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Only a select group of hair restoration surgeons who regularly produce excellent hair transplant results are invited to join the ranks of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians. To see our demanding standards for the Coalition, click here.

Recently, we sought your input about the potential Coalition membership for Dr. Patrick Mwamba of Belgium. Given the accolades he’s garnered from hair loss forum members regarding his results, we’re not surprised that the majority of the feedback we received regarding his potential inclusion was highly supportive.

To see what our members are saying, visit the discussion topic “Potential Coalition Membership for Dr. Patrick Mwamba of Belgium“.

Dr. Patrick Mwamba performs ultra refined follicular unit hair transplantation (FUT) via strip harvesting and follicular unit extraction (FUE) and has the experience and staff to perform sessions exceeding 3000 follicular units when appropriate for the patient. To see examples of his ultra refined results, visit his recommendation profile on the Hair Transplant Network and the “Results Posted by Leading Hair Restoration Clinics” forum.

Given Dr. Mwamba’s experience and dedication to innovative hair transplant surgery, we’d like to congratulate Dr. Mwamba on becoming our newest member of the Coalition. You can view Dr. Mwamba’s Coalition profile by clicking here.

Thanks to everyone who provided their valuable feedback regarding Dr. Mwamba’s potential Coalition membership. You are encouraged to congratulate him by visiting his potential coalition membership topic above.

Onwards and Upwards,

This question comes from a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums: 

Recently, I scheduled hair transplant surgery, and I was surprised to hear the doctor recommend that I start finasteride (Propecia) and minoxidil (Rogaine) as well. If I’m fixing my current baldness with surgery, why would I take preventive hair loss medications as well?

This question brings up several very important points about hair loss, hair transplant surgery, and the comprehensive treatment of thinning hair.

Hair loss (specifically androgenic alopecia or genetic patterned hair loss) is a progressive condition. This means that an effective treatment for hair loss involves two important steps: halting the progressive thinning of hair and regrowing/restoring the hair that is already lost. Hair transplantation is an excellent treatment for restoration the hair that is already lost, but it does not treat progressive hair loss. If hair is transplanted to one region of the scalp, but no preventive treatments are started, the rest of the hair around the transplanted region is likely to recede. If the rest of the hair around the transplanted hair is lost, the remaining implanted hair will be surrounded by bald scalp, and this creates an unnatural appearance.

In order to avoid this phenomenon, hair restoration physicians usually recommend preventive hair loss medications like minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia). If these medications are taken in conjunction with hair transplant surgery, the transplanted hair will fill in the gaps where the hair is already lost and the medications will prevent the surrounding hair from falling out. What’s more, the preventive medications may also thicken the remaining hair and cause some potential regrowth of hair that was previously lost.

This question, from a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeons Dr. Ron Shapiro and Dr. Glenn Charles:

During a recent hair transplantation consult, the physician told me that he will create an “irregular hairline” during my hair restoration procedure. However, I’m wondering why he would chose to do that? Wouldn’t a straight hairline look better? Why create an irregular hairline during hair transplant surgery?

The goal of any hair transplant procedure is creating natural, realistic results. A very important aspect of achieving subtle, realistic results is recreating a natural hairline. Though many individuals assume that hairlines unaffected by hair loss are straight and regularly shaped, this is not the case. In fact, in order to create a realistic hairline, hair restoration surgeons must utilize an irregular, “zig zag” design.

In fact, according to Dr. Glenn Charles:

The term we often use to describe the hairline approach is creating a “regular irregularity.” Meaning there has to be a certain degree of randomness to give a natural appearance. However, there also has to be some method to the madness. You could also call this “Zig Zag” hairline design.

Dr. Ron Shapiro agrees, and said the following:

This question, from a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. Carlos Wesley:

Does Propecia (finasteride) work better on patients in their 30′s vs. other age groups?

According to a study of 118 men (range 20 – 61 years old) with androgenic alopecia (AGA) from 2011, patients over 30 years old with higher AGA grades demonstrated more improvement than their younger counterparts with a smaller degree of hair loss.

This is currently the longest investigation of finasteride 1mg (Propecia) efficacy. I should also mention that side effects were reported in 6% of patients (decreased libido and erectile dysfunction). Persistence of hair growth was not significantly less after ten (10) years versus after five (5) years of therapy.

Dr. Carlos Wesley
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David (TakingThePlunge)
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit the hair loss forum and social community

Technorati Tags: Propecia, finasteride, androgenic alopecia, AGA, hair loss, hair growth

This question comes from a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums:

Recently, I saw an online article discussing the “vampire treatment” for hair loss. What is the vampire hair loss treatment and is it effective?

Within the last few weeks, a variety of online news sources have released stories about the “vampire treatment” for hair loss. In the articles, the authors state that the new hair loss treatment is vampire-like, because it involves the removal of a patient’s own blood followed by injection of the blood back into the scalp. While the title of the procedure is quite dramatic and mysterious, the therapy is actually something that has been used as a hair loss treatment for a number of years: Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP. So, what is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)?

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a procedure where a patient’s blood is extracted and spun at rapid speeds in a centrifuge device. After two sessions in the centrifuge machine, the physician is able to extract a portion of the blood serum (the non-cellular component) that is enriched with platelets (the blood components responsible for blood “clotting” in the body). Allegedly, this platelet enriched plasma contains a variety of growth proteins and growth factors that may revive hair follicles and cause some hair regrowth. After the extraction process, the physician injects the platelet and growth factor enriched plasma into the scalp and informs the patient to monitor for signs of regrowth.

