Hair Transplantation – Page 76

October 19, 2009

How Soon After FUE Can I Wear a Baseball Cap Without Being Careful? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr.

First of all thank you for having such an informative and helpful site. I wish other doctors would spend the time to have a site like this rather than having their sites full of promotional and marketing tricks. My questions is very simply.

I recently had ( 3 weeks ago ) a FUE procedure of 2600 fues to the zone 1 and zone 2. My question is… how soon can I start wearing a baseball cap/hat WITHOUT being extra careful with it. Meaning that the hat can touch the recipient area and also be a bit tight. My doctor say to wait a YEAR before I do this but it seems to be a bit too much. He said I can wear a hat after 30 days but making sure it is very loose and that it doesn’t touch the scalp. I find this very difficult to do given the locations where I received grafts.

I would like very much to know your opinion on this. Thank you!

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Once the scabs are off, you can wear a hat or do anything that is reasonable. The donor area should be healed by this time. I’m not your doctor and I don’t know how your procedure was done, but that is the instructions I give my patients. You should double check with your surgeon, of course.

October 16, 2009

African American Female Hairline Lowering in NY? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman

I am an African American female with a congenital high hair line. I have always hated the vastness of my forehead and am limited to hairstyles with bangs. I would like to have have my hairline lowered. Because of keloid risks I would probably opt for transplants instead of surgery.

My questions are; do you know of any good or great surgeons in NYC or surrounding area who have experience in this type of surgery? Everything I see is in Beverly Hills or Oakland Ca. And also, if I choose to have implants do I have to go to a surgeon who does implants or can I go to a hair restoration institute? Thanks for your time.

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I can’t say for sure either way about the keloids or whether you’re a candidate for surgery, but I do know that Dr. Robert Bernstein in Manhattan would be the person to see in New York. I have worked with him for more than 10 years and we co-authored Hair Loss and Replacement for Dummies.

October 15, 2009

Hair Loss InformationI Want Scar Revision and Then FUE to Eliminate My Scar Completely – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,

First of all I want to thank you for this informative blog. I have searched this wonderful blog and have found numerous postings relating scars and hair transplant. Here’s my case: I have what “they” call a coronal scar that runs from ear to ear. What I want is to completely cover the scar through a FUE procedure, but I want my scalp to be like how it first was, normal. My research has been conclusive and I first want to have a scar revision surgery to reduce the width of the scar, once that is done i want to follow some type of scar treatment to make the scar less obvious in color (seems like the scar gets pink/red after a scar revision surgery). Afterward get the FUE procedure and go from there. Is there any treatments that you would suggest?

I want the scar to be inconspicuous to the point to be able to cut the hair in the military/short hair style, because ultimatley i want to join the military as an officer.

Best Regards

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Your plan is good, but it may not be realistic to have the scar completely hidden. Even if the hair in the scar is brought up to near normal density (which may take a few FUE procedures), there is often a color difference in the remaining scar, though of course it will be hidden with FUE grafts.

As you are local to my Los Angeles office, please arrange to see me so that I can ascertain a plan that matches yours. Any preparatory treatments can be assessed and recommended when you see me. You can call 800-NEW-HAIR (or 310-553-9113) to schedule a free consultation with myself or Dr Pak.

October 14, 2009

FUE Affordability and Restoration Robotics – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman. I’m 25 and have been following your site for a few years now since my hair started thinning at 22. I’ve been taking finasteride though and it’s kept it at bay…

I have a couple of questions for you if you please:

1) Any chance that FUE can become more affordable soon? Am I right in thinking that a FUE procedure of 2000 grafts would cost over $15,000 nowadays? Any chance it could drop to $10,000 soon?

2) This question is sort of related to the one above – Do you have any updates on the Restoration Robotics FUE procedures? All I know is that there are trials being carried out here. You mentioned before you had granted them use of your license… Have you enquired as to whether they’re seeing any success? Any chance the robotic technique will result in cheaper FUE procedures?

That’s all. I really hope you can answer these questions which have been on my mind (and many others I’m sure) for a while now.

Best Regards

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Robot Costs for follicular unit extraction (FUE) will follow a supply/demand formula. Although many physicians perform FUE procedures, the failure rate is very high, so buying 2000 FUE grafts may mean that you purchase the delivery of these grafts, but survival may not follow the delivery because of damage done at the time of extraction. There are many groups working on mechanisms to deliver quality FUE grafts that will not be damaged so that they grow. Many groups have devised better tools and have announced them at the various ISHRS conferences and elsewhere (Drs. Feller, Harris, Boudjema, Cole, and myself).

Restoration Robotics will require FDA clearance before their product can be released for commercial application. The other devices are what the FDA calls Class 1 devices, which do not require FDA approval. I’m not sure of their progress at the present time, nor do I know of any costs, though doctors will still likely set their own pricing. My guess (and I am not privy to any info, so this is entirely speculative) is that the equipment start-up costs will be substantial and like any other product or service, costs will come down at some point in the future when it becomes available to a wider market. How near of a future, I couldn’t tell you. One step at a time.

Note: The image is of a violin-playing robot developed by Toyota. It won’t do hair transplants, but it might play you a song.

October 14, 2009

Hair Loss InformationI Had a Hair Transplant 7 Months Ago and It Still Doesn’t Grow Right – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I had a hair transplant about seven months ago. It was performed April 5 2009. I had been cutting my hair all this time because I am in the military. but started to grow it out the last two weeks. but it still looks funny. What I mean by that is when it grows it doesn’t match the rest of the hair. the back hair is more full, and the front looks like stitches. Is this normal after seven months? How long do I have to let it grow to make it match the rest of my hair?

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I do not know about your hair transplants or how the procedure was performed. I do not know what your expectations were or if you were given realistic expectations. So I really cannot comment on what you are experiencing. Keep in mind that not all hair transplant procedures are the same. The doctor and the team you chose can either produce great results or substandard results, depending upon their experience and skills. It is not like shopping for a car.

The best advice is to follow up with your doctor. Sometimes it can take a full year for 95% of the growth to be evident. At 7 months, I would expect 60-80% growth.

October 13, 2009

Besides Propecia, What Else Can I Do to Prevent Shock Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello Dr. Rassman,

What precautionary steps can a younger man take in order to help prevent and/or lessen the effects of shockloss? I know it’s important to be have been on Propecia for several months, but what else can contribute? Will having the recipient area shaved help? I’m likely to have some hairline touch-up work. Would having a less-dense prodcedure (decent amount of native hair remains) impact less trauma on the recipient zone, thereby reducing potential shockloss, or does the point become moot regardless of the density placed? Thanks.

Shock loss can occur regardless of density, and there is really not much you can do. Taking Propecia is the best option to try to prevent shock loss, though I guess another option would be not to have surgery at all. You have to weigh the risk vs the reward. If you have more to lose than gain, then I would be very cautious.

Surgery is not always the answer… and it is not reversible, which is why I’ve often said that the good news and the bad news about hair transplants is the permanence. Be sure to pick a good doctor you trust and have seen his/her work on previous patients (in person is best) before you get a hair transplant, and do not be driven by the best price you can find.

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October 13, 2009

What Hair Can Shock Loss Effect? — and the Cost of Hair Transplant Surgery – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I can only afford to have my bald patches of my hairline transplanted (FUE) so no other areas of hair will be near. Will the shock loss only affect the donor follicles? or does all of your head hair fall out?

Quilt While price/cost is a factor for any cosmetic surgery, it should not dictate the surgery itself. Having cosmetic surgery is not like shopping for the cheapest loaf of bread, laundry detergent, or shoes.

