Restore a Norwood 7 to a Norwood 3 or 4? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear Dr Rassman,
thanks for taking your time to help where you can with our balding problems. This has been discussed before, but wouldn’t it be better (and possible) to restore a Norwood 7 patient to a norwood 3-4 with a very high, feathery forelock (like Sting) IF he also wants coverage in the crown and has “only” normal density and calibre? I know that too much density is bad with high lying hairlines is bad (eg Nic Cage) whereas Sting does look good with his current hairline. Have you ever done that or would do it if a patient requested it?

We do what you are stating all the time! We focus on the frontal area first to frame the face. That almost always works and the hairline is put in the normal mature position. We negotiate with the patient where else to put the hair based upon how much he has available for transplantation. You can see our before and after photos here. Patients who are Norwood 7 may not get their entire head of hair back, but we can create a non-balding “frame” to their face and give them a hairline and a stronger forelock (if they choose).

I often show Patient ZU, who was a Class 7 with very advanced balding and had a remarkable hair transplant result. That patient had a very high hair density, so he was able to achieve such wonderful results. When we started to do his surgeries, I placed the first hairline in the normal mature position and initially we worked out that we might not have enough hair to fill in the crown. We were all surprised as his donor hair supply kept up with our desire for more hair.

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Is There a Normal Amount of Miniaturized Hair in Women? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello,
Can there be a “normal” amount of minaturized hairs throughout your head without a balding problem present?

I’m wondering because just from observing women’s hair, woman of all ages, I’ve noticed a lot of woman with some wispy hairs sticking out on different areas of their head, but these woman are without signs of hair loss. Do people have a normal about of miniturized hair through out their head? Or perhaps are these wispy hairs caused by blow drying,coloring,etc.

Thank you and hope you can answer my question.

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A “follicular unit” has full terminal mature hairs and some vellus (shorter and thinner) hairs. If you take a small area of your scalp (like the size of a pea) and cut down the hair, the thinner hairs produced by the miniaturization process in genetic balding may not be distinguished from vellus hairs (both hairs have smaller diameters). When I look at the scalp under intense magnification, I will often see some hairs that have thinner hair shafts. I generalize that a normal non-balding person will have less than 20% of the hairs that I see with finer hair shafts. They may be miniaturized hairs of the balding process if they impact the entire follicular unit to some degree OR they may really be vellus hairs in their numbers are less than 20% of the follicular unit hair count.

Roger Ebert Mentions a Supposed Michael Jackson Hair Hoax – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Movie critic Roger Ebert reviewed the blogs of people that comment on his own blog. One of the reviews mentions a blog that writes about a Michael Jackson hair conspiracy, of sorts. Ebert writes:

The Michael Jackson Hair Accident Hoax” is exposed by Richard Voza at “Brainsnorts.” Oh, yes it is. He includes Jackson photos from before the accident (”notice the corners developing on the sides of his forehead? notice the balding that has begun? he’s losing his hair, so he’s taking pieces of the remaining hairline and greasing the hairs on his skin to cover up the bald spot.“) Then there’s the famous fiery video footage, in which you can’t see if it’s really Jackson.

Obviously Roger Ebert was poking fun at the craziness of one of his own readers, but coincidentally, I had a recent social opportunity to talk about Michael Jackson’s fire accident with a few plastic surgeons from Beverly Hills. One plastic surgeon knew someone who examined Jackson, while another surgeon had heard some details through the grapevine (though both stories were not consistent with each other). What seemed to be a common thread was that Michael Jackson had a 3rd degree burn to the scalp, the size (area) of which is unclear. Third degree burns are very dangerous. I am also of the impression that he had genetic hair loss going on, but the degree of loss is also unclear.

Note: These are rumors, and was I was not involved in his care I have no firsthand knowledge. Granted, if I was involved then I would never speculate about his situation either.

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Water Never Touched My Head for 2 Weeks – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,
i recently left my hair unwashed for about 2 weeks, plz dont ask me why, when i say unwashed i mean i never even used water. eventually when did wash i had a lot of hair loss, probably aboyt 200-300 hairs and my hair was very oily too. is this normal? i also wanted to ask you, do you if someone living in the uk can ask their GP to write prescription for proscar.

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ShowerAre you asking if not washing yourself for 2 weeks is normal? I’d have to say no. The hair loss you have seen is probably just shed hair (about 100 per day is normal or 1400 per 2 week period) and these are from the normal hair cycling which were trapped amongst other hairs. Hairs that get entangled on your scalp are normal if you did not wash, but washing your hair will free them up and it might look like a massive loss all at once. I’m speculating, of course, as I haven’t seen you or the loss you describe.

The oiliness isn’t surprising, as you hadn’t washed your hair or scalp in some time and the glands around each and every hair follicle secrets sebum (an oily substance) every minute of every day.

Finasteride is available in the UK, so I don’t see why you couldn’t ask your doctor for a prescription. If you don’t have genetic hair loss though, I doubt you’d get the prescription.

Did Steroids Make My Hair Fall Out? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I took steroids for 2 months and it made my hair on the top of my head thin dramatically. I do not have a receding hairline but I have lost a lot of density up top. My question is did the steroids kill my hair follicle within 2 months and it is gone never to come back or did the steroids I take make the follicles go into telogen? I was under the assumption that MPB takes more than a couple of months and a prolonged period for the follicle to die. It makes a big difference to know whether this hair loss is temporary versus permanent!!! THANKS IN ADVANCE

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Steroids do not “kill” your hair follicles, but they can accelerate androgenic alopecia (this is assuming that you have androgenic alopecia). Each person reacts differently to the steroid, so I really can not answer your question. Your doctor may elect to take miniaturization measurements of your hair, do a work up for telogen effluvium, and start you on finasteride (Propecia) or minoxidil (Rogaine) if he feels that these things will help return your hair to normal. The worst part of steroid use is it occasionally starts a latent state of genetic alopecia and moves it along faster. You need to be under the care of a good doctor.

