A graft calculator (there are many) doesn’t take into account such things as hair mass index, a critical element for determining how many grafts one needs for a given bald area. To make my point clearer, image a fine hair (equal of a 1 by 1 piece of wood) or a 4 by 4 piece of wood). The 4 by 4 would have four times the mass of the 1 by 1. Then assume that the analogy is that a 1 by 1 is equal of a fine hair, but a 4 by 4 is equal to a coarse hair. The number of hairs (or grafts which contain hair) required will be significantly different so it is not just a number calculation as these Graft Calculators show. Then there is the ‘ART’ that allows an experienced surgeon to blend the numbers and the hair mass of the hairs and grafts into a plan. At the time this plan is built, the surgeon must take into account the donor supply (is it high or low). High density people with coarse her can do more to cover their balding area than fine hair low density people. To make maters even more complicated, imagine that you continue to bald even after the hair transplant. Most people are somewhere in-between low and high densities and that is why an experienced hair transplant surgeon is critical to the entire process. I am not easily replaced by a calculator.
What Do You Recommend for the Frontal Hairline?
What do you recomend for the front Line. I am on Propecia and Roggain right now. Will those medications help me?
If you are genetically balding, then Propecia (finasteride 1mg) should work to slow down or stop the hair loss, even in the frontal hairline. It depends upon where you are with your balding pattern. You should get your hair mapped out for miniaturization, which will show where you hair loss may be going. Once you know where your hair loss is going, then you can make decisions about Rogaine or Propecia (or both). They both have value, but a doctor needs to tell you the value and what to expect.
2007-02-23 10:35:592007-02-22 15:03:35What Do You Recommend for the Frontal Hairline?
What Do You Know About PRP Treatment For Hair Loss?
Just heard about platelet rich therapy for hair loss. When I “Googled” it, there was a lot of information. However, was wondering what you know of this treatment and if it does work for hair loss? They also say it’s good for wrinkles.
Many doctors offer PRP for hair loss. There are many research articles written about PRP treatment for hair loss. Just because there are scientific articles suggesting it may work does not mean it does work. However, PRP treatment is becoming more mainstream as more doctors offer it. It is basically a portion of your own blood separated and re-injected back to your body. PRP is being touted as the next miracle cure for all ailments from wrinkles to hair loss to joint pain. It is basically safe and likely not harmful.
PRP has been offered at our clinic in Seoul Korea for 2 years with equivocal results with respect to hair growth. As long as the consumers are well informed and realize it is not a “cure”, my opinion in PRP remains equivocal. We may start offering PRP in our Los Angeles office for those patients that want it. With time and good follow-up, those patients who want it can judge for themselves.
What do I do with my Strip Transplant Scar?
I’m four months postop and I’ll be honest I was a little embarrassed to get a haircut because of the scar but now I’m just embracing it. I’d rather have a visible star in the back of my head then no hair on top.
The scar can be concealed with SMP or just let your hair grow out a bit more. I agreed with your comment as most of my patients feel the same way as you do about getting their hair back. Strip Hair Transplants or FUE all have their cosmetic costs so there is no free ride if you want to get your hair back. For those of you who are going to make a decision to get a hair transplant, be sure to speak with your surgeon about the down sides of FUE and Strip surgery before making a decision for a hair transplant.
What do I do about my balding?
From this single photo, I don’t think that you are balding. Your hairline is a V-shape, typical of a mature male hairline. The fact that you have a widow’s peak indicates the location of your juvenile hairline at the tip of the widow’s peak. What you have drawn is a female-shaped hairline. Get an expert to do the hairline for you. If you are planning a hair transplant, then you will have to live with this hairline for the rest of your life. Really want to do this?
[If you have any questions, you can reach me at williamrassman33@gmail.com]
What Do Fewer Grafts Look Like If You Can’t Afford More? (with Photos)
I am what you call a Class 7 pattern with black hair. I am 55 years old and I dye my hair black. I know that if I came to see you, you would want to do thousands of grafts, but I am a bus driver and just would not be able to afford a large transplant. I might save up enough for a second surgery, but I would want to enjoy the hair while I am still young. I just got a divorce and want to start dating so my bald head really bothers me.
I am going to show you a Class 7 patient who is about your age with just about the same problem you had. Although I would have recommended 3,000 grafts because of the large balding area, I gave this man 1677 grafts instead. Here are photos of his before and after (1 year) results. Click to enlarge.
He has a frame for his face and uses a ‘comb-back’ to cover the area which was not transplanted. After a year, it almost covers the entire bald area. Many doctors are reluctant to perform smaller sessions on people like you, but with a good artistic feel, the doctor should and can produce an acceptable result in one session (in most circumstances) with a thin look (as if he is losing his hair). It is important for prospective patients to be aware of these results. They can help by not dying the hair black and keeping it either salt and pepper or white, or even go sandy blonde, as it will always look fuller.
Please also note the scar on this man. We used a trichophytic closure of his wound with exceptional results, but as I have said before, the wounds are a reflection of not just the surgeon’s skills and the techniques used, but also the healing ability of the patient. Scar photo below. Click to enlarge.
2007-06-08 15:36:032007-06-09 12:10:22What Do Fewer Grafts Look Like If You Can’t Afford More? (with Photos)
What Difference Is There Between Generic Fin and Branded Fin?
The FDA, if it cleared the genetic, believes that there is no difference by law. But sometimes I believe that there is a difference as reported by patients to me. This means that the FDA is not controlling it as it should.
2020-06-24 04:00:492020-06-24 08:29:12What Difference Is There Between Generic Fin and Branded Fin?
What Could This Growing Bald Spot in My Facial Hair Be?
About 3 months ago I found one little spot on my chin which was bald. I asked my dermatologist about it and he told me that hair will grow there by 2 to 3 months. But the spot is now increasing its area and it looks very odd. Also I don’t have any sign of fungal/bacterial growth in that area. Can you give me some idea of what it could be? Disease? Allergy?
Without seeing you, it would be a complete guess. Alopecia areata is a possibility if there is no fungal infection present, such as ring worm. If your dermatologist was dismissive, you can try seeing another dermatologist.
2013-06-21 09:03:562013-06-19 12:38:03What Could This Growing Bald Spot in My Facial Hair Be?
What constitutes a natural hairline?
A natural hairline is one where someone never comes up to you and says “you had a great hair transplant”. A natural hairline created by a hair transplant is one that is undetectable by your friends, even those who have lost their hair.
2017-10-03 07:22:242017-09-15 13:22:59What constitutes a natural hairline?
What Class of balding do I have?
You have an early Norwood Class 3 pattern of balding. If you are over 26 years old, you can transplant it if you wish and put it back where I put the arrows on your photo.
2020-08-05 03:17:412020-02-11 08:18:22What Class of balding do I have?