Month: April 2013

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Are There Foods to Delay Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Doctors, great blog here! The myths/ facts regarding hair fall and its treatments keep increasing. Are there any foods or protein out there that help growth, or nourish roots, or delay hair fall? Or is it simple genetics and hair will recede/ fall whatever one may do?!!

Thanks for the information.

Regards

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There may be foods that add to the genetic elements that produce hair loss, but these foods have never been identified scientifically. Many people make claims both good and bad (just as you pointed out), but you should not blindly trust what you hear.

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Hair Loss InformationShould I Avoid Green Tea and Protein for 2 Weeks After My FUE Procedure? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr. Rassman.

I and other readers would be thankful if you could tell us a little about some of these basic points –

1. I was told to avoid green tea because it has anti-oxidants for 2 weeks after my FUE transplant. Do antioxidants hinder with growth of new implanted grafts?
2. I was also told to avoid protein and vitamin supplements for 2 weeks for the same reason as above. Is that right?
3. I am spraying saline solution on my implanted area every hour for a week. Told to wash only after 1 week. What exactly does saline do?
4. Finally, do Soya milk/ foods really block DHT that affects male pattern baldness?

Thanks a lot, and keep up the good work!

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I would add that you should not go outside during the day after your surgery due to antioxidant effects from the sun. Also not driving your car for the first year after the surgery due to the risk of car accidents, which can cause great stress. Perhaps meditating for an hour a day in a downward dog position can also promote hair growth and circulation to the scalp. I’m being sarcastic, of course.

Where do you get this information? Did your doctor tell you this? Always follow the post-operative instructions given to you by your doctor. If these are truly basic points, you should not have to worry because your discharge information should have them.

In the spirit of BaldingBlog being a source of education for general hair loss issues, I would add that green tea, protein, vitamins, and soy milk have nothing to do with a hair transplant surgery or treating genetic male pattern baldness. If you believe what you read online, it is your prerogative to not drink green tea, etc. Otherwise, in matters of personal health and YOUR surgery, it is best to ask your doctor face to face.

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Hair Loss InformationCan Someone Get a Strip Scar to Be Completely Invisible? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doc,

I have a question about FUT scar. I have heard so much about scar repair and removal, so I was just wondering why don’t people just get an FUT from a good surgeon and eventually (Once they feel they need no more surgeries and have effectively treated their hairloss via surgery) get the scar removed?? instead of having the many dots of FUE?

Basically my question is it is possible to get the scar removed or made invisible completely (by putting fue grafts in it or some other technique like SMP) for the majority of people??….so that they can shave their head if they wanted later without indication of surgery ..??

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There is no such thing as scar-less surgery, no matter how skillful a doctor may be. Even FUE surgery can leave significant scarring that look like thousands of whitish dots. The key point is any cut on the skin will leave a mark and each person heals differently.

In other words, it is not solely about the surgeon or a technique used. It is just as equally the individual patient’s body and the way it heals/scars.

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I’m Worried That My Fine Hair Will Make a Mature Hairline Look Worse Than It Is – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

(male, early 20s)

Would you agree that it is men with finer hair that lose out when their hairlines mature? I was used to having a very low, straight hairline which really gave a youthful appearance up until I was about 19/20, and even then it still hasn’t risen much on the right hand side. For a man with fine hair it was easier to accomplish a ‘thicker’ look with that kind of hairline (for example a hairstyle like Jensen Ackles). I am worried this look will disappear completely if and when my hairline completely matures. It seems as though, for people with fine hair, mature hairline can look like perpetual recession without actually going bald.

Conversely, men with thicker, coarser (often straighter) hair seem to look great with the rounded corners, as they still can achieve that thicker, bouncier look whilst also appearing more mature due to the raised temples/more prominent forehead.

Given this, I would seriously consider some form of juvenile hairline restoration some time down the line if I was confident I wouldn’t go bald straight after.

Thank you!

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I can not really answer your questions well without being able to examine you. I have fine hair and a perfectly normal mature hairline, so using me as an example, that fine hair works well for many people without causing hair loss. That is, unless you either have genetic balding present or abuse your hair during the styling process.

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2 Weeks After My 2800+ Graft Surgery, I Had Massive Shock Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hi, two weeks after a surgery with dr. rahal of 2846 grafts (888 1 hair, 1526 2-hairs, 429 3-hairs, and 3 4-hairs), i experienced a massive shock loss. it has been one month post surgery and i am very worried about even going to my original look, which at this point i would be happy with. i only take minoxidil, because of the side effects of finasteride.

do you see a lot of this shock loss from the pics as being temporary, because although i am thinning, i am not an entirely diffuse thinner, but lost everything. at this point would total of the 5239 hairs even be enough to fill in what i have lost? i should also note that the hairs that are remaining are ones from a previous surgery with ziering that was supposed to be around 2300 grafts, but i am not even entirely sure about his work.

thank you so much for your help and suggestions, greatly appreciated!

