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I Have a Hard Time Rejecting the FDA Approval of the LaserComb

In the world of hair loss, sufferers quickly learn to veer on the side of caution when approaching new “remedies.” It is for this reason that I stand behind your skepticism of the Hairmax lasercomb, despite recent FDA approval. But something about this really bothers me. If we can’t even trust the FDA when they tell us that something grows hair, who can we trust? How can we pick and choose which of their approvals to accept? The lack of any real clinical data might make the comb especially fishy, but I have a hard time just rejecting the FDA stamp. They wouldn’t lie to us, would they?

Please see my previous posts on the subject —Why Are You Suspicious of the FDA and the LaserComb Now? and HairMax LaserComb Receives FDA Approval?.

Even though the stationary laser has some scientific documentation in the European literature, thie stationary lasers are far more intensive a treatment than a few strokes of a comb, which I can not believe will produce any long term effect such as is reported. It’s not that I don’t want it to work, I really would like to be wrong on my stance, but I don’t believe in ‘fairy tale’ miracles. The cost to the individual consumer is not great (between $500-700), but the doctors and the company that is promoting it stand to make a fortune. There are many such fortunes made in various hair solutions on the market that just don’t work, so this now joins the group of what may be another successful marketing product. Only time will tell if it works. I really can not endorse the hair comb at this time, but alas, it is a Buyer Beware issue. The good news is that the buyer will not risk much more than his dollars to find out the answer for him. I can see no down side, other than potential disappointment and loss of money if it doesn’t work as you’d hoped — but really, that goes with along with most things in life. Balding men seem to chase rainbows when there is a potential cure available. Many disappointed people may eventually come to see me because of such comments and with honesty as the best policy, maybe it will benefit the practice of honorable doctors in the hair restoration field who can really put their hair back. I hope that people who can benefit from drugs like finasteride (Propecia), don’t put off treating their hair loss while they wait for the comb to do its thing, the thing that may not happen.


2007-02-21 19:36:03I Have a Hard Time Rejecting the FDA Approval of the LaserComb

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I Have Been Unable to Sleep Well Since I Have Taken Finasteride over the past 2 Weeks

i have sleep disturbances with fin for nearly 2 weeks … usually i sleep ( 9-10 ) hours now … i woke up in the middle of the night and i sleep just 4 or 5 hours and can’t continue and feel sleepy throughout the day … is there any chance that side effect disappear by time ? because it affects me in my work and in my life generally …. if i took fin before sleeping could that help ? .. or just quitting is the only solution ? … i need to know your opinions because i can’t live like that !

Sleep disorders with finasteride are not reported. This could be psychological.


2019-09-12 12:16:19I Have Been Unable to Sleep Well Since I Have Taken Finasteride over the past 2 Weeks

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You shouldn’t see the grafts!

A good transplanted hairline will have a transition zone created in front of the larger grafts (2-3 hairs each) so that there is an easy gradation from forehead to thicker hair. This picture shows the absence of a transition zone and hair lined up like soldiers, not a random normal placement of the grafts. In addition, the transplant is not aligned to the forelock so it was poorly planned. This surgery was done recently by another clinic.


2020-09-25 10:11:35You shouldn’t see the grafts!

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I Have Hairy Shoulders, Back, and Chest — Will I Have MPB?

Hi Doc. I have a few questions regarding male pattern balding and hormones.

  1. I obviously have a lot of DHT as I am 22 and have hair on my shoulders, back and chest and had bad acne growing up. Does this mean that I will be more susceptible to MPB?
  2. I have a widows peak that I inherited from my father. He is in his 50’s and the only extent of balding happened before his mid twenties that resulted in a pronounced widows peak. Does this mean That I will probably follow his pattern? if I have more DHT that he does is there a greater chance that I will have more balding…or is your pattern of balding predetermined…regardless of the amount of DHT you have.
  3. I have noticed miniaturized hair falling out every once in a while, they are thin but still as long as the rest of the hair. Does this always mean MPB or does some hair naturally miniaturize. (could other scalp conditions cause this, such as dermatitis)

I appreciate any info you can offer regarding these questions. Excellent site, keep up the good work.

  1. Having “lots” of DHT does not necessarily mean you will have MPB. You need to have the gene for MPB. Just having hairy shoulders, back, and chest does not necessarily mean you have “lots” of DHT either.
  2. You may or may not follow your father’s hair pattern. There is no way to tell for certain.
  3. Miniaturized hair does not necessarily mean you have MPB. Men with MPB have miniaturized hair in certain “patterns” — thus, the term male pattern baldness (MPB).


