Here you will find answers to your questions.
A: Our phone number is:
Royal Oak, MI 48038
ph:586-286-1277
Royal Oak Store
28966 Woodward Avenue
Royal Oak, MI 48067
ph: (586) 286-1277
fx:248-565-8476
em:awomansimage@gmail.com
Q: Why does chemotherapy treatment make me lose my hair?
A: Physically, your hair is made up of fast growing cells. Cancer cells also divide and grow quickly. The chemotherapy drugs you may be receiving are deliberately pinpointing fast growing cells and the body cannot distinguish the difference between a cancer and hair cell, thus the reason for hair loss.
A: At A Woman‘s Image, we feel the decision whether to have a wig is your choice. The idea of hair loss can be overwhelming. Our suggestion is to let us show you your options and only you can decide what you will feel comfortable with. We can look at this a couple of different ways: Many women come into our shop and feel that a wig is absolutely mandatory while others come in and feel that head wraps, scarf wraps, and turbans will suffice.
On one hand we have had women come in and feel they had to have a wig, only to find that once hair loss occurred, they felt comfortable enough that they only wore their wig occasionally. On the other hand, many women who came in and thought they could get by with turbans and head coverings found that the wig they purchased was a lifesaver. Whether wearing a wig daily or occasionally, our suggestion is to have a hairpiece that you can rely on, almost like a security net, to make you look and feel great. Studies have shown that when we look good we feel good and at A Woman‘s Image we strive for that goal. With over 7 years of experience and helping thousands of women, we feel that we can provide you with all the information you need to make your decision.
A: The reason prices vary is based on the mode of construction and manufacturer.
Machine Made Base - Least Expensive
Mono-Filament Machine Made Base - Middle of the road
Mono-Filament Hand Tied - Most expensive
We at A Women‘s Image feel that not one particular mode of construction is superior to another. We work with you, assess your lifestyle and budget, and find what works best for you.
The Machine Made Base wigs have the most hair and are the densest. As a result, they typically are the heaviest in weight and can feel the warmest since a lot of hair needs to be added to "hide" the wefts/openings that are the interior of the cap.
The Mono-Filament Machine Made Base wigs are great for those women who want a very natural scalp look. In the late 1990s, a brilliant idea was born. Make the top or crown of a wig to look like a skin layer (doesn‘t sound very pretty), however women needing to wear wigs all of a sudden found that their hair looked natural and like themselves. The "mono top" gives the look like the hair is rooted and growing right from the scalp. Not only do these look great, they also are not as warm as a machine made base wig since they release the heat from your scalp instead of trapping it in. This wig is the perfect solution for someone that wants the benefits of the mono top but cannot afford the top of the line.
The Mono-Filament Hand Tied wigs are basically the Cadillac‘s of wigs. These wigs offer the mono-filament crown in addition to a hand-tied base resulting in the lightest weight wig on the market. Also known as hand knotting, the fibers of these wigs are hand sewn onto a mesh fabric that gives this hair piece the lightest density, the most breathe ability, and the absolute most natural look and feel. While the same style in a machine made wig can have a weight of 14 ounces, this mode of construction can offer the same look with a weight of 2 ounces. Most women say they feel like they don‘t even have a wig on their head when wearing this style.
The above descriptions have all been based on synthetic fiber wigs. The same modes of construction are offered in Human Hair Wigs
A: Absolutely! There are so many reasons our hair thins: stress, thyroid disorders, and side effects of medicine. Just as fitting a wig for a customer that has total hair loss due to chemotherapy, we find your needs just as important. We will listen to your specific requirements and find solutions that are unique to you.
With over 12 manufacturers that we have access to, we are confident we can find a wig, wiglet, top piece, enhancer that will make you look your best.
A: A Woman's Image would never insist you have an appointment if you don't feel comfortable with that. Yes, you can come in and look around, however as we work by appointment and we typically allow 1 - 1 1/2 hours for a consultation, we can't guarantee you will be able to try things on.
We feel very strongly that as each one of us is unique - no two alike - we treat each customer special. We realize that each one of us has specific needs and we would feel we could not meet those needs unless we are talking to you one-on-one. The only thing an appointment will cost you is your time and even if you don't see something you like, you will leave a more educated customer regarding your hair.
