Category: Age

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I’m 26 with Thinning Temples – When Is It Safe for Me to Have a Hair Transplant? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman,

I’ve heard many different opinions regarding the appropriate age to seek out a hair transplant. I’m roughly a Norwood 2 at age 26, and my father is a Norwood 6 (age 62). I came into your LA office last year and had a miniaturization test done. The test showed I had receded at the temples, but the rest of my hair was holding strong. I’ve been using a Propecia/Rogaine combination for 5 years, since the first signs of balding appeared.

I consulted with another doctor who said I was a good candidate for an immediate transplant. He mentioned I should front load the grafts, using 2400 to fill in the temples. I know he’s a reputable doctor, but isn’t it dangerous to use 2400 grafts to fill in the temples (~1.5 inch receded)? I know the miniaturization test showed the rest of my hair is holding strong, but who really knows what the future holds, especially given my genetics.

Is it prudent to wait a little longer to have surgery? Right now, when my hair is grown out long enough, I can spike my hair in front and the recession is barely noticeable. However, I hate the way my hair looks when I first wake up in the morning or after a workout- it clumps in the middle, clearly showing the recessed temples.

My questions is, even with a miniaturization test and a consistent cocktail of hair loss drugs, when can you safely have a transplant without the risk of looking foolish 10-15 years down the road due to the overzealous use of grafts in the early phases of MPB?

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Let’s look at it this way — I advised you to take Propecia and said I’d retest you a year later with another miniaturization study. I gave you the consultation at no charge. Another doctor that you met wants to immediately perform 2400 grafts on you after just meeting you. Does that sound strange to you… like maybe that other doctor is more interested in your money and less interested in your long term Master Plan?

I could have certainly told you that you’d need 2400 grafts when I met you last year, but it would not have been fair to you, nor would it have been the honorable thing to do. I would have been taking advantage of you. As you point out, if you lose much more hair and already have 2400 grafts in the front, you do run the risk of possibly looking foolish down the road (maybe a bad Master Plan). You should return for another visit with me so that you can have another miniaturization test and a reassessment of your Master Plan based upon what has changed in you since your last visit. To answer your question, I can’t say with any certainty when a good time for a transplant is without seeing you again. This is one of those questions that simply can’t be answered without an exam.

I hate to see patients taken advantage of, and I’m glad you wrote to inquire about this. This could be a case of a doctor that is preying on your insecurities and wants to line his wallet, rather than look out for your best interests. I always suggest that potential patients do plenty of research so that you know what you’re getting into. Many doctors who ‘claim’ a great reputation, promote that reputation with good PR and lot of dollars in advertising. The only protection you have is to perform good research for yourself.

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I Get Side Effects from Propecia and No Results from Rogaine — Am I Out of Options at 22 Years Old? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

what shampoo would you recommend to someone with male pattern baldness? also, i have been on both propecia (sexual side effects), and rogaine (did not work) and i have read, on your website, that those are the only two hair loss products you would recommend. Are you telling me that, realistically, i have no other options besides going bald or getting a hair transplant? i am only 22 and have been loosing hair at an unreal rate for the past 8 months. I saw a dr., and a dermatologist and they essentially have told me the same things I see on this website. I really need to find something before I’m completely bald.

I understand your problem. First, I might recommend that we look into your loss of libido by getting testosterone levels taken by your doctor. If your testosterone levels are low, it would explain the loss of libido. Then it should be revisited by the doctor who is managing you. Don’t give up yet, but you must realize that this is the internet, not a medical facility where I am your doctor. There’s only so much I can offer at this point. You need a good doctor to manage your situation, in-person.

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I’m 56 Years Old — And My Hair Just Started Thinning About 6 Months Ago – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Dr. Rassman,

I’m 56,male and have seen my hair become generally thinner over the past 10 years. However, with exception of some recession at the temples I’ve had mostly a full head of hair until about 6 months ago. In the past 6 months my hair in the front has become rapidly thinner. Several months ago I started taking Propecia and using Procerin at the same time but I’ve not seen any results thus far. I have been coloring my hair for about 15 years and continue to do that the same as in the past. Those are the facts to date. Any ideas? Am I simply hitting old age with a crash, rather than easing into it? Thank you

Old age does not cause hair thinning — just look at Ronald Reagan at the end of his life. Hair loss starting at your age is highly unusual. You should be evaluated for your concerns and as you are in Southern California, I invite you to come see me at my Los Angeles office, where I will map out your hair and scalp for miniaturization and hopefully define the cause of your hair loss.

