Month: October 2011

Posted on

My Transplanted Hair Grows Faster Than My Native Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have had two transplants (1800 total grafts) over the past 2 1/2 years in the vertex (400 grafts) and front (1400). I have noticed that the transplanted hair grows significantly faster than the native hair (mostly in the crown/middle scalp). This increased rate of growth is probably 50% or more. I suppose this indicates that the grafts are growing well and are healthy, but has this effect been noticed in other patients?

Thank you.

Block Quote

I have a hard time understanding how you can distinguish transplanted hair growth from non-transplanted hair growth, as 50% faster growth seems drastic. I have not had patients mention this type of phenomenon, as all hairs (transplanted and non-transplanted) should grow at the same rate if they are the same scalp hairs. If you had body hairs transplanted to your scalp it will grow at a different rate.

Posted on

Can a Teen Girl Have Her Hairline Altered with Adult Consent? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,
I’m a sixteen year old female with a large forehead and in addition to this, a very distinguished widows peak. My forehead is extremely unattractive and has caused me to become overly self-concious. I would like to at least have my hairline altered so that I don’t have such a pronounced widows peak. I have recently been looking into hair transplants and would like to know if with my guardians consent, am I able to get this treatment? Also any other advice on my situation would be appreciated.

Block Quote

Any medical procedures or treatments on a minor can only be performed with their guardian’s consent. Hairline lowering surgeries for women with high foreheads are an option, but it is on an individual case-by-case basis with full understanding of risks and benefits.

Posted on

Is Hairline Lowering for Men an Option? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have a high forehead but I don’t want a hair transplant surgery. I found on the Internet that Dr Gal Aharonov in Beverly Hills California is offering hair line lowering or forehead reduction surgery. His results look impressive and I saw him on the Doctor show. It seems great for women with a high forehead but what are your thoughts on men?

Block Quote

I have seen Dr Aharonov’s patients personally and the results are indeed impressive, but there will always be a fine scar at the hairline if you look close enough. Most of the time, the scars are well hidden and are difficult to pick up. There is also an option to take the extra scalp (from the surgery itself) and use the hairs for a limited hair transplant surgery in front of the scar. This will maximize the aesthetic value of the surgery and softens the hairline.

This sort of procedure is more commonly seen in women (that don’t have that same risk of MPB that men have), but with respect to hairline lowering surgery in men, we must first establish that there is no risk of male pattern hair loss or hair recession.

You can find more on Dr. Aharonov’s site here.

Posted on

In the News – Weighing Benefits and Side Effects of Medication – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

It’s getting harder for me to deny that I’ve reached middle age, and the most obvious sign is that the men in my life are losing their hair. Many men struggle to come to terms with hair loss and yearn for a way to turn back the clock. Although I’m no expert on the subject, I’ve suggested they look into Propecia, a medication used to treat male pattern hair loss.

Invariably, they’re intrigued. It works by preventing testosterone from turning into another hormone that causes hair loss. Over five years, the majority of men who take the drug report that their hair loss slows, their bald spot gets smaller and the appearance of their hair improves. However, the threat of drug-related side effects such as impotence, male breast cancer and perhaps prostate cancer has caused many of my friends to seriously reconsider the importance of a full head of hair.

Block Quote

Read the rest at the LA Times — So what’s the risk of taking that medication?

You should always weigh the risk vs reward for any medication, and this article touches on Propecia side effect risks. The bigger message in this piece is how oftentimes people will give more weight to the negative than the positive. Regardless, the FDA is looking into ways to make drug information easier for the consumer to understand so you can make the choice that is best for you.

Posted on

Vimax and Finasteride – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello!
I’m a 19 year old male and I’ve been on finasteride for about 9 months. I was born with a hairline that has fairly deep corners, so my doctor put me on fin to halt any farther loss. My question is regarding side effects. I’ve experienced a decrease in libido, so I have started taking Vimax. This is an all natural supplement. My question is if the Vimax will counteract the fin since it raises testosterone.

Thanks for your help!

Block Quote

My stance of supplements has always been “buyer beware”. If it works for you then, that’s great. But this Vimax pill claims to make your penis longer, which already makes me think anything it claims is bogus. I wouldn’t be concerned, but with respect to prescription drugs (finasteride/ Propecia) and side effects, I would discuss your issues with the doctor who prescribed you the medication.

Posted on

Should I Worry About Shock Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I want to have a hair transplant, but i read about the “Shock Loss” I read that i will have to wait 10 days post-op to be able to have a normal shower/to clean my hair normally. That 10 days it takes to the grafts to be held to the scalp. So in the first normal post-op if I have native hair besides to transplanted hair i will have shock loss because the native hair will not be normal clean, because the needles, because the perforations in the scalp.

