Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

These questions were posed directly to Dr. Ken Siporin of Beverly Hills, CA who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians by a hair loss sufferer seeking hair transplantation as a means to regrow hair.  His professional answer is below.

My hair loss is now noticeable and I was wondering if I should get a hair transplant as soon as possible or should I wait until it gets worse?

What determines how far a person’s hairline moves forward in hair restoration surgery? I saw pictures of people with transplants but their hair still look receded. Can you please explain why?

I see a lot of hair loss doctors’ pictures who also have receding hairlines or
who are bald. How come they don’t get hair transplants themselves?

You have asked some good questions, and I will attempt to answer them to your satisfaction. In terms of the timing of a hair transplant, that is something that you need to decide on your own, with the assistance of a qualified surgeon. There are so many variables involved, that I could not possibly tell you, via e mail, without examining you, determining your goals, and explaining to you everything in great detail, when the right time for you, in particular, would be. That is something to be determined once you have all the information you need, to make an educated decision, and that is the purpose of the consultation.

Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair transplantation, regrow hair, hair transplant, hair restoration, hair loss doctor, bald, hair transplants

Would it not be better to do large follicular unit hair transplantation (FUT) sessions until there is no more available donor hair via strip due to reduced elasticity or other reasons, and then use follicular unit extraction (FUE) to extract the remaining possible donor hair grafts? Wouldn’t this provide the greatest overall graft yield?  Can the same donor area be used a second time for follicular unit extraction (FUE)?  Is it possible to get hair growth yields of 7000 grafts via FUE?  Is FUE less traumatic to the scalp than strip surgery?

This insightful response was posted on our hair restoration forum by Dr. Alan Feller of Great Neck, NY who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.

Because there is no agreed upon terminology for follicular unit extraction (FUE) procedures it is difficult to have a conversation about it because key words mean different things to different people. Right now FUE is NOT a scientific discipline. It is art, and as art it is difficult to describe accurately.

Unfortunately it is the lack of agreed upon definitions that allows ten different clinics to SOUND like they are offering ten different forms of FUE, when in fact they are mostly the same. That said I will move on to your questions the way I read them:

No, it’s not impossible to get fantastic numbers of follicular unit extraction (FUE) on certain hair transplant patients. Dr. Jones and DHI were performing 2,000+ surgeries in a “day” as far back as 2003.

Technorati Tags: follicular unit hair transplantation, FUT, follicular unit extraction, FUE, hair transplant

I am a 19 year old male and have a lot of hair loss which is leading to baldness. Is it okay for me to go for hair transplant surgery now or should I wait for a longer time until I become completely bald. The balding pattern can be recognized in my case as a level 7 on the norwood scale.  What should I do?

Thank you for your inquiry.

From the sounds of it, you appear to have very aggressive hair loss for being only 19 years of age.  Younger balding men and women are typically not good hair restoration surgical candidates however, if you are already close to a level 7 on the norwood scale and if you have and maintain very realistic expectations, you may be a candidate.

If you still have a good amount of natural hair and you want to keep it, I strongly recommend considering FDA approved hair loss treatment drugs such as Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) which may help stop your alopecia in its tracks and potentially stimulate hair regrowth].

Please keep in mind that hair transplantation is not a baldness cure and at high levels of loss, you will never be able to achieve a full head of hair.  I strongly encourage you to view these hair transplant photos by norwood scale to see what you might be able to expect in your case.

I strongly encourage you to consult with an elite hair transplant surgeon who can analyze your case and work with you to best meet your goals.

Technorati Tags: hair loss, baldness, hair transplant, bald, balding, norwood scale, hair restoration, hair loss treatment, Propecia, finasteride, Rogaine, minoxidil, alopecia, hair regrowth, hair transplantation, baldness cure

I had a 2617 follicular unit graft hair transplant surgery for my hair loss in in mid November, 2007 (a little over three months ago), and am curious about the average time frame that others have noticed results?

The first 5 months (the beginning phases) of surgery are often depressing and can leave you full of doubt as to whether or not the hair replacement procedure was a success.  This is often due to the misinterpretation of when a [surgeon says that hair growth will start in 3 months.  Though the transplanted hair may very well start growing, very few patients notice any visible change in the appearance of their hair at this early stage.  But be patient; the result will come with time.  In order to help give you an understanding of what to expect, I’ve described a little bit about the hair restoration hair regrowth process below.

Keep in mind that every patient is different and hair will start to grow at different times.  This is also sometimes why hair transplant patients will see some nice growth on one side of their head and not the other.  This often leaves the balding patient concerned.  Rest assured however, this is perfectly normal.

Hair growth from surgery is a gradual process that only starts between 3 to 5 months.  Hair will typically start to grow as thin, colorless, and wispy and continue to mature up to 18 months.   At around 9 months, most of the hair has at least started to grow and is well on its way to maturity.  But hair thickening and darkening will continue for some time and will have a significant impact on the overall cosmetic result. 

Technorati Tags: follicular unit graft, hair transplant, hair loss, hair replacement, hair growth, transplanted hair, hair restoration, hair regrowth, hair transplant patient, balding, hair thickening

If you are balding, you may be seeking a treatment that really works to stimulate hair regrowth. But finding a proper hair loss treatment means first understanding the cause of your condition.

With so much information available online, how does one really know the real cause of hair loss? In our research, we have found a multitude of claims: some very legitimate and some preposterous ones. Proposed causes of hair loss include genetics, stress, wearing a hat, smoking, drinking, masturbation, vigorous towel drying, certain medications, too much sex, not enough sex, weightlifting, etc.