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So Much Hair in My Brush Every Time — Is It Cancer? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’m constantly losing hair and i’m getting worried…i’m 15 (female) and my hair lose has just got worse and worse…my hairs are everywhere around the house and even when i’m not brushing it i can still see strands and strand of hair dangelling and then when i do brush my hair my brush is completely full of hair after 2minutes of brushing it…i dont over brush my hair or underbrush it but theres a history of cancer in my family…my mum had cancer and my dads currently got cancer…could this be a sign of cancer?

This is most certainly not a sign of cancer. Normal people lose 100-150 hairs per day (not necessarily all on the brush, but throughout the course of a day). Some people obsessively count the hairs that come out, but if you are truly concerned, see a dermatologist or hair specialist.

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Using Minoxidil for Those 65+ Years Old – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

The research for minoxidil is only up to age 65. Can people over the age of 65 use it for any benefit ? It seems Propecia is useful for older people. Please let me know. Thanks

I believe that Propecia (finasteride 1mg) doesn’t work as well in men over 65 years old, because the hair loss from DHT with its associated miniaturization is usually less. Minoxidil, on the other hand, may work well in people over 65 years old, depending upon where you are applying it.

I have seen men over 70 that were put on the 5mg finasteride for prostate problems — and they regrew hair. I expect that this is unusual and I am certain that if they had a response to the 5mg dose, the same response for hair would have occurred at the 1mg dose. Finasteride is not unsafe for men over 65, but finasteride works well on men with a changing hair loss pattern, and men over 65 usually have a stable pattern.

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Hair Loss InformationWhy Can’t I Have a Hair Transplant at 17 Years Old? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’m a 16 and half year old guy. i started losing my hair since i was 13. (i was overweight and i used not to eat much) which affected me badly afterwards. i lost much hair, but i can say it has stopped. i went to several doctors and dermatologists they say that it’s hereditary (we have many bald men in our family. especially mom’s family).

it’s something that is bothering me all the time and makes me cry alot. i have nothing else to do but to undergo a hair transplant. i searched alot on the internet about that and i read a question on BaldingBlog.Com from another 16 year old guy facing the same problem of mine who wants a hair transplant too. but the doctor told him that he’s too young for a hair transplant.

My only question is … is it too risky for me to have a hair transplant ? or Why can’t i have a hair transplant at this age or at 17 ? … I think it’s the only way to get my hair back. because i’m tired of using Minoxidil and someproducts that won’t help me to get at least 90% of my hair back or something.

I’m really sorry for distrubance … but i feel hopeless about my hair.and Thanks in-advance.

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Here are some basic questions you should answer before considering a hair transplant:

  1. What do you expect to get from a hair transplant?
  2. Do you really know what a hair transplant can and can not do?
  3. If you are receding or thinning, did you get your hair mapped out for miniaturization to determine if you are really balding?
  4. If so, are you being managed by a competent, caring doctor?
  5. Are you on medications?
  6. What is the Master Plan you (or even better, your doctor) has in mind for you?

At 17 years old, you can not know much about the subject if you think that a hair transplant will solve your problem. Hair loss at 17 is at the beginning of a lifelong process and you simply can not know what type of pattern you will develop until it shows with miniaturization and/or recession/balding. You really need to develop a Master Plan before you consider doing anything. Get a good local doctor to evaluate you and start to get smarter and more educated about this.

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16 Year Old Is Losing His Juvenile Hairline and He Wants it Back! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’m only 16 but i’ve noticed the corners of my hairline are goin back, and now i can’t do all the cool styles i used to or if i try to it looks wierd, i see people like George Clooney and Ronald Reagan who have low straight hairlines and they look so much better, when i had low hair line corners i used to look soooo much better, please let me know what i can do to get back that low, straight hairline and look that good again, i’d REALLY appreciate it, thank you for your time sir.

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I do not know if Propecia (finasteride 1mg) will work in preventing your maturing hairline, because this treatment has not been directly documented — but that is the only thing that may work. The reason I say this is because the maturing process for hair (including balding in those genetically prone) uses DHT as the triggering agent within the body.

