and cell regeneration properties, to stimulate small, unhealthy hair follicles to produce new, healthy hair. Dr. Pontell uses the Regen Lab system, which provides a very high concentration of platelets.

The patient’s blood is taken the same way as a lab test, and the blood is centrifuged to separate and concentrate the platelets that have the highest concentration of growth factors. The PRP hair treatment is then injected into the hair loss areas as a series of three sets spaced about a month apart. PRP works best for patients with thinning hair as opposed to entirely bald.

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SmartGraft FAQs

Will I have to stay overnight in a hospital?

Can I undergo additional procedures along with my hair loss treatment?

What if a revision hair loss treatment is necessary?

How much does hair restoration cost?

What can I expect post-op?

How long do the results last?

Will I have to stay overnight in a hospital?

Patients can return home after undergoing the procedure. Since medication to relax patients is used during treatment, it is recommended to have a designated person to drive the patient to and from surgery.

Can I undergo additional procedures along with my hair loss treatment?

Some patients seeking hair loss treatment desire a younger, more refreshed appearance. Often, they are interested in facial procedures to enhance their new head of hair. Patients may undergo facial rejuvenation procedures such as BOTOX®, dermal fillers, facelifts, eyelid lifts, and laser skin resurfacing.

What if a revision hair loss treatment is necessary?

Some patients have undergone another hair loss treatment and did not achieve the desired results. Dr. Pontell can perform a revision hair loss treatment with SmartGraft™ to provide patients with natural-looking and lasting results.

How much does hair restoration cost?

The cost of hair restoration varies from person to person. The cost changes based on how many hair follicles must be harvested and transplanted to a thinning or balding area. The cost is between $5 and $7 per transplanted follicle, with most requiring between 1000 and 2500 grafts, although some patients want even more. The price range typically lands between $5,000 and $12,500, depending on the number of transplants performed.

What can I expect post-op?

After your hair restoration procedure, you can return to the comfort of your own home. Recovery is short and involves almost no downtime. You can even wash your hair after a few days. There are no staples or stitches, and the incisions are tiny, so healing happens within a day or two. Dr. Pontell sees patients about a week after a hair transplant, three or so months later, and then one year after the procedure. The recovery is generally easy, with minimal post-op pain.

How long do the results last?

SmartGraft™ is an excellent choice for those looking for a very natural look. In as little as three months, you should see new hair growth. As the transplanted follicles become viable, you will see more hair appearing in the treated area, with optimal results achieved in about one year.

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