March 2010 – Page 6 – Balding Blog

March 17, 2010

Scoliosis and Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Dr. Rassman, how goes it? Thanks for taking the time to update this blog, much appreciated.

I was wondering if scoliosis would have any effect on triggering MPB or hairloss in general. My sternum is under chronic pressure and stress which causes constant discomfort. I’m 24 years old and have had scoliosis for about 11 years. Both sides of my family have moderate to no balding and my father does have slight thinning in the crown. The unlucky family members who did encounter hairloss didn’t experience it til well past 40, even 50. I’m experiencing some diffuse thinning (still have juvenile hairline) and minor thinning in the crown that has been noticeable since I was 16-17. Luckily balding in the crown hasn’t progressed rapidly, but is certainly present.

Oh, one more thing. Stress is a cause for hairloss, but how so physiologically? For example, does stress cause insufficient nutrition to the follicles or an increase in DHT?

Hi! It goes well. Thanks for asking.

Scoliosis (spine curvature) has no direct relationship to hair loss, but stress can play a role. Clearly, you sound stressed. The mechanism for the stress-induced hair loss is unknown. You are the type of patient I would love to see, build a Master Plan for and help. The one-on-one relationship with a good doctor is the best way to start your search for a cause of your hair loss. Assuming genetic hair loss is the cause, Propecia (finasteride) is the best thing to initially do for a 24 year old. The hair loss gene can skip generations, so I don’t know how far back in your family tree you were looking…

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March 17, 2010

Prescribing Medication to Canadian Patients? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Doc,
I am a Canadian and will be in Los Angeles in two weeks time. Would you be able to prescribe me Proscar even though I am not a U.S. citizen? Is there a cost to visit you for a prescription and miniaturization mapping??

First, we should set you up with an appointment to be sure I can get you in on the day you want to come in. You can contact my office at 800-NEW-HAIR (or 310-553-9113). The consultation is free and includes a mapping of your scalp for miniaturization. If I prescribe medication, there is a $85 (USD) fee. The prescriptions can generally be filled in the US and most Canadian pharmacies recognize an American doctor’s prescription.

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March 17, 2010

I Got Gum In My Hair – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi, about two months ago I got gum in my hair and my girlfriend ripped it out and with it came a chunk of hair. I didn’t worry about it all that much because you couldn’t really see the bald spot because my other hair covered it pretty well. Well it’s been two months and I got a buzz cut and now I still have a quarter sized bald spot a little bit above my left ear. How long will it take for this hair to grow back? Will it even grow back at all? I’m starting to get worried about permanent damage seeing as how it’s been two months and it’s still as smooth as a babies butt. Thanks.

Gum The hair should grow back within the next few months. I have seen many cases of a one-time hair pull before (from a fight, mugging , gum situation, prank gone wrong)… and the hair has always regrown. You’ll just need to be patient.

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March 16, 2010

Concerns About NeoGraft – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Just after I published a post about the NeoGraft tool, a phenomenon began occurring in the community. I’ve been seeing an increasing number of press releases that get brought to my attention from readers and from Google Alerts, announcing that some doctor with no experience in the art of hair restoration is now the first in his area to offer hair transplant surgery using this new NeoGraft tool. It could just be due to the marketing efforts of the makers of NeoGraft or it could be doctors following other doctors in issuing these press releases (and also the machine being shown on the Rachael Ray show)… but some of these physicians often have no real training, and this machine offers them another source of revenue with the ability to do what we have been doing manually.

Michael Oakes, president of NeoGraft Resource Group (makers of NeoGraft), even brags about the ability to sell the tool to doctors that have no prior experience performing hair transplants. In his Plaxo.com public profile, Oakes writes that the NeoGraft machine “opens up opportunity for non transplant physicains [sic] to add to there [sic] exsisting [sic] practice.” This is quite alarming to me!

I am writing this as a warning for those who are considering a NeoGraft transplant. Some additional comments that Dr. Robert Bernstein made on his site about the risks of the NeoGraft tool suggest real problems that will, almost certainly, produce failures of the transplant. I have seen one such failure recently from an experienced surgeon who used it. If you’re still considering having surgery with this tool, just be sure to check out the technology and the doctor who is performing it. Ask about the physician’s training and also ask to meet some patients who have had successful hair transplants with this tool. The proof is in the pudding.

March 16, 2010

Placement of Grafts to Create a Natural Hairline? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I had a hair transplant done over a year ago. My hair grew in great but I feel my hairline is a little too far back. I would like to move it forward 3/8 of an inch. I understand when creating a hairline it looks more natural when grafts of single and double hairs are used. So my question is how far back are the grafts of single and double hairs placed? My concern is whether or not I could the procedure done by the means of the strip method or would I have to get it done with the FUE method? (Also, do you have a rough estimate of how many grafts would be needed? Medium course, fairly straight, blonde hair)

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At the very least, I would need to see a good digital photograph with your eyebrows lifted high so that the forehead creases are visible. This would help to determine placement. Some surgeons do not put single hairs in the front, so I can not comment on what you had done without seeing you. Clearly with a medium coarse blonde hair, you should require less grafts than those with darker fine hair, but again, I would have to see how wide the area which will be transplanted has to be lowered to meet your goals. Follicular unit extraction (FUE) or strip harvesting can address a transplant successfully.

