Thought-leaders and innovators from around the world convened in Delhi, India as the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery presented its 31st world congress in hair transplantation.
The unique cultural flair and vibrancy of Delhi served as the backdrop to the 31st World Congress of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), held on November 1-4, 2023.
This highly anticipated Congress saw renowned experts in the field of hair restoration coming together to present their latest research, findings and concepts. With the Congress attracting nearly 800 physicians and surgical assistants from all over the world, the four-day event provided invaluable opportunities for attendees to expand their knowledge and sharpen their skills with hands-on training.
The ISHRS World Congresses have had a significant impact on the field, enabling hair restoration surgeons to adopt new techniques and deliver improved results to their patients which, in turn, increase demand for this highly specialised surgery. According to a 2022 member survey, more than 703,000 hair restoration procedures were performed worldwide in 2021, with more than 2.2 million hair restoration patients treated; signifying a 7% increase since 2019.
‘The field of hair restoration surgery continues to experience phenomenal growth around the world, as more men and women seek to restore thinning or lost hair with expertly trained physicians who utilise the most refined techniques and surgical procedures that consistently produce natural- looking results,’ said Gregory Williams, MBBS, FISHRS, Program Chair. ‘This meeting offers unmatched learning opportunities for practitioners of all skill and experience levels to actively participate in discussion and training with some of the world’s pre-eminent experts in hair restoration.’
World-class Program
The Congress featured prominent keynote speakers and a variety of educational sessions and workshops, allowing delegates to learn from the foremost experts in hair restoration, as well as partake in lively discussions.
Internationally recognised keynote speakers included: George Cotsarelis, MD, University of Pennsylvania, ‘Opportunities Within the Growth Cycle for Promoting Hair Growth’ and ‘Is Hair Regeneration a Reality?’; Melissa Harris, PhD, University of Alabama, ‘Hair Ageing and Greying’; Maria Kasper, PhD, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, ‘Follicle Cell Types and Their Origins’; Maryanne Makredes Senna, MD, Harvard Medical School, ‘What Do We Understand About Scarring Alopecia?’; and M. Julie Thornton, PhD, University of Bradford, UK, ‘How Biomes Affect Hair Health and Disease’.
Other topics included: latest in pharmacological therapy; FUE harvesting after previous FUE
surgery; acupuncture and its role in hair transplant surgery; impact of hair transplant on mental health parameters; advancements in scalp micropigmentation (SMP); and the rise of AI in hair restoration.
Established in 1993, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery is a worldwide non-profit medical organisation and a leading authority in hair loss treatment and restoration. With a membership exceeding 1,000 professionals across 70 countries, its primary mission is to achieve exceptional patient outcomes by fostering high standards of medical practice, ethics and research in the hair restoration industry. AMP
Fight the Fight Campaign
The ISHRS’ third annual ‘World Hair Transplant Repair Day’ was held on November 11, 2023. This worldwide event is part of the ISHRS’s Fight the FIGHT (an acronym for Fight the Fraudulent, Illicit and Global Hair Transplants) global consumer awareness campaign designed to educate and help people who have been victims of this widespread practice.
Victims of black market hair transplants may reach out individually to participating volunteer ISHRS physicians through the campaign’s website at HairTransplantRepairDay.org for a chance to receive a pro bono restorative hair procedure.
‘When performed by a qualified physician, a hair transplant is an excellent procedure for treating hair loss that creates natural- looking, permanent results,’ said Kapil Dua, MBBS, MS, FISHRS, President of the ISHRS. ‘In the wrong hands, results can be devastating. That’s why the ISHRS created World Hair Transplant Repair Day – to give hope to those in need of repair.’
A growing number of clinics around the world fraudulently promote themselves as hair restoration experts. According to results of a 2022 member survey conducted by the ISHRS, 51% of ISHRS members reported there are black market hair transplant clinics in their cities.
Results of hair transplants performed illegally can include permanent visible scarring, infection, thin patches of hair, patches of bald spots, and over- harvested donor areas that can be very difficult to correct. In cases where damage can be fixed, patients oftentimes will require more than one corrective procedure.
‘Unfortunately, there is no quick fix for patients in need of extensive repair from black-market hair transplants,’ said Ricardo Mejia, MD, Chair of the ISHRS Fight the FIGHT Subcommittee. ‘Depending on the extent of the damage, patients may require 3 to 4 sessions of corrective hair restoration surgeries. Sometimes the damage is irreversible if
the patient’s donor area has been decimated.’
For more information on the worldwide Fight the FIGHT campaign, contact fightthefight@ishrs.org or visit www.HairTransplantRepairDay.org
