The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/1326760
rough his research, Underberg found that some clinics use robots to complete their DFI procedures, while others, like Eternal Hair & Esthetics, enlist doctors and skilled specialists. Dr. Ednan Sheikh is the head of the medical clinic at Eternal Hair, and for Underberg, the choice here was clear. Underberg sees hair transplant procedures, "...as an art, and I always think of doctors as artists, especially during cosmetic procedures. With the right artist, you are always going to get a better result than you will with any type of robot." With his choice made, Underberg gives us a detailed account of his experience undergoing a DFI procedure. Upon arrival at Eternal Hair & Esthetics, Underberg instantly knew he chose the right place for his procedure. Founder and CEO Abe Ayesh made Underberg feel like family as he entered what felt far from a surgical center: "We veer away from the medical atmosphere. It's more of a high- end hotel or lounge experience–it's a very concierge-level experience. You're greeted here and provided a private lounge. You select your food choices for the day from a customized menu. It's a Four Seasons type of experience here. e whole place just feels and smells different than any other place you've been," Ayesh asserts. Underberg settled in quickly for what would be a long but pleasant day at Eternal Hair & Esthetics. He placed his belongings into a private locker, changed into comfortable loungewear, and relaxed away his jitters in his personal massage chair. When it was time for the procedure to begin, Underberg entered the "Barber Shop," and he prepared for step one of the DFI procedure: extraction. For the extraction phase of his procedure, Underberg's head was shaved completely bald. is was quite a shock to someone who has never been fully bald in his entire life, but he knew he was in trusted hands. Underberg was given a mild oral sedative, and the top of his head was numbed with lidocaine as his team of doctors and technicians began the extraction process. Follicles were then extracted from the donor area (the sides and back of the head, where the hair is most dense) one by one. In Underberg's case, they were able to extract over 3,000 follicles! A team of nurses carefully preserved the follicles (conservation is step two of the DFI process), and Underberg went to take a break for a catered lunch. Aer his meal, Underberg prepared for implantation, the final step of his DFI procedure. His scalp was numbed again with lidocaine, and his specialist, Sermet Demir, went to work, "...like an artist, making it look as natural as possible," Underberg says. From start to finish, the DFI procedure took approximately ten hours in total. Amazingly, Underberg felt completely relaxed and at ease through the entire process: "I felt so comfortable when I was there–they made me feel like family. It was an incredible atmosphere. We were picking the music we wanted to put on; we were hanging out. It was an amazing experience." V U E N J . C O M 82