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It is difficult to make many comments about your exact situation, because the before picture and the change in your hair length are confusing your situation. I will assume that you are young (under 30 years old). Were you afraid of possible side effects from finasteride, or did you actually experience them? Shock loss is common in young men after a hair transplant, unless the young man is protected with Propecia (finasteride). Prior to the appearance of this drug on the market, shock loss was a common problem for hair transplant surgeons. Since the use of finasteride, this type of report is relatively uncommon.

Shock loss usually appears in the first three months after a surgery, when it happens. I do not believe that the size (# of grafts) is related to the shock loss, as a hair transplant of any size can do it. Shock loss reflects your genetic timelines and often accelerates the timelines 1-3 years.

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Hair Loss InformationI Had a High Fever For a Month, Then Started Losing My Hair a Few Months Later – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Between 29/12/12 to 13/01/13, I experienced high fevers ranging around 105f/40degC.

During this period I consumed large amounts of ibuprofen and panadol(paracetamol) to bring down the temperature. On average, it was 4000mg of paracetamol and 4000mg of ibuprofen.

It was only about 2 weeks ago that I have suffered severe hair loss. Hair came out in the bunches whenever I combed my hair, and it would easily clog up the drain in the shower. What used to be one week’s worth of hair loss was now one day’s worth of hair loss. My hair is thinning and parts of my scalp are visible.

I have tried changing shampoos and eating chinese medicine. There are visible effects on the appearance of my hair (darker, shinier, less frizzy) but the hair loss still continues. I am a 22 year old female. Should I consult a doctor? Or should I wait it out?

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Severe illness with fever as you described is known to cause hair loss, more so in women than men, though both sexes can be impacted. You should always see a doctor about your hair loss, particularly in your case because it is ongoing. If your hair will return, you should see it within a year of the illness. It could be permanent.

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Hair Loss InformationWhat Would SMP Cost for Just at the Frontal Hairline? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello, I want to find out the price of SMP only on the front of the head. And could you tell us about your location please? Thanks

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The cost of Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) varies, and we generally do NOT perform SMP only to the front of the head (e.g. first inch) because it may not look uniform and blend in with the top. Since SMP is permanent, you would need to see a doctor for a history and examination to plan out a Master Plan for possible future hair loss. We’re located in Los Angeles if you’d like to have a consultation.

What is critically important to us is that our patients understand the impact of the things we do as it fits into their aging process. The fact that you would inquire about SMP to just the frontal hairline is a possible red flag to me that you may not understand the long term consequence of SMP. In other words, what will you do if you lose all your hair on the front or top a few years from now? How will that look? Are you prepared for more SMP or even surgery? Even if you are, I generally do NOT recommend partial or temporary fixes at my practice.

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I’ve Used Propecia for a Decade, But Should I Be Worried About Breast Cancer Risks? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi. I am using Propecia 1mg for around 10 years now with good results (no hair loss) and no adverse effects (e.g. less sex drive). Lately I read a report that says there is a slight risk of Male Breast Cancer in people using Finasteride. I understand that only 3 (inconclusive) breast cancer cases worldwide have been reported using Finasteride 1mg. I have read that your opinion is that there is no risk from from using Finasteride 1mg in terms of Male Breast cancer. Is this correct? If you were in my shoes would you continue the usage of Propecia, without any concern? Thanks a lot.

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There is no evidence of breast cancer from the use of Propecia, as far as I am aware. The reports are not clear and inconclusive of a direct correlation. If you are worried about your risk, it is best discussed with your doctor where he/she can assess your family and past medical history, as well provide a good physical exam to give you a professional opinion.

The Internet is a great source of information, but it can be very confusing with a sea of equal misinformation and facts taken out of context.

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Not Hair Loss News – Personalized PSA Testing Could Reduce Biopsies – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

Genetic variants have been identified which can increase serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentrations and prostate cancer risk. A new study published in The Journal of Urology® reports that correcting PSA levels for these genetic variants can have significant consequences, including avoiding unnecessary biopsies for some men and eliminating false complacency for others.

In this study of 964 healthy Caucasian men, correcting individual PSA levels for these genetic variants led to an 18.3 percent reduction in the number of men who initially had a measured serum PSA above the biopsy criteria, but whose adjusted PSA fell below the cutoff value. The latter group would have likely undergone what would have been an unnecessary biopsy. Conversely, genetic correction led to PSA levels moving from below threshold to above threshold for 3.4 percent of the men, thus sending out an alert for further investigation.

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Read the rest — Personalizing Prostate Specific Antigen Testing May Improve Specificity, Reduce Biopsies