A: Our appointments are set up in two sessions. The first one is picking out the wig and the second is what we call the final fit. Once your hair starts to fall out, you may choose to come in and have our licensed cosmetologist shave off your hair and then custom fit your wig to your head.
A Woman's Image feels that decision should be made by you. Many women don't want the constant reminder of shedding hair so they will have us, in a private room, shave their heads. They then can walk out of our boutique feeling confident, pretty and satisfied. If you would like, we also provide a scalp massage at this time. As the hair is coming out, the scalp can sometimes be sensitive to the touch. We ask you how your scalp feels and if appropriate will do a warm cleansing and massage.
A: We encourage you to call your insurance company and find out if you have coverage for a wig or "cranial prosthesis" as insurance companies define it. The CPT code is A9282. When calling the insurance company, they usually will ask for your diagnosis code and the CPT code. Your doctor will write a prescription or letter of medical necessity for your wig. On the prescription the doctor or nurse will usually write down the 4 digit diagnosis code, example for breast cancer is 174.9. The prescription should read: "Cranial prosthesis needed for chemotherapy induced alopecia".
Please keep in mind that even if your doctor writes a prescription, that doesn't mean your insurance contract provides coverage. Medicare never allows for a wig and we understand your frustration when you come in with a doctor's prescription, only to be told your wig is not covered. If you do have coverage, we will facilitate all your paperwork for you electronically so that you will have reimbursement as quickly as possible.
A: We carry two lines of skin care products. Lindi Skin is specially formulated for chemotherapy and radiated skin. It was developed by doctors who specifically know the changes that your skin is going through. Their moisturizer lotions are superior in keeping your skin hydrated.
They even have a cooling pad for radiated skin that is covered by Medicare. This pad is made of aloe vera and ? and is very calming and soothing for your skin. We also carry Arbonne International. This is a Swiss, botanical based product containing no mineral oil allowing full absorption to every layer of the epidermis. This product has yielded fantastic results for many. Visit their websites to learn more.
A: Lymphadema is a swelling of the arm or breast due to an accumulation of lymph fluid that occurs when lymph nodes are blocked or removed. Not to be alarmed; this condition occasionally happens. One way of preventing lymphadema is to be measured for a lymphadema sleeve.
We strongly feel every woman should have a sleeve if they are traveling via an airplane. The pressure changes in flight can cause the lymph fluid to change and hopefully this condition can be prevented by wearing a sleeve 1 - 2 hours both pre and post flight. Medicare does not cover these garments, however most other insurance companies do. For an in-stock sleeve, the price is typically $65.00 - $75.00 and a custom sleeve is approximately $175.00 - $200.00. We carry both Juzo and Jobst manufacturers.
A: A Woman's Image encourages you to talk to your doctor to find relief by drug use, herbal supplements or topical estrogen creams. We do have hot flash apparel that may help you get a better nights sleep. These pajamas wick the moisture away, instead of absorbing it, thus keeping your clothes dry. It's like wearing a worn, old t-shirt that is soft and lightweight. The difference is t-shirt material absorbs moisture and gets soaking wet.
These pajamas allow your body to evaporate the moisture before absorbing it. We carry Wildblue and Nite Sweatz brands. The Nite Sweatz brand also has underwear and tank tops that can be worn under your day clothes that work by blocking absorption to your outerwear clothing.
A: We carry the Kimmie Care doll which has a wig on it. The dolls help children to understand that it's going to be all right if their mom or grandma loses their hair and has to wear a wig or hats. These dolls come in various ethnicity.
A: We are recommended by the American Cancer Society as a location for donated wigs, breast forms and bras. Many people will donate these products once they don't have a use for them.
We wash them and put them in our donation bank. You are more than welcome to see if something will suit your needs and take it for free. Please keep in mind that we are limited to what's provided to us, so we may not be able to match your color, style or size, however we will try our hardest to get you into something that will work.
A: We are participating providers with Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, PPOM, St. John's Smart HealthPlan, and HAP PPO. We will facilitate all your paperwork for breast forms, bras and wigs (if covered).
If possible, please bring your prescription with you. If you don't have one, we can always call your physician and have one faxed to us.
Our fax number is 586-286-1207.