9 Months After Hair Transplant (with Photos) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

This patient is a Norwood Class 6 and had one hair transplant procedure of 3,206 grafts just 9 months ago at the New Hair Institute.

This is what he had to say…

No one ever knew that I had a hair transplant or that it was even me until I told them! I had to let the secret out of the bag, because people couldn’t recognize me.

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Even after only one procedure, the change in his appearance is so remarkable, that I wanted to show off his results (with permission, of course). The photo on the left was taken just before hair transplantation, and the photo on the right was taken 9 months after. Click each image to see the full size photo. Forgive the quality of the “After” photo — there was a problem with the camera that wasn’t noticed right away.

Matthew McConaughey and Hair Transplants – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman, I am concerned that your post about Matthew McConaughey is misleading. Do you honestly believe he had transplants? Here are two reasons why I think it is unreasonable to think so. First, he had a full head of hair in movies before and directly after the picture (showing hairloss) was taken. The only way he could have had transplants is if his hairloss was sudden and his regrowth was extremely quick. Second, the results are be too good to be transplants even if used in conjuction with drugs or anything topical. I’m sure transplants can make make a big difference, but not that big of one. If he did have transplants then the pictures of your work appear to pale in comparison to the kind of work that can be done. I don’t think your work is substandard to anyone. I think he uses a hairpiece. Are you worried at all that passing his improvement off as a transplant will give people unrealistic expectations as to what hair transplants can do and perhaps unduly persuade people to get hair transplants. Also, do you think hair transplant doctors may be attributing Matthew’s results to hair tranplants in fear of losing people to the hairpiece business?
Sincerely,
Concerned

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Just to be clear for the readers of this blog, your question is in reference to the post I made back in May regarding Regenix and the role it may have played in the hairline restoration of this actor.

I have no first hand knowledge of Matthew McConaughey. From photos I have seen of him, there is obviously a big change in his hairline between the older pictures and his current presentation. If the change reflected a hair system, then it is a good one. In the movies, this is done quite often for balding actors, and there are people primping and grooming the hair piece just before they are on film to achieve the best possible look. If the change reflected a hair transplant, then he had a good hair transplant surgeon. Photographs show us what the photographer wants us to see. A hair piece (a wig) would be instantaneous, while a hair transplant would take 8 months to grow out.

As far as expectations, look at the change a hair transplant made in broadcaster Steve Hartman, as featured on the NHI website. The results were at least as good as a great wig, but since it is his real hair growing from his head, he doesn’t have to worry about the costly maintenance or smell issues associated with hair pieces.

I’ve posted links to these photos before, but they are worth reposting to show the dramatic change in Mr. McConaughey’s hairline.

Hairline Receding on One Side More than Other – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doctor Rassman, I’ve read your profile. You’ve made quite a lot of achievements. Congrats!
And now on to my question, I’m 19 years of age and my hairline is receding a lot towards the left than the right. My left side is roundish but the right side is still squared yet receding. I can actually feel the emptiness on the left side and that’s really freaking me out. I am also able to see through the hair…meaning that I’m seeing less hair up there but I dunno if it shrunk in diameter. Its like it went from jungle thick to like how a forest would look after a large fire. There’s also small bald gaps in my hairline. This is all very embarrasing for someone my age as it depicts an unhealthy aging teenager. I tend to wear tuques most of the time and I know I can’t do that all my life. I only work part time a few hours a week therefore I dont think I can afford Propecia. Are there any other drugs or methods you can suggest? Thanks.

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Hair loss is often asymetrical. Usually, when one side becomes worse, the other side catches up with it. Eventaully, if you have male patterned genetic hair loss, you will continue the process. Propecia works well to stop it, slow it down, or reverse it, particularly in young men like you. You need to have your scalp mapped out for miniaturization and get a diagnosis first. Then a good doctor can treat you properly.

Hair Loss InformationTransplanting Very Bald Patients – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

how much “coverage and density” can a norwood 6 patient actually achieve? All your photos of men with 6 or 7 norwood, all have “comb over” type hair styles? How come u never show any pics of the back of the finished product(or crown)?

