Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

The goal of hair transplant surgery is to give patients more hair than they had prior to surgery. However, unlike other cosmetic procedures, sometimes patients look worse after surgical hair restoration before they look better.

Some patients are plagued by a temporary hair loss condition known as telogen effluvium or “shock loss” which  can occur anytime hair is transplanted in between or around existing hair.   This is true  whether the hair is natural or previously transplanted. This often causes great concern for those who don’t expect it, and even those that do; it can be a real brain buster causing mild anxiety.

View this hair loss discussion thread to learn and discuss why shock loss occurs and how to get through the doldrums while waiting for new hair regrowth.

Bill Seemiller
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair transplant, hair restoration, hair loss, telogen effluvium, shock loss, hair regrowth

Most balding men and women would love to restore their natural full head of hair by waving a magic wand and/or by popping a miracle pill. However, hair restoration involves careful and strategic planning with a skilled and experienced hair loss doctor. While Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) are typically good at slowing down or stopping the progression of male pattern baldness, hair transplant surgery is the only method of hair restoration proven to grow hair in completely bald areas.

Today’s state of the art hair transplants are very natural looking and undetectable by even the harshest critics. This explains its increase in popularity over the last several years. But while advancements in surgical hair restoration are indeed exciting, it’s crucial for men and women considering this procedure to develop realistic expectations. What can realistically be achieved with hair transplantation varies for each patient. Below, we’ve cited a few important tips in helping you learn what to expect from hair replacement surgery.

Supply Verses Demand: What can be realistically achieved depends on the supply of donor hair and the amount of baldness in demand of new hair. Most patients can typically only achieve an illusion of fullness even under the best circumstances. Thankfully, this is usually enough to provide patients with a cosmetically significant improvement. Those with advanced balding may have to make additional sacrifices and leave some balding areas untouched. To see what hair transplants can accomplish on patients of varying degrees of lost hair, view Hair Transplant Photos by Norwood scale.

In the past I have been told that hair density of 50 follicular unit grafts per square centimeter should not compromise graft survival.   However, I was wondering would transplanting hair at 55 FU/cm2 or 65 FU/cm2 compromise vascularity or hair growth yield? Also, is  any graft survival compromised leading up to achieving natural density? Cheers.

This insightful information was posted on our hair restoration forum by Dr. Brad Limmer of San Antonio, TX who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.

I agree with what has been on the hair loss forum discussion thread “Graft Survival and High Hair Densities” by various members regarding percentage yield.   As Coalition member Dr. Charles points out a very important point regarding this question, “there are countless variables that go into this equation.” Some are hair transplant patient dependant and some are hair restoration clinic/technique dependant.   Thus,  the outcome can be different between patients even though they go to the same clinic.

We have typically approached the problem of yielding densities higher than 50 FU/cm2 by a 2 pass approach. While more conservative than some (who produce nice results), I feel it minimizes 3 important risks to the patient:

1. Less than optimal hair growth
2. The Potential for ridging (dermal fibrosis below the skin – which is basically scar tissue resulting from the multiple recipient sites create in such a small area)
3. Permanent neovascularization (redness that won’t go away – resulting from capillary proliferation during the healing process)

Balding men and women with hair loss who’ve decided to get a hair transplant are usually excited with dreams of getting their hair back. And though the end result of a hair transplant is a fuller head of hair, the expression, “the devil is in the details” is vital when learning how to fit surgical hair restoration into your life, especially during the first several months of healing and waiting for new hair growth. This includes returning to work, concealing your hair transplant from co-workers, friends and family, how long it takes to heal and look normal, etc.

Visit this discussion thread to discuss how to prepare for the first few awkward months after surgical hair replacement including when it’s ok to return to work. Your experience and input is welcome and encouraged.

Bill Seemiller
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: Balding, women with hair loss, hair transplant, hair restoration, hair growth, hair replacement

To date, finasteride is the only proven hair loss treatment that can stop the progression of male pattern baldness in its tracks by blocking DHT, the hormone responsible for genetic hair loss.   Though finasteride can be purchased on the internet, patients run the risk of dealing with pharmacies selling illegitimate medication.

To learn the best ways to treat your hair loss and purchase Propecia, visit this discussion thread.   Feel free to offer your experience with treating baldness.

Bill Seemiller
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair loss treatment, male pattern baldness, DHT, finasteride, hair loss, Propecia, baldness

Do you have any idea as to what the average surface area is for level 5, 6, and 7 on the Norwood scale of hair loss?   I was measuring my scalp and found that even if I progress to a Norwood scale level 7, I will only have about 175 cm2 of bald area. That would only take 7,000 grafts to fill in the entire area with 40cm2, a density that I believe is more than adequate to give an illusion of fullness and hair density. I realize there are variables such as color, hair shaft diameter, texture, etc. that come into play, but shouldn’t any hair restoration physician that transplants 1,000 grafts per Norwood level fill in the entire area with good density?