From May 24th through May 26th, 2013 the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) is hosting the second annual Mediterranean Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) Workshop in Madrid, Spain. The workshop consists of a series of lectures about important topics in Follicular Unit Extraction, FUE question and answer sessions, FUE discussions and debates, and a series of live Follicular Unit Extraction operations.

Because we recommend a number of FUE innovators and experts, several of our recommended and Coalition hair transplant surgeons are participating in the FUE workshop. According to the official program, our hair restoration physicians are participating in the following activities:

During the first day of the workshop, Dr. Jean Devroye, Dr. James Harris, and Dr. Bijan Feriduni are participating in a debate about the anatomy of FUE grafts. Dr. James Harris is also lecturing about motorized FUE procedures and performing a live, 1,000 graft FUE case on the first day of the conference (and hosting a “Q&A” session after the procedure). On the second day of the workshop, Dr. Devroye is presenting a lecture about motorized FUE and Dr. Feriduni is lecturing about manual Follicular Unit Extraction procedures; both physicians are also performing live, 1,000 graft FUE operations at the end of the day. On the third and final day of the workshop, Dr. James Harris is giving a presentation on automated FUE procedures and the ARTAS Hair Restoration System for automating FUE hair transplant surgery.

This comment, from a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. William Lindsey:

I know that this will sound funny, and it is not a complaint, but it seems like the hair on top is much thicker than my hair on the side. I have been told I have good hair transplant donor hair, but the area that I see scalp when I part my donor region is much larger than, say, if I were to part my hair down the middle. Does this make sense?

My donor part may look like it is a half an inch wide or more, and my hair parted down the center may only be a quarter on an inch. I will see my hair restoration physician sometime this summer and talk to him about it but, until then, I was wondering if this is normal at all. It just seems like my donor is thinner than my non donor, or I could be OCD and over analyzing things? Any thoughts?

I’d guess that in 40% of the follicular unit transplant (FUT) strip cases we do that the hair is noticeably thinner on one or both of the sides than in the middle or up higher on the head. Then throw in a guy with salt and pepper hair and it can really get dicey as to how many grafts you’ll get from a typical strip.

This comment, from a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. William Lindsey:

Before you start shouting Nizoral and Selsun Blue, hear me out. Since I started Propecia (finasteride), my scalp has been itchy. I soon went for the Zinc Pyrithione, Selenium Sulfide, etc., but that seemed to make things much itchier.  I then reverted to regular shampoo and things got a bit better.

My hairdresser mentioned that my scalp looked dry rather than it being dandruff.  I then started using hydrating conditioner which has helped a lot, but my scalp still itches intermittently. I’ve Googled for scalp moisturizer but haven’t found much. Do you guys have any suggestions?

I think a trial of Neutrogena T/Gel shampoo, available at most grocery stores in our area for about $9.00, is worthwhile. I find that it solves most dry problems. If it doesn’t help in a few weeks I’d see a dermatologist.

T/Gel shampoo has tar in it so it’s not the best smelling. Not a problem for old married guys but if you are single you may want to pick up a better smelling shampoo or conditioner to use after the T/Gel.

Dr. William Lindsey – McLean, VA

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David (TakingThePlunge)
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.
To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit the hair loss forum and social community

Several months ago, we started a new feature at our hair loss community: the Hair Transplant Patient of the Week.

Each week, we review hair transplant cases posted by patients on our Hair Restoration Discussion Forums and select one particularly excellent result as our Hair Transplant Patient of the Week.

In April, we selected three community members as our patients of the week:

First, was Hypox, who received 2,500 grafts via Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) from Dr. Victor Hasson. After years of trying hair loss medications, traditional Chinese treatments, and Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), Hypox underwent surgical hair restoration in 2009 with a different physician. Ultimately, Hypox decided he required additional grafts, and sought a second procedure with Dr. Hasson in 2011. Recently, Hypox shared a 6 month update with our community, and the results are excellent! To see Hypox’s restored hairline, frontal scalp, and (partial) midscalp, please review the following: 6 Month Update – 2,500 Grafts from Dr. Victor Hasson.

Next was Levrais, who received 5,700 grafts via Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) from Dr. Christian Bisanga.  During a total of 3 procedures, Dr. Bisanga used an impressive 5,700 grafts to restore Levrais’ hairline, frontal scalp, temple points, and part of his vertex. Recently, Levrais shared a 5 month update of his 5,700 graft FUE procedure with Dr. Bisanga, and the results are impressive! To review the procedure, please see the following: Levrais – 5,700 Graft FUE with Dr. Bisanga.

This question comes from a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums:

After years of wearing my hair in tight braids, I noticed hair loss in my hairline and temple regions. I saw my physician, and he diagnosed the hair loss as traction alopecia. I’m wondering: what is traction alopecia, and can it be repaired with hair transplant surgery?

Traction alopecia is hair loss that is caused by excessive “pulling” of hair follicles over a long period of time. The constant pulling and traction on the hair follicles causes progressive damage and eventually leads to noticeable hair loss in regions where the pressure was most apparent (i.e. the hairline and temporal regions). Normally, traction alopecia is most apparent in individuals who wear their hair in very tight braids for a number of years, or those who wear hair pulled tightly in head wraps for cultural or religious purposes. For example, traction alopecia is very common in African American females who wear hair tightly braided for years, and Punjabi males who wear turban headwraps.

Medically, traction alopecia is classified as a “focal” (located in one region of the scalp, but not patterned like “androgenic alopecia” or “genetic patterned baldness”) “non scarring” (meaning the hair loss is not occurring because of repeated inflammation and destruction of hair follicles) type of alopecia, and is treatable with hair transplant surgery.