Arbor and is a practicing dermatologist
specializing in women's hair loss in New
York City. He is a co-author of Hair Loss and
Replacement forDummies (Wiley; 2009).
"The results I've seen with LLLT are
mixed',' says Schweiger, who recommends
the LaserMax HairComb for home use to
his female patients with androgenic (genet-
ic) alopecia. "Short of a hair transplant,
there is less out there for the female popula-
tion that is truly helpful:'
He does not currently use laser hoods
in his office and is unaware of any studies
comparing the efficacy of laser combs ver-
sus laser hoods. "A clinical setting probably
does guarantee more compliance than if
you do it yourself at home,' he says. "But
in medicine, we like to see objective, hard
evidence before saying something definitely
works:'
Ronald Zack, M.D., a Livonia-based
obstetrician-gynecologist in practice for
more than 30 years, has recommended
Renew and LLLT to his female patients
experiencing hair loss.
"The laser they use is a cold laser': says
Zack, "and penetration of the scalp is mini-
mal. Using it to stimulate the hair follicles

makes sense. I've never read anything in
any of the [medical] journals that talks
about any possible side effects; I haven't
seen any problems as far as safety and don't
hesitate to suggest it to my patients!'
Zack also says he has no safety concerns
regarding Renew's topical serums — "there
is no absorption beyond the upper layer
of the skin" — or the amount of vitamins
prescribed. "I take a lot of vitamins myself'
he says.

Seeing Results
"Some people begin seeing results after a
couple of weeks, some after three months
or even six months," says Meklir, "but
everybody gets results — you just have to
follow the protocol!'
Judith Leitman has been a hairdresser
for more than 30 years. Currently at the
Beauty Lounge in West Bloomfield, with
a roster of longtime clients, she has seen
problems with hair loss in about 40 per-
cent of her female clientele.
"One of my very dear clients, age 60,
was experiencing hair loss on the top of
her head for the last seven to eight years':
says Leitman. "She'd been looking for new

things to help her hair and heard about
LLLT and Renew. I went there to speak
with the owners and to check out the facil-
ity and their products. I came back very
impressed.
"This client began treatment. She could
never get her bangs to grow, and, all of a
sudden — after about six months — they
were down past her nose. Her hair really is
growing thicker and faster. If I hadn't seen
it, I wouldn't have believed it.
"Another client started treatment two
to three months ago. I haven't seen new
growth yet, but the hair she has is healthier.
"I think the key is that this takes time
— you must be patient — and you must
be committed and stick with the treatment
and the maintenance:'
The Jewish News interviewed random
clients as they sat under the glowing hoods
in Renew's treatment room.
Some, just at the beginning of their
program, said they hadn't yet noticed new
growth but had seen their hair stop shed-
ding. Clients further along all had experi-
enced at least some new hair growth.
In the sidebar that accompanies this
article, Renew clients share their experi-

ences. Those who wish to maintain their
privacy shall remain nameless.
"We check our clients' progress with
the microscope every three months," says
Pluto. "Even clients who say they don't
notice a difference see the progress they've
made when they see [microscopically]
where they've come from:'
Still, when it comes to the promise of
hair restoration, "there's a ton of voodoo
out there," Pluto admits. "People are skep-
tics. You wouldn't be human if you weren't.
But we've seen it work. Come in and talk to
any one of our clients any time of the day.
People are pleased and happy."
"Now, dermatologists, who traditionally
treat hair loss, are getting on board': Meklir
says. "We're collaborating with Henry Ford
Hospital-West Bloomfield's new salon as a
resource for patients with hair loss.
"You have to have a big heart to do this
work': she adds. "When we leave at night,
we feel good. We're helping people one
strand at a time:' I I

For more information on Renew and
LLLT, go to www.renewhs.com or call
(248) 723-6398.

We think nothing of driving half an hour to a good restaurant.
But we'll settle for a hospital that's right around the corner.

As long as your health insurance allows you to go anywhere, maybe you shouldn't confine
yourself to the neighborhood.

Because this isn't dinner. This is your life.

Year after year, in independent studies, the people of Southeast Michigan have rated
Beaumont as their most preferred hospital: for doctors, for nurses, for surgery, and for overall
quality of care.

So maybe, when you're looking for a hospital, the criteria should be quality, instead of convenience.

It's your life... Do you have a Beaumont doctor?

Beaumont®

800.633.7377

JN

January 27 • 2011

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