This hair loss question was answered on our hair restoration forum by Dr. Paul Shapiro  of Bloomington, MN who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.   His professional answer is below.

In my experience, the average patient’s head can be divided into two areas.  

The frontal 2/3 of the scalp on average measures 100 sq.cm. On average the crown loss is 80 to 100 sq.cm. The area of the crown will vary by how low and wide the crown loss is. On average I would say that to cover the total bald area in most men who are type 6 or 7 on the Norwood scale, I cover an area of 200 sq. cm. But there are men with very large balding scalps in which the area is more like 250 to 300 sq.cm and men with smaller areas. A total area of 170sq.cm.is in the realm of a normal area to cover.

I am very bald. The crown of my head almost completely bald as is the top of my head. The crazy thing is that I am only 20 years old!

I have looked online and read a few things and have yet to find someone who has had issues with balding that are as worse than or even equal to mine. I was maybe in my second year of highschool when I noticed it. I told people that I thought I was starting to experience hair loss and everyone told me I was crazy. By the time I graduated these same people were telling me that there are solutions to hair loss. Two years later people told me to shave it all the way off. I was good looking in highschool, played on the basketball team, had many girlfriends, great confidence and I felt like I was  on top of the world. Since I noticed myself balding  all of these things slowly went out the window, my confidence, the cute girls, and my over all happiness.

Recently, we sought the advice of our online patient hair loss forum community regarding the potential Coalition membership of two impressive doctors recommended on the Hair Transplant Network  for the last year. These physicians are Dr. Timothy Carman of La Jolla, California and Dr. Brandon Ross of La Jolla, California. To learn how we recommend hair transplant surgeons, click here.

View the Potential Coalition Membership for Dr. Timothy Carman

View the Potential Coalition Membership for Dr. Brandon Ross

In addition to garnering feedback from our patient community and highly respected hair restoration physicians, surgeons considered for Coalition membership are often visited and observed in live surgery by Patrick Hennessey, publisher of the Hair Transplant Network. Highlights of each visit along with surgical photos are prominently featured in the “Visits to Leading Hair Transplant Clinics” forum. To view the highlights of Pat’s visit to Dr. Ross’ clinic, click here. To view the highlights of Pat’s visit to Dr. Carman’s clinic, click here.

After extensive research and seeking input from our patient community and other leading surgeons, both Dr. Carman and Dr. Ross have been approved to join the ranks of the elite Coalition. Feel free to congratulate them by clicking on their featured potential Coalition membership threads above.

We encourage those local to these cities considering surgical hair restoration to consult with these excellent physicians to develop a long term hair restoration plan.

Bill Seemiller
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: Coalition, hair restoration, Patrick Hennessey, Hair Transplant Network, Dr. Carman, Dr. Ross

Does saw palmetto  really reduce hair loss? If not, then what is the best treatment for stopping hair loss?

Saw palmetto is conjectured to block DHT (dihydrotestosterone) and thus has been used as a natural supplement to treat an enlarged prostate (BPH). And though some believe saw palmetto can successfully stop hair loss as effectively as Propecia (finasteride), I have yet to see any clinical evidence to prove this. Not too long ago, we decided to do some research on saw palmetto and cited our findings on the Hair Loss Learning Center. To learn more about saw palmetto and whether or not it can be a successful treatment for baldness, visit “Saw Palmetto for Hair Loss“.

To date, Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) are the most effective treatments for thinning hair and baldness.

Best wishes in restoring your hair,

Bill Seemiller
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: saw palmetto, hair loss, DHT, dihydrotestosterone, enlarged prostate, BPH, baldness, Propecia, finasteride, Rogaine, minoxidil, thinning hair

Propecia (finasteride)  and Rogaine (minoxidil) have both been FDA approved to treat hair loss. But is one more effective than the other?

Though many hair loss sufferers would love to find a single treatment that would solve their problem with balding, usually a multifaceted approach is more effective. Propecia (finasteride)  and Rogaine (minoxidil  treat baldness effectively in many  men, but they do so in different ways.

Forum member “Ikki” was recently told by his doctor to get on Rogaine for his hair loss but not Propecia. Click here to see why his doctor may have recommended he stay away from Propecia and when it’s appropriate to use one or both treatments to treat baldness.

Bill Seemiller
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: FDA approved, hair loss, balding, Propecia, finasteride, Rogaine, minoxidil, baldness, treat baldness