In general, boys are candidates for transplant if they have visible lesions on an MRI, but are showing limited or no neurological symptoms. Boys with an MRI Loes score of less than 8 or 9 are usually considered suitable for transplantation.

If you are starting to thin, balding, or completely bald, you are a candidate for hair transplant surgery. Those who have been losing hair for a few years at a moderate to dramatic rate should consider hair transplant, as it is the only permanent solution to hair loss.

Unfortunately, once the "transplant" window has closed, there are few other treatment options available. A preliminary study at University of Minnesota is demonstrating promising results in a small number of patients with advanced disease (please see "on the Horizon" section). Other treatments are palliative care-in other words, they cannot alter the course of the disease, but only make life as comfortable as possible for the patient and his family.

In general, boys are candidates for transplant if they have visible lesions on an MRI, but are showing no neurological symptoms, or at most early symptoms. Boys with an MRI Loes score less than 8 or 9 are usually considered suitable for transplantation.

If you are told that you are not a good candidate for organ transplant, find out if there are other treatments for your condition. Many people can live for years with serious health conditions. If transplantation is not an option, the goal of your care may shift to maintaining your comfort. Talk to your loved ones about the type of care you would like to receive. Discuss their expectations as well as your wishes, care needs, finances, and the needs of your family.

Immediately following surgery a patient’s recipient area is typically pink with scabs forming around the micro incisions. These hundreds of tiny incisions will heal rapidly within a week to ten days. During the first few days after the surgery a person’s hair transplants will be noticeable if there is no previous hair to mask these temporary scabs. However, most patients feel comfortable being in public without wearing a hat within 5 to 7 days following surgery.

Most of the insurance plans discussed in Question #1 cover transplantation and dialysis. You should contact your insurance carrier with questions about your own coverage. If you qualify for Medicare only because of kidney failure, it remains in effect for three years after transplant. Medicare will pay 80% for immunosuppressive (anti-rejection) drugs for 36 months after transplant.

Only your urologist can determine if you are a candidate, based upon your history & physical examination, as well as his clinical judgment. Karatas OF, Tasci A, Tugcu V. Erectile functions in BPH patients after photoselective vaporisation of the prostate laser surgery. Eur Urol 2006;5(2 suppl.):272 abstract 997. EAU Meeting, Apr 5-8,2006 Paris, France. Malek RS, Kuntzman RS, Barrett DM. High power potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser vaporization prostatectomy. J Urol. 2000 Jun;163(6):1730-3.

If you have locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC and have received at least one chemotherapy regimen that has not worked, you may be a candidate for Tarceva. Speak with your doctor about whether Tarceva is right for you.

Urinary frequency or other bladder symptoms caused by compression of the bladder by fibroids or compression of the ureters, which can cause hydronephrosis.

Candidates for this surgery are generally younger, more active patients. The partial knee replacement allows for symptoms of pain or discomfort. The procedure allows younger patients to buy time before they need a full knee replacement. The procedure is also effective for older patients if they have disease localized to one half of the joint.

If you have previously had a heart attack or have coronary artery disease and are experiencing shortness of breath during physical activity, feeling tired or weak, and having difficulty performing everyday activities you may be a candidate for SVR Surgical Ventricular Restoration. Ask your doctor for more information.

Only Dr. Shaw can determine if you are a candidate, based upon your history & physical examination, as well as his clinical judgment.

Drs. Jenkins and Omphroy performed the first laser refractive surgeries in the islands and have continued to stay in the forefront of the technology curve. They are trained in all these procedures using the most advanced equipment available in Hawaii and will select what is appropriate for each patient. To explore your options, please contact us or take our online quiz.

A comprehensive eye examination with dilation of the pupils will provide enough information to determine if you could be considered for a second opinion consult.Dr. Kohansby performs all the necessary testing as part of a comprehensive eye examination.

Candidates for hair transplant surgery include men and women who are physically healthy, realistic in their goals, and have healthy hair growth to serve as donor hair. Any pre-existing medical conditions should be mentioned at the time of consultation as these may help to determine candidacy for the procedure.

Any patient whose kidneys have permanently stopped working is a potential candidate for a kidney transplant. However, many factors must be considered in choosing between transplantation and chronic dialysis for a given individual. Among these factors are age, other medical problems, and personal considerations of work and lifestyle. You should discuss the options with your doctor and attempt to obtain as much information as possible in reaching your decision.

You will be told as soon as possible after assessment either at the hospital or very soon after your return home.

It is natural for your immune system to destroy invading foreign substances in order to fight off infection and disease. Basically, an organ transplant is contrary to nature. When a new organ is placed into your body, your immune system sees it as foreign and tries to destroy it. Organ transplantation results in a new disease called rejection. The most important weapons to fight this new disease are antirejection medicines that prevent your immune system from attacking the donor organ.

Once the testing is complete, the members of the transplant team will review all of the information from your testing. Following this meeting, one of the transplant coordinators will contact you to discuss your findings and our recommendations. If the transplant team decides that a transplant is your best option, you will be given the opportunity to go on the UNOS waitlist for a heart transplant.

No. Confidentiality is always maintained except in the case of living donors, where transplants are done within the same family. Recipients may write letters of gratitude, which will be passed on and are really appreciated by the donor family.

The first step in the process is to call our office to schedule a visit. It is important that your local cardiologist send us copies of some of your current medical information. The information we would need includes the following:

Individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, emphysema due to genetic or nongenetic factors, primary pulmonary hypertension, bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis have received lung transplants. Each candidate is evaluated infividually to determine whether a transplant is the most appropriate treatment. Age is an important consideration, as most transplants are performed on people under 55 years of age.

Children or adults desperately ill from liver disease for whom we are unable to find a suitable deceased donor are candidates. Living liver transplantation, which is still relatively new, is currently available in only a handful of centers and is as successful as deceased donor transplantation. The liver is the only organ in the body that can partially regenerate itself, given the right circumstances.

To be eligible for refractive surgery, your eye must be in good health and your vision must be stable. The minimum age for refractive surgery is 18. Since some people are better candidates than others, a consultation at The Refractive Institute is essential. You'll undergo a series of tests and measurements that will determine if refractive surgery is right for you.

A good LASIK candidate must have healthy eyes (no glaucoma, infections, cataracts, severe dry eye, or other condition that would impact healing), must be at least 18 for some procedures and at least 21 for others, and since vision must be stable for at least a year before surgery, often good candidates are often in their mid-twenties before their eyes stabilize.

Most men in good general health are candidates for hair transplantation. In order to determine your candidacy, you should arrange to have a free, private consultation with a NHI physician. During your consultation, the physician will measure your donor density and scalp laxity. He will also determine your balding pattern and take your individual hair characteristics such as color and wave into consideration to develop a plan for your hair restoration.