Dr. William Rassman – Page 1438

July 17, 2008

Very Little Hair Loss By Age 40 – Is It Likely I’ll Be Safe from Further Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr Rassman,
In your clinical experience if a male is slightly less than a NW2 by his early 40’s and takes Propecia, would it be highly unlikely that he will become a NW3 or NW 4 by the time he reaches his early 50’s. In other words could he have late onset acceleration of balding like a young person in their early 20’s even if he is taking Propecia. My father started balding at 18 years old, yet his brother who is in his 70’s still has a full head of hair. I am just wondering if it is likely I will have a late onset acceleration of balding since I am noticing more diffuse thinning in the past few years which is the same time I started Propecia.

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I do not recommend Propecia to men who are not losing hair, nor do I recommend Propecia to men who are worried that they may lose hair. I need to make a diagnosis of genetic male pattern balding before I consider recommending Propecia to my patients. So despite your family history and worries, I really do not know if you will bald or not as I have not examined you and made a diagnosis. Hair loss can start as early as puberty, but it can also start later in life well past your current age. If you are worried that this may happen to you, get your hair mapped out for miniaturization yearly.

July 17, 2008

Can Propecia Bring Me From a Norwood Class 3 to a 2? – Balding Blog

I read Propecia doesn’t help with temporal recession and receding hairlines but I’m on a NW2 right now and it looks like I’m heading to a NW3, can Propecia prevent that from happening? And it seems I’m now a little more then a NW2 do you think Propecia can help me go back to a solid NW2?

It is possible, though full regrowth in the hairline is rare — at least more rare than regrowth in the crown/top of the head. At the very least, Propecia should halt the progressive hair loss for some time so that you can retain what you have now.

July 17, 2008

Reversing Hair Loss with Scalp Exercise? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I recently came across this website which belongs to an individual who claims to have halted and reversed his own hair loss through a variety of scalp excercises and developing certain facial muscles.

I would love to hear your views on this issue as I haven’t been able to find the topic on the blog. Do these exercises have any scientific bearing at all?

With regards to my own hair loss, I’m 21 and I noticed a small thinning area in the crown about a year ago and have been taking finasteride for about 10 months.

In this time, I’m sure that the number of hairs I’m losing daily has slowed down, however I haven’t seen a visible result as of yet. I’ve let my hair grow quite long (3-4 inches) for the last 2 months. Is it possible that when I get my hair cut shorter, I may see the benefits more clearly as the newer hair will have grown back thicker? (I hope that makes sense!)

Keep up the great work!

I personally can not believe that hair loss can be reversed with such exercises. I haven’t read anything that shows scalp massage or exercise would have any regrowth benefit, aside from theories like this. The site you reference quotes a “current textbook” that links scalp tightness to male pattern baldness, but it doesn’t provide author names or even a title. Certainly, it will not hurt to try these methods (besides time spent avoiding proven treatment methods in favor of this), but I don’t see any actual science here.

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July 17, 2008

Using Couvre to Mask Linear Hair Transplant Scar (with Photos) – Balding Blog

Hello Dr,

First of all,,,a Fantastic/helpful blog. I am 50 years old. I visited 10 different hair transplant surgeons and decided to go with a doctor in Northern California. I think you hit the nail on the head, when you say ‘you have to feel RIGHT about the surgeon’. I did an FUT for 3000 grafts about 1 month ago, and everything has gone great. We just have to wait and see now as to what will be the outcome.

I wanted to contribute ’something’ to your blog,,,so I decided to send photos of my scar before and after application of a masking black lotion (COUVRE). It takes 1-2 minute, it will not come off with water and it is practically invisible from about 12″ away. The photos were taken by my wife. I keep my hair at 1/4″ length (I know I can go to #2 clippers and still mask it good). I send these photos for folks whom are worried about having the surgery and wanting to keep their hair short.

Now to my questions. I am on Propecia (4 months now) and Rogaine. I also have the laser comb, but I am hesitant to use it, fearing it might damage the ‘babe grafts’. What do you recommend to your patients regarding this scenario. I truly believe the comb works, not as much as the hype, but it DOES work (for me anyway). The question is, can it hurt the newly transplanted/asleep grafts

My second question is related to a comment my surgeon made prior to surgery. I asked, what percentage of the grafts are normally expected to survive. The reply was 113-120%!!!! It was explained by my surgeon that they do not believe in ‘dense packing’ of grafts in a CM2 and by inserting no more than 40 grafts (or was it 40 hairs?!), it insures the growth of all grafts + some regeneration of already dormant follicles!!! I found that pretty interesting, what is your opinion on this?!

Thanks again for all your great help on the blog, keep up the great work

Masking/concealing agents like Couvre can work “miracles”, as your photos demonstrate. There are two surgical solutions that also work well:

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) into the wound will put hair into the scar, or
A trichophytic closure could wipe out much of the wound if the laxity is good enough

The telogen count is about 10% of hairs, but as these telogen hairs grow back, others fall out so I would not expect more than 100%. I have read such studies and they are clearly flawed in their methodology. You can’t believe everything you hear or read. Nonetheless, thank you for contributing your photos and allowing me to publish them! The results after the Couvre look great. The photos are below; click to enlarge.

