What Is a Graft? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Most charge by the graft. I was wondering how much hair is a graft? Or is it just one hair? I was also wondering if you can transplant hair in places where it previously didn’t exist and how does that process work. I mean when you put the hair in a certain part, how does it just start growing? Also, is it permanant. And if you have no facial hair, can you transplant hair there? Will it grow like normal facial hair or after the first shave would it not return? Also, what happens to the hair that were taken from the back of the head, does that return to normal?

Block Quote

Hair graft“Graft” can be defined as: living tissue surgically transplanted from its normal location in one part of the body into another part of the body in the same individual (an autotransplant, like hair or bone marrow transplants) or from one individual to another individual (like a kidney or heart transplant) and is expected to grow and function normally in its new location.

In hair transplantation surgery, a graft refers to a unit of hair or a group of hair follicles which naturally cluster together (a follicular unit) consisting of one, two, three, or sometimes four hairs. Typically, a graft equals or averages to about 2 hairs (see photo at right of average density, from the article Follicular Transplantation: Patient Evaluation and Surgical Planning?), but in individuals with very high densities, it might average as many as three hairs per follicular unit.

Hair (usually from the donor area of the scalp) can be transplanted to any part of the body, including the bald part of the scalp, beard, mustache, or eyebrow. It can even be transplanted to the tip of your nose and it will grow to as long as 6 feet (assuming that the growth phase of the hair lasts as long as 6 years or so)! The donor hair that was taken from the back of the scalp will not regenerate and you will then have either a small linear scar from where the strip of scalp was taken, or a series of small dot scars from where the graft was removed by FUE.

Prior to the 1950s, people incorrectly thought that the balding process was a result of a loss of blood supply, because the skin of the bald scalp was not flush with blood vessels, though that notion was killed by clinical scientists who showed that it was a genetic process, not a blood supply process. It was a relatively simple proof. If there was a blood supply problem, the transplanted hair would have died. Instead, the transplanted hair placed in the bald scalp grew well and the blood supply returned to supply the needs of the new hair at its new location.

Using Propecia at Temples, Wrinkles from Minoxidil, and Other Hair Drug Questions – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am experiencing hair loss at my temples and front hairline. I am 24 and it is at it’s very beginning stages. I Otherwise have a full head of hair and have not had problems in any other areas of my scalp. After looking into all the products out their and doing some research I have found that $transplants$, Propecia and Minoxidil are the only real effective options. The transplants are not monetarily possible right now, the Propecia is said to have no results when being used for temple areas and Minoxidil leaves me with unanswered questions. It would be of much help if you could answer all of the below questions for me.

  1. Would Propecia work in my case since I am at an early stage of loss?
  2. Is a 5% solution of Minoxidil better for my situation or would a 2% solution be better?
  3. Will the resulting hair I grow with Propecia or Minoxidil stay permanently as long as I keep using either product.
  4. Will I build up a tolerance to the product after a year or so eventually rendering it ineffective.
  5. I have read of a person who experienced increased wrinkles in his forehead as well as pronounced smile lines in his face as a result of Minoxidil, can this really happen and is it common?

If you can shed some light on these areas for me it would definitely be a huge help. This is the first serious step I am taking in dealing with this hair loss problem and I want it to be the right one instead of something I end up regretting or damaging myself over. Thanks

Block Quote

  1. You need an evaluation by a physician if Propecia is an option. You need a miniaturization study to see just what is going on and to establish a baseline for whatever treatment you elect.
  2. I generally recommend 5% minoxidil over the 2%.
  3. There is no guarantee that if you regrew hair with Propecia and/or minoxidil in the temples, that it would be permanent. However, they should slow down or prevent further loss. See Are Minoxidil and Propecia Worth Using? (with Photos).
  4. You will not build up tolerance, but your genetic fate will eventually catch up.
  5. I’ve never heard of increased wrinkles with minoxidil.

Using Procyanidins with Minoxidil and Propecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Doctor Rassman,

I am considering taking procyanidins sold from applypoly.com along with minoxidil and propecia. I started on 5% minoxidil then later also started taking 1mg propecia as part of my hairloss treatment(been using both for over a year). I was wondering if adding procyanidins in both topical and pill form to my regime would have any impact on my current treatment. Do you see any potential harm if I take them all simutaneously? Your advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Block Quote

AppleI do not see potential harm by exploiting all of these options. The procyanidins have been discussed on this site before (see search results). For those of you who do not know what this is, please review Applypoly.com.

Keep in mind, I’m not suggesting you order this stuff (yes, I realize it is for sale on the page I just linked to), but to do your own research.

Can Donor Hair Be Regrown? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I would also like to know whether in the future it would be possible to replant hair follicles in the donor area (that was previously used for an FUE surgery), in order for hair to grow again in the donor area, in other words will it ever be possible for the donor area to grow hair again?

Block Quote

When hair is moved from one place to another, the area that was the donor area will have lost those hairs forever. They do not regrow and can not be stimulated to regrow. If you move them back (I don’t know why anyone would do this), then yes, they will regrow in the original donor area.