My question is if i have a shock loss in normal hair, it will grow back again???? Do I have to be worry???

Block Quote

Shock loss is unusual in men that are taking finasteride (Propecia) prior to the hair transplant, as it minimizes the risk. If you lose your normal hair, it may grow back, but likely it will be miniaturized.. A good doctor can ascertain this on an examination of your scalp.

I’ve written much about shock loss before, and some links to past posts can be found here, here, and here.

Posted on

Transplanting Beard Hair to the Scalp? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello doctor

What do you think about transplanting beard hair to the scalp ?

a ) Does it worth the cost ? Is it a measure of last resort or a reasonable addition to achieve better coverage and thickness ?
b ) How many hair can you get from a beard to transplant ?
c )Is there a significant risk of little dot scars to the face ?
d ) Is it true that although beard grafts are mostly single haired , those hairs are 3 – 4 times thicker than scalp hair ?

Appreciate your time

Block Quote

At NHI, we do not perform beard hair transplants to the scalp unless the donor supply is depleted. We therefore do not endorse this treatment. Another way to put it is, we do not recommend surgery that we would not want done on ourselves. I realize there are other doctors and clinics that advertise and transplant beard hair to the scalp, but results we have seen have been mixed (some good, some bad).

You must remember beard hair texture and growth is completely different than scalp hair, so there is a potential for mismatch. There is also a chance of some sort of scarring to the face. ALL surgery or cut on the skin will produce some form of a scar. Even the best FUE will produce a scar if you look close enough. Most people will never see the FUE scars, because they’re in the back of the scalp, but FUE to the face and beard area will stand out if you shave.

The cost of the surgery and its benefits are something only you can assess based on your expectations. The number of hairs and the quality of beard hair is dependent on your beard hair characteristics. Everyone is different and there is no universal answer.

Posted on

I’m Taking Finasteride for Hair Loss and Dutasteride for Prostate – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr.

I am on finasteride for hair loss and dutasteride for my prostate. Is their potential risk or benefits from combining the two since they are similar compounds. I am also on TRT hence the prostate growth prevention.

Thank you

Block Quote

I would ask this question to your prescribing doctor. I do not know your complete medical history or your issues. If you are being prescribed finasteride (Propecia) from one doctor and dutasteride (Avodart) from another doctor, you need to tell each doctor your complete medical history and ALL the medications that you are taking.

In general, taking these medications should be fine. If you are on dutasteride daily, the finasteride may be unnecessary.

Posted on

My Hair is Very Thin On One Side – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

When I wake up – I look in the mirror and it’s obvious that my hair is much thinner on one side of my head. I can create a big parting on this side because the hair is so thin and can’t do so if I try on the other side. I’m 27 and have slightly receded temples and the temple recession is slightly worse on this side but I don’t understand why it’s thin all the way to the back of my head on this side?

Is this common with male pattern baldness? My dad is bald but I have been quite stressed over the last year and don’t want to take propecia if it’s something other than MPB.

Thanks.

Block Quote

It is common to see more thinning on one side in cases of genetic male pattern baldness (MPB), but rest assured that the other side generally catches up. I do not know if you have MPB, but if you believe you are losing hair you should see a doctor and get a diagnosis.

Posted on

Hair Loss InformationRepairing Old Plugs Placed Too Low at the Hairline (with Photos) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

To many people that aren’t familiar with the advances made in hair restoration, “hair plugs” are still the norm. There’s nothing pluggy looking about today’s hair transplant procedures, but those bulky hair plugs of yesteryear were easy to point out and looked incredibly unnatural. I saw a patient that had an unusual placement of these old plugs and was looking to correct it.

This patient first came in about a year and a half ago with a large bald area and old-style transplant plugs that were placed far too low on the right side of his hairline. I suggested that he fill in the frontal area, and he also wanted additional grafts placed into his balding crown. A total of 1919 grafts were transplanted.

You’ll notice that the achieved result shown below is an uneven, but fuller looking hairline (we were limited to what could be done because of the placement of his old plugs). He recently came in to see me again lower the frontal hairline and I agreed to lower the left side a little to balance it out. I remembered how much he hated the plugs on his right side when we first met, and now we succeeded in managing the plugs with styling and camouflage. While that 2nd procedure hasn’t happened yet to even out the hairline, I’m glad he was so happy with the results thus far from the repair and he’s allowed me to share the photos here.

Before photo on left / After photo on right. Click to enlarge.