2020-02-07 04:00:342020-02-07 08:46:38My transplanted area is tender and hot. What is wrong with it? (photo)
My Transplant Nightmare Has Ruined My Life!
Dr. Rassman, my story is long and will probably bore you. I would just like to say that probably the most humiliating situation a grown man can be in is having a very noticable hair transplant. I am the recipient of 2 procedure in 1991, 3-4 fin NYC 1992-1999. Since then the new hair outlived the existing hair and I had to resort to shaving my head-scars, cobblestoning, high hairline and every humiliating situation that goes with it. Before this, I was a good looking young man with the world for the taking. I remember the day after reading the sports section on the Daily News and making that quick decision. I was losing, but not that much. Cut to chase- I am a NYC Firefighter for 18 yrs and I haven’t relaxed and enjoyed one second of it. Always worried about comments (which have happened) and living in close quarters with crazy guys does not help. I have spent thousands on redistribution, skin resurfacing, and all the rest of the corrective procedures. WHen my hair grows in a bit, you can still see the doll hair look after just 4-5 days. What you can also see is the fact that I don’t need that much more in order to fill in. I have alot of scar tissue and my donor area is limited. I don’t know what to do. Your websites reveals very frank talk while revealing good work. Doctor, I am so tired of living this 100% selfconcious life. I don’t go to any events, social gatherings, funerals and wakes are a nightmare, weddings forget it, my kids events. I’m tired. It’s changed me. I find I can’t concentrate on anything.My self worth is zero bacause I see what I did to myself. My career is halted. Go where I can wear a hat. I am a member of SAG-whose going to hire an actor with lines going across his head. That’s another career that’s been halted. Can I send you some pix. I don’t think FUES are out of the question. The problem is sending photos with substantial growth since I cant’ grow it that long w/o looking like a freak. This sucks! Sorry but it totally consumes me. It’s easy for a friend or wife to say-” who cares, don’t worry about it” ” you have kids to worry about”- it’s not that easy. I want my life back. The Joe Penny article fueled this email. I hope I don’t sound angry but it seems like no one listens or can understand the pain. Why even live if you look like a freak, have no career, debt, scattered thoughts ect. Can you help?
Actor Joe Penny has been kind enough to share his experience with the repair process and some of what you are describing is just what Joe went through. Joe’s experience is a success story, while others who we have seen over the years have not been so fortunate. We’ve published the stories of many patients that just wanted to be bald again, with one example being that of a local doctor who fell victim to the process. Although his results seem to work for him, his solution was far less than I would have accepted (but one way to avoid a huge wig).
I am ashamed of the history in this profession where the old deforming type of surgeries created work like you are complaining about. It has impacted the lives of so many men and most of the doctors who did the worst type of this surgery are nowhere to be found today to solve problems like you have. Believe it or not, some of this surgery is still being performed today. You made a decision to improve yourself, and fell victim to an industry that was at best naive and at worst malicious by offering such surgeries. I wish you much success and good luck.
As you are in NY, Dr. Bernstein (with offices in NY and NJ) may be the best route to other solutions. Both Dr. Robert Bernstein and I have spent a great deal of time with patients like you. If you’re planning a visit to California, I’d be happy to see you.
For more information on repairing old hair plugs, please see:
- The Art of Repair in Surgical Hair Restoration Part I – General Aspects of Repair and Basic Repair Strategies
- The Art of Repair in Surgical Hair Restoration Part II – The Tactics of Repair
- Dean’s Story – Step by step photos of a repair procedure
- Repair Work Photo Gallery – Before and after patient repair photos
My Transplant Doctor’s Post-Op Paperwork is Incredibly Stringent
I recently went for a transplant and the post op paperwork I was given by my doctor seems incredibly stringent. Things like, laying straight up/at a 45 degree angle for a week, no aerobic exercise for 3 months, no weight lifting for 6, can’t be in contact with smoke/dust/pets for 4 weeks, etc.
I’ve read a lot of stuff on your site that actually coincides with things he’s said, but the post op instructions are quite different from what I could gather. Is he just being overly cautious to try preserving grafts?
I generally recommend no sex for 15 years, no walking more than 1/4 mile for 4 years… no, no… I’m just kidding.
