Author: Dr. William Rassman

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Dr Rassman, You Are So Pessimistic!

Dr william
i need to ask you something. why don’t you give people any hope in life? your OPINIONS are so pessimistic. like the one i read that if a father has a balding gene he may not express male pattern baldness in his whole lifetime. so how did you know at the first place that he got a balding gene? and if you know the balding gene please say it’s name to the people here. of course if you have a balding gene you will certainly go bald unless you have a proof. thanks

If you think that I am negative, that is an interesting observation. Throughout my life, I have been called an optimist, but I must be pragmatic and realistic when writing this blog every day. For example, I can not say that hair cloning will come about shortly as others might say, because my research pointed to a troubled view on the timelines for cloning. Likewise, you state that I’ve said something like, “if a father has a balding gene he may not express male pattern baldness in his whole lifetime.” Using the “if“, I was discussing possible considerations. If you call this pessimistic, the language speaks to itself. It has long been said that writers are accountable by their words. Mine are right in your question. Do you have a personal problem with me?

There are well over 100 genes controlling hair loss and hair growth and hair cycles and hair death. Hair is one of the more complex organs in the body, because it has elements that arise from all three of the germ layers of the embryo and the control and coordination of those three layers and their contributions to grow a single follicular unit is so complex, that we still don’t command it or understand it all. That is the crux of the research going on. I hope that this helps.


2007-10-04 15:33:45Dr Rassman, You Are So Pessimistic!

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Dr Rassman, Why Didn’t You Put Your Son on Propecia Sooner?

Here’s a question. YOu mentioned in one of your posts that your son suffered from a Norwood 4 MPB before he started taking Propecia. As a hair loss expert and his father, why didn’t you have him go on Propecia much sooner??

To be honest, my son was stubborn about it and just wouldn’t listen to reason. Like the old expression, “The cobbler’s children have no shoes”, I probably could’ve spent more time pressing him about it, but he’s an adult and it was a harsh lesson that he learned. He’s since been on Propecia to halt his hair loss situation with good results.


2008-05-12 10:56:31Dr Rassman, Why Didn’t You Put Your Son on Propecia Sooner?

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Dr Rassman, You Are So Negative!

I just want to say Dr.Rassman that I’ve noticed that you’re a big negative energy to this ongoing development for hairloss. For the past couple of months that I’ve done some research I’ve noticed that every comment made by you was a negative one. It is really annoying to see a Dr whom others look up to has nothing worthwhile to say other than shitting all over all these other doctors that are trying to make breakthroughs. Why don’t you go make yourself useful and try to make a difference instead of being that negative voice saying, “I told you so”. I know that if any of these breakthroughs surface you’ll no longer have a job. There are two kinds of people: people that are trying to construct and better everything, and others that just trying to destroy what others build. You’re the latter!

My, what a negative person you are! I relish the opportunity to respond to your blog-bashing. It is unfortunate that there is so much fraud in the field of potions and lotions for hair growth, so I call a spade a spade when that is the case. I really wish I could be positive when someone identifies a new treatment, but these types of products have been going on throughout modern history. Just look at the supposed “Hair Growing Hat” from 1924. That ‘hat’ idea has been cyclical over the years, coming out in many forms, the newest is the promise of a hair laser comb that magically grows hair in 90 days. I could be positive about it, but my audience of worried hair loss sufferers do not have to be ‘fooled’ by me. I would love to believe that things like that hat or any of the modern iterations of it, or magical potions and lotions, are really a cure for hair loss, but alas, that is just not the case. So many people just don’t know where to turn and the result of that lack of direction for hair loss sufferers reflect a multi-billion annual business worldwide. The good news is that magical potions and lotions and hair hats or laser combs that claim to grow hair, probably do little harm other than deplete the pocketbook and build false expectations. By taking my stab at such products, maybe I am helping the ‘not well educated’ person sort through the minefield of solutions for hair loss. If it’s true that there’s a sucker born every minute — well, I am just doing my part to educate the public.

