Dr. Hopping is a Diplomate of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery*. He specializes in medical and surgical hair restoration with natural microfollicular results in both men and women. Call 202-785-3175 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hopping.
Approximately one-half of the men in the U.S. are affected by hair loss resulting in a thinning of the scalp hair or baldness. These conditions affect twenty percent of the women as well. While many people are not concerned about their hair loss, others may feel a loss of self esteem, become distressed and look for ways to correct their condition.
What causes hair loss?
Frequent shampooing, the wearing of hats and poor circulation are not the cause of hair loss. Heredity is the leading cause of hair loss in men. In women, it is hormonal. Many factors including high fever, severe infection, diet, certain medications, birth control pills, thyroid disease, childbirth, and cancer treatments can cause hair loss. Hormonal changes include those that occur during menopause and can lead to thinning and pattern loss.
While some types of hair loss are reversible, those resulting from an accident, infections of the scalp, surgery or those caused by heredity are not. Male pattern baldness is the easiest form of hair loss to correct. It usually begins with a receding hairline or a thinning at the crown, and progresses over a lifetime.
Restoring Lost Hair
At The Washington Hair Institute located within The Center for Cosmetic Surgery, our advanced surgical techniques provide the most natural looking, permanent solution for those who are bald or have thinning hair. 
Types of Hair Transplants
Micro-hair transplantation is a progressive process requiring hundreds of micro-grafts, implanted during multiple treatment sessions, spaced about four months apart. Each micro-graft may contain from one to three hairs.
Dr. Hopping is a leader in the most modern techniques of microscopic follicular unit grafting. He takes a single strip of donor hairs from an area of the head that is not susceptible to ever going bald. Plastic surgery closure of the donor area results in a single fine line where the hairs were removed. This closure becomes almost undetectable after a few months. It is usually well hidden under existing hair.The donor hairs are then transplanted into those bald or thinning areas on the top and front of the head. 
Dr. Hopping and his medical team provide a permanent and natural-appearing full head of hair from the patient's own hairs. Skin flap surgery and scalp reduction techniques can be used to fill in larger areas. Skin flap surgery uses a piece of hair covered scalp to replace a section of bald scalp.
In scalp reduction surgery, after the hairless skin is removed, the adjacent hair covered skin is stretched over the area and sutured into place. Scars are usually covered by new hair growth.
Micro-Hair Transplant Surgery
During your consultation, Dr. Hopping explains which type of anesthesia is best suited for your procedure. Most Micro-Hair Transplant procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, using local or twilight anesthesia. More involved surgical procedures such as flap surgery for hair restoration usually require general anesthesia and are performed in a hospital surgical setting.
Will a hair transplant work?
While age is not a barrier to having hair transplantation, a conservative approach is indicated as a permanent donor site may not yet be established. You don't need to wait until you are bald to begin hair transplantation. The ideal candidate will have:
- dense growing hair in the donor sites.
- realistic expectations of the results.
What to Expect During and After Hair Transplantation
Transplanting of hair micrografts is the most commonly chosen hair restoration procedure. This technique results in hairlines that look and grow naturally. Hair grafting has been performed for more than 30 years, but it is only in the past five years that technological advancements, as well as a greater appreciation of hairline aesthetics, have made the results of this procedure virtually undetectable.
Contact The Washington Hair Institute now for a free consultation to see how good you can look for the rest of your life.
*The American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery/International Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS/IBHRS) is the largest worldwide entity to have established standards for certification for education, training and experience in Hair Restoration Surgery. Physicians who are eligible to apply for ABHRS/IBHRS certification have demonstrated the accumulation of significant experience in the field of Hair Restoration Surgery and have all shown a commitment to high standards of training and education. Those who have achieved certification have demonstrated advanced knowledge in the art and science of hair restoration through peer-reviewed examination. While there is currently no American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) certification specific to hair restoration, the ABHRS/IBHRS is the only certification recognized by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, the largest hair restoration educational organization in the world. Please visit our website at www.abhrs.org.