The Big Lie: by John Vincent

This is an important book to read for those of you who are experiencing hair loss from a man who went through it. He discusses the pitfalls in the commercial side of the hair transplant business which you should all know about. John Vincent has offered our readers a free copy of the book by emailing him here:

John Vincent john@hairconsultant.com


2019-07-17 07:12:48The Big Lie: by John Vincent

The Beard After a Hair Transplant

Hey Dr.,

I’m coming in for about 1000 grafts next month. I do have a slight concern, however. I’ve seen pictures of this “beard” effect, in which you can noticably tell there is a dark area where there has been transplants. How long is the beard usually visible? Would it be as drastic with just about 1000 grafts in the front?

Thanks.

The beard effect you talk about is from the short transplanted hairs that are visible immediately after the hair transplant. It usually lasts one to four weeks before it sheds. It is not readily detectable if you have other hair to cover it, but if you are a class 6 (completely bald) obviously you cannot hide it. I would then suggest that you clip it short or let your facial hair grow out as this will detract from your head viewing. If you already have facial hair (a beard or mustache) shave it off for the shock value and it’ll draw less attention to the top of the head. This works very well.


2007-05-15 13:32:09The Beard After a Hair Transplant

The “Baby” Hairs — 5 Months After Hair Transplant (with Photos)

Take a look at the very early growth in the first photo below, which reflects the first wave of growth following a hair transplant procedure of 2730 grafts. The new short hairs are easily covered by the hair from behind. When combed forward, the new hair blends with the old hair nicely. I’ve also included the before photo and a photo from 2 weeks after his procedure, just to be complete and so that you can get the full scope of what was done. Some of the short newly transplanted hairs have already fallen out and others that appear to be pointing the wrong way are actually about to fall out. Click the photos to enlarge.

5 months after procedure:

 

2 weeks after procedure:

 

Before procedure:

 

For an example of a past patient with similar results (but further along), please see radio host Steve Hartman‘s results. I’ve posted 3 photos of Steve below — the first photo is before the procedure, the middle photo is at the 5 month mark after his procedure, and the photo on the right is at around 14 months post procedure. I apologize that the angles are slightly different, but they illustrate the point that the above patient still is in the early stage and has a lot to look forward to. Click the photos to enlarge.

The ‘average person loses 100 hairs a day

When I was RAPIDLY balding, I was losing up to 100 hairs a day, mostly in the shower. After finasteride I lose ZERO hair in the shower, and none that is noticable during the day.

Do not use that statistic to think shedding 50-100 hairs in the shower is somehow normal. It is not, and I do not care what this random statistic that is quoted everyday says. If you have this much loss then you need to start treatment ASAP if you want to keep your hair.

Try an experiment, dye one of your long hairs and see if it lasts 3 years. I’l bet you won’t see it in 3 years, or less. All body hairs cycle from a growth stage to a sleep stage and fall out during the sleep phase. We lose about 50-100 hairs a day and replace that number with new hairs each and every day.


2020-11-04 08:31:54The ‘average person loses 100 hairs a day

The American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery

Dr. Rassman
Firstly let me tell you how much I have enjoyed your blog comments for the many young men and women suffering from hairloss. I am a 33 yr old male, who is scheduled for hair transplant surgery in a month. I have learned from your comments and want to ask you some questions. I have hair loss in the frontal/tempural area with thinning in the crown area. The thinning has improved since I started taking Propecia last year, no side effects thank God.

  1. Is 33 a good age?
  2. My doctor is Dr. [name removed] and he is a Diplomate of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery. Can you give me an opinion on this qualifications?
  3. I was concerned with scars, and felt comfortable since he is also a Plastic Surgeon, is my assumption correct?
  4. I am also concerned with shock fall. Is it permanent? How much help does Propecia offer?
  5. My doctor has not done a miniturization study on my scalp, that concerns me, although he did examine me the first time and I am scheduled for anohter consult. Should I request this?
  6. I also use Nizoral shampoo, and it seems to help, what have you heard about the benefits of this product if any?

Lastly, coming from a father that is a Vascular Surgeon, I know that confidence in the physician is important. I just did not get a second opinion, and have been trying to educate myself as much as possible. I feal my chances are pretty good, I hope to get strong results. I thank you again for your comments and help you offer on-line…..with the high pace life physicians lead its unlikely. I commend you for that.

Your father is correct in stating that confidence in your physician is very important. That being said, BaldingBlog is not a place for a medical second opinion. You should either address these issues with doctor or formally make an appointment with another hair transplant surgeon for the second opinion.

Credentials are important and being a member of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery may make it more probable that he is a good doctor. I am familiar with doctors with such credentials who I would not have as a surgeon, though. I, for example, have refused to become a member of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery because there is no formalized training for the accepted doctors and no peer review for what they do. When I received my credentials for General Surgery, I had completed 5 years of formalized, supervised training before I was allowed to take a series of written and oral examinations. The American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery credential only requires that the surgeon does 100 surgeries (without any supervision) and pass a written (very easy) examination. That does not make them qualified in my eyes. Now with that said, many of the doctors who have received the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery credentials are good doctors and quite competent, while some are not. It continues to be a buyer beware situation for the hair transplant buyer (see: The Truth About Cheap Hair Transplants).

