Month: December 2013

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Hair Loss InformationIn the News – Australian Hair Transplant Clinic May Have Given Patients HIV – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

Health authorities in Sydney are investigating whether patients of a hair replacement clinic have contracted hepatitis or HIV.

The Health Department says there’s evidence the clinic wasn’t properly sterilising equipment. But they haven’t been able to contact former patients because the department believes records have been stolen.

The Health Department says the risk of infection is low but numbers involved could be in the hundreds.

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Read the rest — Hair replacement clinic may have given patients hepatitis or HIV

They are issuing alerts to patients of Dr Angela Campbell’s clinic that would have had a hair transplant between December 2010 and February 2013. The patient records went missing, so they don’t have any way of finding the patients to inform them.

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Hair Loss InformationI Just Had a Transplant to the Front and Temples – Can I Use Minoxidil On the Crown? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I had a hair transplant five days ago, at the frontal area and the temples. But even though the problem there is -in theory- solved for now, my vertex area is starting to thin as well, but it wasnt so bad as to need an HT yet. So Im asking you can I use minoxidil at the crown, given that the new grafts on the front & temples are still healing? Is it going to affect them at all? I don’t want to let the vertex thing turn big while Im waiting for the transplanted hairs to grow.

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I don’t quite understand why you didn’t ask your surgeon when you had face-to-face access just days ago. Even after the surgery, he/she is still your doctor and will be able to provide you with a better (personalized) answer. Don’t be afraid to contact your surgeon for questions about aftercare!

In general, we advise surgical patients not to use any products, including minoxidil, for a few days or weeks (it depends on the surgery). Even if your surgery was limited to the front, you run the risk of accidentally getting the minoxidil in the transplanted area. Your surgeon might have specific directions, so I would follow-up with them to find your answer.

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Hair Loss InformationQuestions About NHI’s Surgical Technicians – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr Rassman

Do all NHI’s surgical technicians have valid, unrevoked, or unsuspended certificates/licenses?

Do they place the grafts in the receptor sites during HT surgery? And if they do, is the surgeon in the room all the time with his HT patient, supervising that process of grafts transplant?

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Yes, NHI surgical technicians are highly trained and operate under the license of Drs. Pak and Rassman. There is no certificate or license in this field other than general medical assistance training.

The technicians do place the grafts. More importantly, all of our technicians receive specialized training at NHI and are supervised.

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Hair Loss InformationI’ve Been Losing Hair After I Bumped My Head – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

About 6 months ago, I was leaving my fiance’s house and hit the left side of my head really hard on the low overhang of her front door. I didnt think anything of it at the time because there was no redness, swelling or cuts, bruises, etc. A few weeks later, I was taking a shower at work and when I got out I looked in the mirror and my hair appeared dented in on that side of my head, almost a lopsided look.

As time went on, I started to get a burning, tingling sensation on that side of my head that spread to the back of my head as well. My hair started thinning on the whole left side of my head, even in the very back of my head. I still experience burning sensations on that side to this day and my hair hasnt gone back to the way it was.

Just last week, I was folding clothes in my spare bedroom and hit the middle right side of my head on a low light fixture and now I am experiencing the same sensations on that side and it really scares me! I am gonna lose all of my hair because I barely bumped my head on something?? I mean, really? Im very frustrated and have been online looking for answers. The only thing I can find is that it is maybe Telogen Effluvium, Scarring Alopecia, or Burning scalp Syndrome. I really dont know. I have an appt with a dermatologist in 2 weeks but would like an opinion from someone on here if possible. Thanks.

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Some people might see some hair loss after a local trauma to the scalp, but I can’t explain how bumping your head would cause hair loss weeks or even months later, nor can I guess as to why you’re experiencing burning and tingling that is spreading. I am curious to know what your dermatologist comes up with.

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Hair Loss InformationMy FUE Grafts Were Placed at a Weird Angle – Can This Be Corrected? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi doctor.

I have had two sessions of FUE hair transplant to my hairline and frontal with two different doctors in Europe, the first one of 1000 grafts in 2003, and last year additional 1000 grafts, total of 2000 grafts.

As I was still losing my hair, I wanted more density to my hairline and beyond it and close the angles which was left open. This procedure and doctor completely ruined my appearance by adding many large grafts in the hairline and just filling in the already straight hairline instead of making it irregular with single grafts. The two other main things that went wrong was the angle the grafts was set in, on one side of the hairline he inserted the grafts to follow the existing hair and this side I am happy with today. On the other side he did something that I still today dont understand, he must had a total blackout of some kind, he placed the new grafts pointing to my temple crossing my existing hair from the first procedure growing slightly back.

That makes my hair on this side problematic to shape as it is like a nest where the hairs are growing in all different angles, which leaves the hairline look unnatural and this side very strange in all.

