Day: January 1, 2023

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Treating Norwood “A” Patterns

Hi Dr Rassman,
my question is the following : How often do you see people with Norwood “A”-pattern hair loss that reach Norwood 7 (or 6) AND how difficult is a 5a pattern to treat with transplants (can they get full coverage). Seeing that you now offer SMP. Because I’m a Norwood 5a patient who recently had a FUE hair transplant with Dr. Pak in your Los Angeles office it’s was about 1,200 grafts and I have to tell you it was the best decision that I’ve could’ve made!! I’m thinking of having another FUE procedure, so I was thinking of having the FUE & SMP done together to get more density.

I would really appreciated if you could let me know what you think about my question.

Thanks for everything you do and keeping us informed. Oh and 1 million thanks for a great job and keeping up the great work!!!

I am pleased that you are pleased with Dr. Pak’s work!

The Class 5A pattern does not evolve into a Class 6 or 7 pattern. The original chart by Dr. O’Tar Norwood showed that the patterns defined in the diagrams are the end stage, particularly the “A” series. I like to work on the “A” pattern patients, because there is usually enough hair to give them whatever they want (that is, unless their original density is very low).

Scalp micro-pigmentation (SMP) with follicular unit extraction (FUE) is a great combination treatment where you can achieve the dense look with SMP and a natural real hair line in the front with the FUE.

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Treating Hair Loss with Rejuvenating Oil (Includes Olive, Sesame, and Peanut Oils)

Hello Dr.
I am 21 years old and i have been using Rogain and Propecia for a long time( about a year). Unfortunately I have not had a positive result from these medicines. I lost hair since I was 15. I am norwood 1 or 2. I have heard about an oil called Rejuvenating Oil including oils from plants such as:

Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Arachis Hypogaea (Peanut) Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Juglans Regia (Walnut) Seed Oil, BHT, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Gardenia Florida Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil, and also chemicals such as: Chlorphenesin, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral, Citronellol, Coumarin, Eugenol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Isoeugenol, Limonene, Linalool

Are these oils really helpful ?

Olive oilNo, the oils probably do not help with your hair loss. Of course, you’re welcome to try the product out for yourself, but I don’t see anything in that list that will cause your hair to regrow.

My question to you is why did you use Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride) when you classify yourself as a Norwood 1? Plus, I’m not sure what you’re looking for as far as results that have lead you to believe there was no positive result. Are you expecting complete regrowth, or do you know that just seeing the hair loss halt is also considered a positive benefit? As you can see, after reading your email I’m left with more questions than answers. There is something wrong with your logic, and unfortunately without an exam and better medical history, there isn’t much I can offer you.

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Treating DUPA with Dutasteride?

has there ever been a case in which somebody with DUPA (Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia) has responded to dutasteride after trying propecia (finasteride)?

I have very little experience with Avodart (dutasteride), but I have seen some patients with Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) respond somewhat to finasteride. In theory, dutasteride should be better than finasteride, but clearly the side effects are substantial with dutasteride (decreased sperm count, impotence, decreased libido). Unfortunately, we do not know a great deal about DUPA and what causes it.


2008-05-29 09:41:24Treating DUPA with Dutasteride?

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Treating Alopecia with Acupuncture

hi dr. rassman! i came across your website and i found it to be very helpful. im a 14 year old girl and about a month ago i was made aware of a bald patch at the crown of my head about the size of a 10p.a few days ago,i noticed that it had grown to about 2inches by half an inch. this is the only patch that i am aware of. im only 14 and i am sooo soo depressed about it and am constantly crying about my hairloss. ive been to see several doctors and i know there is no cure accounted for. today i went to a chinese health practice and went for a consultation with a chinese doctor, i was asked many questions about my diet and health and then acupuncture was suggested to me. i was very shocked and scared but went ahead with the acupuncture session there and then. and i was given a selection of herbal remedies to help with the alopecia also. what i would like to know is, how effective is acupuncture for the treatment of alopecia as i am extremely confused and scared as whether or not go ahead with regular acupunture. i am absolutely terrified of needles and i know i will be crying the whole way through, but if there is that possibility of my hair growing back again, i would definitly go ahead with the treatment. please please give me any advice you can im very scared that i will lose more hair and im confused as to what to do about it! please help im desperate

Acupunture should not help hair loss. Patches of hair loss are often caused by alopecia areata and this should be one of the diagnoses to consider. It sounds like you need a competent medical doctor to examine your case. It is impossible for me to make the diagnosis without seeing you, but if you send me digital photos to the address on the Contact page, I might be able to make a suggestion in the differential diagnosis.


