Dr. William Rassman – Page 1497

March 6, 2008

LaserComb is a Direct Threat to Your Practice, Where You Charge Thousands of Dollars – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Read your blog questioning the LaserComb. I have been using it for a year and have had substantial regrowth. I can understand why you want to sow doubt in peoples’ minds. This $575 device is a direct threat to your practice where you charge each patient thousands of dollars. Why don’t you also note that there is a 20 week return privilege?

That’s great for you! I am publishing your comments since you claim the LaserComb had value and I believe that sharing your experience with others is important. I wish I would receive more such positive comments about this type of technology and maybe your “insightful” note will get others to write about their experiences. I don’t think that you should be angry with me for voicing my opinion, as I am not angry or threatened by yours. I find it funny that some anonymous people feel they need to attack me for voicing an opinion on my own website. Unless you’re an employee with the manufacturer or investor in the product, I don’t understand why you’d be so personally connected that you think you need to defend it.

I’m trying to keep an open mind that it may work, and if I see good firsthand scientific proof that it works, my attitude can change. I have two lasers in my Los Angeles office for patient use and I’m unfortunately just not seeing any substantial growth in those patients that use it. I am not so ready to believe in a cure that may not be there and I don’t want to produce hope that is hollow. That is why I allow my surgical patients to use the laser at no charge so I can get their feedback on its value. We take photos of some laser patients periodically to note whether it is effective or not over time. Most people are ‘iffy’ about its value as they report it to me, and the pictures I have viewed are not showing much change over time. Do you know many doctors who have a $50,000 laser in their office and do not charge for its use?

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March 6, 2008

Revivogen vs Finasteride/Dutasteride – Balding Blog

Hello,

What do you think of Revivogen and this recent study, comparing it to Finasteride and Dutasteride: study (PDF File)

The science looks interesting, but it is not clear from this study that there will be actual hair growth. If you want a known DHT blocker, finasteride is safe and proven to work. Nonetheless, I appreciate the link and thanks for sending.

March 6, 2008

Starting and Stopping Propecia Multiple Times – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear Dr. Rassman,
Thank you very much for maintaining this very informative and detailed website. I would sincerely appreciate your advice regarding my propecia therapy. I am 21 years old and have been taking propecia since July 2007. After the first 6 weeks on the drug, I noticed a complete cessation of hair loss. I subsequently discontinued the drug on the very poor advice of my father, an internist with little experience with finasteride treatments for MPB. I then restarted the drug about 2 months later, and again noticed complete cessation of hair loss within several weeks. I stopped taking propecia a second time, again on the advice of my father. Once again the hair loss returned within a few weeks.

I went back on propecia in late December, and have been taking it for the past 8 weeks. Unfortunately I have not noticed any change in the amount of hair I am losing. I am wondering if you would kindly explain the mechanism of this phenomenon. Have I induced resistance or tolerance to propecia in my hair follicles? Have I upregulated the expression of DHT receptors on the follicles? Is it possible that my estrogen levels or testoterone levels are relatively higher than they were when I started treatment several months ago?

I realize that I have committed a very grave error in discontinuing my propecia on two separate occasions. Have I irrevocably lost my responsiveness to the drug, or will it likely prevent further hair loss? Fortunately my hair loss is still not noticeable, and I would be happy simply to retain what I have.

With best wishes,
A stressed-out medical student.

It is often surprising how little doctors tend to understand about hair loss and its treatment. If you are playing with this drug, you allow the hair loss to continue its downhill course each time you stop taking it. The hair that you lose when you stop taking it may be lost forever, so stopping the Propecia intermittently may just set you up to a progressive lower hair count over time. Perhaps you were just in a rapid state of hair loss. Whatever is the cause of your situation, from a mechanistic point of view, you MUST continue on this drug for life. Stopping it allows you to play catch-up hair loss and eventually you will just progress further down the balding road.

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March 6, 2008

Xalatan (Latanoprost) For Growing Eyelashes – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I received the following from a patient:

Guess what I’ve discovered? Indirectly, of course Turns out that THIS stuff had an odd side effect (it’s a glaucoma medication) it grown hair and has become RevitaLash. There’s more to the story (possible lawsuit, etc) about the product… how interesting! Anyway, I would like to buy the Xatalan (if you can/will write a prescription) and test it on my hairline. Does that sound interesting to you?

Xalatan is the brand name that Pfizer uses to market the generic drug latanoprost.

This is interesting, but upon looking up the drug for risks and potential side effects, I am not sure about safety. My one and only real caution is the safety issues. For example, if you accidentally got this into your eye, then there are pressure changes in the eye that might damage your vision — and there are verbal reports from doctors experienced with this drug that have told me it can change eye color. The medication is normally used to drop high eye pressure under the direction of a physician, but if your eye pressure is normal, it can drop to below normal levels and possibly cause injury.

As far as hair growth, it would be interesting to see if anyone has tried it, but the cost is high on a per drop basis so you would have to be quite wealthy to put drops of this stuff on your scalp.

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March 5, 2008

Hair Loss InformationBrowlift Scar Repair with Hair Transplants – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have a scar from a brow lift on both sides of my head. I wear my hair short(military style), so you can see the scar. The scars have healed (6 yrs ago since browlift), and both sides of the scar have feeling in them. I can feel something touching, scratching them. The scars are pretty flat. I want to know about the procedure to transplant hair into the scar (including associated costs, timeframe, etc.) I have very thick hair that grows quickly. I am 34 years old.

Block Quote

Hair transplants work very well in the scars of brow lifts by transplanting them directly into the healed wound. We do these with some frequency, as well as neurosurgical scars, which are often larger. The costs are generally between $3000-4000 for such repairs as it takes 400+ grafts depending upon length and width of the scars. Most of these surgeries take about 3-4 hours and the hair will grow within 6-8 months.