2008-01-23 11:00:21I Have Hairy Shoulders, Back, and Chest — Will I Have MPB?

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Your take on hair systems?

I was wondering if you have an opinion on hair systems, or if you ever recommend them to patients with advanced balding? I know that most people prefer to keep their natural hair, but I feel like people with very advanced balding (NW5+) would look much better if they just wore fake hair rather than try to stretch out their limited donor supply over their entire scalp. I’ve noticed that people who try to get a transplant as a nw6/7 almost inevitably have to choose between a sky-high hairline, a giant bald spot surrounded by a ring of hair, or just very thin hair all over.

Different strokes for different folks. Hair systems work and work well; however they are very expensive (see here: https://baldingblog.com/why-not-a-hair-system-instead-of-a-hair-transplant/) and once your on them, you are hooked on them because the attachment mechanisms cause permanent hair loss and makes the balding worse. Even from a cost perspective, a hair transplant is generally less expensive unless you are a Class 7 man. In that case, a hair system is like putting on a hat, but you have to wear it all of the time and over time they start to smell and fall apart, requiring washing and replacement frequently. Also, unless you can afford the best like Donald Trump has, your system may be detectable to almost everyone. Nobody likes that.


2021-04-05 06:48:47Your take on hair systems?

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I Have Red Hair — My Dad’s Family Has Red Hair, My Mom’s Family Line Is Balding

Hi

I have red hair and it comes from my father’s side of the family only. The men on this side of the family have their hair but the men on my mom’s side (who do not have the red hair gene)all suffer from MPB.

My hair is starting to form into Norwood Scale 2: is it possible I could go bald too even though the red hair gene comes from my dad’s side?

Thank you for your help.

The color of you hair, along with other physical characteristics you inherited, are carried in different genes than the ones associated with MPB. The genetic predisposition for balding is inherited from either your father’s and mother’s sides, with more weight on your maternal lineage (48% for father’s side vs 52% for mom). There is a possibility that you may develop MPB. You need to be examined by an expert, someone who will map out your scalp hair for miniaturization to determine if you will be losing your hair. If you are in the early stages of hair loss, then you need a Master Plan to determine how to proceed with your hair loss treatments.


2008-02-15 14:34:48I Have Red Hair — My Dad’s Family Has Red Hair, My Mom’s Family Line Is Balding

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I have water retention from Minoxidil

Have any of you guys found a successful dosage that doesn’t give you puffy face, fat belly etc while still being effective for hair growth?

If you are getting these side effects, either the dose is too high or you should not be on this drug. Speak with your doctor

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Dutasteride dosing with a long hair life?

I just started Dutasteride. What’s this about the half-life allowing you to take it less often than fin?

The half life for dutasteride is 6 days (this is in the blood), but the tissue life (at the hair follicle itself) lasts much longer-possibly weeks or even a month. Less frequent dosing is ok, in my humble opinion.


2020-02-07 08:49:14Dutasteride dosing with a long hair life?

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I Met with a Doctor That Immediately Told Me I Needed Three FUE Procedures for $45,000

Hi Doctor,

I am 26 and have been losing my hair at the centre, back and recently at the front.

I consulted this week with a doctor in Dubai and he classified my hair loss as pattern 4 class 5 (Hair characteristics are color:black, quality: wavy,thickness is average and density is average). He told me i would have to undergo the FUE procedure. His treatment recommendations were 2 sessions of 3000 hair follicular units at the center and back, another 3000 at the front. The total cost of it being 45,000 usd with a 3 month gap in between these surgeries.

What puzzled me the most is that he just had a look and told me that i would have to undergo this surgery. My concerns are that the price quoted is too expensive for me and i want to know if there are any good doctors out here in Dubai who could do this for a lesser cost. I would greatly appreciate your opinion on this. Thank you.

Nuts
More examples of nuts

This is nuts! By just looking at you, he knows your hair density? My opinion is that no doctor can do 9000 grafts total in 3 sessions over a period of 6 months without really examining you, knowing your density, scalp laxity (for strip surgery), etc. And to add insult to potential injury, recommending it blindly every three months on the schedule outlined above is either the work of God, or possibly a doctor who has a streak of larceny (small or large) in him. Maybe I am just overreacting, knowing that I have a human type of limitations.

In other words, I’d seriously think about what this doctor is trying to sell you, and whether it is even possible for him to do what he is suggesting with any consistent quality. You wouldn’t want to pay for something and only get a small percentage of hairs actually taking and growing, leaving the other grafts too damaged to be of any good. Maybe Dubai does not have laws that protect consumers (nevermind, they do), but I would be suspicious, at the very least.