November 2007 – Page 14

i am a 31 year old black women. i was dianosed with alopecia a year ago (10-1-06). i was getting injection in the top of my head and around the temples with this medicine called (clearmgsin and depomedrol a steroid) but i am still bald in the top of my head. some of the side hair started to grow but not fully. the doctor told me that i should consider a hair transplant. i dont know if i am a candidate for transplant. i’m looking for a african american doctor

Alopecia means hair loss in Latin. Hair transplantation in an African American patient is difficult due to the curly hair that extends beneath the skin down to the roots. It is much more difficult to transplant than someone with straight hair. As such, you need to find a very qualified hair transplant surgeon with extensive experience transplanting African American patients. Having an African American doctor as your surgeon does not necessarily mean he/she would have the aforementioned experience. Moreover, most patients are not aware of the technical expertise required by the hair transplant staff. In other words, hair transplantation is a team effort and being an African American doctor will not be a solution for you without extensive experience with similar patients.

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Dear doctor(s)

I would like to ask a question from my side. I had a hair transplant surgery 4 months ago. I was also advised to use minoxidil 2 weeks after the surgery in order to prevent healthy existing hair from falling off. Everything was pretty good until the end of the 3rd month where the minoxidil has caused me sort of irritation and pealing on my head. I stopped it for 3-4 days but i realized that the problem did not get away. Is minoxidil helpful to help the new transplanted hair grow up rapidly? What is your opinion about and what do you suggest me to do?

Furthermore, how long does it take for the new hair to grow and become strong? I realized that the hair that just popped up on my head first looked strong but now some hair are thicker than before.

Thanks a lot for your help and i would appreciate if i could get an answer to you the earliest convenient.

Regards

Minoxidil has no impact on stimulating the transplanted hair to grow. They will cycle when they are ready, usually 3-5 months from the date of the surgery. Your complications indicate that you should stop using the minoxidil (although my opinion may not be shared by your doctor). I never prescribe minoxidil post-transplant, because of the negative effects of it as you reported.

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Month: November 2007

I’m Looking for an African American Doctor – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I Was Told to Use Minoxidil 2 Weeks After Transplant Surgery, But It Is Irritating My Scalp – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman