Balding Blog – Page 1278

August 11, 2009

Wouldn’t a PSA Test Show Propecia Sensitivity? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Doc,

Why would you need to take a HairDX test to test DHT sensitivity to Propecia. Wouldn’t a PSA test tell you that? Propecia dropped my PSA around 66% so I know my DHT is definitely sensitive to the drug. On the other hand after a year on the medication I haven’t seen any positive effect. I would have expected a connection, but apparently there isn’t one. At least in my case.

That may be why you should consider the HairDX Finasteride Response test, because if it shows that you are not sensitive to Propecia, maybe conditions might be reasonable to consider Avodart (something I rarely prescribe). As you are not one of my patients and I have not examined you, I would not be in a position to assess your situation. Why is your PSA elevated? Do you have prostate cancer? Elevated PSA levels may indicate prostate cancer (or did I get the wrong message about your PSA)?

There is no connection between PSA and DHT other than that testosterone is produced by the testicles and then broken down by the body to make DHT.

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August 11, 2009

Tightness in the Donor Area a Week After Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi,

Before writing to you i tried finding a similar case to my problem but i couldn’t. i have asked my doctor this question but i wanted another opinion to make sure that everything is going well. My question is that i have had my transplant (strip method) done a week ago, and i am feeling tightness in the donor area , where it feels a lot tighter to turn my neck and look at the left side than turning my neck to the right side, is this a normal feeling or should it feel equally tight on both sides? and if it is normal, how long will it take to be moving my neck normally and freely?

It is normal for the area behind the head (where the strip was taken) to feel tight. It may actually feel tighter than it is. When I (Dr. Rassman) had transplants, it felt tight in the donor area, but in a few weeks, it felt less tight and more mobile. Bending the head and turning it may be an indication of tightness, but in a few weeks, it should substantially lessen.

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August 11, 2009

I Want to Stop Propecia After My Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi,

I’m due to get a transplant in a couple of months and have been on Propecia for around 2 years (I’m 26 years old). For the last 6 months or so I’ve noticed side effects that are getting worse, even after cutting the dosage down. I plan to stop taking finestaride after surgery, but will keep on it for now to help prevent shock loss. How long after the surgery do you need to take finestaride for to help prevent possible shock loss?

Thanks for your help

You should take the drug for a full 6 months (minimum) after a hair transplant and then after stopping it, watch as the hair gain (or retention) you saw from Propecia will be lost over a few months.

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August 10, 2009

Hair Loss InformationPaying the Price for Hair Plugs from 25 Years Ago (with Photo) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

As a young man 25 years ago, he had a hair transplant with the old fashion plugs. After seeing what it looked like (it was partly hidden with some hair at the time), he came to the conclusion that he made a mistake and immediately went to using a wig. Between his wig and a baseball cap, he had hidden his secret. About a year ago, he realized that maybe he could undo his plugs and after a year doing internet research, he came to my office to ask me an important question I’ve heard quite a few times before — “Can you just remove these plugs and make me bald so I can shave my head?”

Remember, this is NOT the standard of care today. Click the photo to enlarge.

To see the deformity, he lifted up his wig, which was tightly held to the scalp with tape. Although he is a Norwood Class 5A pattern with high density in the donor area, he never really wants to do hair transplants again, and just wants to be a normal bald man. This is a common finding in people who lived with the horror of the plug deformities of the old transplant work. Unfortunately, this type of problem is what so many people believe is today’s standard of care. Nothing could be farther from the truth as today’s hair transplants can not be told apart from a normal natural head of hair in a non-balding patient.

We agreed that I would remove each plug one-by-one and sew him up, making him a normal bald man. Removing these plugs may leave some minimal scarring. He wants me to transplant the hair extracted from these plugs and put them into the place they came from, to hide two obvious small neck scars. This should easily be done in one surgical session.

August 10, 2009

Since Hair Cloning Hasn’t Happened By Now, Are Statements Made in Years Past Considered Unethical? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Several years ago, Bosley Medical Director and Aderans Executive Vice President Ken Washenik, M.D. declared with supreme confidence that the Aderans hair- multiplication procedure would be available to the public by 2007. As we know, this has not happened.

Simply put, although I fully appreciate that medical science is far from exact, it seems plain to me that these statements were made with the understanding that the predicted timelines were utter fantasy. Thus, I have little choice but to conclude that the statements were made with an eye toward self-interest, to wit, raising the firm’s profile and ultimately soliciting additional investment capital.

My question is this: If a doctor or a medical practice deliberately or recklessly declares the imminence of a cure when it knows or should know that the statement is materially false, should that be considered a breach of medical ethics?

