Month: December 2005

I have a question. The hair on the left side of my head, from the hairline to about 1 to 1.5 inches behind it moves in a fully forward direction instead of backwards and down. This cowlick creates a very messy look and contrasts with the normal direction of hair on my right side.

Is there any procedure that can be done to just change the angle of direction of those hairs? If so, who performs this?
Thanks very much

Cowlicks are hairs that grow in a different direction than adjacent hairs. They can be very sexy or they can be annoying, much like your complaint about them. Grooming can be a problem if you are a perfectionist, your hair character is strong, and the direction abnormality is in an obvious place, like the very frontal hair line. This is most often seen in the central area of the frontal hair line, frequently in association with a ‘widow’s peak’ or as in your case, it can be off center. There is little to do about them without damaging the frontal hair line. When we transplant near them and they are strong, there are many artistic judgments that the surgeon must make on how to deal with them. I love and hate them, depending upon what I am asked to do with them and the patient’s opinion of what he wants and what he can reasonably achieve.

My suggestion is for you to accept the cowlick, learn to style around it and not to aggressively go after it unless it is very limited to a small area, in which case, FUE might be possible. You need an expert to evaluate this in person and to protect your interests.

Dear Dr Rassman,
I’ve got to a point now where i need to address my Hair loss!! I started losing my hair in my early 20’s but it was never that noticeable -this was probably due to the fact that it was a gradual thing and that my hair was densly thick! I’m now 29 and my hair seems to be falling out rapidly and it’s becoming harder and harder to cover it up. I’ve started using Propecia with the hope that it will stop the Hair loss. I’m an actor and am worried that my eventual lack of hair will effect my work! Any advice?
Yours Faithfully

I understand the need to maintain your appearance as an actor. Some character actors can establish a balding persona, so you can accept a balding fate and still make it in the movies or theater. As actors reflect the male population, half of all men will be balding by the time they are 45 years old.

Now that does not mean that I am advocating balding. If your desire is to maintain your hairy appearance and Propecia does not hold it, then hair transplantation is a reasonable option that can produce wonderful, normal, and undetectable results. First, get your hair loss pattern established with a map of your miniaturization. Then, work out your supply versus demand possibilities for hair over time based upon the mapping I just outlined. With that in hand, you can establish a Master Plan, from which you can then make plans. Hair restoration surgery does not mean that you must go bald to get hair back. It means that you plan out everything that is happening to you, short and long term, with the best tools and doctors available today. We are there, just look for us.

Are any of the topical ointments being sold on TV effective? I have heard (in Jacksonville, FL) of a new transplanting system without surgery – any such thing??

Effective? That depends on what you want them to do. I’m not even sure what hair regrowth products are being marketed on TV these days.

There is nothing new on the face of this earth that can give you a hair transplant without surgery. Someone is dishonest or plainly a crook. Maybe you misunderstood, so giving the benefit of the doubt, please send me a phone number, website, or at least the name of this procedure the next time you hear about it, and I will check it out for you.