My questions are:

– Is this a lack of skill from the doctor to place the insertions in this wrong and unnatural angle on this side?
– How to correct this in the best and easiest way?
– How to correct the multiple grafts in and the beyond the hairline?
– Should he do the repair for free or pay my money back so i can go to a professional doctor to correct me?

My doctor is only thinking about money and not his reputation by telling me that the result is natural and that I should be happy with my results. In my opinion he doesnt have the skills for this kind of work because its so big mistakes done by him.

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The hair transplant surgeon has full control on the angle and direction of transplanted hair. If it was placed in an odd angle or direction (that does not look natural), it was due to the surgeon’s mistake. Unfortunately, you cannot correct the wrong angle or direction of hair after it has been transplanted. You can possibly have some repair work, but it will never solve your problem 100% and it will likely be very costly.

If you believe you had bad work and do not trust your doctor, why would you go back to the same surgeon?

Before you do anything, you should consider seeing another doctor for a second opinion to confirm if what you are describing is actually true. I do not know you or your doctor and I really cannot judge if your transplant was a failure. I am just going by your word.

Finally, this type of situation is the very reason why you need to choose a competent and skilled doctor. Not all hair transplant surgery is the same.

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Copper Peptides For My Itchy Transplant Scar? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I used minoxidil with no alcohol. Have had 3 transplants with a scar revision. My scalp periodically itches with dry skin flaking off. The scar line also itches at times. I typically use copper peptide solutions. You briefly commented once they can reduce redness after a surgery, but I do get a soothing effect if I apply the product to help the itching

1. Have your thoughts changed at all on copper peptides?
2. Do you they promote hair growth versus some soothing scalp effect?

Thanks Doc

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1. In my practice, I use a copper peptide shampoo for the first week as an option for hair transplant patients. My practice and thoughts on copper peptides is not new or different.

2. It does not promote hair growth nor does it provide much soothing effect on itchy scalp. I do know that minoxidil can cause scalp irritation (even without any alcohol).

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Hair Loss InformationI Have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupis – And They’re Taking Their Toll on My Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have always had very thick and long hair. However 15 years ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and 4 years ago with Lupus. The medications, rashes and the progression of the diseases has taken their toll on my body and my hair. Each time I comb my hair it sheds heavily. I try to limit the amount of heat I put into my hair, and my beautician deep conditions it every two weeks as well as lengthening the time between relaxers. Last visit, we discussed a small amount of weave to thicken it up because you can now see scalp.

I already see a Dermatologist for Lupus related skin problems. It seems when she corrects a skin problem, my hair benefits. However, when the skin problems reoccur so do the hair problems. Do you have any suggestions to help make my hair stronger?

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I really can’t offer much help here. In general, if you treat the cause of hair loss, such as your lupis and RA, the hair will grow back. Treating the underlying condition will treat the hair loss.

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Hair Loss InformationInflamed Follicles? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello
I have a receding hairline with some pitted scarring and mild redness. My derm did a scalp biopsy. He said I have inflamed follicles and put me on antibiotics (minocycline). He said my hair loss isnt age related but I’m not so sure as I have what appears to be classic MPB. Have you heard of inflamed follicles causing a receding hairline and if so am I right to rely on the antibiotics and not use propecia?

Thank you for your help

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If you want a second opinion, you need to see another doctor. This site is not a place for a second opinion.

If you were diagnosed with a infection, then an antibiotic seem to be a logical treatment. If you were diagnosed with genetic male pattern baldness (MPB), then it is a different story. Your doctor would be able to make that determination upon an examination of your scalp and hair.

Had you been diagnosed with MPB, then Propecia would be a good treatment to have a prescription for… but if you don’t have MPB, then Propecia isn’t going to help you. I don’t know enough information about you to provide much more. It is worth noting that genetic MPB is not an infectious process that causes inflamed follicles or scarring.

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Hair Loss InformationShould I Apply Minoxidil After a Hot Shower? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

1- is it good to use minoxidil after my scalp pores are opened by steam (should I use it after I take a hot shower)?

2- what is the best thing I could do to make minoxidil work faster and more effective?

thanks

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1. In my opinion, hot showers or steam do not matter as long as you use the minoxidil as directed (twice a day).

2. The best thing to make a medication work is to use it as directed. One small study suggested that using a microneedling instrument before applying minoxidil did help some men see greater results, but I don’t have much direct experience with this method. You can read more about that study here.

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Hair Loss InformationDepending on How I Brush My Hair, It Looks Like a Juvenile Hairline – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello, I was just wondering something. If I blow dry or brush all my hair back, my hairline looks very straight, like a juvenile hairline. But as I’m actually in the motion of brushing it back, the brush pushes the corners and temples back, which looks like the hairline is moving back at the corners. Is this normal when you brush your hair back? As I say, when it’s all back and left alone, it looks very straight.

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Well, I would think that is why most people wake up in the morning and use their comb, brush, and any products to style their hair to make it look its best. There are certain haircuts or hair styles that will make you look thinner.