Month: March 2010

Posted on

Trichodynia After a Failed Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr Rassman,
I would like to start with complicating you on your website. I think that what you are doing, in providing free information with such dedicated professionalism, which must be so time consuming is a testament to you as as a surgeon.

Doctor my question is a simple one. I had a hair transplant almost a year ago and I am living a life of hell since. I am now suffering from Trichodynia and every morning I wake up I say to myself I cannot wait for the day to end. I go to bed hoping the pain will be gone when I wake up each morning. I am emailing you as a last resort. I have been to a pain specialist who has prescribed amitriptyline and lyrica together. I am on this medication for 4 months now and as the dosage goes up there really is no difference in my condition. My transplant was also a failure along with being left with a scar of between 5 and 10mm. Please please help me doc. I did not have any pain pre surgery. Kind regards

Block Quote

BurningFor those readers who does not know about trichodynia, it is a condition where the patient experiences a painful, burning sensation on their scalp. From Wikipedia — “Often there is an underlying psychosomatic cause, such as stress, depression or anxiety.” It also could be caused by trauma to a nerve(s) from the surgical wounds created during a hair transplant.

I do not know the cause of your pain and the answer you desire is not so simple. You state that the pain started after a hair transplant surgery, but I do not know if there is an actual correlation or just coincidence with the hair transplant. You need to find a physician who will listen to you and examine you. I would want to know where the pain is, if there are any sensory defects in the nerve distributions of the major and minor nerves of the scalp. Without a full history and physical, I really cannot offer much help. You are more than welcome to make an appointment to see me or Dr. Pak either in Los Angles or San Jose.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationPicking Off Transplant Scabs a Month After Surgery – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello, I had a hair transplant early in january, roughly two months ago, it was only a small procedure of about 700 grafts. However I have been reading about the scabbing process and I am very concerned that I may have damaged my grafts. I was very careful after surgery for about two weeks, the scabs were still strongly in place so i followed advice and scrubbed a little harder and let them soak. During weeks 3 – 4 the scabs were still there, not attached to my head but somewhere near the end of the grafts, most of them being lose. The area was very itchy and the scabs looked a mess being very flakey in my hair.

Anyway over 2 or 3 days i used my finger to rub and loosen the remaining scabs, considering it was nearly 4 weeks on i thought this would be ok. When picking the scabs off some of the grafts were still attached to the scabs. I have been told that it is natural for the grafts to come out first with the scabs and that after 2 weeks the grafts are fixed in place so its hard to damage them. However i am very worried that the result i achieve will be poor because I didn’t just let the scabs be, the rate they were going i think it could have been about 5 weeks before they would have gone. I know picking (encouraging) the scabs to come off when the hair is dry is wrong, but i didn’t at the time. Do you think any permanent damage will have been done?

kind regards.

Block Quote

I do not know why your scabs would be there at a month after surgery. Just washing your hair with soap and water should’ve taken them off. I would like to know if the grafts were the large plugs, which used to produce scabs lasting 2-3 months with poor hygiene.

We did a graft anchoring study, which basically concluded that as long as the scabs are in place, the grafts might come out. Pulling scabs and grafts from the scalp just is a set-up for infection (folliculitis). Good hygiene should have started the day after surgery. Where were your post-operative instructions? The surgeon should’ve provided them to you.

Posted on

In the News – Man Steals 23 Bottles of Rogaine – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

JailYou can’t blame Joseph R. Garcia for gazing in the mirror and dreaming of luxuriant locks sprouting from his balding pate — if that was his wish when he strolled into a Park Ridge pharmacy in November and again in January. But did he really need 23 bottles of Rogaine?

Garcia, 39, was charged this month with two counts of felony retail theft for allegedly stealing 16 bottles of the hair regrowth treatment Nov. 30 from a Park Ridge CVS drugstore and then making off with another seven bottles from the same store in January, investigators say. In all, the CVS store is out about $1,000 in hair-treatment products, police say.