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A person with a Norwood Class 6 pattern will have lost 50-60% of his natural hair. A person with a Class 7 pattern will have lost between 70-80% of his natural hair. If you move half of the permanent zone of an average man, the most you can yield would be about 15,000-20,000 hairs (or 7,500/10,000 grafts in a series of about 3-4 surgeries). That would mean the coverage mathematics, of let’s say 60% of the total area of originally hairy scalp, can only receive maximally 20,000 hairs in an area that originally had 60,000. This is at best 1/3rd of the original density. In actuality, one rarely ge’s out that much and more likely 12,000-15,000 hairs is maximal. In the person with a Class 7 pattern and 80% hair loss by count, the maximum overall density in the recipient area is 80/12 or 15% of the total original density. We usually weight it to the front so that there is a comb-back effect, moving more density to the place where the greatest impact will occur. We could weight it to the front and sides, with a good comb-over produced (front to back or side to side). Either approach works. The crown is often sacrificed with the lowest densities placed there favoring the front or the sides, as the case may be. So you are correct, the densities in the less favored areas are ‘covered’ with some type of comb-over.

I posted these photos a few months ago here, but it is worth displaying them again to show that the results of weighting the frontal hairline can be very good, even though the crown is not as dense. Patient ZU is in his mid 60’s and had multiple procedures totalling 6,036 follicular unit grafts transplanted. “Before” is on the left, “after” is on the right. Click the photos to enlarge.



You can see more of his before and after photos on the NHI site: Patient ZU

Finer Hairs at Hairline – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Dr.Rassman,
I am a 29yr old caucasian male who has over the last few years been dealing with questions of hairloss. Thus far there is nothing dramatic to speak of – no noticably thinning or balding areas. There is however one thing that has led to a good deal of concern – it can best be described as light or whispy hair around the frontal hairline (from temple to temple). My hair has always been quite fine in nature and until a few years ago a light brown color rather than the dark brown it has become. In recent years I have grown my hair out quite long – opting for the ‘rocker’ look as friends call it. If I pull my hair back I dont notice any loss at all – it looks like a regular hairline – but the hairs that make up the first cm (rough estimate) are lighter in pigment and fine in composition compared with hairs deeper in the scalp. Aside from the minor difficulties this phenomenon creates when attempting to style my hair I’ve been wondering if this is an example of the ‘miniaturization’ process that you have described. I have no signs anywhere else of this phenomenon – just the fringe of the frontal hairline. No crown thinning, no overall diffuse thinning, no temple thinning – and that is what is driving me crazy! If it were more extreme I would be prone to take some action be it drugs, topicals or other treatments. With this said however the lack of action kills me just as much because I wonder if I’m not acting when I should be – nipping my possible hairloss in the bud so to speak. Please let me know if you feel this is an example of ‘miniaturization’ or not and any course of action I should consider taking. Thank-you.

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To really answer your question directly, you should be examined and have your scalp mapping of your hair for miniaturization, which is best done under magnification with a visualizing high power microscopic tool, like our densitometer. Fine hairs often exist in the very front of the hairline, but in regards to what you refer to, I am not sure if you mean the mature hairline that has probably evolved from your child hairline (age 10 or so), which is often lower and thicker. I would want to see pictures and possibly meet with you in person to make such assessments. If you’d like to send photos, you can email them to the address on the Contact page.

Natural Looking Hairlines – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. William Rassman,
is it possible to restore the original hairline through hair transplant since my hairline had receded so much but not completely bald & its really affecting my self confidence. is it too early for me to undergo this procedure or should i go ahead? whats the best hair transplant method that gives a more natural looking hairline? thanks

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You did not state your age and without a photo it is impossible to go into detail about whether a procedure is right for you or not. Hair transplantation today can be and should be undetectable and able to produce a completely natural hairline. The appropriateness of the surgery depends on the individual assessment of each person. There are hundreds of patient hairlines on our website, and you are invited to come to one of our open house events in Los Angeles and San Jose to meet patients directly, so you can see for yourself what can be achieved.

For a great example of what is possible in hair transplantation, please see the Steve Hartman feature on the NHI site. There are larger photos available on the previous blog entry, Where Are the Celebrity Transplant Photos?.

Hairline Myth – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My frontal hair line is receding and i want to bring it back to a decent level. This is affecting my confidence. I have been advised to cut all my hair off with a blade finish to bring back my original hair line. Is this true will it work? Please suggest to me any form of medication that will quickly bring back my frontal hair line. Thank you.

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Cutting or shaving your hair to make it grow faster, better, and stronger is a myth. Shaving your face, does not make your beard grow.

