Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

Our community was created by and for hair loss patients to share experiences, evaluate hair restoration physicians, and offer input on hair loss treatments that really work. For over 10 years, our discussion forum has enabled balding men and women to share the good, the bad and the ugly.

Today, over 350 patients have authored weblogs to share their hair restoration experiences and hair transplant photos with you. Below we introduce you to just a few of the patients whose hair restoration dreams became reality and the doctors who made it happen.

Join the ranks of these hair restoration super stars and create your own free hair loss weblog to share your experience and photos.

• Blogger “Wantego” came to us with a receding hairline looking for real ways to restore his hair. His research on our discussion forum led him to surgical hair restoration with Coalition member Dr. Rahal. Receiving 4374 follicular unit grafts, he’s been able to restore his “true” hair density and no longer shows any signs of balding. View his blog for a detailed account of his experience with photos.

• After receiving two previous hair transplants, “Phoneguy” found Coalition member Dr. Cooley by researching our community. Bothered by hair loss in the frontal half of his scalp, Dr. Cooley placed 1947 follicular unit grafts into the areas of thinning hair, eliminating signs of baldness. “Phoneguy” has quickly learned why other Dr. Cooley patients refer to themselves as “Cooleyfied”. You can read his experience and view his photos on his blog.

Asking the cost of a hair transplant is a highly popular question on our hair loss forum. But what most people new to the topic of hair transplantation don’t realize, is that it’s not as cut and dry as throwing out a number that they have to pay and be done with.

There is a lot to consider when evaluating the cost of a hair transplant including the number of grafts desired/possible for a single hair replacement procedure, the cost of a single procedure verses the potential need for subsequent ones, the hair restoration surgical technique, and finally, the hair transplant clinic’s fee structure.

View this thread to learn what hair restoration clinics usually charge per graft and learn how your own personal characteristics can impact the cost.

Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair transplant, hair transplantation, hair replacement, hair restoration, hair restoration clinics

I have noticed my hair looks thinner.  I  can notice this when I’m under a light and and when my regular hairstyle does not look the same.  Am I going bald?

This could very well be the start of a genetic hair loss known as androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness.   Hereditary alopecia is initiated when the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone) binds to the receptor sites of hair follicles causing them to shrink and eventually, the follicles will no longer produce new hair.

 You may want to look into medical treatments like Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) which can help slow down, stop, or even reverse hair loss.  These non-surgical solutions are typically pretty effective in early stages of loss, and are virtually non-effective in completely bald areas.

Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: bald, hair loss, androgenic alopecia, male pattern baldness, alopecia, DHT, dihydrotestosterone, Propecia, finasteride, Rogaine, minoxidil

This insightful hair loss article was written by Dr. Michael Beehner of Saratoga Springs, NY who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians.

I was asked to update my comments from what I said before about hair growth and follicle survival in high densities, but for the most part would pretty much say the same thing now in late 2008.

There was a nice study published in the journal, Dermatologic Surgery, by Coalition members Dr. Tom Nakatsui and Dr. Jerry Wong about a year ago or so, in which they used small lateral slits and created study boxes of between 23 and 72 slits per square cm of surface area, and obtained a 95.6% survival in the 23/cm2 box and 98.6% in the 72/cm2 box. These results are outstanding, although we have to keep in mind that the study was done on only one hair transplant patient and the same results may or may not occur with another person.  Also, as I recall, these boxes were around the periphery of the area transplanted and I don’t believe any were actually in the center, which I think would be the area most at risk for possible less-than-optimal hair regrowth. I have noticed in past studies I have conducted that, even though I did everything exactly the same, I often would see marked variation in hair follicle survival a year out. Every hair surgeon that I have spoken with acknowledges that there is an individual patient “X factor” that we can’t totally put our finger on, but does in fact exist.

What are the best available natural hair loss products in the market for hair regrowth.  I don’t have any dandruff.

It depends on what you mean by “natural”.  Many hair loss treatments are advertised as “all natural” alternative to drugs like Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil).  However, in our research, we’ve found very little compelling evidence to suggest many of them can slow down, stop, or reverse hair loss.

At the Hair Loss Learning Center, we have reviewed a number of alternative hair loss treatments.  You are encouraged to read through the data we’ve collected and draw your own conclusions.  Be sure to research any product you are considering to treat your baldness.

Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair loss products, hair regrowth, hair loss treatments, Propecia, finasteride, Rogaine, minoxidil, baldness

Let’s face it. Hair loss can be devastating to all men, let alone younger ones still out on the prowl experiencing girls and life for the first time. Though at first, it’s easy to deny the first signs of thinning hair and balding, sooner or later, you’ll have to deal with the reality that you are going bald.

A young man suffering from male pattern baldness has recently posted a very popular topic on our hair loss forum called “For All The Young Lads aging 20-25”. This was created for young men to share their experiences in coping with and treating their hair loss. Read what others have to say and contribute your own experience by joining in the discussion.

Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: Hair loss, thinning hair, balding, bald, male pattern baldness

I’m suffering from female hair loss and need some advice.  I’m getting very thin on top and dont’ know what to do.  I’ve had blood work done and I have a slightly underactive thyroid and am on Synthroid for it.  But thinning hair runs in my family and I’m concerned about it.  What treatments should I use?

There can be many non-genetic contributors to hair loss, especially in females.  An overactive or underactive thyroid can be one of them.  If your thinning hair is due to an underactive thyroid, the treatment prescribed by your physician should help assuming it helps get your thyroid back under control.   However, thinning on the top of your head may also be an indication of genetic female pattern baldness.

You may consider using topical Rogaine (minoxidil) to help stimulate hair regrowth.  In many cases, Rogaine has been used for genetic and non-genetic related hair loss. 

Be sure to have your scalp examined and have other medical tests performed by a dermatologist who may be able to find or rule out other contributing factors to your hair loss.   Many non-genetic causes can be treated and possibly restore your hair with medical intervention for balding. 

Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: female hair loss, Synthroid, thinning hair, treatments, hair loss, thyroid, Rogaine, minoxidil, hair regrowth, balding

Thousands of balding men and women come to our community seeking answers to their hair loss questions daily. Thanks to the dedicated patient and physician expert members of our discussion forum and websites, differentiating fact from fiction and learning what really works to treat hair loss is easy.

Below we’ve compiled some of this week’s hot topic hair loss related questions and answers from our discussion forum, blogs, and email. Follow the links below to a topic that you find interesting and read what real patients and physician experts have to say about each topic.

Diary of a Hair Transplant – In this article, one man shares his personal hair loss struggles and research that led him to restore his hair through surgical hair restoration.

Restrictions on Activities After Hair Transplant Surgery – Read expert advice from world renowned Coalition member Dr. True on when it’s ok to resume normal activities after hair replacement surgery

Can Low Iron Levels Cause Hair Loss? Learn how low iron levels can contribute or cause non-genetic baldness, how common it is, and how to treat it

Can Alfatradiol Replace Rogaine to Treat Hair Loss? Learn whether or not topical alfatradiol is an effective hair loss treatment and whether or not it is more effective as an adjunct or replacement treatment for Rogaine (minoxidil).

Can a Bad Diet Contribute to Hair Loss? Learn if eating junk food can contribute to losing your hair

Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Did you ever wonder how hair transplant doctors entered into the field of surgical hair restoration? For some, it may be simply because they learned they had a talent for skillful and artistic design for recreating natural hair patterns. For others, I expect their interest developed because of their own hair loss struggles.

How many doctors in the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians have had their own hair transplant procedures? And who did they have work on their own balding scalp? Discuss this fun topic with other members and learn which doctors had surgery and with who.

Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair transplant, hair restoration, hair patterns, hair loss, balding

Little boys and girls recognize baldness at a very young age. In fact, kids can be brutally honest. “You’re bald Grandpa”, you might have said to your grandfather when you were a child while looking at your reflection in his polished scalp.

However, it’s only a few years until you start wondering if one day you will be suffering from hair loss like other members of your family, hoping that you take after your uncle who’s got a full head of hair, and not your dad’s father who’s completely bald.

In this hair loss discussion, forum member “foreveryung” shares a photo of his grandfather’s scalp and wonders if his balding will progress to this level. Share your experiences and opinions on this topic and learn how genetics contribute to balding how much hair you may lose.

Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: baldness, bald, hair loss, balding