Block Quote

Read the full story — Suspect accused of stealing 23 bottles of Rogaine from CVS

Now that is commitment, possibly out of desperation! Some people will truly do anything to keep their hair. This guy even went back to the same store months later to steal more! I’m not interesting in stealing, but honestly, how does one even smuggle 16 bottles out of a store at one time (and then another 7 bottles a second time)? But then it begs the real question — WHY? Maybe he was stealing for a group of balding friends, or perhaps he was stockpiling Rogaine for the future. Either way, such a dumb move.

Posted on

Financing a Hair Transplant? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What is the best way to finance a hair transplant? I will be graduating in May and will turn 24 in July. I have done the research and about 2,000 grafts are needed in my frontal hairline. My receded hair line itches at me daily. What is the best way to plan for about 2,000 grafts? Obviously every office is different on pricing, but I want to fix my hairline before I get started in my profession (public speaking and sales) – what is the best way to go about this for a broke college graduate?

Block Quote

MoneyDifferent physicians/clinics will likely have financing available, though some patients opt to pay cash or put it on a credit card. We do offer financing if you elect to have your surgery at New Hair Institute, and that info is available here.

Posted on

Forehead Muscles and Hairlines – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

This is in reference to this response.

You mentioned needing to see the eyebrows and forehead lifted by an individual to see where exactly to construct a hairline. I read a lot of doctors ask the patient to lift their forehead to help construct a hairline as well. My understanding was it showed the extent to where the muscles of the forehead ended which would basically indicate the lowest possible position of one’s hairline. Anyhow, regardless if I was correct or wrong in my understanding, what about individuals such as myself who cannot move or lift their forehead through use of the muscles located there? I was told by my doctor that these muscles were “underdeveloped” or weak and I have never been one either to voluntarily or involuntarily move my forehead in which to show creases or wrinkles. How would a doctor determine where a proper hairline should be located in my case and others? Thank you!

Block Quote

We do not base a hairline on forehead muscle per se, but it does give a generalized reference point. It does not matter if you cannot lift your forehead to delineate a muscle. An anatomically correct hairline is made with the general proportions of a person’s face using the rule of thirds the way artists draw a face. Alternatives that we use are in equalizing the chin to nose distance with the distance from the glabella (groove between the eyes above the nose) and a similar distance upward.

Hairline position is not an exact science — it is an artistic design based on proportions and knowledge of human anatomy and form, and takes into account what the patient believes fits his facial proportions. We often find that this process becomes a negotiation to arrive at the ideal location.

Posted on

I’m 20 Years Old and Losing Confidence Because of My Hair Loss! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

i am 20 years old and live in Mi. I started losing my hair since when i was 17 years old and after 3 years that now i am 20 years old i have lost enough hairs that i look 10 times older than my age. I have lost a lot of hairs from and middle and day by day it is increasing due to this reason i am losing confidence and every time try to cover my head with something so people don’t see my baldness and right now i have short hairs which make it more obvious and make me look a 30 year old like man.

Please advice me should i get done hair transplant from your surgical institution or is there any other way to get my hairs back. Because i told you i have almost lost a lot of confidence in myself. Please doctor your advice is required. Thank you

Block Quote

At 20 years old, you’re more than likely not a candidate for hair transplantation. I understand that you’re losing confidence and covering your head — this is common among many men that are seeing hair loss. I don’t know how bad your loss is, but my suggestion is:

  1. Get your hair mapped out for miniaturization to make a diagnosis on the presence and degree of pending hair loss
  2. Talk to your doctor about a prescription of Propecia. I’ve seen this medication work well in younger men with early hair loss like you describe.

There are many doctors that would be more than willing to take your money, but realize that you’re just going to cause problems for yourself in the future if you rush to surgically treat your hair loss today.

Posted on

Hair Growing Slowly 19 Years After Chemical Burn – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

19yrs ago, my hair was burnt w/relaxer on the scalp and then combed out removing my hair. the forehead and top of my head were most effected. Though i’m 37, the hair has slowly been growing back. so im wondering if there’s a hair regrowth product for someone who lost their hair through mal-treatment instead of balding

Block Quote

This is a very difficult question that I can not provide a straightforward answer to without examining you. Based upon a 19 year history since the initial injury, it is highly probable that the hair will not be significantly better over time, nor are there any treatments I can think of that might work after that much time.

