Glossary

The ABHRS is the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery of which Dr Knudsen is a Diplomate.

The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery (ACCS), located in Sydney, is a multi-disciplinary organisation consisting of general surgeons, plastic and cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists, ear nose and throat surgeons, ophthalmologists and other doctors who were already specialising in cosmetic surgery. 

Androgenic Alopecia is the most typical pattern of balding where the balding pattern is created by hormones and passed along through heredity. Androgenic Alopecia is the medical name for male and female pattern baldness which relies on the genetic predisposition of hair follicles and the levels of androgen (male sex hormone) in the body.

There are many different types of baldness with varying causes. Baldness is medically known as alopecia.

Cicatricial Alopecia is a scarring permanent hair loss caused by infection, inflammation, burns or surgery.

DermMatch is an easy to apply compacted powder that is used to conceal and cover up hairloss and/or thinning hair. This hairloss concealer is available at our Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland clinic.

DHT is a male hormone that is believed to be the main cause for miniaturization of hair follicles i.e. hair loss. DHT is created when testosterone interacts with the enzyme 5-alpha reductase.

Like Finasteride, Dutasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. The only difference being that Dutasteride also inhibits the type 1 enzyme as well.

Oestrogen has a positive effect upon hair growth. Androgens are male hormones that can exert a negative effect upon hair growth.

Eyebrow transplants are the same concept as hair transplants i.e. hair taken from the donor area of the scalp and replanted into the eyebrows to fill in thinning and/or balding areas.

FDA approval is determined by the FDA, the United States agency that tests, evaluates and approves drugs and medical devices. FDA approval is official permission issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowing drug manufacturers to promote new prescription drugs for specific health benefits.

Finasteride is a synthetic antiandrogen that works by inhibiting the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This medication is available to treat hair loss at our Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Auckland clinic by prescription only.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a method of extracting single follicular units from the donor site by using a 1mm diameter punch excision. 

Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) is a technique of hair transplants that involves strip-harvesting from the scalp then transplanting individually divided follicular units to the thinning or balding areas.

Genetic hair loss is the commonest cause of hair loss in men and women.

A hair follicle is a small tubular cavity containing the root of a hair. The Hair follicle is part of the skin that's function is to grow cells and collect them together to create hair.

A hair graft is made up of 1, 2 or 3 hairs (i.e. their natural hair groupings). Hair grafts are hair follicles that have been taken from the donor area and are ready to transplant into the recipient area of the scalp (i.e. thinning/balding areas). A pricelist of hair graft cost is on our website under ‘cost for hair transplant’.

Hair loss is the diminished quality of the hair follicle. All hairs shed at the end of their growth cycle so some level of hair loss is normal. It is the quality of hair that grows back on the next growth cycle that defines true hair loss.  

Hair restoration is the medical and surgical treatment of hair loss. Hair restoration is the general definition used for surgical and medical treatments used for various types of hair loss or thinning. Hair restoration Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Auckland clinics are available for consultation and hair loss treatment and/or hair transplant surgery. 

Hair transplantation is a surgical technique that involves transferring skin containing hair follicles from the donor site to the recipient site. A hair transplant uses a patient’s own hair to fill in thinning/ balding areas on the scalp.

The ISHRS (International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery) is an international and non-profit medical association with over 900 physicians specialising in hair loss. The ISHRS provides ongoing education to physicians specialising in hair transplant surgery and provides the public with the latest information on medical treatments and surgery available for hair loss.

The Juri flap is a rotation flap practiced to provide density at the frontal hairline. Rarely practiced today.

Kerion is a severe fungal infection of the scalp that can cause scarring or permanent hair loss. It can be treated with a hair transplant at the Knudsen Clinic Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and New Zealand.

Laser hair treatment is used to stimulate hair growth via beams that increase vascularisation and increase cellular metabolism in your scalp. Laser hair treatments efficacy and success is dependent on the power of the laser and the application. Lasercap is one option that can be used at home and is available from our Sydney clinic for hair loss treatment.

Mane is a coloured covering spray for thinning and/or balding areas. It camouflages the area by colouring the scalp to match the hair. Mane is available at The Knudsen Clinic Melbourne.

Medical hair loss treatment is the use of medical techniques and/or medications administered by a Doctor (Hair Transplant Surgeon) for the purpose of treating hair loss.

Minoxidil is a synthetic drug that is used as a vasodilator in topical lotions (2% and 5% strengths) to promote hair growth. Minoxidil is available at pharmacies without prescription. Minoxidil was the first drug to be approved by the FDA and TGA for the treatment of androgenic alopecia (pattern balding).

Nanofibres are a formulation of pure keratin that has been cut to microscopic dimensions. Then the fibres are dyed and coated to increase the retention of electrostatic charge. Nanogen Nanofibres are applied by shaking the product over the thinning area, releasing thousands of microscopic colour-matched hair fibres, which intertwine with the real hairs. This hairloss cosmetic is available at our Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland clinic.

Contraceptive pills contain both oestrogen and progestogens. Oestrogen is helpful for hair growth, progestogens may be helpful or harmful.

Pattern Baldness is genetically determined baldness in which hair is steadily lost according to a characteristic pattern. Pattern Baldness is medically known as Androgenic Alopecia. Pattern baldness occurs in males and females.

A comprehensive list of Dr Knudsen's medical qualifications are available in 'The Doctors" section of our website. 

Radiation hair loss is permanent hair loss caused by radiation. It is successfully treatable with a hair transplant at the Knudsen Clinics.

Regaine is a brand of topical liquid Minoxidil that is sold over the counter at pharmacies in 2% and 5% strengths and is now also available in a foam version. 

Scarring Alopecia can be active or inactive. Inactive alopecia can be treated successfully by hair transplant.

Spironolactone is a medication used as a DHT receptor blocker in women to treat hair loss.

Stem cells are the basic cells that create hair follicles and every other organ of the body. Recent research with these stem cells involves test tube manipulation of a patients cells to produce greater numbers of stem cells and inject them back into the bald scalp. Animal experiments are encouraging but human trials continue.

TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) Australia is the regulatory authority for therapeutic goods. They assess and monitor activities to ensure therapeutic goods available in Australia are of an acceptable standard. 

Traction alopecia is a form or gradual hair loss that is caused by a continual pulling force being applied to the hair.

Trichotillomania is a psychological condition that involves continual pulling or twisting of the hair until it breaks off. Patients are unable to control or stop this behaviour.

Vellus hair is weak miniturised hair.

The area on the back of the head where the hair direction goes in a radial pattern.

Wigs or Weaves can be made of synthetic or natural hair and provide camouflage of thinning or bald areas.

(XTE syndrome) A scalp condition with coarse, sparse hair.

A combined contraceptive pill that has an oestrogen and a beneficial progestogen, in the combination suitable for women with female pattern thinning.

Acute or chronic Zinc deficiency can cause hair loss (Alopecia)