I tell most of my patients the following:
- They can lie flat
- Can have full aerobic exercise in 1 week (even run a marathon if they want)
- Limit weightlifting greater than 25 lbs for 4 weeks and keep the back straight
- No sit-ups or pull-ups for 4 weeks
- May play with pets in 1 day (but no licking the transplants by your dog until the crusts are off — it had to be said)
- Smoke and dust in the environment are not a problem unless you are not clean
- Passive sex is ok for the first 2 nights, then everything after is a go
Does that help?
2007-01-09 14:36:552007-01-09 15:37:00My Transplant Doctor’s Post-Op Paperwork is Incredibly Stringent
My Toddler Daughter Has Had a Large Bald Spot Since Birth
My 16 month old daughter has had a rather large bald spot since birth. It is about half of the back of her head. If you were to draw a line from the left ear to the right ear, the entire area below it only seems to grow very short, fine hair. Also, there are numerous tiny red spider veins in this area. I have no idea what this could be. Her hair is growing on the top and the sides of her head, although the hair on top is really short. I’ve had lots of people ask if they are bangs that I have cut. She prefers to sleep on her belly and I very rarely see her sleeping on her back. She is otherwise a very healthy vivacious little girl. She has another well visit in 2 months where I will address it with the pediatrician. She never mentioned any concern before, but it’s starting to worry me. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Although you have an appointment with her pediatrician in a couple months, I would suggest that you bring her to a dermatologist with an interest in children’s hair loss. There is no urgency here, so take your time and find the best doctor. The American Academy of Dermatology site has a dermatologist search, and I’d start with those physicians that list “pediatric dermatology” as a specialty.
My Tight Eyeglasses Caused Thinning on the Right Side of My Scalp
Hello,
from 2010 until September 2011 I was wearing eyeglasses that were too tight, and I suppose the tightly fitted frames lead to a pressure-induced alopecia at both lateral scalp sides, decreasing the blood flow passing through the external carotid artery. The right side of my scalp shows reduced hair density. Is this due to an ischemic process? How do I know if the alopecia is scarring and if this process is reversible? Up until now the hair hasn’t regrown. Thanks a lot
I suppose anything is possible. Perhaps you have traction alopecia, but I wouldn’t say it is from an ischemic process. If the problem has been ongoing, the hairs may not grow back. Only time will tell (about 1 year), but I suppose if it has been since late 2011, you would know by now.
Transplants work well if it does not grow back, and in fact, you would never know that they are transplants.
My Testicles Hurt After 2 Days on Finasteride
Started Fin 2 days ago and now I’m at work sitting here with an annoying ache in my balls. It’s not painful, but a nuisance in terms of feeling. I’m an athletic guy and exercise daily. Is it smart to push through for another week and see if ache disappears or should I stop. I’m able to get hard and masturbate as of today and there was no pain in the process.
I recommend to stop taking the drug and see if it goes away. Then restart it in a few weeks and see if it happens again.
2020-01-17 04:00:092019-11-06 15:42:19My Testicles Hurt After 2 Days on Finasteride
My Teenage Son Has Alopecia and Wants Laser Hair Removal
My son, has had alopecia since age 13, when he turned 19 this year he started having laser treatments on his scalp to permantly remove the rest of his hair in order to look more uniformed and without patchiness. After 6 treatments already, the patchiness still exist, but permant damage was done in some areas. Is he now scarred for life @ age 20. Please help!!! He would like all of his hair removed nice and smooth skin, I wish he never would have had laser to begin with and had hoped for hair to regrow. Is regrowth ever possible now?
Regrowth of hair in the presence of active alopecia areata is likely not possible. I would need to evaluate him to understand the complex process and findings you are telling us about. Am I correct to assume that the lasers produced skin damage? Was it skin discoloration or is it real scarring? Is your son also balding from genetic causes? What was the last time he had a diagnosis for determing if the alopecia areata is active now? There are a number of doctors who specialize in the treatment of alopecia areata — has he seen any? It seems your son wants to be bald. There is nothing wrong with being bald (or shaving the head), but being scarred is a problem. Please send me photographs and if they are good quality, I can review the problem with you.
As an aside, bald has been coming into style in recent years and has been more accepted by the “hip” young men of today. It should be clear to most people that the option to shave the head may be lost if you have a hair transplant procedure performed. Anyone with a good hair transplant that uses strip harvesting would have a noticable scar if the head was shaved, even if the scar was only 1mm width in size. This is also true even with the minimally invasive follicular unit extraction (FUE) technique where punctate scars (1mm in size) may be present. The presence of a Master Plan is critical in whatever you do.
2006-12-13 15:33:182006-12-13 16:29:48My Teenage Son Has Alopecia and Wants Laser Hair Removal
My Teenage Daughter Keeps Losing Eyebrow Hair While Sleeping
My 13 year old daughter annually starts complaining about the area over her right eye hurting. Within about 2-3 weeks the eyebrow hair will fall out while sleeping, or I just have to rub my finger over it and it comes off. This has happened 3 years in a row. Her pediatrician thought she may have used a razor the first time but now I KNOW thats not happening. I personally see it rub off at the root. What is happening?
It sounds like she might have a medical condition known as trichotillomania, which is a compulsion to pull hair out (which could also explain pain felt in the area). This can occur while your daughter is sleeping, and she is probably unaware that she’s doing it. If a doctor looks at it with magnification, he will see “Exclamation point” hairs and broken hairs at different levels in the eyebrow hair.
You could treat it by putting a head band around her head securing the eyebrows within it. Keep this for 3 months or so and see if the hair grows back. That would confirm the diagnosis. Often, a doctor can look at the eyebrows and see changes in the hair that point to this diagnosis.
My Teen Daughter is Losing Hair — What Should She Do?
Is their a Dr.in the Sacramento area who specializes in hair loss. My 18 year old daughter has been experiencing hair loss for about a year. I took her to the Dr. last year and was told it was probably due to stress. Her blood work showed no abnormalities. She has another appointment soon. I am thinking it could be heredity. My father stated losing his hair at 18. I have Kaiser Insurance and I don’t think they are going to do a whole lot to figure out what is going on with her hair loss. What would be the next step? Should she be referred to a Dermatologist? If you could give some assistance, that would be appreciated, thanks.
Women’s hair loss is very different from men’s hair loss. Finding the source of the female thinning isn’t as simple as looking to the history of hair loss from the male side of the family. You should take a look at the female hair loss category of this site and read the many posts on the subject. A doctor who specializes in hair transplantation and has the intellectual capacity to analyze it may be able to help. Usually this is an elimination process for known causes.
I would be happy to give you an opinion, but you would have to fly to Los Angeles to see me. Or Dr. Pak goes to our San Jose office and may be a first start to the process of analysis. It’s not quite Sacramento, but it’s closer than Los Angeles. If not, you can try the physician search at ISHRS.org.
My Surgery Was Years Ago and I Have Small Pimples With Each Transplanted Graft
Dear Dr,
I’m a man 38 years year old, writing from italy. I had an HT 2 years ago with about 2000 graft implanted FUT. I take 1 mg Propecia for 2 years.This is my problem:
I have very small pimples (less than 1mm) on each graft implanted there are very visible i.e. under the sun light.they don’t hurt me and seems like the hair is pulling up the skin. I don’t have any of them on non tranplanted hair… I searched on this site but almost all of the discussions I found are on bumps or normal pimples or pitting or scars. the most valid explanation I found is that it is due to the graft that was implanted too deep in the scalp.If it is true, what can I do for improve the situation? Dermabrasion or laser? may I start trying some remedy for folliculitis or is completely useless?pls give me some good hope on what I can do,I’m really desperate. the doctor who make me the surgery (in Mumbay while I was in a long trip for job…)after the first telcon, don’t reply to my calls or mails…however I don’t trust him anymore! I contacted another Dr who said that the only solution maybe is to make another transplant to hide the thin pimples, but I leave this as the last solution and I won’t make another bad transplant. pls tell me if there is something I can do for making less visible these pimples.Thanks in advance. sorry for my bad english. Best Regards
If what you’re describing is a cobblestone appearance (and not actual pimples), then please see this post. Without seeing you, it would be impossible for me to tell you what the problem is caused from.
Dermabrasion to the scalp causes visible scarring and only benefits the doctor’s pocket, not the patients who receive it. There are two types of lasers that can impact hair:
- Low level light laser therapy (also known as LLLT), which I feel does not work at all
- Higher powered lasers for hair removal, which do not work 100% on killing the hair
Neither offers much benefit to your situation. If you have bumps, some hair killed with the high powered lasers will just make what remains more visible and the laser itself can cause depigmentation (whitish areas) of the lasered skin. I would need to see you, but it is not an easy trip from Italy to my office in Los Angeles.