For the hairlines in Caucasian men, a change occurs sometime between 18-29 years of age when (in about 95% of men) it rises about 1/2 inch from the middle to about 1 1/4 inch on the sides. The higher corners make us take on the somewhat typical mature male look, which is distinctly different from the rounder corners found in the typical female hairline (or child’s hairline). You should have yourself evaluated by a good doctor to find out if you have genetic hair loss, do something about your problem and find out if it is real, or not.

On some movie stars and male models who need their youthful hairline, I have put it back where it was in their more youthful days. These men should also take Propecia to prevent more hair loss. It seems that their jobs (and their very high incomes) depend upon the very youthful look so transplanting it back is easy for a skilled hair transplant surgeon.

Looking Like Art Garfunkel – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am a 26 year old male, I’ve experienced rather quick hairloss (forehead line receeding, especially in the upper corners) over only 1 and 8 month period. It started when I began to get chest hair growing in. So I assume I’m experiencing genetic MPB due to testosterone changes. Its only getting worse. I’m new to all the drugs and treatments available. What course of action should i take? I dont want to look like Art Garfunkel.

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You have just determined the absolute identifier for reaching the age where DHT kicks in. The appearance of chest hair is the biggest sign that DHT is now working on you. As you get even older you will see nose and ear hair as well; I should know, I am 63 years old. Propecia (finasteride) is a DHT blocker that will slow down the effects of DHT, but will not stop the chest hair completely. It will also probably slow down, stop, or reverse the hair loss. I recommend that you see a doctor and get on that medication. You need to have your hair and scalp analyzed for miniaturization so that good measurements will tell you where you are going to be as the treatment takes hold.

And for those too young to know who Art Garfunkel is, this is the hair style that the question-asker was referring to: Art Garfunkel.

Celebrity Hair Transplants – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Because this site was mentioned in the “Matthew McConaughey’s Miracle Hair” article in New York Magazine this week (see my blog entry from yesterday for details), I have been inundated with questions about celebrities and their hair transplants. One notable magazine asked for us to give access to some famous celebrities to talk about hair loss and the treatment for hair loss, like transplants.

It obviously would be improper for us to respond with names of celebrities who may or may not have had hair transplants. The point that I want to make here is that today’s modern hair transplant can be completely undetectable. Please take a look at Patient NU for a wonderful, closely cropped hairline. His hairline was lowered about 2 inches, including restoring the widow’s peak and temples. After you look at this patient’s photos, I challenge you to detect the difference between a completed hair transplant and the hair on a non-balding person.

Here’s the large “after” photos of Patient NU. Click these thumbnails to view the full-size images. To compare these to the “before” photos, please visit Patient NU’s profile. Also, this patient had temple transplants many years ago, and his results are available here and here.




There are many funny stories about celebrities and their not-so-unique sensitivity to their hair loss. For most men, there is some loss of maleness, like a lion without his mane. Men feel that if they lose hair that they will lose their sex appeal. There is some truth about that statement. The stars who are our sex idols (like Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, George Clooney, and Mel Gibson) all have normal non-transplanted heads of hair, as far as I know. The patient in the pictures above wanted a pointed hairline like actor Andy Garcia. If Andy Garcia cut his hair short, this is most likely what it would look like. You would be completely surprised with the names of some of the men who I did transplants on, from heads of state, to movie stars who absolutely never, ever were detected as having had a hair transplant. The good news is that today’s hair transplants, done in the right hands, are completely undetectable, even by their hair dressers.

I treat all of my patients as celebrities; they are entitled to their privacy and to the best surgical techniques available. I am not just the hair transplant surgeon who defined the modern techniques of hair transplants, but I have also been a patient, and know how important our public image is to our personal well being.

15 Year Old Female with High Hairline – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Im fifteen years old with a weird high hairline. It is goes into an ‘n’ shape like my hairline is receding. I’ve been made fun so much and I need to find a surgery quick!

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There is never a ‘quick’ answer for a 15 year old. If you are like my daughter was in her teens, yesterday is never soon enough, but if you have a high hairline, it can be treated (see previous blog answer on this subject in High Hairlines in Women). If you bring your parents in to a competent plastic surgeon’s office or a hair specialist like me, we can discuss what can and should be done to deal with your concerns. At the same time, a specialist’s opinion is valuable in itself.