Ronald Reagan’s hairline was probably the same one he had when he was 5-10 years old. It occurs in about 4% of Caucasian men (higher in other ethnicities). Age is something that we all learn to face. We can modify it by drugs like Propecia with regard to hairlines, or staying healthy and working out for physical fitness… and of course, a good diet is very helpful. I have no doubt that sooner or later we will better link our diets to the changes in our body and learn to eat better.

For more about the maturing hairline, please see Maturation of a Hairline — Moving From Juvenile to Mature.

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Can My Hairline Start Maturing in My 30s? Or Am I Losing My Hair Suddenly? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am 36 yrs old and have been worried about losing my hair since I was 16. My hair is very thick, but I have an uneven hair line. My hair line is v shaped and has remained unchanged for 20yrs. Now I notice a slight change on one side. I never knew about a maturing hairline. In comparison to the photos shown in this site, my hairline seems ok. I don’t have any photos to send yet. Does what I’m describing sound like the mature male hairline?

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At 36 years old, it is unusual to have a maturing hairline begin, but that is a loose rule and it is possible that you are either balding or getting to your mature hairline. If you are concerned about hair loss you should see a qualified doctor for a full medical evaluation including a mapping of your frontal hairline for miniaturization.

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Hair Loss InformationUnfortunately, Some Hair Transplant Doctors Are Crooks – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Last week, I met with two patients who came to me with thinning hair. One was 19 and the other was 22. The 19 year old had very early miniaturization, evident by the measurements that were taken of his scalp, and I built a Master Plan for him and advised him to go on Propecia. The 22 year old had clear thinning in the frontal 2 inches of his hairline with 40-50% miniaturization and a thin type hair shaft. The thin hair shaft made his miniaturization look worse than if his hair had been more coarse.

Both of these young men went to these doctors before they came to see me (and no, I won’t name names). In my opinion, both patients should not have hair transplants at this time; certainly the 19 year old is not a candidate at all and probably will not be for years, and the 22 year old may become a candidate if the Propecia does not stop or reverse his hair loss to meet his goals. However, the 22 year old might be able to avoid a hair transplant if the Propecia works well for him. The lack of ethics of the two doctors who viewed both men and gave them both recommendations of 3000 grafts each reflect the ‘scum’ of the hair transplant industry. I know I’ve written on this topic a few times before, but it truly outrages me and demands this repetition. Performing surgery when it could be avoided with a simple daily medication shows that the doctors were chasing their patient’s pocketbooks, not pursuing their patients best interests. Fortunately, both patients liked my advice and will see me for a follow-up in a year or so. I am sure that they will get calls from these two doctors and/or their sales staffs and I strongly advised them to resist sales pressures to sell them what they do not need.

To make matters worse, in my normal examination I measured the hair density of the donor hair on these patients and found them both to be lower than average. That means that they might be limited as to what they can expect from a hair transplant when and if they balded. Both of the doctors that they met with just ran their hands over the patients’ scalp in the back of their heads and magically reported that they were unusually blessed with “lots of donor hair”. Neither of these doctors made a measurement of the donor density on either of these patients and as if by magic — *poof* — they had enough hair to meet the doctor’s income requirement. These scams are unfortunately common in this industry and I always warn patients that if the doctor does not precisely measure the donor density, they should run for the hills when told that their donor supply is good. Worst of all is the fact that if these men had undergone hair transplantation, their donor hair (which was limited in the first place) would be depleted, wasted, and worse yet, put in the wrong place. Over and over again I warn patients to do their diligence on the doctors they see and choose. This again, is a Buyer Beware market.

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My 7 Year Old Son Has a Very Scaly, Flaky Scalp – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

my son is a 7 years old african american. he is having the worst problem ever with his scalp. i have tried every kind od dandruff shampoo there is and still no relief. i wash his hair 2xs a week now because the flaking and the scabs are so embarrassing. after i wash his hair its looks clean and free of scales and flakes but his scalp is red. usually after 2 days of washing this whole process reoccurs with the itchy, scaly flakyness. what should i do?

If I had a 7 year old son, I would want an expert to examine and diagnose him. You need to take him to a pediatric doctor, one with an interest or experience in dermatologic conditions. There are many causes of flaky scalps and you need to consult with a good doctor.

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