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Did you have permanent or temporary scalp micro pigmentation done?

I had a small thin spot on my crown that I’d like to darken with smp while I wait for possible results on finasteride. I was considering temporary smp. What do you recommend? I’m 25 with hairloss only in the crown, 6 months on fin. Thank you

We don’t do temporary SMP, but many people who had it grew their hair without it being detectable. We actually offer it for hair transplant patients who may not be as full as they want.


2020-12-03 10:29:58Did you have permanent or temporary scalp micro pigmentation done?

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Did Writer Dean Koontz Have a Hair Transplant?

Hello Dr. Rassman! I am a big fan of horror writer Dean Koonz. According to his biography, he had a hair transplant because he was “tired of looking like G. Gordon Liddy.” His “before” picture is here and his “after” picture is here

I don’t know, I’m having trouble believing that those results are from a hair transplant. I’m thinking hairpiece but I thought I’d get an expert’s opinion. I see his picture on the book jacket every day and I can’t help but wonder!

Based on the photos you sent (which I’ve cropped and shown at right), author Dean Koontz’s hairstyle sure is shaped like a bad hairpiece… but that reflects personal taste and maybe it does the trick for him. I don’t know any details about his procedure so I couldn’t really guess as to what is actually going on there. Former Illinois state governor Rod Blagojevich has a similar look and I do not believe that he has a hairpiece.

In the years that I have been involved in hair treatment, I have seen everything imaginable with regard to what the consumer wants his look to be like. It is not unusual for balding men to have facial hair and when many of them get their hair back, the facial hair goes away. With regard to hair pieces, almost nothing shocks me anymore!


2009-06-09 14:12:09Did Writer Dean Koontz Have a Hair Transplant?

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Did this celebrity get a hair transplant?

David Beckham’s photo in the Telegraph shows a very normal hairline with possibly some frontal thinning. The shape of his hairline is normal and the temple peaks are prominent. The picture on the right must have been created for some nefarious reason. The picture on the right shows an abnormally shaped hairline; however, it was likely photoshopped? We can’t always believe what we see.


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Did the Laser Comb Damage My Hair?

Is it possible for a laser comb to do damage to hair or scalp? I’m female – senior citizen. I’ve been using laser comb for a couple months and my hair seems alot thinner, plus it goes in all different directions. I can’t seem to fix it anymore. I am not trying to put blame – a person with hair loss will try anything. I’m just asking for your opinion. If the comb has done damage, it is my own fault. Please answer. Could the comb be too warm for some people.

I have not heard any reports that parallel yours. I personally do not feel that the LaserComb (or similar) does much more than line the pockets of the company’s owners.

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Did the Growth Hormones I Took Cause Permanent Hair Loss?

I am 21 and used Growth Hormone for a little over 2 months i am starting to notice hair loss. Is this temporary or will it grow back once i stop? Or has the GH prematurely started my hair loss and will these lost hairs never grow back? I need to know if it is strictly short term and they will grow back i am very nervous. Thank you Dr

I have to apologize in advance for the strong opinions I have on the subject you introduced in your question. I always want to know why people your age would take growth hormones, and whether they were under the care of a physician or were just experimenting with them. You didn’t state why you were taking them, but growth hormones can be dangerous and I strongly recommend that you follow up with your doctor to make sure there were no other damages to your body.

With respect to hair loss, growth hormones can certainly precipitate genetic male pattern baldness. I cannot say if the hairs would grow back, but if it was hormone/genetic related, the hair that was lost will probably not grow back.


2008-11-04 15:35:25Did the Growth Hormones I Took Cause Permanent Hair Loss?

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Did The Great Hairline / Thin Top Patient Take Propecia?

DR. R
did this patient you mentioned last week take propecia by any chance as well? I just want to know as to if he lost non transplant hair after the transplant through the years was it with or without propecia

So everyone is up to speed, the post from last month you’re referring to is here — Great Hairline, Thin Top and Crown, Low on Donor Hair

This patient did not take Propecia (finasteride) over the period of time we worked with him. Many people who are satisfied with their transplant results don’t “officially” recognize that they have a progressive process and in men like this, practicing denial as it goes on is common. In older men (like this man, over 40 years old), their decision to not take Propecia is common, as these men feel as if they beat the balding process and will not bald more over time. And in men over 40, this is not an unreasonable conclusion as the balding process often slows or stops on its own — but clearly this man lost his gamble as his balding pattern acted as if he was in his 20s, not 40s.

When I see a man under 35 years old losing hair, I stress the need for Propecia to guarantee, as much as possible, that the balding process has slowed or stopped. It is often a battle between us, as no one really wants to take the drug, especially with good transplant results. I can not stress the importance of staying on the drug to stop the type of changes that this man had and although there is no real guarantee, it is reasonable to take the drug for life.


