October 2009 – Page 7

October 14, 2009

Hair Loss InformationI Had a Hair Transplant 7 Months Ago and It Still Doesn’t Grow Right – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I had a hair transplant about seven months ago. It was performed April 5 2009. I had been cutting my hair all this time because I am in the military. but started to grow it out the last two weeks. but it still looks funny. What I mean by that is when it grows it doesn’t match the rest of the hair. the back hair is more full, and the front looks like stitches. Is this normal after seven months? How long do I have to let it grow to make it match the rest of my hair?

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I do not know about your hair transplants or how the procedure was performed. I do not know what your expectations were or if you were given realistic expectations. So I really cannot comment on what you are experiencing. Keep in mind that not all hair transplant procedures are the same. The doctor and the team you chose can either produce great results or substandard results, depending upon their experience and skills. It is not like shopping for a car.

The best advice is to follow up with your doctor. Sometimes it can take a full year for 95% of the growth to be evident. At 7 months, I would expect 60-80% growth.

October 14, 2009

Rogaine Foam is Difficult to Apply with My Curly, Long Hair – Balding Blog

I am a female, 36 years old with long Naturally curly hair. In the last 2 years have seen a dramatic decrease in hair. This runs in my family. After seeing the dermatologist to try to prevent any further loss it was recommended to me to use once a day mens Rogaine foam. Having long hair I am finding it very difficult to apply and am unsure what area to apply it to. I am worried I am wasting product on having it soak into my hair and not my scalp. Yet I want to make a valid effort to do this as its important to me to at least keep the hair I still have.

I should also point out that my hair “expands” so to speak when dry. Frizzy. I do see why some try to apply after a shower as that is when you can get to the scalp easier. Thanks for your time and i hope you can give me some insight.

Many people who use Rogaine in one form (such as the foam) may try it in another form (liquid). There may not be an easy, practical answer to your problem, but you can try the minoxidil liquid and see if that is easier for you to use. These medications are a waste in the hair, as their only value is on the scalp itself.

October 14, 2009

Hair Loss and Location – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Can hair be lost because of change in location/water?

I can not imagine that either the geographic location where you reside or the water you drink will cause hair loss, unless you are stressed or there is something in the water. Though I’d expect if there was contamination in the water, your neighbors would have similar hair loss. Stress from a recent move can possibly cause hair loss.

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October 13, 2009

In the News – Hospital Error Results in Radiation Overdose and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

Scores of radiation overdoses at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have been traced to a single cause: a mistake the hospital made resetting a CT scanner.

Hospital officials said Monday that the error occurred in February 2008, when the hospital began using a new protocol for a specialized type of scan used to diagnose strokes. Doctors believed it would provide them more useful data to analyze disruptions in the flow of blood to brain tissue.

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Read the full text at the Los Angeles Times

Oh, wow! While a normal CT scan (also known as a CAT scan) should not result in hair loss, it was that side effect in 40% of patients treated that set off red flags. The article adds, “The error went unnoticed for the next 18 months, until this August, when a stroke patient informed the hospital that he had begun losing his hair after a scan.”

October 13, 2009

What Hair Can Shock Loss Effect? — and the Cost of Hair Transplant Surgery – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I can only afford to have my bald patches of my hairline transplanted (FUE) so no other areas of hair will be near. Will the shock loss only affect the donor follicles? or does all of your head hair fall out?

Quilt While price/cost is a factor for any cosmetic surgery, it should not dictate the surgery itself. Having cosmetic surgery is not like shopping for the cheapest loaf of bread, laundry detergent, or shoes.

When shock loss occurs, it may be the result of the anesthesia given to numb the head for the transplant and may cover a large area of the scalp, not just the area where the grafts are placed. The mechanical impact of the transplant may not be the cause of shock hair loss. You also have to look at the big picture. We call this the Master Plan. Surgery must be placed along your hair loss timeline and it will be progressive. In other words, you can’t just transplant hair to the small bald patches and expect that to solve your problem, as the balding process is regional. What if you lose more hair around the transplant and behind it as your balding continues? A good doctor should give you insight on your worst case scenario and plan for such consequences. After all, you don’t want to have small patches of transplanted hair scattered around your bald scalp in the years down the line “IF” you were to go bald.

To answer your question in further detail, shock loss is a concern… and while it may not happen, it is a risk. I have addressed your question with the assumption that you have genetic male pattern baldness and not just a patch of bald scalp (which is very rare in genetic balding). Either way, you need a Master Plan created with a doctor (not just me on the Internet) who is willing to look at your hair loss problem as a long term process.

For the follicular unit extraction (FUE), you need to understand it does not work to fill in the scalp balding areas like a patchwork quilt. Do not let the cost of FUE be the primary reason in your decision making process as to what to do and where to put the hair. It is better to be bald than be disfigured with a half-ass surgery.

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October 13, 2009

My Temples and Sideburns Are Thinning – Balding Blog

For the last year or so i noticed the hair on my right side really thinning. I went from having decent temporal points to having very diffused temporal points (which i shave off, so they dont look wierd). I can feel the right side really thinning (side burns are stringy and the region above the ears and a bit above the side burns very thin). The sideburns on the left side have started thinning too now. On the right side the further back the hair, the better it seems. Other than that my hair is very thick and my family has no history of baldness.

