Category: Uncategorized

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If I Can Only Afford 1 Transplant Procedure, But I Might Need More?

Hello Doctor,

I am a hair loss sufferer, but my hair loss is more of a diffused type, with thinning across the scalp. I am considering hair transplant but would like to get your opinion before I make the decision since I am living in India and will be traveling to US for the transplant and want to make sure the trip is worthwhile.

I have been saving for a hair transplant for the last few years and at this point I can afford a little more than 2000 grafts. Do you think hair transplant is the right option for someone if they cannot afford any follow up procedures after the first transplant? Do you think I should keep saving for some more time so that I can get maximum amount of grafts in one go that can last me for a much longer period without having to go for a second surgery for a very long time?

All my calculations are based on $5 per hair graft that I got from your site for prior fixed appointments. Also is the $5 per graft inclusive of all charges or are there some overheads as well.

Thanks

MoneyAt NHI, our fees are fully inclusive without any additional charges. The $5/graft fee you mentioned is for Dr. Pak’s standby rate, so you’d need to be a little flexible with the scheduling. We do offer a travel discount, too.

Indians generally have lower hair densities than Caucasians by about 20%. Assuming that you take the pill finasteride and you are under 30 years old, the following may apply:

  1. Class 3 pattern — may work well with between 1300-1800 grafts, depending upon hair shaft bulk. Coarse hair is better than fine hair.
  2. Class 4A pattern — can be filled nicely with about 2000 grafts.
  3. Class 5, 6, and 7 patterns — you may not have enough hair to cover the crown.

Many men elect to have one surgery and be done with it, or have multiple surgeries over time. It’s up to you. I haven’t seen you, so keep that in mind. I’m not sure how many grafts you’d actually need or what your hair loss pattern even is. You should send me photos if you’re considering surgery and I’ll be able to hopefully tell you a little more.

Photo credit: Origami artist Won Park

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If I Pluck a Hair, How Long Does it Take to Regrow?

Hi I was just wondering how long it will take for scalp hair to grow back. I had damage done to my hair a few mos back and had little stray hairs on my head sticking up. I plucked only a few out one time 2 mos ago and not seeing results of them coming back. Will the hairs I plucked come back, I have not touched them since then? Thanks

Depending upon the amount of trauma, plucked hairs usually come back earlier than the normal telogen (rest) hair cycle that the hair transplant surgeon sees when a transplant is done. To determine the answer to your question, pluck out a few hairs and note where they are, then observe when they come back.


2008-02-06 13:18:27If I Pluck a Hair, How Long Does it Take to Regrow?

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If I’ll Have Propecia Side Effects, When Will I See Them?

Hi Dr. Rassman,

I’m a 30-year-old male who recently started taking Propecia. My question is, if there are any side effects, how long until the side effects would show up? I haven’t noticed anything, but believe your answer would be a good piece of information to have, regardless.

Thanks!

If a man on Propeica is going to get a decreased sex drive (one in a hundred) they should see that side effect in the first couple of weeks. If you have had no sexual side effects, welcome to the majority of men who have taken the drug daily for years.


2006-10-06 07:27:21If I’ll Have Propecia Side Effects, When Will I See Them?

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Inheritance from mother or father’s family?

I heard that hair loss is dominant trait in males. So if you mother carries the gene you will 100% get it. She is 52 years old and recently started losing alot of hair. Also my grandfather went bald not sure if its because of heart medicine but yeah. Wondering if fpb is the same gene as mpb.

Woman’s hair loss is very different from men’s hair loss. You have a 50/50 chance of inheritance from your mother or dad’s family. Some women get it when they are young especially seen when their mom and sisters got it when they were young. 50% of women get it after menopause when their estrogen levels drop. Estrogen usually protects women from the genes for hair loss and women almost never go bald like some men do.


2020-04-19 10:42:01Inheritance from mother or father’s family?

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If You Take Finasteride, Does It Let You Go Up One Norwood Class Each Decade?

I hope this is not a stupid question. I know in a perfect world no man would ever go bald and we would all have perfect hair. But, since its not the case and I know most men have some degree of hair loss as they age.

