Posts

Posted on

Understanding When a Hair Transplant is Appropriate

Hello,

I am a 21 year old male and for the last year or so I have began to notice that my hairline is receding. In an attempt to control my hair loss I have purchased Procerin and minoxidil 5% and I am considering going to my doctor to ask for his opinion on using Propecia. I have also been reading up on the subject of hair transplants but have came to understand that I am too young to consider this sort of option. However, this brings me to my questions:

  1. If I add Propecia to my current regime (Minox, Procerin) will my doctor or dermatologist still be able to map my hair loss and estimate when it would be wise to consider a hair transplant?
  2. Or will I have to stop my regime, for a period of time, to allow the regrown (if there is any) hair to fall out, thus allowing my doctor to see the natural recession of my hair line?
  3. Or would I have to stay on a course of Propecia forever, so to stop any hair loss behind the hair transplant?

I am answering your questions in the order you asked:

  1. The available FDA approved medications for hair loss can help slowing down or in some occasions stopping the process of hair loss. Early 20s is the period that most physicians don’t want to rush into performing a hair transplant, because it is hard to predict the progress of the hair loss and final hair loss pattern at this age. Considering the family history of baldness, hair loss medication use and degree of miniaturization can help establish a Master Plan for a young patient like you. So, you need to find a good doctor for a thorough evaluation and only after considering all above factors should atime table be tailored for your hair transplants.
  2. The effect of these medications on your hair growth is gradual and I don’t recommend stopping them to find out your natural degree of hair loss. You will end up losing more hair unnecessarily by doing that. I have no information about Porcerin, but Propecia is the most appropriate medication to control progression of genetic hair loss in young men.
  3. I recommend that you develop a Master Plan for the treatment and stick to it, being monitored with yearly miniaturization studies to follow the progression of the hair loss. Most of the patients need to continue their treatment for the rest of their lives, so it is wise to do your research before starting such treatments.
Posted on

Undercover Videos Made in Turkey – See What Really Happens

This is clearly a production line business. The doctor is not particularly important other than for the marketing, recruitment, and conversion. It is clear from what the interviewer found out, that the doctor does not do the surgery. If not the doctor, who does it? I know that there have been deaths associated with hair transplants and even dental work in the western world, but at least in the US, Asia, and Europe, you have licensed MDs performing the surgery and who are trained on how to treat you if something goes wrong. Everyone going to Turkey should see this (Taken from https//www.hairtransplantmentor.com and the brilliant Joe Tillman).

Here are the videos:

Joe gave me permission to display the links to his Undercover Videos


2019-02-20 06:24:32Undercover Videos Made in Turkey – See What Really Happens

Posted on

Uncertainty In Hair Loss Pattern and Testosterone Levels

Part 1:

I really enjoy the website and find it very informative. I have read on this website many times, that many individuals who are destined to be a norwood 6 or 7 and eventually do become either of those stages, are typically men under the age of 30. Moreover, the final balding pattern is established or completely stops typically between the ages of 40-50.

So, how come there is so much uncertainty regarding hair loss between the ages of 30-40 and what will happen and if further progression of hair loss will occur? I would think if an individual has reached their 30’s with a significant amount of hair, then balding should stop.

Part 2:

My situation is like this, I started balding at 19 and am currently 33. I have been on finasteride for the past the 14 years and have remained a norwood 2-2A. I don’t have much body hair or facial hair and have always felt I have low testosterone. What am I a destined to become then, any ideas?

testosterone

Thank you for following BaldingBlog!

There is no firm rule on what age you will lose your hair. For most men, genetic male pattern hair loss occurs in their 20s and30s. But it can also happen in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. Hair loss does not completely stop. We don’t necessarily fit neatly into a box. This is why patients go to doctors for an examination.

If your hair loss is a Norwood 2 there would be questions of why you would have needed to be on Propecia in the first place. A Norwood 2 hair loss pattern do not progress to a Norwood 6. Norwood classification is not a chart for “progression” of hair loss. It is merely a pictorial description of your genetic hair loss trait. In the end only your doctor can tell you about your treatment plan. If you suspect a low testosterone level you should discuss your concerns with your doctor and have a test to confirm this (…if it is an issue). Testosterone levels have nothing to do with genetic male pattern balding. You can have a very high testosterone level and have no balding and no beard. You can have a very low testosterone level and be completely bald with a full beard. There is no correlation with facial hair and testosterone levels.

Posted on

Umbilical Cord Blood, Is It the Future?

Umbilical cord blood is stored by more and more people today at great expense. It is used to treat rare blood cancer and bone marrow disorders. They can be used to form beating heart cells, treat heart disease, form neurons, and treat neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s, with almost endless possibilities (including brain injuries, stroke, spinal cord injuries, and even multiple sclerosis). A recent study treated cerebral palsy successfully in experiential trials. This is very exciting stuff! Maybe in 10 years, we will see cures never imagined.


2018-09-13 14:00:14Umbilical Cord Blood, Is It the Future?

Posted on

UK Newspaper Reviews Hair Loss “Cures”

Dear Dr Rassman,

I thought your readers may be interested in this article. The Daily Mail, here in the UK, reviewed some common hair loss “cures” including your favorite product the laser comb :). Not surprisingly, they were all found to have little or no effect apart from regaine.

Here is the link: From a laser comb to rubbing coffee on your head, the His and Hers guide to hair loss cures

Best regards

Aside from the fact that there is no real hair loss cure, this is a decent round-up of some of the over-the-counter hair loss treatments. It doesn’t surprise me that that highest marks for the products they reviewed went to Rogaine (Regaine as it is known in the UK), and treatments like fish extracts and saw palmetto lotions got low scores.

Posted on

Typical strip surgery scar

I am often asked about what a typical strip scar would look like. Not everyone heals this well. This scar can be hidden even with a #2 cut or any reasonable long hair.

Posted on

Two Years on Finasteride (Photos)

There seems to be some corner fill and stabilization of your frontal hairline with probably little or no recession


2020-06-02 09:43:40Two Years on Finasteride (Photos)