Hello Dr Rassman
Is FUE able to harvest in regions that were considered unaccessible with strips? I think about the temple areas and also the region called the “pigtail”, which in my case seems very dense.Thanks
Yes, harvesting the areas you are talking about can work. It is very difficult to do and the yield will probably be less, because hair densities tend to drop on the sides of the head.
This Norwood Class 3A patient came in for a check-up 10 days after his hair transplant procedure of 2,000 grafts. The scabs are gone and the recipient area is very clean with no visible redness. I wanted to show this patient because I’m constantly asked, “What will I look like after surgery?” — and with proper washing techniques, this is a typical result. Please click the photos to enlarge.
10 days after hair transplant surgery:
Before:
i am a young male and have recently been experiencing thinning hair and a slight receding hair line. recently i started using a testosterone boosting product as I frequently weight train. This product as well as boosting testosterone, claims to lower estrogen, cripple shbg, as well as inhibit DHT. The ingredients are: tribulus, fenugreek, tongkat ali, red clover extract, chrysin, kudzu root, diindolymethane, avena sativa, zinc, pygeum africum, stinging nettle, beta sitosterol, saw palmetto, flaxseed, glycine, l-arginine, magnesium oxide, dipotassium phosphate, malic acid, and l – methionine. while the products mainly used as a testosterone booster, do you think i can continue its use to combat hair loss due to all its dht blockers? after i few months of use i have noticed significantly less hair fall in the shower. I have done some research on the internet and most of the ingredients in a lot of hair loss products are quite similar. What is your take on the use of this product since it claims to (and has) increased testosterone considerably?
The only FDA approved and proven medication for treating hair loss by combating DHT is Propecia (finasteride). To use saw palmetto as an example, since it is listed in the ingredients list you sent — saw palmetto is claimed to treat hair loss by way of DHT. A big difference between FDA approved medications and these non-FDA approved supplements is that the dosage required for treatment is well defined in the medications, but not in the supplements. For starters, who knows how much saw palmetto is in various supplements? It is most certainly different amounts in different products.
If you’re going to take something specifically to treat hair loss, I’d go with something proven to be effective. If this testosterone booster is something you’re taking and is working for your hair, that’s great news and I hope it continues to work. I couldn’t tell you for sure whether it’s actually working or will continue to do so, however.
My dermatologist prescibed Olux-E to treat my scalp for hair loss but I have seen no noticeable improvement in hair growth. What success stories are there for women that use Olux-E?
Olux-E is clobetasol propionate foam and this is a very potent topical steroid and it is used to treat a variety of severe skin conditions (e.g., psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, allergies, rash). Clobetasol reduces the swelling, itching, and redness that can occur in skin conditions such as autoimmune diseases like psoriasis.
Steroids will have no impact on female genetic hair loss, but may work in specific alopecias that are autoimmune induced, like alopecia areata. Potent steroids placed on the skin will get absorbed by the body and any chronic use of this medication can impact the adrenal gland and produce side effects from their use. In other words, Olux-E will not work if you have genetic hair loss, but may work if it is alopecia areata. Since I don’t know enough about your case, I couldn’t tell you if it would work for you.
Hi Doc,
I’ve read a whole lot of your answers here, and I did your advice of waiting for months in order to see if my hairloss due to chemical damage will stop.
It’s been 14 months since my hair started shedding abnormally. Between then and now, I’ve been to several dermatologist visits. All my lab works came back normal, and the doctor said he does not see any scarring. To date, my hair is still shedding badly, and the worse thing is, a lot of short thin ones (looks like new growths) falling out too. I had very very thick hair before the incident, and now, I could honestly say half of it is gone. My scalp has gone scaly and flacky too.
My question is, since it looks like my new growths are falling out too, does it mean that my hair is still not recovering from the damage or that hairloss is going to be permanent for me? I have been extra careful handling my hair now, but hair just keeps coming out even just with gentle strokes. Very different from how my hair was before.
I would really appreciate your insights on this. If this question has been answered already, please provide me with a link.