Posted on

Leaving Shampoo on the Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr. Rassman, I just have a question. How long should one leave the shampoo on the hair? I ask this ’cause I usually leave it on for quite some time (around 10 minutes), could this affect (or benefit) my hair or cause any other effects (hair falling out, etc)? Thanks.

Block Quote

You can leave the shampoo in your hair as long as you like. It should not cause hair loss, nor will it grow hair. It’ll just be a longer shower. Follow the directions on the shampoo label if you are still worried. Is there a particular reason you leave it in your hair for 10 minutes? That does seem quite excessive.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationI’m Holding Out for Future Technology Instead of Getting a Hair Transplant Today! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, thank you so much for all your help and knowledge. We greatly appreciate it!

Can you please tell me your thoughts as to when if ever we will see a more progressive approach to fixing hair loss? Such as through stem cells or tissue engineering. i am holding out getting a Hair Transplant in hopes one day this will come. Do you think holding out will be worth any wait?

Thank you for your help!

Block Quote

Imagine that your father and grandfather had prostate cancer and that you run a very high risk of developing the same disease. Rather than get tested to get a diagnosis for you in advance of getting this terrible disease, you decide to just wait until a cure is available. Then you die because the cure never came in time to save you. I realize this logic may be a stretch to bring up the point I am trying to make, but stick with me…

Waiting just means paying the piper of the process as time, whether it is cancer or hair loss, just works against you. Hair cloning or a hair loss cure are still not even close to being available to the public. In fact, I believe it will take decades before some more solid solution to hair loss comes along. People still think that hair transplants can be socially detected on any person who had it done, will always cause terrible scarring, are extremely painful, etc. Well, it may be the perfect solution today. I would challenge you to pick out a hair transplant amongst my patient population (assuming I started the transplant process on the patient being examined myself).

Drugs like Propecia are great at stopping or slowing hair loss with minimal side effects for 99% of men. Why hold out? You could be enjoying your hair now instead of waiting on something that isn’t guaranteed to come in your lifetime. The decision ultimately is up to you.

Posted on

Balding With No Miniaturization Present? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doctor Rassman,

I have a question concerning my diffused hair loss. I am 40 years old and have been thinning quite rapidly all over my scalp and losing hair for over a year and a half. Through your excellent advise to your readers, I decided to do hair miniturization testing with a surgeon I procured in my area through the ISHRS.

The surgeon was very professional and empathetic towards my hair loss concerns. He did the miniturization testing and some blood tests for me. He indicated that I had no evidence of MPB. My blood work all came back normal aside from some higher than normal white blood counts which he indicated may be related to a minor infection. I have since taken antibiotics to remedy the problem. My concern is that I am still rapidly thinning and losing 100s of hairs daily. My hair texture has gone from very thick and spikey to very fine and flat. I really notice the thinning after I take a shower and my hair is wet.

I am currently taking propecia and minoxidil 5% daily and have used both for over a year and still no slow down in thinning or hair loss. At this stage, I am very concerned that I will go completely bald. Is there anything that you could advise me on. Thank you in advance and keep up the good work in informing your readers about hair loss and hair restoration!

Block Quote

There are a variety of diseases that can cause hair loss and a good dermatologist might be able to ascertain the existence of such a disease. I would imagine that there is a diagnosis out there, but maybe the doctors you met with missed the ‘boat’.

As you indicated that you’re not local to me, we should have a telephone consultation. First, I need good pictures of your loss… and the frontal view should show your eyebrows lifted so that the forehead is creased. Along with the photos, please send me the results of the blood tests that were done. The email address for sending photos is on the Contact page, and please reference this posting since I get a lot of emails. I may ultimately not be able to help you, but this is a start. Without seeing you and doing a miniaturization study myself, I can not really judge what is going on.