If you think about what is in it for me… well, I don’t make money by giving out reviews, opinions, etc — and I have no secondary agenda other than a community service focus. I can assure you that I am not worried about my job security and I show my colors many times a day. What have you done to bring something positive?


2007-07-19 15:33:42Dr Rassman, You Are So Negative!

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Dr Rassman, You Look Like George Clooney!

Hey doc,I know it’s not a hair loss question or comment,but well,just to put things on a lighter note..

has anyone ever mentioned to you about your resemblance to george clooney? I’m serious,maybe it’s the hairstyle, i’m not really sure. but yeah,there is a resemblance.of course, maybe the people who’ve actually seen you might not agree,but in your pictures,you really do.

the amazing part is: george clooney’s hair has been a topic of discussion at times. secondly, george clooney started his career as a doctor in the show E.R. Just lighter moments,doc. Lighter moments.

Ha, thanks! I am sure that George Clooney would be flattered!

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Dr Rassman’s Opinion About the Latest in Body Hair Transplantation?

Good day Dr. Rassman,
First, I want to thank you for having this blog. I find it very useful; I visit this blog regularly.

My question: From some of your previous answers, it seems that you are not a proponent of body hair transplants, and you have given good reasons why. However, if it would be all right, may I ask your opinion of some of the latest works, with body hair transplants?

I am familiar with the body transplants that are being done. I am softening my position on them in very special situations. I met a man yesterday who does not have enough donor hair for the crown, but has gorilla hair on his back. He is aware of the limitation in telogen hairs and nevertheless wants to have his back hair moved to the crown. He is realistic and reasonable and I will therefore do this for him. So you see, I am open minded on the subject and as always, will do what my patient needs if the requests are reasonable.

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Dr Rassman’s Minoxidil Opinion?

What is your personal opinion of rogaine/minoxidil regarding its effectiveness? Even though it’s FDA approved, most of the objective literature I find says its results are minimal, disappointing, that its window of working at all is brief etc. I noticed your NHI website doesn’t give it a good review.

I’d estimate that minoxidil works very well in about 15% of patients and there’s some effect in 30% more, but the remaining patients see no benefits with respect to growing new hair. The studies are generally poor for defining the results.

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Dr Rassman’s Donor Area

What was the shape of your donor area and what is the appearance after the surgery and healing? Does it look a little funny with the hair being a lot thinner in the back?

Below is a photo of my donor area. The scar is barely 2mm high and never visible unless you are looking for it, very close, and very carefully. Much of the ‘white’ you see in glare from the room lighting. If you look at the left part of the wound, you will see what the scar looks like without the lighting distortion. Click the image to enlarge.

Oh… by the way, the hand holding my hair up in the back of my head is not mine. My fingernails are not quite as nice.



2006-08-04 15:43:38Dr Rassman’s Donor Area

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Dr Rassman’s Willingness to Show Opposing Opinions

Doc,

I brought up my questions about the value of miniaturization studies which you responded to. Though I’m still not convinced, you posted a response from another doctor who also questioned it’s value giving his reasons. Your willingness to post those suggests you’re a true scientist. People often portray science as consensus when it’s just the opposite. Those who claim any debate is over are restricting knowledge not expanding it.

Thanks for you’re continued effort to expand all of our knowledge.

Sometimes the opposite opinions are from people who completely made up their minds and there’s nothing I could possibly say that would make a difference. This is my blog and the readers are generally a bright group who come here for answers and insights, and that is why I love doing this. Teaching is my responsibility to give back what I have learned over the years to those balding people. Thanks for your comments.

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Forget Stem Cell for Hair! Here Is Dr William Rassman’s BioTech Video Created For A Shark Tank Interview

When Dr. Rassman is not busy inventing hair transplant related devices and procedures, he runs a company called Mavenbiotech.

He will summarize the label-free imaging technology for measuring biomolecular interactions in a microarray format by using a video with ping pong balls to illustrate how antibodies work. Dr. Rassman believes that this technology will change the timeliness of medical care delivery

For those who cannot wait, skip to 4:50 on the video.