Thanks a lot!!!
24 y.o. female
If the hair does not return after 8-12 months following chemical burns, it may be permanent. You should be under a doctor’s care. The use of minoxidil may help, but that can not be my recommendation, as I am not your doctor. I have seen some women with chemical burns and all I know is that they can produce significant permanent hair loss. Your doctor is in a better position to judge that I am. Have you had biopsies, and were they reviewed by a good dermatopathologist?
Hi Dr. Rassman,
How long after a strip procedure can I have a scar revision done? I need one. This last procedure didn’t fare too well and I cannot hide it. Thanks for your help.
Of course, your doctor should make that decision. I generally like to wait a minimum of 4-6 months to fix a scar. Also, you might ask the doctor if he/she knows why your scar is wide. Was the wound under tension? What type of closure was used for the surgical wound? I would also want to know if you have had scar problems elsewhere on your body and the number of hair transplant procedures you had.
Here’s an inspirational interview with Patrick Stewart (of Star Trek fame) conducted by the BBC. I think you will enjoy watching it, I know I did. Stewart talks openly about his experience with balding, dating and hair pieces.
Thank you for sending this! I wish I could embed the video below, but it’s been disabled. You’ll have to click the link to go directly to YouTube —
Parkinson: Patrick Stewart – Baldness.
(female) I used to wear braids and ponytails quite often. I stopped wearing them when I noticed hair loss in the center of my head. Now, I am experiencing hairloss in the center of my head as well as the right side of my scalp. It itches even after I wash my hair. There are also bumps in certain parts of my scalp. They seem to be hair bumps. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Tight braids and ponytails over time will often lead to traction alopecia, but without an examination or even photographs, I really do not have a clue what is wrong with your hair. The bumps you’re describing could be a variety of things, and once again, an exam is key. Make an appointment with a local dermatologist and discuss this with him/her. I’m sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.
Dear Dr:
I visit your website everyday and find it really informative and reassuring….in some instances.
My question is, I see a lot of young people (between the age of 25-30) getting hair transplants. Now, I remember one time you had posted a message saying that people under the age of 35 should not be getting hair transplants because it is hard to tell the “final pattern” of a person’s baldness. So, why do you as well as other doctors elect to do transplants on young patients (even as young as 22 who have minor thinning but will go bald later on in life) when you know in the future the hair behind the transplants will fall out. It doesn’t make sense?
I’m sorry if I targeting you personally, I don’t mean to do that.
Your question is a good one, but firstly, I’ve never used the age of 35 as a minimum requirement. I will readily transplant any man if:
Once the pattern is clear, the scalp is mapped for miniaturization, and the patient is on Propecia (finasteride 1mg), I don’t see how you could say that I’d “know” the native hair behind the transplants will fall out. That is not necessarily true, and is precisely why it is important to seek out a physician that will microscopically examine your hair rather than just waving their hands around the head like a magician and tell you what you want to hear.
I am a 17-year old boy and have been losing my hair for a year now. Im losing quite a lot of hair on top but thats not the thing, the thing is that im losing some hair on the sides and the back of my head and its really scary. There is no doubt that i have male pattern baldness but im wondering if lets say one becomes a 5 in the norwood class doesnt that person lose some(lose som density) hair on the sides and the back. Is it just the norwood 7 and beyond that lose their hair their there or what? Please answer there is no one that can answer my question!!
With a traditional balding pattern as outlined in the Norwood chart (see below), the sides and back are spared. All thinning is limited to the front, top, and crown in patients with genetic male pattern baldness (MPB). So if you do have thinning hair on the sides or back of your head, I might think about diffuse unpatterned alopecia (DUPA) — but this is all complete guess work without examining you myself. The questions you asked me via email should be asked of your caring doctor in person following an examination of your hair and scalp. I don’t know what you’re seeing, so I can’t provide much more than that.
You need to establish some measurements with mapping your scalp for miniaturization at a minimum in following your hair loss. You also need to have a good doctor establish a Master Plan for your potential progressive balding.
