Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

Our popular hair loss forum community includes dozens of active patient and physician members devoted to answering your hair loss questions daily. Get past the hype and learn about proven treatments that really work to stop baldness.

Below, we’ve compiled answers to hot topic questions we received from real patients and expert hair restoration physicians.

Feel free to ask your own questions and get answers on our hair restoration forum or privately by using the contact us form.

Graft Survival Rates and High Hair Densities (Dr. Brad Limmer)

Claims that Hair Multiplication is Available Today

Female Hair Loss Due to Hair Straightening and Blow Drying

Why Some Clinics Can Perform Hair Transplant Sessions Exceeding 5000 Grafts

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Managing Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: hair loss forum, hair loss, baldness, hair restoration

This hair loss question was answered by Dr. Glenn Charles of Florida who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.  His professional answer is below.

In the past I have been told that a hair density of 50 grafts per cm2 should not compromise graft survival.  However, I was wondering if transplanting hair at 55 grafts per cm2 or 65 grafts per cm2 would compromise vascularity or hair growth yield?  Are any grafts compromised at all leading up until natural true density?

The answer really depends on what hair transplant clinic/doctor you go to. Some hair restoration physicians have the capabilities of placing higher numbers of grafts in smaller spaces and still obtaining a high yield percentage. There have been a few recent studies showing very high success in the range of 90-100 FU/cm2.

Here is an example of a common dilemma/question. Would you rather have 60 FU/cm2 and get 50 follicular units grow or have 45 FU’s/cm and get 43 follicular units to grow. Most would choose the latter based on the percentages of successful hair growth yield. The bottom line is that there are countless variables that go into the equation, and it will always be a hard decision.

Dr. Glenn Charles, D.O.

—

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Managing Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Decades ago, men and women suffering from hair loss could do nothing but accept their baldness. Sure, many would cover their bald heads with fancy hats or even wigs.  But regrowing their lost hair was impossible.

Today, thanks to the advancements in surgical hair restoration, hair loss sufferers can restore real natural looking hair in thinning or bald areas. Surgeons dedicated to performing ultra refined follicular unit hair transplantation can now perform even larger densely packed sessions when appropriate for the patient. This minimizes the number of surgeries a patient needs while maximizing both hair density and naturalness.

Below we introduce you to a few of the many men and women who have successfully restored their hair and documented their journey by creating a free hair loss patient website.

Forum member “Crown Royal” was unhappy with the large bald spot that formed in his crown due to male pattern baldness. Wanting to do something about it, researching real hair restoration solutions led him to our community and Coalition member Dr. Alan Feller who introduced him to today’s hair transplant surgery. 14 months after 3500 follicular units were transplanted into the crown; he can officially claim that he is no longer bald. View his hair loss website to see his results and the process he went through to recover his hair.

Decades ago, men and women suffering from hair loss could do nothing but accept or try to conceal their baldness. Thanks to the recent advancements in surgical hair restoration, balding men and women can now restore their own growing hair in thinning or bald areas.

Hair transplant procedures have gotten even larger and more refined over the last couple of years. An elite group of surgeons are performing larger, densely packed sessions of ultra refined follicular unit hair transplantation, providing patients with thick, natural looking hair in fewer procedures and less time.

Below we introduce you to a few patients who’ve restored not only a magnificent head of hair, but their confidence. To view over 700 documented hair restoration stories with photos, visit our patient websites.

“GIULIANO’s” hair transplant results are a perfect example of the expression “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words”. This patient started out with significant hairline recession and thinning hair. After receiving 2971 follicular units with Coalition member Dr. H. Rahal 8 months ago, he’s showing no signs of baldness. To view and comment on his hair restoration experience and photos, visit the discussion topic “Rahal Hair Transplant”.

After approximately 3000 grafts with Coalition member Dr. Bernstein, forum member and blogger “new2thissite” restored a natural, very age appropriate head of hair. To read a detailed account of his experience and view his impressive before and after hair transplant photos, view his patient website. To discuss his results on our hair restoration forum, visit the topic “One Year Update – Dr. Bernstein”.