Hair Loss in 74 Year Old Woman – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, I am a 74 year old female and my hair has started to fall out. My scalpe is itchy red and flakes alot. I have had this condition most of my life but have always had a good head of hair, only recently has the condition got worse and the hair started to come out. Is this just old age ???

Block Quote

I wish I could give you a clear answer, but I honestly have no clue! You need an evaluation by a physician in-person who can ask pertinent questions and conduct a proper physical examination. I suspect if you had this condition most of your life, it probably is not related to your age.

I’m a Woman and Not Having Children — Can I Use Propecia? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a woman in my late 40s and have thinning hair and a hairline that has receded somewhat due to menopause and discontinuance of HRT (I think).

Would you recommend Propecia for me? I will not be having children — is there data related to breast cancer and Propecia? Or, what is your opinion of the new laser combs or devices-specifically the X5 Laser from Spencer Forrest which appears to be superior to the Laser Max comb? Also, do you know anything about “virtual hair” — a membrane similar to your scalp custom-created for the client, with real hair attached, and glued onto the scalp? Of course, as the hair grows, the glue becomes dislodged, but it was featured on “Good Morning America” and looks terrific — so natural. Please, any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated

I would not recommend Propecia (finasteride) for a woman unless there were high androgens present on her blood testing, and even then I would have to think about it. This is provided that she could not get pregnant and there was no breast cancer gene present.

With regard to Virtual Hair, anytime you attach something to your scalp, it can produce traction hair loss… which could become permanent. And I’d rather not comment on special customized lasers.

Balding Forum - Hair Loss Discussion

Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):


Scalp Had No Sensitivity After Brain Surgery – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Doctor,

Im male 30yrs. I had a brain surgery 3 yrs ago. After surgery, I had no sensitivity in mid or top of head. The hairs on that part started shading/ thinning slowly and then turned like baldness. Now Im getting sensitivity in that parts of head. Can I expect the hairs i lost or thinning be converted into thickness or hair growth? Can you pls advice me on how can I grow the hairs back/thickness on my crown/central head part?

Thanx in advance

Block Quote

I am not sure that I can help you evaluate your problem without examining you. The brain surgery may have cut critical sensory nerves in the scalp to cause your numbness. If the temporal vessels and nerve was cut on just one side, then you might have a sensory defect to cover the top and the side of your scalp. If both were cut, then you would have complete numbness, some of which could reduce over time as other nerves from the back of your head may take over. Any vascular damage could produce hair loss as well. Either your brain surgeon could/should tell you why you have this problem or any good doctor examining you will know what to look for. I would be happy to evaluate you if you are in or near California and would like to pay me a visit.

Hair Loss InformationMy Transplant Doctor Suspected an Infection After Surgery, Now I Have Dead Skin Areas – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, after recent hair transplant, I had severe swelling in my donor area and the Dr had to cut off a some of the sutures on the 7th day as he suspected an infection. Antibiotic ointment and medication has helped heal the donor area, but I am left with an area of dead skin, where there is no hair! This is on an area about 2cms wide and 5cms long, just on top of either ear. My Dr says that he can fix it by re-doing the scar in a few months or optionally by transplanting some hair in these areas, again after a few months. In your opinion, which is a better option? Your advise will be sincerely appreciated. Thanks and regards

Block Quote

You describe an unfortunate, but a real and relatively rare complication with the surgery. I am not clear if what you refer to as “dead skin” is really “skin necrosis” or hair loss seen around the donor wound on the scalp that is not necrotic. Small areas are easy to treat, large areas can produce problems. You should bond with your doctor on what is going on and get comfort from him/her on the plan for you over the next month or two. I suspect all hair transplant doctors have had some scalp healing problems at one time or another. Assuming that the problem is minor and you have bonded with your doctor, the best advice I can give you is to be patient and let time work in your favor. While it may be an inconvenience, if this is just hair loss in the donor area and it is not too extensive, the hair you lost may come back after 6-10 months. If you really have a wide necrotic area, then clearly waiting without adequate physician management is not the correct course. Without seeing you I can not make a firm recommendation other than for you to connect with your doctor and follow his/her advice, or get another opinion if you can not or do not wish to continue the relationship with him/her. In discussions, you should ask about healing, timelines, a worst case scenario, etc..

Balding in Professional Sports – Rare? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman! I have a pretty weird question for you.

I just read a comment you made about most politicians having lots of hair compared to the average man. As a big fan of european soccer, I have noticed that almost all of the games biggest stars have a full head of hair (Francesco Totti, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Fernando Torres, David Beckham, Luis Figo and more). The only superstar who is balding is Zinedine Zidane from France. Very few choose to shave their head and those who do aren’t balding (ronaldo). For example, Englands national team does not have one bald guy in the starting 11. The same goes for Italy. And a lot of other big soccer teams don’t have much bald guys. Is this a coincidence?

Block Quote

There seems to be a good number of balding men in tennis. I can’t make a case one way or the other on your observations on soccer, but do think that it is interesting to note. Thanks for sharing.