Balding Blog – Page 1670

February 14, 2007

Transplanting Hair from Neck to Beard? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi – I’ve been bumping around your website and I see where jerks must’ve emailed you a million false emails – this is not one of them : )

I’ve got minimal hair in my beard on the sides of my chin, and I would love to find a solution for it so that I can grow a full beard. My little brother had hair transplants from the back of his head to his hairline (receding hairline) – but he shaves his hair closely and the line in the back looks really silly.

I also shave my head closely (not bald, like a 1 level crew cut) – so I’m hoping to find a solution for my beard (have full head of hair on top, so only looking at the beard). I’m wondering if it’s possible to either get the hair from my neck below a normal beard line (that low neck hair 3 inches below the chin where you have whiskers but everybody shaves it off anyway) grafted up into the cheeks/chin area – or if it’s possible to get the hair below my normal hairline in the back and put that in the cheeks near the chin area? I just don’t want that silly line in the back of my head (I call it a “scalp zipper” (privately I don’t make fun of him obviously).

Also, I know it’s a specific cost to the individual based on how many grafts and sessions are required – but if I assumed about 1,000 grafts in 1 session, how much would I be looking at (high and low range)?

Lastly, I didn’t see very many photos on your website of successful beard transplants. Any good websites out there? I’d also love to hear about horror stories from recent years and how to avoid them.

This is a serious email and I am looking to do something in the next few months if I find a good solution – would love to hear back from you.

The procedure known as follicular unit extraction (FUE) was first published by me in 2002 and it discusses minimally invasive hair transplants where individual follicular units are removed one at a time. There is no linear scar with this technique and you can clip your hair short as you want. I would not take it from the neck, because neck hair is not permanent. See:

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February 14, 2007

Should I Take More Finasteride After a Few Years of Use? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear Dr. Rassman, thank you for your blog. It’s really a big help.

My question is regarding the effectiveness of Propecia. Why does Propecia’s benefits diminish as time progresses? Is this situation similar to antibiotics, where the body eventually becomes immune to the drug? If, after 3-5 years or so, the effects of the drug die off, can we boost our dosage of Propecia to compensate for its ineffectiveness?

Propecia does not become less effective, but the progressive nature of genetic hair loss is on-going. The drug is about 80% effective, which means that the 20% that continues to be impacted, builds with time. More Propecia does not make for a better DHT block.

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February 14, 2007

Losing Arm Hair – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

i am losing hair on my arm. i do not have none. my hair on my head is getting thin also. could you give me some idea of what i can do. they aint no were i can go out here. please help me out.

Without examining you I can not tell you very much. Are you taking medications? If so, these must be looked at as a cause. Arm hair? Well, I just do not know.

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February 14, 2007

Hair Restoration Doctor Specializing in African Americans? – Balding Blog

Is there a hair restoration doctor that specializes in african americans. The reason that I ask is that I see that alot can go wrong. And I would really like to find someone that specializes. Thanks.

As far as I am aware, there is no hair restoration doctor who specializes in African American patients. Hair (without regard to race) is hair. Transplants can be more difficult when transplanting African American patients, but any good doctor who does hair transplantation should be able to address your needs. Go to ISHRS.org to locate a doctor near you.

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February 14, 2007

Anything I Can Do Now to Increase My Scalp Laxity for Future Transplant? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

You have mentioned before that one of the determining factors in a successful transplant candidate is that candidate’s scalp laxity. I am not in need of a transpant at my current state of hair loss, but I can foresee myself needing it some time down the road. Is there anything I can do TODAY to maximze the number of grafts I can get TOMORROW?

A good hair transplant doctor can tell you if your scalp is tight. If it is not, then there is no need to do exercises that may increase the looseness of your scalp. If it is tight, you can put your hands double clasped behind your head and slide the skin up and down. Most people have about 1/2 inch of skin movement, those with tight scalps have less than that. With this exercise done 3-6 times a day for a few minutes at a time, I have seen the scalp laxity go up.

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February 13, 2007

Hairs Per Square Inch Seems Lower on Sides and Top of My Head – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

22/male. My individual hairs don’t seem to be thinning all that much (meaning the diameter) except the overall thickness i.e. hairs per square inch has drastically lowered especially on the sides of and top of my head. Is this just a normal part of my body changing? In addition the spot of hair that juts out on the right side of my head (near the temple) is turning more into like peach fuzz but it is not quite like that on the left side. Are these the signs of MPB, I’m confused and worried. Thanks

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It is impossible to answer your question without a formal physical exam and microscopic assessment of your scalp area by area. What you are describing does not particularly sound like a pattern consistent with MPB. The sides of the head are often less dense than the back of the head in non-balding people. There are other conditions such as diffuse alopecia areata (as an example) that may cause asymmetric hair loss in different parts of your scalp. You should see a qualified doctor who can perform a miniaturization study and density measurement to obtain a good diagnosis.

February 13, 2007

Son Was Born with a Bald Spot on Side of His Head – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

My son was born with a 2″ diameter bald spot on the side of his head (near top). He’s 5 years old today and still has the spot. I’m concerned that this spot will soon be the object of curiosity and teasing by his classmates. What’s the best way to help him with this little difference? Is he too young for transplants?

Small bald areas such as a birth mark or a scar can easily be addressed with hair restoration surgery. Hair transplants or expanders may be appropriate for him.

From a long term perspective, the surgeon who fixes this must also take into account (since he is a boy) whether he will ever be affected with male pattern (genetic) hair loss when he is older. While looking at his father/mother/grandparents may offer a clue, it is difficult to predict male pattern hair loss at such young age since the genetics don’t follow predictable patterns. At best, he should have a formal consult with a qualified surgeon.

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February 13, 2007

Left Corner of Hairline Maturing Faster Than Right Corner – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

dear docter,
I am an 18 year old male who noticed a “somewhat” maturing hairline. I took the measurements you stated and the front part of my hairline and right corner match (1-1 1/2 in.) My concern is my left corner is possibily thinning. When i push up the left corner of my hair i see some thinned hairs and some scalp because the hair weaves in oppisite directions when i push it up. I am concerned if the left corner will continue to thin and shed and lead to MPB thank you docter

We do not bald symmetrically and it is not unusual for one side to go faster than the other. The same is true for the maturation of the hairline — initially more on one side than the other. Eventually the slower side will catch up. You should get your hair mapped out for miniaturization to get a diagnosis and find out if you are balding or just maturing your hairline.

February 13, 2007

DHEA in Multi-Vitamin – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I saw on your site that DHEA can trigger baldness. I did not realize the multi-vitamin I took had it. If I stop taking the vitamin, can I stop the new baldness (if indeed DHEA caused it) or am I doomed forever for those few months I took the vitamin?

Stopping it won’t hurt. I doubt that your short run with DHEA will cause long term effects, but what you lost may not come back.

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February 12, 2007

Using DermMatch and Couvre with Seborrheic Dermatitis – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr Rassman

I’m considering to try “Dermatch” and “couvre” . My concern is that i have a chronic seborrheic dermatitis condition on my scalp . Do these two products have a negative effect in conditions such as mine ? Let me also tell yoy that i shampoo daily using Nizoral 2% , ,a salycylic acid shampoo( Node Ds) and occasionaly Betadine.

I would deeply appreciate it if you could mail any reply

Thank you very much for your time

There should be no problem with the use of both of these cosmetics with seborrhea.

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