Month: October 2007

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Propecia Gives Me More Erections and a Higher Sex Drive – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I noticed that for the 3 weeks I was on Propecia, I have more frequent erections, strong ones and a higher sex drive. Is this normal? I really don’t mind the side effect and my wife actually likes the change!

I actually hear about this from about 10% of my patients on Propecia. This results from a raise in testosterone, reported as high as 18% on average. The testosterone levels generally do not stay higher than normal and will eventually come back down to normal. Tell your wife… well, maybe don’t say anything. Ha!

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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My Hairline Started Changing at 15 Years Old – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear Dr Rassman,

I am male and aged 18. My dad receded in his early twenties, while my maternal granddad kept his mature hairline into his 70’s. I noticed a change in the corners of my hairline and have read your articles on the maturation of the hairline which I have found very informative. I noticed hairline changes in the corners probably since I was about 15-16, and the changes since then are negligible, and there is no noticeable miniaturization.

My question is, is it likely that I have experienced the maturation of the hairline in such a short period of time, at such a young age, or is it more likely that I am balding? My temples
are about an inch from the crease when i raise my eyebrows. I’m not sure how revelant it is but I also developed body hair before my peers. Would you recommend I wait and see if its balding or start treating?

Thanking you in advance

Your question is complex. Simply, balding can start as early as 15, but it would have to show miniaturization if it is the genetic form of male pattern baldness (MPB). Hair does change in character from pre-teens to teens to early adulthood and throughout the maturing process into old age. Generally, hair becomes finer over time, usually not very fast in the teen years, but it might change faster in some young people than others.

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Melanocytes and Hair Color – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I have a question about greying process.

Scientists say that someday in the future it would be possible to reverse grey hair back to its original colour, because grey hair still have melanocytes but they are reduce in number. What do you think how long melanocytes survive in grey hair, and is it true that grey hair still have melanocytes but white hair have no more melanocytes.

DO you think that it will be possible to reverse also those hair which have no more melanocytes. (white hair?)

The reason that your hair becomes gray and eventually white is that over time you lose the cells that make melanin, the pigment responsible for hair color. It is very likely that we can reverse the process of graying hair with gene therapy in the future by prolonging the life of melanocytes.

I can not predict how soon we can have a method to reverse the color of gray hair to its original color and I recommend that you use dye to color your hair for now, rather than waiting for scientists to come up with that solution. Be careful that you use a professional quality hair dye and follow the instructions provided with the dye. I don’t want to see you back here with questions about treating chemical burns and experiencing hair loss!

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I Had Mini-Micrografts Transplanted 2 Years Ago in the Crown and Now My Sides Are Thinning! – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am 24 years old. My hair loss was started when i was 20 years old. I had full head of hairs before I shaved em off for summer and surprisingly they never grew back :( My areas were crown and front. 2 years ago, I went under the surgery for my crown area but there is nothing worse if you runs out of luck. The surgery was mini-micrografts which according to you should not be recommended. Now my crown has just few hairs and front is totally gone but i dont know why my sides are going thinner too. I am definitely not a candidate for strip surgery anymore but for FUE I am very confident that I can be a good candidate. All I desperately wanna ask you that does propecia can do any good for my sides and back? I am a poor guy who believes in miracles because I cant afford another surgery, I did but got disappointment. PLZ reply me on my email address and plz plz tell me if there is anything I can still do from becoming completely bald..

Your scenario shows what happens to a person who does not have a Master Plan and starts getting hair transplants in the wrong place and at the wrong time. Based on what you’re telling me, I question if your doctor even had your real interest at heart. Propecia (finasteride 1mg) may slow down fringe loss, but I suspect that you are going to have a very advanced hair loss pattern. For your own sake, please get to a caring, competent doctor to build a Master Plan for you with your present situation as the baseline.

I do not charge for a consultation and at the least you will get an honest assessment of your situation. You indicated that you are not near my offices in California, but you can still send me good pictures and we can try to do this by phone. Reference this post when sending the photos, please.

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Haircut After Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

When is it OK to have a haircut after a transplant, especially for the transplant area? Thanks.

After a couple of weeks you should be able to get a regular haircut. Don’t expect that the transplanted hair will grow out in less than 5 months.

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Dr. Rassman’s Hair Surgeries – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr. Rassman, I was wondering about your own hair and treatment. I found the past blog entry where you provided a photo showing your donor scar. I was just curious to know how many procedures you have had done and was it one of the other doctors at NHI that did the procedure? Also, how long have you been taking Propecia and have you ever experienced any side effects, mild or otherwise? If these questions are too personal, feel free to not answer! Thanks as always for such a well informed blog.

I had two hair transplant surgeries done by a doctor at New Hair Institute with our experienced team. He fixed my scars which came about from a series of mistakes where I had three scalp reductions in 1992. The hair transplants solved my balding crown and scars in the crown. I take Propecia, and did develop some mild reduced sexual performance which was transient.

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I Tend to Form Keloids — Will FUE Give Me Problems? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

hello doctor,
my skin has a tendency to form keloids. i’m considering of having FUE on my frontal hairline. I know that keloid will probably grow on the donating area, but is there any possibility at all that it will form on the recepient area? Your answer is very important to whether I’ll have the procedure or not.

Thank you.

Keloids in the frontal area are extremely rare. In fact, I do not recall ever seeing a case or even hearing from the medical community about this complication. Although an unscientific study, hundreds of doctors were polled some years ago in an audience setting and the results were that not one hand was raised asking about keloids in the frontal hairline. With that said, I would do a few test grafts and wait 6 months or so before undergoing a hair transplant. Better to be safe than sorry.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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HIV and Hair Transplants – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I just got a call from a young man who is HIV positive. He has been turned down for a hair transplant by a number of doctors. He said he felt like he was some leper.

I have performed hair transplants on many HIV positive patients. Just like poor or rich patients, I do not discriminate. I have transplanted men with known heart disease, diabetes, women with active cancer, men and women with sexual identity problems and even people with a variety of mental illnesses. Each person is first a human being and I swore an oath to help people in need. That applies as much to cosmetic surgery as to people who are sick and in need of help.

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Growing Long Hair After a Transplant – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear doctor,

can you tell me why every hair transplant picture that I see, the hair is normally short and combed back. I understand that this is to demonstrate how natural the hair line can look,
however, can people who have the opp grow their hair long? If so, do you have any pictures?

Kind Regards.

I believe the hundreds of patients shown on the New Hair Institute website have just about every imaginable hair style. This is all individual preference. A good hair transplant means that you decide how to groom your hair, not the doctor. Short, long, combed forward, back, to the side — whatever. I have even had a few patients visit after getting a crew cut.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

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