Category: Uncategorized

Is there a way to tell the difference between a standard min/fin shed cycle and min/fin no longer being effective? I’ve lost a ton in the past 3-4 weeks after being on fin and min for over 14 months, and am terrified min/fin are no longer effective and that this shedding won’t stop.

If you have been on finasteride and minoxidil for 14 months are are now seeing shedding, you most likely are experiencing an acceleration of your balding. You might want to see your doctor and get an opinion. If you were my patient, I would have had a HAIRCHECK test done on you a year ago and would repeat the test to confirm new hair loss and to what degree. That is the value of the HAIRCHECK test when you start treatment.

This will be my 3rd attempt at hair transplant. How many grafts will I need and how many can my donor still provide? I would also like to blend my next HT with SMP. Please find the pictures attached. Thank you for your suggestions. Thanks.

The original donor density has to be known. It may still be possible to estimate that number but I would have to examine you and measure it myself. In addition, you did not state how many grafts you had so far and there is a suggestion of over-harvesting on the photos, but I would still have to see you to understand what your remaining supply is. SMP is the final step and should not be done until a Master Plan has been built!

Body Dysmorphic Syndrome reflects people who have Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). These people think about their real or perceived flaws for hours each day. They can’t control their negative thoughts, and don’t believe people who say they look fine since they think of themselves as deformed. Their thoughts often cause severe emotional distress and interfere with their daily functioning. They may miss work or school, avoid social situations, and isolate themselves. They even hide from family and friends, because they fear others will notice their flaws. We see this all of the time in young men with hair loss, and internet forums are replete with these men who are reaching out for help from peers, often without much benefit. Suicide is a common consideration, and when I see this from young men on hair loss forums (which I actively participate in), I often reach out to them. Here are two courageous young men who came forward to speak about it on Reddit:

Balding is the only thing I truly hate about myself from tressless

Being Ugly from tressless

What caused this and will they go away?

These “pits” are the results of the recipient site tools used by the surgeon. Small instruments usually do not produce these “pits”. Once you get hair growth, I would expect that you will hopefully not see them.

He sent me an email complaining that he couldn’t get a hair cut and had to live with this hair uncontrolled. I think he was bragging. I had performed 3200 grafts one year before.

 

4000 grafts are likely 60% or more of your donor supply. Have you considered what you would do if your hair loss pattern evolved into a more advanced balding pattern? If you are under 26, this is a significant question; however, if you are over 35, the risk of developing a more advanced pattern may not be substantial unless some male in your family line developed a later pattern of advanced balding. Who do you take after in your family line? Do you have a worst-case plan? I think 4000 grafts for a balding Class 3 pattern male is mal-practice.

Hello Doc,
I mapped my scalp for miniaturization (since no central European doctor or rocket scientist does). What I found was there was none in the front, crown, mid- anterior or top of my head, only as expected in my hairline corners. However, when I went further back at the temples, a narrow space between the sides and top of the head, going about half an inch to one inch further back than a Norwood 2 had also more fine hairs. (no recession up to there yet) This suggests Mpb, right?

Still I’m glad that after one year of hairloss it doesn’t look like I’m going bald soon, although at age 22 and a NW6 maternal grandpa one can not be sure (still all other male relatives are Class 1 or 2). I’m well aware that a self examination does not fully replace a medical one, so perhaps one day I’ll get it confirmed

After all, I wanted to thank you for your site, delivering infos, without which I would still not know about scalp mapping, mature hairlines or a master plan.

Thank you for the comments. While it may not replace a good medical examination, it is good to know that some readers can be empowered to take a proactive and objectively see the degree of thinning / miniaturization.

What you saw could suggest early MPB, but I couldn’t say for sure without seeing what you’re talking about.

I am starting to worry about doing damage by picking off my scabs. Is it OK to do that?

Absolutely, do not pick off the crusts from the recipient area as the grafts are attached to these crusts and when you pick or pull on them, the graft will come out especially in the first 2 weeks. An FUE is treated just like a regular hair transplant with regard to the recipient area, but the donor area has open wounds which require daily washing with soap and water. Within 3 days of surgery, you can resume full activities, heavy exercises if you wish. The recipient area requires daily washes as well to keep the recipient area free of crusts. I generally recommend and if you washed it properly, there will be no crusts on it, even the very next day. Use of a sponge which we supply our patients, a surgical sponge to fill with soapy water and press on the recipient area daily. By repeating this daily, all crusts can be washed off without any fear of losing grafts. IF any crusts are present, use a Q tip and dip it into soapy water, and roll it on the crusts and that will lift them off without dislodging them, but never rub them, just roll the Q tip on the recipient crust. I like to see no evidence of any crusting in the recipient area and the crusts from the donor area gone in 7-10 days with daily washing.

Dear Doctor Rassman
My question concerns my eyebrows. I shaved them for some reason I cannot even comprehend myself. They never came back. What makes it so much worse is the fact that i am a man. It bothers me more than anything else in my entire life has. It haunts me from when i wake up to when i go to bed. I have two questions i guess.

1. First of all, i don’t know why but i really don’t want to have a eyebrow transplant probably because it is in fact considered plastic surgery and is considered weird by most people i have asked. Also the continual growing could become annoying but i am not ruling it out. If you yourself were in my situation would you in fact have it done? Are most of your patients honestly happy with the results?

2. Second i am 25 years old now and by visiting your site learned of hair cloning. this seems like a much better option obviously but i have yet to understand if it is only for the top of your head or could it be implemented in something like my eyebrows. what i am getting at is if they cloned eyebrow hair would it grow normally (not like head hair)? if it is possible to clone eyebrow hairs then would you wait? probably not from reading your other responses. either way i really want to do something about this.

thank you so much for your time and again what do you think my best option is?

I find it difficult to understand how shaving your eyebrows once would cause them never to grow back. Please see a doctor and get a good diagnosis. Maybe you have other medical issues that may cause the absence of eyebrows (such as alopecia areata).

Eyebrow transplantation is a very reasonable option for many men and women who do not have eyebrows (or have thin brows). Again, please consult with a hair transplant doctor for this. It is not my place to say if you should have surgery or not. This is purely a cosmetic procedure. If you think you will be a happier person for having more eyebrow hairs, then it is your prerogative. If you would like a private consultation, you can call my office (800) NEW-HAIR or (310) 553-9913 to speak to me or Dr. Pak.

At this time, cloning isn’t an option.