Appreciate your help. Thank you

Isolated thinning as you describe is not uncommon. It sounds like you might need a hair transplant to thicken the areas that are thinning and rebuild the temple points to your satisfaction, but I can’t say for sure if you’re a candidate without an examination or photos.

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October 13, 2009

My Crown Hair Loss is Regrowing Without Medication – Balding Blog

I have had the strangest hair loss from about the age of 15 or 16. I am now 18 going on 19. There was hairloss on the crown which I thought was MPB but over the last 2 or 3 years I have had small but noticable regrowth at times which is uncommon with MPB as I took no minoxidil or propecia. One doctor told me I had folliculitis decalvans after some examination but I have read that this occurs after adolesence into adult hood where as my hairloss has been around since I was about 15 so I don’t know if this could be true. Also I have no pain, swelling or crusting often associated with the disease just some itching on and off or maybe a button or pustule on a rare ocassion. Please help.

If your hair is regrowing and you’re experiencing no pain and no crusting, how can I help? Let it grow! This is a good thing!

If you are not comfortable with what you were told about folliculitis decalvans, get a second opinion. It is a rare condition that is generally seen in adults, but it could occur in young men at your age.

October 13, 2009

Besides Propecia, What Else Can I Do to Prevent Shock Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello Dr. Rassman,

What precautionary steps can a younger man take in order to help prevent and/or lessen the effects of shockloss? I know it’s important to be have been on Propecia for several months, but what else can contribute? Will having the recipient area shaved help? I’m likely to have some hairline touch-up work. Would having a less-dense prodcedure (decent amount of native hair remains) impact less trauma on the recipient zone, thereby reducing potential shockloss, or does the point become moot regardless of the density placed? Thanks.

Shock loss can occur regardless of density, and there is really not much you can do. Taking Propecia is the best option to try to prevent shock loss, though I guess another option would be not to have surgery at all. You have to weigh the risk vs the reward. If you have more to lose than gain, then I would be very cautious.

Surgery is not always the answer… and it is not reversible, which is why I’ve often said that the good news and the bad news about hair transplants is the permanence. Be sure to pick a good doctor you trust and have seen his/her work on previous patients (in person is best) before you get a hair transplant, and do not be driven by the best price you can find.

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October 12, 2009

Shock Loss and FUE, Density, Diffuse Thinning – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr. Rassman,

Thanks for this Q&A forum! I have three questions as below and your response would be greatly appreciated!

1. As you can see in my picture [editor’s note: see below!], which you can use on the forum with the response btw, seems like I have diffuse thinning. Im not sure what Norwood pattern this is, but does my pattern rule me out for a FUE hair transplant? I think I read somewhere that diffuse thinning candidates are not sutable for hair transplants. The hair in the back of head is pretty thick and looking at my dad and my older brother, I see no danger of losing hair in the back. It’s mostly crown thinning and almost bald on the top. I’m 39 years old

2. You mentioned that South Asians have less density than say those of European descent. I always thought it was the reverse? based on what I see in terms of density in the back of my head, looks like I should be able to get more drafts from my donor area??

3. Is there any way to reduce/eliminate shock loss from neighboring areas after a FUE transplant? Does one have to take propecia to eliminate shock loss? I tried finestaride (.25 mg) for a month and the side effects were frightening, so I stopped.

Thanks in advance!

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Thanks for allowing me to post this photo. Click it to enlarge!

Looking at the only photo you sent, you look like you have LOTS of hair on your side and thinning hair on top. I have no idea how your hair looks like on the back (donor area) and what percentage of your hair are miniaturized in key areas. So in short, I cannot tell you if you really have diffuse thinning and I cannot give you a personalized diagnosis… but with little that I do see and what you described as mostly thinning at the top, I don’t think you have diffuse thinning. You most likely have an early Norwood Class 5 or 6 pattern. I would see a physician (hair transplant physician if possible) for a good diagnosis and a miniaturization study.
Asians have less hair density than their European counterpart, but much of the time Asian hair is thicker and coarser as compared to the European fine hair. This can make Asian hair look more full. I have no idea what your density is. Your guess is as good as mine (its only a guess) so go to a good doctor and have it measured.
Propecia (finasteride in 1mg strength) does not “eliminate” shock loss. It decreases the risk. There is no guarantee you will or will not have shock loss after a hair transplant surgery. Generally younger men in their early 20’s and men who are losing hair rapidly have more chance of shock loss.

Finally, I do not know what frightened you in to stopping finasteride. If you have side effects I would discuss them with your doctor to find out if it really is a side effect or something unrelated. Negative sexual side effects occurs in 1 to 2% of men who take the medication and they are reversible.

October 12, 2009

My 7 Year Old Has Been Shedding Hair for Weeks – Balding Blog

My daughter is 7 years old and her hair his shedding alot. No bald spots. After her shower and when I brush her long hair. Many hairs fall onto the floor or into the brush. It seems like she has new hairs growing in or can this be breakage. She otherwise is healthy and not showing no sign of illness. Is it normal for a 7 year old girl to be shedding this much. When should I see a doctor. She has been shedding for about 3 weeks.

If you are worried about something that you are observing that is not normal, then go see a doctor now! After all, you know your daughter best.

Do keep in mind you can lose 100+ hairs a day. Sometimes we seem to lose more hair at times or notice more hair loss and that can also be normal. There is nothing wrong with getting a physical exam to make sure your daughter is healthy. Abnormal hair loss can be a sign of undiscovered health issues, but it is a very vague secondary symptom. It is a challenge to most doctors.