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Hair Loss InformationBest Solutions for Balding – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What is the best product for thinning hair and small spot on the top of my hair. Thanks

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If there are many small spots of balding, then a visit with a doctor is critical because you may have a medical problem that requires expert insights. If you are a man, I am assuming that you are talking about male pattern ‘genetic’ balding. Both Propecia and Minoxidil may work. Minoxidil, applied to the balding area like a lotion, can be purchased over the counter in many stores. Propecia, a daily pill, requires a doctor’s prescription. Propecia, made only for use by men, can stop and even reverse the hair loss in some of the younger men.

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Hair Loss InformationAvodart Info – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

A BaldingBlog reader named Greg originally posted this as a comment to a blog entry, but I’ve formatted it to make it easier to read and have reposted it here.

The FDA has found Avodart to be safe (for BHP). The side effects were very simliar if not a tad less then Proscar 5mg, which also was cleared by the FDA many years ago. I think Avodart should be indicated as a off label prescription in some instances.

  1. non-responders to Propecia
  2. When the loss of efficacy of Propecia becomes bothersome to a indivdual

One other interesting point is that the age group the FDA studied on Propecia (18-42) was quite younger than what Proscar/Avodart (50+ median age 66 approx) so the chances of sexual side effects will inherently be larger in this age demographic as opposed to Propecia… meaning the side effects are probably even closer then one thinks/ Propecia versus Avodart. The one draw back with Avodart is that there is no “human model” with type 1 suppression so there is a question on “long term” safety as with many drugs. As long as you dont have any side effects with Avodart, the long half life can only be beneficial with Androgentic Alopecia and the phase 2 studies show this. People held onto the hair they gained (even grew more) 12 weeks “after” the the medication was discontinued (0.5 mg/ 2.5 mg only). Proscar users saw a sharp decline in this time frame. I hope these facts are helpful in some way.

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Thank you for your insight. I believe that what you said makes good sense. I would hope that I could adopt a similar view in an ethical/legal framework.

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Hair Loss InformationRemoving Growing Grafts – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I just want to remove my grafts as they grow. Do you think it is reasonable to have it done with laser treatment. My scar has not healed all the way, but I guess I’ll have to live with it.

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The good news and the bad news about hair transplants, is that they are permanent. With that said, they can be removed with three types of surgical procedures. If there is no skin deformity associated with it (common in the older types of plugs), then the removal process may be easier.

Lasers have a high failure rate when used to ‘kill’ scalp hair and they will not deal with skin deformities associated with the older type of hair transplants. Be very careful about laser removal of scalp hair from hair transplants. The effective frequency used by lasers is more suited to less skin thickness found elsewhere on the body. The transplanted hairs may go too deeply into the scalp to be impacted by these lasers. If you look to our repair section in our patient photos and the articles we published in the journals on our website, you can see the various before and after pictures of the repair process and much of the details of the surgical repairs.

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Hair Loss InformationToday’s Man – How Much is Enough Hair? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Part 1 of “How Much is Enough Hair?” showcased a patient in his mid-20s. The patient below in part 2 is in his mid-50s and achieved wonderful results.

The change in my appearance in just 8 months has been remarkable. From a balding man that I hated to look at in the mirror, to a younger man who looks like he has a full head of hair has changed my life. My friends can’t get over it and even though everyone knows that I have had a hair transplant, no one believes it when they look at me. The back of my head is still bald. Can I expect to fill that in as well?

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I loved seeing you the other day. Every time I see one of our patients with the right hair and skin color and the right hair texture, I feel that the work we do in restoring hair is almost like God’s work. Another session will probably suffice to fill in the back and when done in combination with some styling effort, you will look like a man with a full head of hair. I recommend another 3000 or so grafts be placed into your crown. Thanks for allowing me to use you questions and picture for my blog.

When looking at these pictures, please note that the hair line is not a line but an irregular zone of hair. It does not have a start point and you can not connect the dots. Note that behind this zone, the hair is thick and you can not see through it, while in the zone, the hair is subtle in its appearance and does not hit you like a wall when you look at it. There is a smooth transition from the forehead (without hair) to the thick lush hair sitting back about 1/2 inch behind the transition zone. That means that you can not tell that it is a transplanted hair line, just like mine or other normal people that do not bald.

This first set below are his before photos (Norwood Class 5), taken in December, 2004.



The following are his after photos (one procedure of 2,773 grafts), taken in August, 2005.