When shock loss occurs, it may be the result of the anesthesia given to numb the head for the transplant and may cover a large area of the scalp, not just the area where the grafts are placed. The mechanical impact of the transplant may not be the cause of shock hair loss. You also have to look at the big picture. We call this the Master Plan. Surgery must be placed along your hair loss timeline and it will be progressive. In other words, you can’t just transplant hair to the small bald patches and expect that to solve your problem, as the balding process is regional. What if you lose more hair around the transplant and behind it as your balding continues? A good doctor should give you insight on your worst case scenario and plan for such consequences. After all, you don’t want to have small patches of transplanted hair scattered around your bald scalp in the years down the line “IF” you were to go bald.

To answer your question in further detail, shock loss is a concern… and while it may not happen, it is a risk. I have addressed your question with the assumption that you have genetic male pattern baldness and not just a patch of bald scalp (which is very rare in genetic balding). Either way, you need a Master Plan created with a doctor (not just me on the Internet) who is willing to look at your hair loss problem as a long term process.

For the follicular unit extraction (FUE), you need to understand it does not work to fill in the scalp balding areas like a patchwork quilt. Do not let the cost of FUE be the primary reason in your decision making process as to what to do and where to put the hair. It is better to be bald than be disfigured with a half-ass surgery.

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October 6, 2009

Transplanting Neck Hair to My Mustache? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I had a question regarding a moustache transplant. I have a sparse moustache and thin hair on my head. I’m concerned that my head hair would not be thick enough for facial hair. I was wondering if it is possible to transplant my much thicker coarser beard hair on my neck to thicken my moustache without too much scarring. My beard goes all the way down to my chest and I hate shaving it anyways. Thanks

Hair from anywhere on the body can be transplanted to another location. Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is a good way to do a limited number of hair transplants into a mustache. This is something that you and your doctor should discuss.

Remember, however, that hair from different areas on the body have different hair cycles, which means that if the telogen (resting) cycle is long and the anagen (growing) cycle is short, then less of the hairs will be working for you at any one time. You can learn more about hair growth cycles here.

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October 2, 2009

Using Rogaine on Transplanted Hair Area – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Doc,

Nice to know of this site. I appreciate your help in answering queries for hair loss victims. I am 27 yr old male and I had a hair transplant on my crown earlier this year and to date its more than 7 months. The transplanted hair looks good but its not covering my full scalp. I think I need an another procedure. I am on generic finerstride and minidoxil 5%. I wanted to check with you regarding the usage of rogaine. if I use the rogaine on my transplanted hair area, is there any chance if at all it is there to grow new hair in those gaps.

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If there is a chance Rogaine (minoxidil) will grow hair between your hair transplants, it is a very small one… and if it does grow hair, it will not likely cover your bald area. Isn’t that why you had a hair transplant in the first place? Unless I’m misunderstanding you, why didn’t you try the medications before your first hair transplant to see if they might help?

October 2, 2009

Using Botox to Reduce Scar Widening After a Hair Transplant? – Balding Blog

I read that some doctors have suggested that Botox can help in the reduction of scar widening following a hair transplant. If this is true, why don’t doctors use this routinely?

Botox Botox (Botulinum Toxin Type A) works by paralyzing muscles. If the widened scar was the result of muscle pull, then the idea would make sense. Let’s take a look at the anatomy:

In the area below where the donor area is taken out lies a muscle that is called the occipitalis muscle. It has the unique character of not attaching to any tendons or bones, and is a vestigial muscle that has no real function in humans. It does not connect to the scar, so paralyzing this muscle will have no benefit. The only other muscle in the vicinity of the donor area is the occipital head of the trapezius muscle, which inserts on the occipital bone on the skull and its purpose is to allow you to lift your head and hold it upright. Paralyzing this muscle might just give you a head drop, which would not be a good idea. I am not sure what else might be paralyzed to help heal the donor wounds.

In conclusion, it does not makes sense to use Botox for scar stretching prevention.

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