Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

Hair transplant patients are attracted to today’s surgical hair restoration because not only is it proven to grow hair in completely bald areas, but in the right surgical hands it can be so natural that even hairstylists can’t detect the result. Hair transplantation has come a long way since the days of old plugs, but just how natural are they? Can today’s hair transplants be spotted or do they blend naturally with the rest of a patient’s remaining hair?

In this hair loss discussion thread, members of our community share their own personal hair loss stories and how surgical hair restoration has changed their lives. You are encouraged to read others and share your own experience with hair replacement surgery.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: Hair transplant, hair restoration, grow hair, bald, Hair transplantation, hair transplants, hair loss, hair replacement

Hundreds of hair loss questions are answered on our discussion forum and received in our inbox on a weekly basis. Below, we’ve collected some of these hot topic questions of the week and posted responses by veteran hair transplant patients and leading hair restoration physicians.

You can also ask your own questions and get answers on our hair restoration forum or privately by using the contact form.

Is Finpecia (Generic Finasteride) as Effective as Propecia?

Can Doctors Predict Future Hair Loss?

Dealing with Hair Restoration Complications (Dr. James Vogel)

What is the Difference between Rogaine and Minoxidil?

How Many Grafts are Needed to Restore a Balding Crown?

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair transplant, hair restoration

I’ve been taking finasteride for about 6 months.  For the first few months, I was taking 1/4 tablet of Proscar daily however, due to severe dryness of the skin on my face after taking finasteride for only a few months, I now take it every 3 days.  can you please let me know whether taking 1/4 tablet of Proscar every 3 days is still effective to stop hair loss?

According to the Propecia website, dry skin is not a reported side effect of finasteride.  However, you are the second person I’ve heard claim this in the last 2 months.

The recommended FDA approved dosage of finasteride is 1mg daily.  However, in the event side effects occur, many leading hair restoration physicians have suggested their hair loss patients try taking 1mg every other day.  In my opinion, consult with a qualified hair loss doctor and get their recommendation on an appropriate dosage for you.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: finasteride, Proscar, hair loss, Propecia, hair restoration, hair loss doctor

This insightful information was posted on our hair restoration forum by Dr. Timothy Carman of La Jolla, CA, who is recommended on the Hair Transplant Network.

Recently, I lost about 40 pounds of muscle and fat due to a crash diet.  I know they’re not good, but I was very overweight and was tired of being laughed at.  A few months after my diet, I started noticing hair loss, including brittle hair on my legs and scalp especially around the nape.  I went to a doctor but am still waiting for the blood test results.

During the crash diet, I severely limited my caloric intake and didn’t eat much if any protein.  Also, afterwards, i had two intestinal infections and thinning hair.  I don’t know if my hair los has anything to do with the crash diet or infections.  I am very worried about my hair, please help.

What you are describing is classic for symptoms of telogen effluvium - which refers to a temporary hair shedding related to some type of “stressor” - in your case, caloric restriction or “crash diet”. 

The natural hair growth cycle as it relates to this, and as observed when we perform hair transplants, is that, after the “stressor”, the follicles goes into a resting phase that lasts three months. Also, this “three month window” is also a pertinent time line one sees for the onset of the shedding period as well.  Hence, what we do to our system to “stress” it begins to show up in three months. Conversely, when we “correct” or remove the stressor (in your case resume normal eating patterns, sleep, etc.) it will take another three months to begin to see the hair regrowth of that change.  As hair grows slowly (about 1 cm/month) it takes additional months to really appreciate a change for the better.

Yes, while we breathe, it seems the FDA is up to dirty business. People say America is the land of the free, I think not. Companies, Wall street, etc. run America today.  They have much power and the pharmaceutical companies control the FDA.  It is not independent like it once was.  They do not have not your interests at heart, but profit is king, nothing else matters to these Godless peoples.  See below example of FDA protecting their profits

“Recently, the FDA sent out a wave of intimidating warning letters to nutritional supplement companies, threatening them with seizure of their products and criminal prosecutions if they dare mention H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) in conjunction with their anti-viral products. This censorship campaign is clearly an effort to wipe clean common knowledge about medicinal herbs from the minds of the People, forcing them to be dependent on vaccines, pharmaceuticals and conventional health “authorities” who already admit their vaccines won’t work for future mutations of influenza.”

This fascist-like corporate state is America today, but is out of sight of most.  I work with natural medcine and I feel this and pray to God that darkness does not win.

Though I need more information to draw any kind of real conclusion, I’m not actually not so sure I agree and I’ll tell you why.

Nutritional supplement companies are notorious for marketing their products as “all natural” alternatives to proven medications however, in many cases (such as in treating hair loss), there’s no proof of efficacy.  They are also not regulated like the FDA.

Last year, The Hair Transplant Network hosted regular live chat sessions for our members to discuss “hot topic” hair loss issues real time with great success. To see the previous chat topics discussed, member involvement, and to learn how to use our chat feature, click here.