Hair Loss InformationThe Masturbation Brigade Returns – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I find your information inaccurate, and I personally disagree. Me and many like me, suffering from many symptoms of excessive masturbation. A major notice sign is thinning hair, and hair loss. Ive noticed that you have photos of older generation, I doubt these people suffering from masturbating addiction. Check this site if you want to know the truth about excessive masturbation. it explains in detail.

ayurvediccure.com

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Door knobI don’t understand people like you. Truly, you confuse me. I seem to get emails like yours in clusters — I’ll read nothing about masturbation and hair loss, then suddenly I’ll get a dozen emails within a couple of days from various people all telling me I’m wrong and trying to prove it by telling me that you notice your hair thinning when you masturbate. I’m sure you also see hair loss after you sleep, so why not avoid that, too?

And what is this you mention of the older generation? Do you think masturbating was invented in the 1980s or 90s? Give me a break. Your “proof” is some holistic “cure” website that states wrong information about masturbating, but includes ordering instructions for a pill that will make you “last longer” and will solve all of your problems. If you believe that, you are ridiculously misguided and I might have a bridge or two to sell you. I don’t know what else I can say to help you or people like you understand that there is simply no link. Just because your mother told you to not masturbate or you’d go bald, it does not make it true. My mother told me that when my hand itched, that meant money was coming to me… and yet I’m smart enough to know to not expect coins to rain down every time I get a tingle in my hand.

I don’t know what more I can write about this topic than I already have. It’s not like I have something to gain by telling you there’s no connection. Last I checked, there was no tax on masturbating, nor do I care if you do it or not. Slam it in a door if you want!

You will also not lose hair from masturbating, nor will you go blind, deaf, and you certainly will not grow hair on your palms. These are old wives tales to prevent kids from touching themselves, many times created for religious reasons. So please read this carefully — there is no link between hair loss and masturbation. The end.

Search Results for “copper peptides” | WRassman,M.D. BaldingBlog

1. In my practice, I use a copper peptide shampoo for the first week as an option for hair transplant patients. My practice and thoughts on copper peptides is not new or different. 2. It does not promote hair growth nor does it provide much soothing effect on itchy scalp. I do know that minoxidil […]


2013-12-12 12:52:09Copper Peptides For My Itchy Transplant Scar?

50% Miniaturization and Losing Hair When You’re Young – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

dr rassman
in your experience is it always evident that the earlier the balding process begins the more advanced the pattern will be? or can an individual simply be limited to losing only his crown at 20 years old then have the hairloss stabilize?

also when someone is diagnosed as having 50 % miniaturization does that refer to their entire scalp or a specific area (ie the crown is 50% miniturized)

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It is possible that you could start losing hair early and have it stabilize. When Dr. Norwood did the original study for classifying hair loss, he did note that of those men who progressed to a Class 6, the hair loss started in their early 20s. But, your hair loss pattern is decided by your genetics. Or in other words, if you lose your crown hair at 20 years old it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be a Norwood 7 by the time you’re 30.

But in your case with 50% miniaturization, I assume whoever did that test was talking about the entire scalp, not just the crown. I don’t know how the measurements were taken, though. If you have 50% miniaturization throughout the top of your head, you’re likely going to have a large balding area. I generally measure each area in the balding patterns so that I can predict where the patient might go as they lose their hair. From these numbers, i will re-look at the patient in a year and see if there were benefits from medication and assess what the value of the drug was in modifying the hair loss pattern and rate of appearance.

I’m in My 60s and Worried About Possible Shock Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’m thinking about an HT, and after reading all your topics I see my biggest concern is shock loss. I’m a 61 year old male and have a high degree of miniaturization in the proposed recipient area. In one of your responses, I believe you recommended not having an HT for thinning hair?

You often recommend Propecia for younger men and say it might prevent shock loss for possibly 90+ cases? You also recommend taking Propecia 2 weeks to a month in advance of the HT(but even the day before the HT is better than not at all?). Would this advice apply to an older guy like me? Or if I’m correct that you would not advise cases of older age onset thinning to not seek HT?

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Propecia works at any age to prevent shock loss. It is best to use this medication in advance of the surgery (at least 2-4 weeks). Older men generally have less hair transplant shock loss than younger men. I would need to know more about your miniaturization and your last 1-2 year history of hair loss. At 61 years old, few men are actively losing hair.

My 3 Year Old Has a Scar on Her Scalp with Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dear Sir,

I have read responses on your most helpful website. I hope you can help me.

My 3 year old daughter had a laceration to the back of her head 4 weeks ago. The cut was closed at hospital casualty with medical glue. The scar is about 4cm in length. The area around the scar is bald (say 2cm to 3cm either side).

Please could you advise if you think the hair will grow back on the area not scarred? I note with interest that you were in Vietnam. From what I have read the medical glues were first used there. Do you know if they led to such cases of baldness? If so, was it just short term? Also what can be done for hair restoration on the scar itself e.g. will hair grow back? Is it best left? can a transplant be done if necessary?.

This is really worrying me. Kind regards

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Some hairs should grow back, but there may be an area where hair will not regrow. Medical glue does not cause scarring, but the lacerations will.

Hair transplantation can be done if necessary, but you should wait at least one year to allow hair to regrow to see what happens. Having a hair transplant at 4 years old is generally not advisable for fixing the scar, so perhaps you should wait until your daughter is older until she has a maturity level to undergo such a procedure. The best age will be determined between you and her doctor. Most girls under 8 years old do not really focus on small scars.