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This question, asked by a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. Raymond Konior of Chicago, IL.

What is the consensus regarding a hair transplant patient’s decision to close the temples as in the example below? Is the hair behind it in the lateral region considered safe as it has receded so far?

I believe that the strategy of how a hair transplant surgeon approaches hairline design in terms of location and density is based on several key parameters – each of which must be factored into the final decision as to what should or should not be done with respect to designing the frontal hair restoration zone. Here are some of the key components that I factored into his plan.

A prediction as to the final hair loss pattern – Although there is no way to assess the definitive final pattern for many patients, an educated prognosis can often be made based on age, examination for presence or absence of miniaturization and family history. Analysis of these factors for this case suggested that his final pattern would support the long term aesthetic benefit of the restoration that was performed. Personally, I spend much more time trying to convince patients to be conservative with respect to hairline location and density as there seems to be more patients presenting to my office with the potential for progression to an advanced pattern on the Norwood Scale that would not support aggressive hairline restoration. Fortunately this patient appeared to have just the right combination of factors to allow for the restoration performed.

Shock loss, or the loss of native hairs after hair transplant surgery, is a real concern for any hair loss sufferer considering surgical hair restoration. The effects of shock loss can be serious, and may even cause some to postpone or reconsider hair transplantation altogether. But, is this fear justified? Is it possible to prevent post-operative shock loss?

To answer these important questions, recommended hair transplant surgeon Dr. Parsa Mohebi recently shared his thoughts on preventing shock loss after a hair transplant procedure:

Shock loss, loss of existing hair in transplanted area due to trauma or stress of native hair, can be seen after hair transplant procedures.  This phenomenon is more common for patients who have a significant amount of miniaturization in the transplanted area.  In other words, if hair loss is not completed in a particular area, shock loss will accelerate the process. 

Often times, patients seek advice as to how to minimize shock loss. The primary recommendation we give is to use Propecia (finasteride), the second is Rogaine (minoxidil). Some patients wait until after their procedure and then start to see shock loss before starting finasteride and/or minoxidil. This is definitely not how prevention should be handled!

Patients are advised to begin their use of Propecia or Rogaine a few days before their hair transplant to get the medication in their system, working at its maximum therapeutic level. Some patients go as far as continuing the medication for six to eight months after their procedure simply to avoid post-surgical shock loss.

This question, asked by a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. Glenn Charles:

I’m considering a 2000 graft FUT (strip) or FUE hair transplant and I’m curious if a strip scar is visible to others when the hair is wet. Does it being “pencil-thin” or “matchbook match” sized affect visibility when wet?

Remember that every surgical hair restoration patient has different healing properties. The technique used by the hair transplant surgeon to suture the donor area and how much tension is present are the major factors that determine a strip scar’s appearance. Each patient will have to adopt a hairstyle that will cover up follicular unit hair transplant (FUT) or  even follicular unit extraction (FUE) scarring.

Like most things in life, to get something you might have to give something up.

Dr. Glenn Charles

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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

Get Proven Treatments at the Best Prices by visiting our new online hair loss treatment shop.

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Technorati Tags: Hair Loss, FUT, FUE, hair transplant, hair restoration, follicular unit hair transplant, follicular unit extraction

In an exciting turn of events, scientists from the Research Institute for Science and Technology at Tokyo University successfully grew hair from human stem cells implanted in mice. While similar projects have been attempted before, what makes the Tokyo University study unique is the manner in which the human stem cells were created and the properties the cells exhibited in the mouse model.

According to research leader Dr. Takashi Tsuji, the Tokyo University team began the process by  isolating two separate types of human cells: epithelial (outer skin) stem cells and dermal papilla cells (cells both found in the base of the hair follicle and frequently associated with the regenerative properties of hair). Next, the researchers combined these cells and created, what they termed, a “seed follicle.” Finally, the seed follicles were implanted (individually) into the mouse model, where they acted as normal human hair follicles and produced hair.

After the implantation, the mouse showed both new hair growth and the ability to regrow hair that was plucked or removed from the model. The ability to regrow the plucked hair suggests the “seed” follicles successfully transitioned into functional human hair follicles.

While this news is extremely exciting, a few lingering questions and potential complications remain. First, according to several hair loss experts, it is still uncertain whether these “seed” follicles can be amplified and implanted in significant numbers. In the mouse model, the engineered hair follicles were implanted individually, and the need to both grow and implant the grafts “one at a time” could be unrealistic in human hair restoration. Furthermore, it is uncertain how long the seed follicles can survive outside of the human body, which, again, could be a problem during a hypothetical hair transplant procedure.

In recent years, surgical hair restoration has become increasingly popular among balding men and women seeking a solution to the devastating effects of hair loss. But, finding a quality hair transplant surgeon is not a simple matter of cracking open your local telephone directory or performing a quick Google search. Unfortunately, there are many clinics around the world performing outdated and downright poor quality hair transplants compared to the elite few performing state of the art, ultra refined follicular unit hair transplantation.  Prospective patients must educate themselves not only about the procedure itself but also how to identify and locate these world-class surgeons.