Though the chat rooms are always open to all hair loss forum members, we’ve found that by scheduling regular times for meeting, more members participate, including knowledgeable hair transplant patients and hair restoration physicians.

At the request of a few of our members, we are considering scheduling a live chat session trial to see who’s genuinely interested. You are encouraged to express your interest on this hair loss discussion forum thread. Listing days and times most convenient for you will be helpful in making a decision on when we host it. We look forward to seeing you on the forum and in live chat.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: live chat, hair loss, hair transplant, hair restoration

Physician members of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians must meet and maintain the demanding standards set by this community and consistently produce excellent natural looking hair transplant results.  

Recently, we sought the input and opinions of our hair loss forum community about potentially inviting Dr. Timothy Carman to join the ranks of the elite Coalition.  View their input by visiting the Potential Coalition Membership for Dr. Timothy Carman.

Based on all the evidence we collected privately and publicly including patient member feedback and input from leading hair restoration physicians, we believe Dr. Carman has earned his rightful place in the highly esteemed Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.

Feel free to congratulate him by clicking on his featured potential coalition membership thread above.

To see our criteria for Coalition membership, click here.  To see an exclusive list of all the physicians we recommend worldwide, click here.

View the official Press Release.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair transplant, hair loss

Many balding men and women waste time using hair restoration products that promise hair regrowth but seldom deliver. Get past the hype and learn what really works to stop hair loss.

Recently, we asked several of the world’s leading hair restoration physicians to answer a number of frequently asked hair loss questions. Below, we share what the medical experts have to say about hair loss and today’s available treatments.

Is Propecia (Finasteride) Effective When Applied Topically (Dr. Tim Carman)? Read this Q&A blog and learn if finasteride can be an effective DHT blocker when applied topically.

Compare Today’s Non-surgical Hair Loss Treatments to Surgical Hair Restoration (Dr. Mike Meshkin): Learn about today’s non-surgical treatments and how they compare with today’s revolutionary hair transplant procedures.

How Do You Properly Care for Your Hair Transplant Right After Surgery (Dr. Paul Shapiro)? Immediately following hair replacement surgery, it’s important to apply tender care to newly transplanted grafts. Read this article to learn how to prevent damage and optimize hair regrowth.

What are the Risks Involved in Surgical Hair Restoration (Dr. Mike Beehner): Read this article to learn about some of the risks involved with hair transplant surgery.

Why Won’t My Doctor Prescribe Proscar for Hair Loss (Dr. Ricardo Mejia)? Proscar and Propecia both contain the same active ingredient finasteride. But some doctors won’t prescribe Proscar. Read this article to find out why.

At the Hair Transplant Network, patients have the final say on which hair transplant physicians are recommended by our community. Thus, we would appreciate your input in considering one of our recommended surgeons for Coalition membership.

Dr. Carman has impressed our patient community with his dedication to providing ultra refined follicular unit hair transplantation and devotion to patient education since he was approved for recommendation on the Hair Transplant Network in August of 2008 (click here to view his recommendation). Thus, given his proven track record of producing excellent results, he is being considered for membership in the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.

In addition to gathering actual patient experiences, we often visit the clinics to meet patients in person and observe the surgical techniques (see the photos and highlights from dozens of visits). In June of 2008, Pat Hennessey visited Dr. Carman’s clinic in La Jolla and observed his ultra refined technique. To see highlights from Pat’s visit, view “Visit to Dr. Carman’s Clinic in La Jolla, CA”

We invite you to view his work and credentials and give your input regarding Dr. Carman’s potential Coalition membership. To view this topic, visit “Potential Coalition Membership for Dr. Timothy Carman”.

To see our criteria for recommendation and for Coalition membership, click here. To see the list of all current physicians recommended worldwide, click here

Bill Seemiller - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair transplant, Coalition, Dr. Carman, hair transplantation, Hair Transplant Network

Men and women with hair loss are rightfully excited by the prospect of being able to restore a natural looking head of hair with surgical hair restoration. However, understanding the limitations and risks of hair transplant surgery is just as important as counting its benefits. One important but controversial topic worth discussing is hair transplant dense packing, which enables the appearance of a thicker, fuller head of hair.

Though most surgeons agree that a certain level of dense packing is appropriate in some patients, not everyone requires large quantities of hair packed in a single area. Whether or not a balding man or woman is eligible for and how much dense packing is appropriate largely depends on the patient’s current and risk of future hair loss, donor hair availability, long term hair restoration goals, and what can realistically be accomplished.

A few hair replacement clinics have made claims that they can pack up to 70, 80, and even 100 follicular unit grafts (hairs as they occur naturally in the scalp) per square centimeter (FU/cm2). And though men and women  suffering from baldness are often intrigued by a physician’s ability to pack hair closely together due to dreams of recovering a full head of hair, too much dense packing might inhibit healthy hair regrowth.