2013-01-04 13:43:55Did The Great Hairline / Thin Top Patient Take Propecia?

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Did Surgeries from My Fibrous Dysplasia Cause Hair Loss?

Dear Dr Rassman:

I’m a 27 year old who has long suffered from Fibrous Dysplasia (I’m not sure if you are familiar with this disease). Due to my ailment, I have incurred over 30 medical surgeries over my lifetime. My hair was thick up untl high school, and then it really began to thin. The only ancestors of mine that have been bald were only two of my great-grandfathers. I was wondering if all of the major surgery I have had would have caused my hair loss. Also, I have been on propecia since November of last year and am having some back surgery next week. Would the shock of surgery or the medications used cause my hair loss to increase? Also, because I may be missing a couple of days of propecia doses would this affect the progress of the drug in combating my hair loss?

I’m familiar with fibrous dysplasia (it is a very rare bone disease), but I do not know what surgery you have had or what medications you take. Your question is very general and it is not something I can give you an answer to in this format. You need to see a physician and have a complete history and examination.

In most cases, hair loss in men is caused by genetics. If you have an autoimmune disease like a form of a scarring alopecia, surgery done in these conditions can be dangerous and produce failures of the grafts and further scarring of the scalp. Any medical illness or surgery that is a stress to your body can cause hair loss (sometimes permanent). But to distinguish that from genetic causes is something that only a thorough examination with a physician can provide. You are looking for a cause and effect type of relationship and I really cannot help you with the limited information I have.

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Did Steroids Make My Hair Fall Out?

I took steroids for 2 months and it made my hair on the top of my head thin dramatically. I do not have a receding hairline but I have lost a lot of density up top. My question is did the steroids kill my hair follicle within 2 months and it is gone never to come back or did the steroids I take make the follicles go into telogen? I was under the assumption that MPB takes more than a couple of months and a prolonged period for the follicle to die. It makes a big difference to know whether this hair loss is temporary versus permanent!!! THANKS IN ADVANCE

Steroids do not “kill” your hair follicles, but they can accelerate androgenic alopecia (this is assuming that you have androgenic alopecia). Each person reacts differently to the steroid, so I really can not answer your question. Your doctor may elect to take miniaturization measurements of your hair, do a work up for telogen effluvium, and start you on finasteride (Propecia) or minoxidil (Rogaine) if he feels that these things will help return your hair to normal. The worst part of steroid use is it occasionally starts a latent state of genetic alopecia and moves it along faster. You need to be under the care of a good doctor.

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Did Rogaine Give Me Dandruff?

Dr. Rassman,
I am a 23 year old male. I recently began using Rogaine and Nioxin because of hair loss, but stopped after about 3 weeks because of severe itching/irritation. One of the products (not sure which since I stopped/started them at the same time) has given me dandruff. I have never had this problem before in my life. I would like to know if this is a common problem with either of these products, and if so how long will it persist? Indefinitely? Also can dandruff cause hair loss? Thanks so much for your help.

Your scalp irritation or dandruff may be from either Rogaine or Nioxin as both of these may irritate or dry the scalp. Since you started them at the same time, it is impossible to tell. I have heard on occasion that Rogaine (as with any topical medication / shampoos / lotions / etc) can cause significant scalp irritation.

Dandruff does not cause hair loss. If you have dandruff you may consider using an anti-dandruff shampoo or seeing a dermatologist.


2007-08-31 12:34:53Did Rogaine Give Me Dandruff?

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Did Retired Pro Hockey Player Eric Lindros Have a Hair Transplant?

Dear Dr. Rassman,

If you watch the attached videos of Eric Lindros (former professional hockey player), would you assume that he has had a hair transplant or is that a hair piece? I would estimate that the videos are 5-8 years apart. If it is a transplant, the results are exceptional. In the first video, he clearly has signs of a receeding/thinning hairline. Conversely, in the second video (interview after his retirement) he has a full head of hair. What are your thoughts?

– Youtube – Eric Lindros in 1997
– Youtube – Eric Lindros in 2007

Thank you in advance for your time. Best Regards.

Here are side by side still shots from the videos you linked to:

Eric Lindros

The comparison with the 1997 pictures show Eric Lindros is a Class 3 Vertex balding pattern (front and crown). From the pictures, I can not tell if it is a hair piece or a hair transplant, but he is doing something to give himself hair. When the hair is combed forward, a lot can be hidden. Perhaps he started on medication like Propecia or Rogaine. Propecia was FDA approved in late 1997, so he could’ve started it soon after. I really am just speculating, of course. For all I know, it could’ve been witchcraft (though I’m 99% convinced it wasn’t).