March 5, 2008

Dr Rassman Quoted in Boston Globe – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

My initial thought was that a quote by yours truly in the Boston Globe would be a really great thing. Then I realized that the writer of the article only found three words of mine (relating to DHT) to be worth quoting. Check it out:

Boston Globe – What are the best treatments for male pattern baldness?

Am I the “shrivels hair follicles” guy now? Is that going to be my claim to fame? Wow, I hope not! But hey, at least it gave me something funny to mention on the blog.

March 5, 2008

I’ve Seen 3 Different Dermatologists with 3 Different Views on My Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I have seen 3 dermatologists with 3 different views.

The first derm i go to does the pull test and says the ease of hair coming out might make it seem like a non genetic thing. The second derm wants to give me corti shots…which i received, we were to meet for 2 more sessions, but he suddenly quit the office. The 3rd derm , in replacement of the 2nd, says it is genetic and prescribes me Propecia. I feel like these docs aren’t taking the time to study things case by case so I come to YOU for some experiences advice.

HISTORY:
Started to notice hair loss in senior year of college. It has been many months since start of serious hair loss. Mother’s side all good…father’s side, hair loss beginning in 40’s and 50’s.

MY CONDITION:
Itchy scalp, most noticeable when in contact with a brush. Flaking, now very few, prob due to few uses of Nizorol. Oily…in fact, my pillow smells and in the morning it is oily and a mess. Back, side and front very good condition, the hair loss is diffused amongst the top portion of my scalp.

HAIR CONDITION:
When examining the fallen hairs, they usually have a bulb but it is small and dark. Sometimes there is a oily/flaky substance attached to it. Also, some hair I notice have a wave to them and the tip is very thin and pointed.

I have thought the possibility of a seborrhea condition, is my case something a scalp biopsy can figure out? A blood test has already revealed normal ranges in all except some hard to decipher words in the hermatology report which my physician did not deem notable.

Thank you very much in advance.

I do not agree with cortisone shots in the scalp for treating genetic hair loss. Seborrhea should be treated by any good dermatologist or family doctor. The use of topical steroids are often overkill. Pull tests are part of the work-up of a patient with hair loss. Mapping out your hair for miniaturization gives me a great deal of knowledge on what is going on in the hair of a person with balding or thinning.

Doctors don’t all agree and that is a fact of life. When you are caught up in the middle between doctor’s advice, make a judgment on who you like, who treats you with respect and who has a caring manner, then stick to that doctor. A good doctor/patient relationship is important, and trust in your doctor is significant. I can be the 4th doctor to look at you, but I’m in Los Angeles and you indicated you’re in New York — so if you don’t mind the travel, I’d certainly invite you to my office for a consultation. Or more convenient for you, my colleague Dr Robert Bernstein has an office in New York.

March 5, 2008

My Hair Loss Seems to Have Stopped Over Time — Is It Likely Stabilizing? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Doctor,

thanks for great blog full of questions and answers gave me lot of information.

I have few questions. I am today 22. I Started loosing my hairs i guess around when i was 18, it was very bad, i was on minoxidil for few months but then i stopped it. since till few years back i was loosing hairs falling out etc. but since 5-6 months now i am not loosing hairs. nothing much is falling and even though my hair fall started at 18 my hairline is not recessed that much but hairs front of my crown have thinned but hairs on and below my crown are too thick.

so is it the case that my MPB is slowed down now and here is around i will find my stabilization or (Worse fear) as my thinning etc started too early and it will continue rest of my life till i get my IV or IIV NW like my dad ? and this period is just a bit slow resting phase.

also i want to know if start taking 5% Minioxdil from now on , is minoxidil something i can continue all my life without any problem, few people think it worsens the hair root after few years and the scalp really gets more and more worse longer you keep applying it.

Hair loss occurs in spurts and it is in the 20s (pretty much from age 20-29) that men are most likely to see most of their hair loss. The drug Propecia (finasteride 1mg) works to slow or stop it and in your case it might continue the stabilization. You need to get your hair mapped out for miniaturization, which will tell you what may happen to you over the next few years, and then speak to your doctor about Propecia.

I have seen no negative reports related to what you mentioned after long term use of minoxidil, and I have seen many patients who have used it in excess of 10 years.

March 5, 2008

Paxil CR and Female Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a twenty-three year old woman taking 37.5 mg of Paxil CR and have experienced substantial hair loss. Could this have something to do with this medication which I’ve been taking for the past 5 year? Also, my hair doesn’t seem to be growing. I eat well- get plenty of protein and take calcium supplements with magnesium and vitamin d. What might I do to trigger hair growth?

I do not know the mechanisms for this side effect, but Paxil (paroxetine) is on WebMD’s list of medications that can potentially cause hair loss. You should discuss this with your prescribing doctor.

WebMD – Drug-Induced Hair Loss

March 5, 2008

Reshaping the Temples with Hair Transplants – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman, thank you and your team for always having a very informative blog and website.

My question is about transplant to the temples… is it a good idea to reshape the triangle part of the temples? Or is it better to use the grafts for the hairline, etc? Do you have pictures of patients you’ve done temples to that you can share with us?

Thank you very much for your help.

Yes, we can reshape the temples! In fact, my surgery case today was reshaping a patient’s temples and sideburns. Here is an example of a patient with temple transplants. He had about 1100 grafts placed into his front hairline and 150-200 grafts placed into each temple.

The before photo is on the left, after on the right. Click the photos to enlarge.

To see more of this patient (including other angles), check out his profile in the NHI Patient Photo Gallery. Even more temple hair transplant patients can be seen here.

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