Hair Loss at 44

I am 44 and have just started to lose my hair. I have lost 70% of the first inch of my hairline and the back of my head started to thin as well. I started Propecia when I started to bald along with many other vitamins and minerals as well. Now I want to get all of my hair back. I visited a doctor who thought that the hairline I wanted was too low so he recommended that I put it higher. I don’t like what he said because the hairline he showed me was not me. My friends want to see me and I want to see me. Can I dictate where the hairline should be or must I listen to what the doctor wants.

Not having you in front of me is a problem, but I can make certain assumptions. At 44, with hair loss in the front and crown, you will probably not get very bald. However, since your hair loss started late in life, this assumption may not be an accurate reflection of your perception of the hairl loss you will see over time. What you must ask is the following question: “Given the worst case for hair loss in your future, can you live with the hairline that you have asked for?” If the answer is yes, then you must convince the doctor you will select to see it your way. I often argue with the patient but it is always a pro-patient argument challenging the patient to look at his new hairline many ways. Hair transplants are permanent, so that is both the good news and the bad news. In a consultation, you might say ‘black’ and I might respond with ‘white’, not because I believe ‘white’ but I want to make sure you understand all of the choices and consequences of selecting ‘black’ as the option. Clearly the relationship and trust you develop with your doctor will point you and your doctor to the correct decision. There are no absolute rules here, just judgments which we hope will be kind to us as we get older. Isn’t that what life is about?

Does transplanted hair fall out years after the surgery, if so, how frequent is this?

I was told that transplanted hair is placed into a hormone sensitive area (area from hair line over the top of the head till small part at the back). What are the chances (approx. in percent if possible) of losing the transplanted hair? how many patients are satisfied with the result 5-10 years post FUE transplatation?

I have been doing hair transplants for 27 years and have seen patient I did 25+ years ago with their results as good as it was 25 years ago. A few patients will lose their transplanted hair between 5-30 years later, but that is less than 5% of patients?. I have seen many of my patients 5-20 years from their transplants and their new hair largely remained.


2019-01-14 14:11:54Does transplanted hair fall out years after the surgery, if so, how frequent is this?

Hair Loss From Brow Lift

I had a brow lift and and a face lift. I lost a great deal of hair in the few months after the procedure. It is now 1 year since the surgery and I have had no return of the lost hair, and I have a very weakly defined hairline. The scar shows unless I comb my hair down in bangs. I would like wear my hair pulled back and show off the new younger me, as my face lift was very successful. Can you fix this?

Hair loss is a known complication of brow lifts and face lifts. The brow lift may accelerate the aging process with thinning of the hair in front of the scar in those genetically at risk. The skin in front of the ears can be removed in a face lift, wiping out sideburns (more common in the 2nd and 3rd face lift than the first).

Hair transplants are the ideal solution for this problem. This is the most common hair restoration process I perform in women. As men do not have face lift procedures as often, I do not see as many men as women with this problem. But the same complication is still there if there is a brow lift and / or a face lift. It can be done in one procedure in most people, but it takes a great deal of transplanted grafts densly packed to get the results in a single session.

Hair Loss From Root Canal Obturation Paste?

Hello! I’m from France and I saw something about the composition of the root canal obturation’s paste. It contains corticosteroids, and i want to know if that thing can cause a hair loss.

Thank you.

Corticosteroids in excess can potentially cause some general hair loss, but I am not familiar with root canal paste.

Transplanting Only to the Temples

I have a question. A couple of years ago I lost a bit of hair around the temples but this process seems to have no progress at all. I shave my head.. well only to about 3mm, have very thick hair. My question is as follows, If I got these temples fixed to get a straight hairline would a buzz cut be appropriate ? would it look natural ? I’d be grateful for your reply.

Frontal hair loss can be fixed to near-perfection with a hair transplant, provided that you are a candidate for it. That would include such checklist items as:

  • your age
  • your miniaturization mapping of your scalp
  • your expectations are realistic

If you come to any of our free monthly open house events, you will meet some men who have completely replaced the frontal hairline to what I call perfection.

Hair Loss in Teenage Female

I am an active 17 year old high school cheerleader and my hair which used to be thick, is now falling out and becoming thin, like my mother, my grandmother and two of my aunts. They tell me it is in the family, but not when they were my age. What should I do? If I go to a doctor, how do I find one?

Genetic causes of hair loss in a 17 year old female, is unusual. You were correct to ask your female relatives at what age the condition first appeared with them. I would first have a good doctor see you and look for medical causes of hair loss (there are many). The following problems are amongst those that should be considered: anemia, thyroid disease, connective tissue disease, various gynecological conditions and emotional stress. It is also important to review the use of medications that can cause hair loss, such as oral contraceptives, beta-blockers, Vitamin A, thyroid drugs, coumadin and prednisone if you are taking any of these. Many other medications can also contribute to hair loss so if you are taking any drugs of any type, then that should be looked into as well. The following laboratory tests may be useful if underlying problems are suspected: CBC, Chem Screen, ANA, T4, TSH, STS, Androstenedione, DHEA-Sulfate, Total and Free Testosterone.

It is possible that a medical condition may be the cause of your hair loss, so before you jump to conclusions that you are following your female relatives’ fate, I would have you checked out for these conditions. Also, please read my previous blog entry, Female Hair Loss.

Traveling to Thailand for Hair Cloning

Hi, just curious what your thoughts are on traveling to foreign countries for hair cloning? I understand radical developments have been made in places like Thailand and I’m interested if you have any experience with this. Much thanks in advance.

With all due respect for Thailand and other foreign countries, do you really think that if hair cloning has been successful it would have escaped the research and popular media of the United States?

What I’m getting at is this — just because you see it advertised in Thailand, it doesn’t mean it’s real. Hair cloning doesn’t yet exist in the way that you’re likely hoping.

Hair Loss on Nape of Neck, Behind the Ears

I am losing my hair from the edges upward especially on left side. The pattern of baldness is unlike any seen in family. Hair on the crown of head is full and thick albeit brittle but nape of neck, behind ears and temples are severely thinning. Scalp is sometimes irritated and occasionally painful medium-sized bumps appear. I am at a loss, does this sound like a medical condition or hereditary baldness, and if so, what should be my next move since most products are tailored for thinning on top of head.

Hairs on the lower part of the back of the scalp (high neck area) are not generally considered permanent or a part of scalp hair. Some men are genetically predisposed to lose hair in a pattern that you describe. If you are concerned about this, see a doctor to have your scalp hair mapped for miniaturization and find out the pattern for this thinning. There may be other underlying medical conditions associated with your problem. It is impossible for me to give you a diagnosis without examining you in person. Furthermore, there is no clear scientific evidence that medications such as Propecia or Rogaine would help –- but again, this is something you should explore with your doctor.

Triangular Alopecia (photo)

This woman presented with this bald spot characteristic of a genetic abnormality called Triangular Alopeica. It is often on both sides of the head and is best treated with a limited hair transplant, which cures the problem.