Our highly popular hair restoration community consists of thousands of hair loss sufferers searching for real hair solutions and dozens of prescreened expert hair loss doctors. See how we recommend hair restoration physicians. Many of these physicians regularly contribute their expert opinions and advice on important issues related to hair loss and restoration.

Below, we’ve compiled some of the most recent and vital input we’ve received from leading physician member of our community and presented them below for your benefit.

Are Hair Transplants Detectable? (Dr. Glenn Charles)

Is FUE the Solution for Young Hair Loss Sufferers? (Dr. Cam Simmons)

Is Donor “Shock Loss” After a Hair Transplant Common? (Dr. William Lindsey)

Who are Optimal Patients for Dense Packing? (Dr. Paul Shapiro)

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Managing Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair restoration, hair loss, hair solutions, hair loss doctors, Bill Seemiller, Falceros

Balding men and women quickly become mesmerized by extremely large hair transplant megasessions sometimes referred to as “ultra” megasessions. Given that the number of surgical procedures is fewer in patients who are candidates for such large sessions, there’s no doubt as to why it’s often the procedure of choice for patients.

And though these large numbers of hairs moved often impress patients, many variables can prevent every patient from becoming a candidate for such a hair restoration procedure. See “When Ultra Hair Transplant Megasessions are and aren’t Appropriate”.

Additionally, it takes more than massive quantities of hair to create a cosmetically pleasing and natural looking hair transplant result. Recently, hair loss forum member “TC17” started a list of important attributes that make a hair transplant successful. Can you add to this list? View this discussion topic to see what others think make surgical hair replacement successful and share your own.

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: Balding, hair transplant megasessions, hair restoration, hair transplant, hair loss, hair replacement

What is the typical hair growth yield from a follicular unit hair transplant strip procedure? Does hair growth yield lessen the denser hair is packed together?

The simple answer is that there is typically 95% growth yield with a strip procedure as long as physicians are using state of the art techniques and scalp vascularity isn’t compromised. Using a single bladed scalpel to harvest the strip and microscopic dissection practically eliminates any dissection, thus, promoting the maximum number of viable hairs for transplanting.

One issue to consider is how dense packing may affect hair growth yield. As more follicular units are placed per square centimeter, hair growth yield may decrease. How much it decreases depends upon the tools used to create recipient sites, the scalps vascularity, the number of follicular units packed per square centimeter, the number of hairs per graft, and the size of the graft. As to exact percentages and number of grafts, to my knowledge, nobody has this information. To learn more about hair growth survival, see recommended physician Dr. Beehner’s article on “Chubby Verses Skinny Grafts”.

Bill – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair growth, follicular unit hair transplant, dense packing, follicular units

Many hair loss sufferers who visit our educational hair loss forum community quickly become mesmerized by extremely large hair transplant megasessions sometimes referred to as “ultra megasessions”. Given that the reduced number of sessions needed in patients who are candidates for such large sessions, there’s no doubt as to why it’s often the procedure of choice for patients.

But there is a problem. Many are under the terrible misconception that sessions between 4000 and 5000+ true follicular unit grafts are the norm rather than the exception. While a physician’s skill and the size and experience of their staff are vital to be able to provide this type of procedure, these ultra megasessions are reserved for balding patients with exceptional donor characteristics even in the most skilled hands.

Many balding men and women would like to be a candidate for a “one and done” hair restoration procedure. However, these single “wow” transformations aren’t always possible nor are they always within a physician’s control. Additionally, though ultra megasessions often produce a “wow” result, they don’t always. Sometimes smaller hair replacement sessions can produce a “wow” result, even in a larger bald area. Does this mean that a particular surgeon does better work? This often is the typical but usually wrong conclusion drawn by some visiting our online community.

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)