My question is regarding men who started balding when they were 18, but with the aide of finasteride it has been a really really slow balding process. Do you usually notice that these men, once they are in their 30’s, they are a norwood 2-2a and then when they are in theirs 40’s they are a norwood 3-3a and then in their 50’s they are a 5-5a and then 60’s either a 6 or 7?

It’s not a stupid question, but I think you’re confused about what the Norwood classifications are for. The Norwood chart (see below) classifies the final patterns of balding. By final, it generally means that there is no going back. Of interest, the patients with the most advanced pattern of balding (class 7) usually get there in their 20s and rarely show up becoming a Class 7 at the age of 60. Norwood classes are not a guideline for balding by age or decade.

Finasteride can slow the balding process and in very young men without advanced balding, it may reverse crown loss and occasionally even frontal loss (as it did in my son). The projections you did in your question is the work of a dreamer.

Norwood chart


2014-03-13 13:23:03If You Take Finasteride, Does It Let You Go Up One Norwood Class Each Decade?

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I’m 17 and Balding in a NW 7 Pattern — Can I Take Propecia Now?!

Dr Rassman would you please kindly help me. I am a 17 year who has very strong hair loss. My hairloss started when I was 15. Am losing hair in a NW 7 pattern. Hairloss runs strong in my family but not at this age.

I have spoken to my doctor about propecia he said its upto me if I want to take. I honestly want to take it but I don’t know how it will affect my body development.

So my question is to you is will you prescribe propecia to a 17 year old (if one came to your office) and what are the risk

Propecia is an elective medication. If you do not want to take it, then do not take it. This decision is ultimately yours. If someone under 18 years old comes to see me at my office, they need to be accompanied by their legal guardian or parent before I see them or recommend any treatments.

You need a diagnosis by a physician before starting on any medical regimen. You need a doctor who knows the science of balding and there are many of us from around the world. Since you noted in your email that you’re in the UK, there is a first class doctor there — Dr. Bessam Farjo — and I would suggest that you arrange to see him.


2012-10-02 16:45:31I’m 17 and Balding in a NW 7 Pattern — Can I Take Propecia Now?!

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I’m 20 and I don’t want to take endless medications, just get a hair transplant

My best alternative for my hair loss is to get a Hair Transplant. However I have read various news from the internet and I came down to these conclusions:

  1. It is permanent however you would need to get another hair transplant in the future if you want more density.

  2. My hair transplant doctor says you do not need to take any medications, treatments. For my case, and that is exactly what I want to do but alot of internet topics suggested to take minoxidil, rogain, finasteraide, proprecia, prp to keep the existing hair for the rest of your life if you do not want to lose anymore hair.

  3. I wear toppik and have 1 picture of my current hair.

  4. I would consider a hair transplant if all I had to do was 1, and no medications were required. Is it possible or are you in a endless cycle of multiple transplants and a lifetime supply of treatments.

You discussed endless cycles but at 20, the reality is that repeated hair transplants every year until your balding becomes stable is a awful endless cycle, see here: https://baldingblog.com/22-year-old-received-a-hair-transplant-of-2800-grafts-from-reddit/


2019-03-26 18:27:01I’m 20 and I don’t want to take endless medications, just get a hair transplant

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I’m 23 and Thinking About Getting a Hair Transplant

I am thinking about getting a transplant, FUE from turkey as its all I could afford. I am 23 and at Norwood 3 and its killing my confidence. When I was 18 I could honestly get any girl I wanted, Now I look like a meth head with how far my temples have receded. Going bald is not an option as I have a “bubble head” In short I look hella ugly without hair, whereas back in the day before my hair started to go I was regularly told I was hot. Is a hair transplant for life? What do I have to do after the transplant? Where is the best place to get one?

23 is too young to have a hair transplant. There is a wonderful post earlier today which covers the 10 things you need to know about hair transplants and I would recommend it. If you go to Turkey, they are known for depleting your donor area and leaving you with not enough hair to manage the progressive nature of male pattern balding (see here:https://baldingblog.com/need-master-plan-think-hair-transplants-photos/ ). This could be you in a few years, so what you do today is critically important to your future.


2020-06-04 19:55:49I’m 23 and Thinking About Getting a Hair Transplant