March 16, 2010

I’ve Been Losing Hair for Over 20 Years and Just Saw Regrowth from Propecia – Balding Blog

Hi Doc! I really enjoy your blog and it has made a difference in my decisions regarding hair loss. I started losing hair when I was 17. I am now 39 and still have a lot left on the sides and back. I had transplants done on the top front half with good success (about ~1000 grafts) when I was 22. I started Propecia 4 months ago and notice a ton of regrowth in the area that was transplanted. Does Propecia normally work better in the crown or will that need to be transplanted also? With the success I’m having in the front, and even the original hairline from 20 years ago, I’m “hoping” that the crown will sprout healthy hair soon. Thanks for your time!!

Propecia is more effective in the crown than in the front. It’s great that you’re seeing so much success with the medication, but it’s quite unusual for someone that has been experiencing hair loss for over 20 years to see regrowth like you’re describing. Your story is interesting and may have value to some of our readers. Thanks for sharing!

March 16, 2010

Alcohol and Finasteride? – Balding Blog

Hi doc,
First I appreciate you on providing expert level suggestions to people all around the world. I think it is really helpful for many patients. I am on Finax (Dr Reddys) for the past month taking daily 1mg at night. I have two questions:

1. I am very much tempted to take alcohol on weekend nights and skip the pills for those days to be on the safer side, and continue on the weekdays. I want to know whether I will get the benefit of the medication or it will slow down the effects?
2. Can I take the pills in the morning during breakfast even if I am on drinks in the nights, does it also effect the medication?

Please help me in understanding my concerns. Thanks in Advance!

I think you’re under the impression that alcohol cancels out the effects of finasteride, but that simply isn’t the case. There’s no adverse reaction to taking alcohol and taking finasteride on the same day. If you want to give in to your temptation of drinking alcohol on the weekend nights, it is not for me to judge or to advise you on. I wouldn’t down a bottle of booze with Propecia (or the generic Finax), but having both on the same day won’t make the finasteride ineffective.

I prefer to take the medication in the morning, but you can take the medication at any time of the day or night. Just take it every day.

March 15, 2010

Hair Loss InformationHair Transplants by John Lord – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

i was googling the address for John lord when I got your article. im in my 40’s and want to inquire about hair transplant. someone i knew went to him and was happy about the result and it was also inexpensive. wanted to try it but very scared about his history, outcome if i were to go elsewhere and the amount i will end up paying. my hair is thin and i just want a thicker full hair especially front area.

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Cemetery John Lord is not a doctor, but somehow owns a surgical hair transplant clinic. This is illegal in California, but he was able to skirt the law. His clinic was responsible for the only reported death in the history of hair transplantation just a few years ago. The patient who died came to see me a couple of weeks before he had the transplant that killed him. Our clinic fees were a bit higher so to save money he ended up at John Lord’s clinic. And well… you know what happened next.

Our facility is fully accredited with the AAAHC (Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care), which guarantees that our processes are first rate, infections are very rare, and safety is paramount as it is built into our system. We are audited every three years and all of our records are reviewed by this agency for safety and poor outcomes. We’re one of the very few hair transplant clinics to go through this rigorous auditing and accreditation.

I had the opportunity to see a few of the patients from John Lord’s clinics and the results were clearly substandard. Maybe the bad transplants are the only ones that came to see me for repairs. As for the cost of hair transplantation, that depends on how much hair needs to be moved. I’m in Los Angeles if you’d like to make an appointment (it’s free).

March 15, 2010

Fiber and Propecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi, I’m currently taking fiber supplements as part of my diet. On the bottle there is a warning stating that a laxative should not be taken within 2 hours of any other medication.

Do you know if fiber can impact the effect of Propecia if taken within the 2 hour time span?

I doubt that the fiber will impact Propecia. I generally suggest taking Propecia upon waking up, first thing in the morning.

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March 15, 2010

Excessive Rubbing and Eyebrow Hair Loss – Balding Blog

About 6-8 months ago I noticed that my eyebrows appeared sparse compared to my youth, particularly on the outer third to half. No outright baldness just sparsity as they moved toward the outer edge. This alarmed me considerably and I went to see a doctor who had my thyroid tested. The results came back negative for any disorder. The doctor also explained that eyebrows can lose density with age and at 33 that should be something to consider. Well feeling self conscious about something tends to lend itself to fixation as it has in this case. Since my unsatisfying diagnosis I’ve taken to touching or gently rubbing my eyebrows – both in an attempt to stimulate growth and a tactile way of assessing further loss. As well I routinely add a tiny amount of hair sculpting paste to the brows which seems to add to their shape and give them the illusion of increased density.

Through my attempts at alleviating my anxiety over thin brows I’ve actually added a new fear – the fear of further loss resulting from brow manipulation. I’ve noticed that when I stoke the brow or apply the hair product brow hairs will appear on my fingertips. Not every single time I touch them but frequently and at least a few hairs daily, sometimes 8-10 hairs. Unlike hair loss on the head there isn’t much information on what is considered “normal” loss when it comes to brow shedding. I don’t pluck the hair nor aggressive rub the brow, these hairs fall out with little encouragement. Should I assume that these hairs will grow back unlike those of chronic pluckers? How long does it take for these hairs to replenish themselves? Are my actions causing this shedding or is this the natural cycling of brow hair? How many brow hairs are considered “normal” to lose daily? I really can’t find much information out there and would be greatly appreciative of your insight. Thank-you.

Eyebrow hair goes through a normal life cycle just like the hair anywhere else on your body, but this doesn’t sound like natural cycling based on what you describe. If you have been rubbing the eyebrows (more about the repetition as opposed to the aggressiveness), this can cause traction alopecia to the hair on the brow. This can result in permanent hair loss.

If you do not get the return of your eyebrows in another 4 months or so, then a hair transplant can work well. While you wait it out, you might try Rogaine (minoxidil) on the eyebrow to see if it might regrow hair there, but just be careful not to get it in your eyes.

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