2005-12-28 14:04:00Treating Alopecia with Acupuncture

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I Was Treated For Tuberculosis and Now I Have Sudden Hair Loss

I am a 22 year old man.i underwent treatment for tuberculosis for2 year but now iam ok.the problem is now i have sudden hair loss with circular type.

Hair loss for men in general is caused by genetic factors. In other instances illness or medical conditions which cause stress to the body or adverse effects from medication can also be responsible for hair loss.

Treatment for tuberculosis (TB) sometimes can mean you tested positive and were once exposed to tuberculosis and doctors gave you a long course of antibiotic. It does not always mean you have an active tuberculosis infection. Either way, you were treated and it should not impact the hair especially after two years. Even the medication you took for TB should not be a factor after two years.

The best advice is for you to see a doctor for an examination. Circular type of hair loss (patchy circles) can also mean you may have a condition known as alopecia areata (AA). AA is not related to TB.

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Treat a Norwood 7 with Scalp and Body Hair Transplants?

Is it possible to treat a Norwood 7 (not a head full of hair but a decent result) using Hair Transplant + Body Hair Transplant?

Thank you!

At NHI, we do not recommend body hair transplants (BHT), as the results are highly variable and unpredictable.

We do have patients in our Photo Galleries that were Norwood 7 and had great hair transplant results from using scalp hair, but I must point out to the readers curious about hair restoration that every patient is different and the fullness will never be over the entire scalp. It’s about creating the illusion of a full head of hair by using the available donor hair efficiently. You just need to have a clear understanding of what “decent” result you are expecting.

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Traveling to the United States to See Dr Rassman

Hello Dr. Rassman, I’m a 22 years old living in Brazil and I have been balding since I was 15 (right now norwood class 3). I’m thinking about going to a hair doctor to start taking propecia and maybe even do some kind of hair transplant, but I would like to go to a doctor as good as you. Do you usually do transplants in people around my age? I would love to see some photos.

I was also thinking about travelling to the US next year and have a consultation with you. How should foreigners proceed?

Thank you very much!

TravelTo start, you can send me photographs to the email address on the Contact page. Since there is the obvious distance between Brazil and my office in Los Angeles, the internet will be the easiest communication tool (specifically, email) so that it can be determined if you’re even a candidate. We can also setup a phone consultation, if you’d like to go that route.

I do not have any hard rule on what age I will consider a hair transplant, but generally I like my patients to be at least 25 years old. I have, however, transplanted men of your age when the hair loss pattern is fully defined and maturity is there.

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Traveling to Thailand for Hair Cloning

Hi, just curious what your thoughts are on traveling to foreign countries for hair cloning? I understand radical developments have been made in places like Thailand and I’m interested if you have any experience with this. Much thanks in advance.

With all due respect for Thailand and other foreign countries, do you really think that if hair cloning has been successful it would have escaped the research and popular media of the United States?

What I’m getting at is this — just because you see it advertised in Thailand, it doesn’t mean it’s real. Hair cloning doesn’t yet exist in the way that you’re likely hoping.

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Travel to California Is Too Expensive to See You!

Dear Dr Rassman,

I have read with huge interest your blog/articles and links. I have a hair-loss problem and live in the UK. I am convinced that your clinic and FUE techniques are the best solution to my problem. I believe I would score as a type 6 pattern and accordingly may need more than one session. Being based in UK and having to travel to California several times would make it cost-prohibitive for me, I believe even with your 5% travel discounts.

Most of the UK surgeons in this field seem to me to be much less experienced and professional with only a few of them offering FUE.

Do you have colleagues on the East Coast of the US and/or clinics you could recommend in eg. Florida where inexpensive flights from UK are frequent these days.

Kind regards

You may want to consult with Dr. Robert Bernstein in New York.


2006-06-02 07:06:55Travel to California Is Too Expensive to See You!