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Hair Loss InformationIs Propecia Mandatory After Hair Transplant? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,
I have looked into hair transplants time and again but have been scared off by the horror stories of bad HTs. FUEs sound good to me. Where do I go to get evaluated? I am losing hair in my temple areas and am 36 years old. Also, do I have to be on Propecia? I was on it for a year, didn’t see any results in hair but did notice problems with sexual activity (i.e. hard to keep an erection) I like it a lot better without it. So, if I had a HT, would I have to be on propecia?

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You do not have to use Propecia after a hair transplant. However, by not using this drug you will not have any protection against the progressive nature of hair loss, assuming you are still losing hair and not totally bald. With regard to your sexual problems, almost 40% of men of your age have some difficulty maintaining an erection. One of the erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs can solve that. Taking Propecia for your hair and ED pills for your erection may give you both a better sex life and hair at the same time.

You indicated that you are based in Colorado. I would be happy to evaluate you for FUE, but my offices are in California. To find a FUE surgeon in your area, please visit ISHRS.org, but please note that there are not many of them out there that have the reputation and experience you may want.

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Hair Loss InformationPropecia Side Effects – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am 28 years old, and I have had the unfortunate expierence of losing my hair for the past 2 years.
I had a consult with a Bosley representative, and reccomended that I go on Propecia for about 9 months in order to retain my hair to be a good risk for hair transplantation. I would like to know, if this is a good reccomendation, and is the risk of side affects worth the effort? I have been on propecia now for almost 3 weeks, and I have had some side effects. In fact, I feel like I’m losing more hair due to propecia…Is that possible? With all this drama and money involved with going bald, I am about to resort to just shaving my head. It seems all the effort is in vain. It’s hard to beat genetics with a natuaral look.

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It is almost always a good idea to try Propecia if you have genetic hair loss, especially at your age, BEFORE you go through a surgical hair transplant. You may decide that after 9 to 12 months, you are happy with the results and do not need surgery.

I suspect that in the past three weeks, you have spent more time looking at your hair, watching for growth or hair loss, than you have in the past two years. It may take up to 12 months to see results from Propecia, and by watching your hair very closely and very often, you may miss some of the subtle growth that will hopefully be taking place. As far as side effects, erectile dysfunction, decreased libido and ejaculation disorders were reported about by .5% more men taking Propecia, than those taking the placebo- according to Merck. If the side effects are greatly impacting your life you will have to make the decision if you want to continue Propecia.

You sound like you are conflicted about your hair loss and solutions that are open to you. My suggestion is to take your time and research all of your options before you make the committment to surgery.

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Hair Loss InformationAvodart’s FDA Status? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

You have mentioned that Avodart is not yet approved by FDA. Do you know what the status is on them approving it? Is it in its beginning trial stages or are the trials mostly complete and the FDA is just evaluating all of the research before making a decision. Or have they rejected it all together?

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Avodart was approved by the FDA for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), in 2001. While I do not know which stage the trials are currently in, I am sure that the manufacturer of Avodart is doing all they can to speed up the FDA approval process for use in hair loss, if it is even at trials to begin with.

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Hair Loss InformationAlopecia Areata Universalis – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Im suffering with alopecia areata universalis. due to it i lost my hair totally on my scalp, eyebrows & eyelashes. Is hair transplantation possible for me? please give me a reply. thank you.

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A hair transplant requires a sufficient amount of donor hair taken from the back of the scalp, to be moved to the balding area. Unfortunately if you do not have the donor hair to accomplish your goal, then hair transplantation is not an option. You can discuss your choices with a good dermatologist, and the National Alopecia Areata Foundation has a very extensive and informative website for those suffering with your condition.

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Hair Loss InformationCommon, Yet Sad Story – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

i am 32 years old/ my hair has been receeding slowly for 10 years. my entire life has taken a different course then what i would ever would have imagined. my life is one of boring structure and panic, this disease has ruined my youth and the saddest part/ nobody knows but me.

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Many balding men suffer in silence. I remember a psychologist that I transplanted in two sessions with about 4500 grafts in total. He told me that he had been in analysis for his balding problem for over 15 years. It made no sense to him that he was so devastated over his hair loss, but it nevertheless made him suffer. He had taken some medications as well to deal with his depression.

After the transplants were finished, he said that he could not understand why he had not done it sooner. He thought, in hindsight, that had he transplanted his hair 20 years ago, he would not have had to suffer with the problem for all of those years. But the reality was really something different, because only the newer technologies would have given him a normal head of hair. Had he chosen surgery 20 years earlier, the results would not have been a walk in the park.

Aside from that anecdote, it is still important to find out why you feel that your hair loss has ruined your life. It might be worth talking to a good therapist and explore how hair loss has affected your life. You are in control of your life, so take charge and do something about getting it together and stop suffering in silence. Look for help.