July 16, 2008

Assuming LLLT Works, Is That a Lifetime Commitment Like the Medications? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

as we know minoxidil and propecia is a life time commitment…means i have to use it through whole life or hair loss will appear again. my question: is LLLT also a life time commitment? or is it just for a course like 6 weeks, then i dont have to use it again?

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First of all, there is no proof that low level laser therapy (LLLT) works for regrowing hair. If it did, then I would assume that you would have to stay on the course for life just like minoxidil and Propecia. Your questions tells much about the problem and confusion in this field. It would be unreasonable to expect that a limited treatment time (months) would ‘cure’ the balding forever as the claims suggest.

July 16, 2008

FUE Megasessions? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

hello doctor Rassman,

I have two questions about FUE.

1. would it be possible to do a mega-mega session?.. for example 2000 graphs on one side of the head and then within a week 2000 graphs on the other side?
2. is it possible to use the entire “horseshoe” for FUE?

thank you.

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Yes, it would be possible to have the above schedule. First however, I would want to biopsy your hair to satisfy myself that you are FOX positive (a good candidate). Then if you are a candidate, the answer is yes to both questions.

July 16, 2008

Finasteride Has Retained My Hair for Years, But I Want to Use Rogaine Foam for Regrowth – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Doctor,

I been on finasteride around 4 to 5 years. I believe it has help me slow down my hair loss. But I would like some regrowth. I still have no bald spots yet. I’m thinking about using Rogaine Foam to see if I can regrow some hair in the frontal and mid front part of the top of my scalp and thicken up the vellus hair at my temples.I have Mostly diffuse thinning but more thinning in the mid front. I know the makers of Rogaine have to say that it only works at the crown however I have read it does work in the frontal area of the top of the scalp, vice versa. I’m confused about it and also scare of speeding up my hair loss and not recover from the shed rogaine causes at first. I heard rogaine is more of a regrowth treatment and that propecia is more for maintenance. If I can just thicken up and have a bit of regrowth in between the hair where I’m thinning I’ll be happy with rogaine foam. Have u had patients or know about other doctors patients that have used rogaine for the frontal part of the scalp with success? Just looking for a professional thought about this and a peace of mind. your answer will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Certainly there is no problem with adding Rogaine Foam to your treatment regimen. Make sure that you do not stop the Propecia, because the mechanism of action is such that if you stop it and replace it with Rogaine, you will have “catch up hair loss”. Stopping the support from the Propecia will be exposing the hair to DHT if it is withdrawn.

With regard to Rogaine shedding, it may not be a very big problem, but if it occurs it should disappear in a couple of months or so.

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July 16, 2008

If Some Medications Cause Hair Loss, Could They Prevent Propecia From Helping? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello,

I am 19 and have been taking Propecia for over a year with no results whatsoever – my hairline has continued to recede rapidly. I have also been taking Wellbutrin for two years, which has a side-effect of hair loss.

I have read that Wellbutrin can “jump-start” the balding process. If this is true, could stopping taking Wellbutrin allow for Propecia to begin reversing my hair loss or stopping it? Or has the genetic process begun and is it too late?

Propecia works by blocking the formation of DHT. The hair loss side effect of certain medications, most likely will not come about from the action of DHT, so the two are not connected. At 19 years old, you are most likely experiencing the maturing hairline so it is possible you don’t have genetic balding (I haven’t seen you, so I’m unsure). A mapping of your scalp for miniaturization will show that diagnosis one way or the other. Propecia will not stop the formation of the mature hairline and the loss of the juvenile hairline.

Talk with your doctor about other medications that might not have a hair loss association. Get the diagnosis of genetic hair loss to know what you are actually experiencing and do not stop taking Propecia if you have genetic hair loss as this will only worsen your situation.

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July 16, 2008

Why Are Some Miniaturized Hairs Normal? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Why do people without baldness also have miniaturized hairs at the beginning of the hairline?

The hair that is present in the very front of the hairline either are vellus hairs or those that are naturally thinner than the hair behind and throughout the scalp.

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July 15, 2008

Hair Loss InformationIs My Chest Pain from Minoxidil? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I had used minoxidil for hair growth 12 months ago for 4 months. I stopped it. That time I have not observed any side effects. Now I am again using the same to control the hair fall. Now I am feeling like chest pain (muscular). Is it because of minoxidil..? how safe this medicine ..? because chest and heart are more important than the hair.. Thanks in advance

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Chest pain with minoxidil may indicated coronary artery disease, because minoxidil can drop blood pressure and cause reduced circulation to the coronary arteries (angina). Please see a doctor to make that diagnosis, as taking minoxidil may be the way you find out that you have some serious heart problem.