I have addressed shock hair loss before. Propecia in a balding male will reduce the risks of shock hair loss. If Nizoral shampoo is working for you, then use it. I feel strongly on the mapping out of the scalp for miniaturization. I do not like doing things blindly, because then I really could not lay out a good Master Plan.

The AHI Technique?

Have you heard of the Ahi technique based on FUE. Is this truly original or simply a marketing spin on the FUE method of hair transplant. The company in question is https://www.ailesburyhairclinic.com/

Their site says that it’s just follicular unit extraction (FUE) but the difference is, “the AHI variation of this method is that we use a specially designed implantation pen to place hair follicles…

Many clinics use FUE extraction tools and the implantation instrument they’re likely using is called the Choi Implanter. The Choi implanter has had variable results in its use — many complete failures and some excellent results with those who have mastered it. The Choi is probably the most universally used instrument for implantation, but few use it in the US, where there is more accountability to failures of the transplant.

Dr. Richard Shiell recently reported: “I think the original device was invented by a non-doctor who was doing eyebrow grafts at a Leper hospital in Korea some 30 years ago.” There are many innovative people in this world who, when challenged, rise to the situation and create new technology.

The 5mg Finasteride Sold Here Is Too Small to Be Cut!

I am 24 years old male. in my country there is no finasteride 1mg product of the pharmaceuticals companies. It’s also impossible for me to order online or import propecia. there is some finasteride 5mg product named “Prosfin” and it’s a famous pharma company. The main problem is the size of the tablet Prosfin is very small and it can not be cut with knife or pill cutter. i have to take finasteride because it works for me. Now what is the best solution for me, i mean how can i take finasteride 5mg tablet? it will be very helpful if u advice. should i take 1 tablet/3 days or 1 tablet/2 days? what will be the best? of course there is no way rather taking 5mg finasteride and it also impossible to cut it. Please advise. At last your blog is very helpful and i have not seen such a fantastic blog before.

You don’t want to take too much of the finasteride unnecessarily, as you do run a greater risk of side effect potential. Also, there’s no reason to have more medication in your system than needed for treatment.

I did some research and found that Prosfin (5mg finasteride for treating BPH) is made by Beximco Pharmaceuticals, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh. The same company does make a pill called Recur (1mg finasteride for treating MPB), so it should be available in your country. This should be the same as Propecia.

Thanks, My Stylist Doesn’t Believe That I Had a Hair Transplant!

I had two transplants at NHI over the past 5 years (last one was 3 years ago) and the results are fantastic. Whenever I get a haircut I will tell the stylist that I had the transplant procedure done just so they are aware of the line scar in the back and don’t cut my hair too short back there. I find that as long as I tell them before they get started, its no big deal and the scar is never visible, even with a $15 Supercuts haircut that I get. BUT, I usually end up spending the 10 minutes I’m getting my haircut explaining to them that yes, this is a hair transplant and no, I’m not just joking around. Nobody believes me! Outside of getting a haircut, I never mention it anyway… but the one time I tell someone, they don’t believe it. So that just goes to show that you did a damn fine job. Really incredible work and as you can probably tell I am thrilled with the end result. I’ve included a couple photos that you can use for your blog.

Thanks, doc. I’m very, very, very pleased.

I’m glad to hear that nobody believes you — that means we were successful! In all seriousness, this is how any good hair transplant should be. We never want patients to be easily spotted as having had a hair transplant. The end result should always look natural.

This patient had 1,737 grafts transplanted over two procedures.

Update Dec 2008: [Photos removed by request]

Thanks for the New Eyebrows!

4 years ago my brows were week from plucking in hopes of finding the best shape for my face. I had Dr Pak first perform some eyebrow restoration. Later that year Dr. Pak progressed w/ the first treatment w/ another treatment for density. The results were excellent…But being a perfectionist, I continued to pluck & reshaped the brows to being what I always wanted.

This last week I met with Dr Pak, who is a both a wonderful person & an expert Artist in this particular field of specialty for hair restoration. He performed a delicate procedure that was exactly what I was seeking and that resulted finally in a classic slanted full brow.

I could not be happier and many thanks to Dr Jae Pak as well as his assistant, who I found to be extremely kind & professional and who went the extra mile…so sweet & professional as well as fast & efficient. Dr Pak is incredible…one of a kind…understanding & extremely professional & another kiss to his assistant….love you both.

As I’ve written on this site before, we have done many of these types of procedures and the results are very good, but there is an art in the transplant process and a technical skill that is very difficult for many doctors.

I’m glad your expectations have been met (or surpassed). Knowing how pleased you are with the results and the experience is the best part of what we do. Thank you for your incredibly kind words.