Author: Dr. William Rassman

I had an FUT procedure, and my hair looks and feels like a Brillo pad. It is a very unnatural hairline shape for a woman and hair is not growing in line with my natural hair or when it is parted. It looks sparse like I’m balding and it is quite masculine. What can I do?

I recommend having a second opinion by an expert. You can find them through the https://www.ISHRS.org society which recommends doctors who specialize in the hair transplantation field.

I have been told, by a colleague, that under normal circumstances, facial hair does not ‘fall out’ as does hair on your head.

Can you tell me if this is true or false?

Facial hair is different than scalp hair, but ALL hairs go through the growth cycle, resting cycle, and shedding (falling out) cycle.

I am not clear what you are asking. Do you have loss of facial hair or are you asking an academic question? The most common cause of scalp hair loss in men is due to genetic causes, and it is often referred to as androgenic alopecia (AGA), male pattern baldness (MPB), or just genetic balding. About 50% or so of the male population will have some degree of genetic balding at some point in their lifetime. Keep in mind that this does not mean 50% of men will go bald. Facial balding patches may not be genetic and you need to see a dermatologist.

This is not what you want to be your story. Good research with good doctors will avoid all of these problems with hair transplants and SMP. The video is painful to listen to. See this Video from Reddit:

Beware failed Bad Hair Transplant SMP(scalp-micropigmentation) Bad Reviews Part #1 from tressless

The single most common problem with eyebrow transplants is that they grow in the wrong direction or stick up, looking unnatural. Eyebrow transplants using scalp hair requires a special skill in identifying the ‘bend’ that is natural in each transplanted hair. So when the hair is put in by the surgical team, the angle at which the hair is deposited should follow the natural curve of the hair. It also must be put in laying flat and consistent with your natural eyebrow hairs. Too many surgeons, without considerable experience, can’t seem to get either of these techniques right, and if they don’t, the eyebrow hairs stick out rather than laying flat as they should. In your case, the darker hair and a slightly bushier eyebrow might help you frame your face, but of course it is your call as to what you want to look like.

My son Ian, posted my photo when I was in Vietnam on facebook for Veteran’s Day and a nurse, Carol, responded with this very nice post which I wanted to share with you:

Wow. I knew that guy!!!

I watched your dad work tirelessly to heal and help US troops and then when others might rest during off time, he went off to do the same down at the Vietnamese hospital where he shared his skills and knowledge with local practitioners. He was also always trying to find ways to keep our spirits up. He managed to find a popcorn machine and had it helicoptered in for our little club. Something so simple to give us pleasure. He knew that caregivers also needed care and respite from the emotional strain of death and trauma and illness. He heard some nurses talking about how they missed soaking in a bath tub and the next week one appeared in the sky being lowered down from a chopper. He’s a guy I’m proud to know!

If a man, who has undergone SMP for a class 6 balding pattern, is adamant about applying high SPF sunscreen whenever he is going to be exposed to the sun for extended periods of time, will this completely prevent any fading of the SMP as a result of the sun? Or is some fading inevitable over time? If so, is this easily corrected with touch up procedures? Does the aesthetic appeal and cosmetic value of SMP decrease with each successive procedure? Or would it recreate the look of the initial procedure?

Yes, using a high SPF factor will slow down the fading. However, you can always touch it up after a few years if needed.

There is no substitute for dedication and persistence as this young man shows. His results are better than a hair transplant at almost no cost. Although this man did not state his age, I suspect that he was significantly under the age of 25 as the younger you are, the better changes are that finasteride will reverse his hair loss. Congrats!

*Finasteride journey updated (added minox.) from tressless

Fantastic response from finasteride in just one month which shows that this man is exquisitely sensitive to finasteride. The miniaturized hairs quickly grew into terminal hairs.

Most failed hair transplants are technically created by a team of people working on you without a good quality control process in place. That reflects the surgeon, who is Master of the Ship and responsible for what his team should be doing. I have found many surgeons who don’t understand the nuances of the hair transplant process. Grafts that are removed from the donor area can be mishandled, dried, crushed, etc.. all of this often kills the hairs. What is even more disturbing than the failed hair transplant and the lost money to pay for it is the loss of donor hair, which is not a reversible process, is the reduction of your donor area supply. You can’t buy back your donor supply. Depending upon donor density and hair quality (fine, medium or coarse hair thickness), 5500 grafts could be all this man has to transplant, so another transplant may be out of the question. He needs a real expert to assess his situation.