Block Quote

Aderans Come on now, I’m sure that he believed that the solution would be at hand in 5 years or so. If a weather man predicted a sunny day tomorrow, and tomorrow came with heavy rain, would you call that unethical behavior? There are limits as to the predictability of the future. In our capitalistic society, the entrepreneur believes that his inventions will work, will take less time than it really takes to develop a marketable product, and he often puts his hard earned savings into that business. Not all businesses succeed, not all ideas work and when they do not, it is the entrepreneur that usually pays the price for it. I am sure that Dr. Washenik was humbled by his failure to predict the timeline for cloning correctly. I personally commend him and Aderans for their persistence in working on the problem.

August 10, 2009

Nizoral or Nioxin Shampoos to Treat Female Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello. I’m a woman, 32 years old, and have been experiencing more shedding lately. I would like to know if Nizoral shampoo with 1% Ketoconazole effective in treating hair loss. I am thinking about buying it, but don’t want to waste the money if it’s ineffective. Also, how about Nioxin shampoo? Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. Have a good day!

Both are good shampoos, but neither have been proven to my satisfaction to treat hair loss. There’s some speculation that ketoconazole could be used as a hair loss treatment, but I’ve yet to see a sufficient study to show that (though many on the various web forums will gladly tell you otherwise). You’re welcome to try either or both…

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August 10, 2009

Hair Loss Cure Consipiracy Theories – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi,

I realize you’re dismissive of “conspiracy” type plots, that companies like Pfizer and Merck would buy off and suppress results from genetic and other advances in hair restoration in order to insure their profits from Propecia and Rogaine. But from your position, are there any indications that this really wouldn’t be the case? It seems like these companies could just buy out the labs that are developing hair regneration techniques, and just file away the results. After all, if people suffering hair loss can get a 1-2 visit multiplication procedure and be cured, that does mean the end of: Rogaine, Propecia, and traditional hair transplants. So, if you have any reassurances that this is just the stuff of silly theories, it would be great to hear that.

Thanks

Silly theory, indeed. If I was Merck or Pfizer or if there was a lab that has found the cure for hair loss, I would buy the company or the proprietary rights to market and sell it for as much as I can get. Then I will take my billions and buy out Bill Gates and Steve Jobs and pay for the U.S bailout with the leftover residuals. I love a good conspiracy theory, but if a drug company had a cure to hair loss, they could charge practically whatever they want and take over the entire market… and I don’t think a big pharma company (with investors to keep happy) would pass up that opportunity.

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August 10, 2009

Cosmetic Surgery Tax – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr Rassman,

What’s your opinion on “Bo-Tax” — the proposed 10% tax on cosmetic surgeries that Congress is talking about?

TaxProf – Congress Considers “Botax” — 10% Tax on Plastic Surgery to Fund Health Care Reform

Thanks!

As a surgeon doing hair transplantation this would certainly impact the costs of such procedures to the patient. Taxes on cosmetic surgery are already in effect in Hawaii (4% last time I checked) and in New York (6% I believe). The U.S. government can’t seem to balance their budget and they are going to get everyone, every time they pass “go”. So I guess you could say that I’m not a fan of it.

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August 7, 2009

Rogaine for Women vs Provillus for Women – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi. I would like to know whether Rogaine or Provillus is better for women. Which one has better results at growing back hair and stop hair loss? Also, less likely to have the side effect of unwanted facial hair. Thanks!

They both are just 2% minoxidil… different names and labels. The Provillus might also have some supplement vitamin pills (with biotin and B6) to take. Ingredients are listed here for Provillus, if you’d like to check them out.

Also, Provillus costs more than twice the price of Rogaine. How much is that packaging worth?

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August 7, 2009

Is Merck’s 2007 Patent Filing for Topical Finasteride Just to Squeeze Out Other Companies? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I heard Merck applied for a patent for a topical finasteride product in 2007. Any recent news on this? And, do you know if this would be effective, or if it might be a move to enhance profits by weeding out companies selling topical finasteride?

Merck I know very little about Merck’s patent for topical finasteride, although they did file 2 patents (one in 1993 and the other in 1995) in the general area of finasteride use on skin. Johnson and Johnson holds at least two patents for topical finasteride, so it does appear that this is a hot field and what differentiates one process from the other is something that I do not have the time to review. Does anyone with a bunch of time and interest care to go through these and create an itemized list?

Certainly both J&J and Merck are giants in the drug field, so if you wish to read these patents check them out in the Google Patent Search and have a blast reading the intricate legal jargon. Good luck!

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