Category: Uncategorized

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More Input on the New Laser Light Therapy Study for Hair Growth

I was wondering if you could give some more input on the new LLT study from the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology.

What do the results mean? How does it compare to other treatments like Minoxidil or Finasteride?

Would this be useful for someone like myself who is just starting to have miniaturized follicles and are the results of the study impressive at all?

Is it to early to tell or does this study point to LLT being beneficial?

laser

I found a copy of the study online HERE.

If you read the conclusion (at the end) it states there was some statistical improvement after a 6 month study comparable to Rogaine or Propecia use. But in the long term (over a year) Rogaine and Propecia was better.

The conclusion also stated: “A higher percentage of lasercomb-treated subjects reported overall improvement of hair loss condition and thickness and fullness of hair in self-assessment, though the results did not always reach statistical significance.”

In my experience, the results that I have seen from patients who have used lasers were equivocal. I personally did not see gross improvement when I followed up with them. (Results were not dramatic) Maybe this is my bias, but I have on many occasions seen patients who had dramatic results with Rogaine or Propecia. I have not seen a “worth while” results with laser light therapy alone. Seeing a statistical improvement is not like seeing a cosmetic improvement.

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Cosmetic Follicle Therapy?

What’s your thoughts on the procedures on Cosmetic Follicle Therapy?

I believe the procedure is to take a sample from your head (where there is hair). Take it to the US have it replicated 50-70k times. What this means is match with synthetic hair of some sort. Then attach it to the burn skin material and then place it on the balding part of your head. Similar to a system or wig type piece but more refined.

Do you know and understand this type of treatment?

Thanks

Burned skin? Implanting artificial hair is dangerous (due to scarring, infection, and irritation)… and not legal in the US. I’ve warned people about artificial hair implants on this site for over half a decade now. If you’re suggesting that some company is creating 50-70k real hairs in a lab and re-implanting those, well, that technology doesn’t exist.

It’s more likely an expensive hair system, and if that’s the case, the name would be the only thing unique about it. I’m hoping you’re just misunderstanding what some company is offering, though. If they are trying to sell you on having your hairs cloned in a lab, it’s a scam.


2011-01-21 11:40:19Cosmetic Follicle Therapy?

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Hair Harvesting Device Patent Issued To Drs. Rassman and Pak

The official publication date for this new patent titles “HAIR HARVESTING DEVICE AND METHOD WITH LOCALIZED SUBSURFACE DERMAL FLUID INSERTION” (Patent number #9,259,236 B1) was officially published by the U.S. Patent Office on February 16, 2016. It describes a method to inject fluid into a localized area of the hair follicular unit, to make FUE easier and better to perform with greater accuracy and less transection or damage to the grafts. This is the 17th US patent issued to Drs. Rassman and Pak in the hair transplant field.

patent

Drs. Rassman and Pak continue to find a better way to do everything that most people take for granted. Our motto is: “There is always a better way” and with out quality focus on hair transplant technology, this is just another small ‘baby step’ to making the field better for all doctors administrating such services.

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Could FUE Move Hair and Skin to Eliminate Scarring?

Dear Dr Rassman, please excuse my question if it is stupid. I’m not medically trained!

What is normally discussed is the movement of hair follicles *from* the donor site *to* the recipient site. And this inevitably leaves some form of scarring in the donor area. But is it technically possible (in FUE) to also implant skin *from* the recipient area *to* the donor area, in such a manner to “eliminate” scarring? i.e. for every follicle the surgeon would swap tissues A and B, where A would be the tissue originally at the recipient site, and B the tissue originally at the donor site.

I’m sure this would be more costly for the patient, buy I’m wondering: has this ever been tested? And would it eliminate scarring?

A number of years ago, a well-known doctor preached that small punch extractions of scars would produce “mini-scalp reductions”. It never worked. This sounds like what you are asking about, and if one removes scar from a scarred area, you just get scar to replace it. Not such a good idea.

By the way, there are no stupid questions. Your question reflects an inquiring mind.