But what is the real cause of your balding? Is it only one of these things or a combination? Which ones have some level of legitimacy and which ones are completely false?

Many of the causes listed above are hair loss myths and should be disregarded. Hats, smoking, drinking, masturbation, drying your hair, weightlifting, and sex or lack thereof do not cause men and women to go bald.

The most common type of hair loss, referred to as androgenic alopecia (female and male pattern baldness), is caused by genes alone. Hair follicles affected by these genes make them vulnerable to a hormone called DHT which is found more abundantly in men but women too. As DHT attacks hair follicles that are genetically predisposed, they miniaturize and eventually die. Learn about real hair loss treatment options for genetic balding.

Technorati Tags: balding, hair regrowth, hair loss treatment, hair loss, balding, bald, androgenic alopecia, male pattern baldness, DHT

I am suffering from hair loss and about to undergo hair restoration surgery.  When can I expose my scalp to the sun after hair transplant surgery?

In my opinion, it is best to wait at least 6 months after hair transplantation before exposing your scalp to the sun for long periods of time.  Too much sun may cause damage to the follicular unit grafts early on and may cause a long term discoloration / redness on the scalp in the area of the transplanted hair.  For the first two weeks after hair restoration surgery therefore, make sure your scalp is completely covered with a hat.  After that, you can wear sunscreen to protect your scalp from burning and from the ultra violet rays.

However, even after 6 months, I feel that it is a good idea to wear sunblock or a hat as too much sun, especially the ultra violet rays on any part of the skin is bad for you and could cause skin cancer.

In my experience, even though my hair transplant was over a year ago, because my hair is still thinner and sun can get through to my scalp, I always wear a hat when I’m out in the sun for longer periods of time to prevent getting any kind of sunburn.

Proceed with caution.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair restoration, hair transplant, hair transplantation, transplanted hair

I am a hair loss sufferer 6 months out from a transplant.  I am somewhat satisfied with the hair growth I’ve experienced so far but am wondering how much more can I expect?  I was really hoping for more hair.

On the average, a hair transplant is at 60% of the final hair restoration result at 6 months.  Whereas most patients see the majority of the new hair regrowth at this point, the transplanted hair has a long way to go and will continue to thicken, darken, and mature up to 18 months. 

Remember, as the the new follicles grow, it typically grows in thin, fine, and colorless.  Over time, it will thicken and fully mature.  Big differences can be seen between 6 months and 12 months post-op, with additional hair maturation between 12-18 months.  However, by one year, you’ll have a pretty good idea of the final hair replacement result.

—

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog 

Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair growth, hair transplant, hair restoration, hair regrowth, transplanted hair, hair replacement

Hello, My hair started thinning approximately 2 years ago. I take Propecia (finasteride) which has helped, but I am conscious of the hair loss I am experiencing at the front of my head. Is it possible to have a hair transplant while still having a considerable amount of hair left?  Many thanks.

Yes, it is possible to have a surgery in the frontal area of your balding scalp even if you have a good amount of remaining hair. 

A qualified hair restoration physician will have to take into consideration factors such as:

• Your age
• Your current level of balding
• Whether or not you are taking any nonsurgical treatments to prevent further baldness such as Propecia (finasteride) or Rogaine (minoxidil)
• How many follicular unit grafts you will need in a single hair replacement session
• Working with you to formulate a long term strategy in the event you lose more hair. 

Developing a long term hair restoration plan is highly critical as hair loss is unpredictable and progressive.  Propecia and Rogaine may not work forever, which means subsequent surgical procedures may be necessary.

I recommend consulting with at least 3 high quality hair transplant surgeons and using our hair loss forum as a tool to see what their patients are saying.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

Technorati Tags: Propecia, finasteride, hair loss, hair transplant, balding, hair restoration, balding, baldness, finasteride, minoxidil, hair replacement, Rogaine

Dr. Kabaker has been recommended on the Hair Transplant Network for several years. View his profile - on the Hair Transplant Network.

Dr. Sheldon Kabaker is renowned among hair restoration physicians for his superb surgical skill, which he developed and refined over the past thirty years.

During my visit he and his staff performed a small session of 1,100 grafts into a patient’s crown area. Dr. Kabaker removed the donor strip using a single bladed knife and then did a double layer closure so that the internal sutures would reduce tension on the skin level external sutures. He believes this produces a minimal donor scar. He then used a 19 gauge needle to create graft incisions of about 0.9 millimeters in size.

In addition to the quality follicular unit grafting that he performs, Dr. Kabaker has developed a reputation for being an expert at female hairline lowering, below is an example.

This can be a cost effective surgical solution for women who have naturally high hairline that they want lowered. Many women feel that the high hairline makes them look masculine or older.This is not due to hair loss but rather their heredity.

Although transplanting hair to recreate a lower hairline is an option, such transplantation normally requires multiple sessions to create a hairline that is sufficiently dense.

Technorati Tags: Hair Transplant, hair restoration, follicular unit

I know that there is a lot of skepticism towards laser hair treatment on our hair loss forum and my view – although I’m not endorsing or supporting the use of any low level laser therapy (LLLT) product – is equally unpopular simply because I believe, from a scientific standpoint, there is not enough evidence to validate nor dismiss claims of effectiveness and so I refuse to outright condemn laser therapy as a treatment until further investigation is done.

• Most of the pictures presented to provide “evidence” are circumstantial (submitted by users of the therapeutic products) and are often taken under different conditions – head positions different from ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos, different lighting, different hairstyles or colors, and/or no visible change.

Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair restoration, laser hair treatment, low level laser therapy, LLLT, laser therapy, Hair Loss, hair growth, male pattern baldness, MPB, Hair Loss Treatment