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Patient Results – 2700 Grafts in a Norwood Class 6 Pattern (with Photos)

This well known Los Angeles radio host has an advanced Class 6 balding pattern. The bald area is huge (as well as his hat size), and the 2700 medium weight hair grafts were distributed so that it would take advantage of weighting to cover the large balding area. In other words, more hair was placed in the front and on the left side than elsewhere. Utilizing weighting so that a left to right combing style could be used to maximize the value of the 2700 graft he received in his first session, he remained see-through in the central and right areas of his scalp where the amount of hair was not great.

Had we been able to remove 4000-5000 grafts safely, we could have filled up the central area and addressed what was to be thin coverage. As you can see in the pictures, the coverage was good for that number of grafts, but he needs another session to complete the process, bringing up the number of required grafts to the 5000+ range.

If you look at our photo albums, you will see many patients who had 3500-5500 grafts to cover the Class 6 pattern adequately. We are limited to what can be safely transplanted in each session. Still, when you look at the photos below, the change with strict styling and the use of a comb-over produced a remarkable change in his appearance and he is very happy with stage one of what will certainly be a two stage process.

Click the photos to enlarge.

After (1 procedure of 2700 grafts):

 

Before:

 

Bonus – head shot:

 

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Could My Topical Eczema Medication Speed Up My Hair Loss?

Hello Dr.

I’ve have eczema on my forehead and cheeks, i’m using miconazol/hydrocortison twice a day for ten days now.

Because i’ve to put it on my forehead, close to my hairline when i wake up and going to sleep, could it speed up my hairloss? It’s also on my cheeks so if it comes on my pillow is it dangerous for my hair?

Thank you

Please use medication as directed by your physician. Hydrocortisone can be absorbed by the body and can contribute to hair loss if it is used in excess. Very small amounts work well for its primary purpose.

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Could the Video Microscope (for Miniaturization Mapping) Cause Hair Loss?

Do you think it’s possible the Celestron 44300 handheld digital microscope, that you recommend for mapping miniaturization can harm newly placed grafts on someone who just had a hair transplant? (Im mainly concerned with the LED illuminator, could that possible cause damage?)

I would doubt that the light from the hand held microscope will have any impact on the health of your hair.


2009-10-26 10:55:12Could the Video Microscope (for Miniaturization Mapping) Cause Hair Loss?

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Permanent Female Hair Loss from High Doses of Chemo?

(female)
I am currently receiving chemotherapy for my synovial sarcoma. I have 2 more rounds of Ifosfamide to go (Cisplatin/Adriamycin in my previous rounds). I will have 6 total rounds of chemo. I’ve read everywhere that permanent hair loss can occur if there has been very high doses of chemo given. What counts as “high dosage?” Do you think 6 cycles of my chemo will cause permanent hair loss? I just want my hair back!! Thank you.

The reason for hair loss with chemotherapy is because these drugs kill cells that are fast growing, and hair cells fall into that category. We may not know immediately if the hair loss is permanent or temporary, because some of the women who have had such treatments may also have genetic hair loss that is triggered by the drugs. Only time will tell.

Within a year, there is enough time to survey the hair loss. Doing bulk measurements on the newly grown out hair and then repeating such measurements over time will tell much about how the hair may or may not be recovering.

I suggest that you finish your course of chemotherapy and after 6-12 months, you might consider being evaluated by someone like me if you are in the Los Angeles area. At one year out, call me and send me photos so we can start a dialogue.


2012-09-13 11:45:04Permanent Female Hair Loss from High Doses of Chemo?

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Creatine and Body Hair Loss

I recently read your entry about monohydrate creatine…I did a little reading & it seems that quite a few doctors think it causes hair loss. I take ce2 ethel ester creatine (28yr old male,caucasian), are you aware if this product can cause body hair loss? or would this most likely be restricted to head hair?
Thank you.

“A little reading” can be dangerous, because you will always find conflicting facts or opinions.

The good news is that you have a choice! If you believe it causes hair loss, you have a choice not to take it. If you are taking creatine for bodybuilding and you are also worried about hair loss, you have to make the choice.

It is my opinion that creatine does not cause hair loss. It is also my opinion that creatine does not have much effect in bodybuilding. I have personally taken it for a year and I have always found harder workouts made me stonger/bulkier (without creatine).

By Dr. Jae Pak


2007-03-05 14:33:06Creatine and Body Hair Loss