The good news is that the information age has made it easier than ever to conduct effective research from the comfort of your own home. The Internet provides the tools, but where should you begin and what do you really need to know? You only get one shot at a first hair transplant and choosing the wrong doctor can have serious consequences.

For in-depth advice on how to conduct your hair transplant research and ensure a successful outcome, read the article, Choosing a Quality Hair Transplant Surgeon.

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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

Get Proven Treatments at the Best Prices by visiting our new online hair loss treatment shop.

I am experiencing hair loss of about 40-60 strands a day. I have lost lots at my temples. It’s gone really deep. My goals are:

1.   To prevent further balding.
2.   If somehow I can regrow hair at my temples (is this too much to ask for)

I read about platelet rich plasma (PRP) and ACell. I don’t know how effective they are. Can anyone explain if this is effective? I don’t know if I have thinning hair. I have undergone no hair loss treatment yet. My stylist told me that there is thinning of hair at the front. Please advise which doctor I should consider in the Los Angeles area.

There is currently no non-surgical hair loss treatment available that is likely to restore your receding hairline. However, your best bet to retain the hair you have and potentially add density to thinning hair is using Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride). These are the only two clinically proven and FDA approved drugs for the treatment of androgenic alopecia.

In addition to these drugs, you may also wish to add Nizoral Shampoo to your hair growth regimen. Nizoral contains the active ingredient Ketoconazole which may be a mild DHT blocker. Used in combination, Rogaine, Propecia and Nizoral are known affectionately as “The Big Three”.

To restore your hairline, you may require hair transplant surgery. To learn more about your options I suggest consulting with one or more of the prescreened, quality hair restoration physicians recommended by the Hair Transplant Network. You can also click here for a list of recommended doctors in California.

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

I know many hair loss sufferers fight baldness by combining treatments (medical and surgical treatment, surgery with partial hair pieces, etc), and I’m wondering if the combination of a hair piece and scalp micropigmentation (SMP) would efficiently hide my hair loss?

To clarify, you’re considering a scalp micropigmentation (SMP) procedure and a short/cropped hair system over the pigmented scalp?

While the fine details of hair systems are a bit diverse, I’m not sure this would be ideal. Frankly, I don’t think the micropigmentation would show through the system (meaning the hair system would completely mask any micropigmentation work underneath), and it seems like going for “one or the other” may be a more realistic option.

However, I have seen several cases of SMP combined with a hair transplant, and the two definitely worked together to create a denser appearance all around. Look at this example from Coalition hair restoration surgeon Dr. William Rassman. While it’s not technically a transplant with the addition of SMP (it’s more likely the patient possessed naturally thinning hair), you can still see how the micropigmentation helped augment the lower density.

Could be something to consider. Good luck!
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Blake – aka Future_HT_Doc

Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

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In this hair loss article, Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. William Lindsey shares his expert advice for comparing hair restoration physicians.

Recently I read a thread that said some hair transplant surgeons do not like to harvest a donor strip that exceeds 2cm in width. I take it different doctors are comfortable with varying widths. I also assume the wider the strip the more aggressive the procedure and more likelihood of going beyond the safe zone. Am I right? What is a conservative width? Does it depend on the patient? How about length?

With rare exception my FUT strips are always about 1.75 cm wide or about the width of a stick of gum. The variable is the length which can be ear to ear or shorter if we need less hair. For me, that usually results in a pretty decent scar. But, there are plenty of times where I’ll say to the patient right after the strip is out: “Wow, you really have a stretchy scalp. We could have taken a bigger strip.” There are other times when I’ll say “That is pretty tight, I’m glad we didn’t go any wider.” Now, the trouble is predicting that, and it’s a bit like predicting the stock market; meaning that I don’t know anyone who is always right. So I err on the side of caution.

Hair restoration surgery is becoming an increasingly popular solution for hair loss suffering men and women around the world. However, many of the world’s leading hair restoration experts advise their patients to consider non-surgical treatments as a complement to surgery.

Currently, there are only two clinically proven and FDA approved medical hair loss treatments. These are Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride).  While the risk of side effects are very low with each of these drugs, some patients prefer to undergo hair surgery without the added benefits of hair loss drugs.  But is this really a good idea?

While hair transplant surgery has the potential to restore the appearance of a full head of hair, it does nothing to curb the progression of future hair loss. Only proven non-surgical hair loss treatments like Propecia and Rogaine can help to slow its progression and even possibly produce new hair growth.

To learn more about the risks of hair transplant surgery without the medical stabilization of balding as well as natural alternative to drug-based non-surgical treatments, read the below article:

Are Non-Surgical Hair Loss Treatments Required for Hair Transplant Surgery?

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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

Get Proven Treatments at the Best Prices by visiting our new online hair loss treatment shop.

Always known for their innovation and dedication to furthering the follicular unit transplantation (FUT) “Mega Session,” Drs. Victor Hasson and Jerry Wong (of Hasson & Wong) recently broke hair transplant records by transplanting over 9,000 follicular unit grafts in a single session.

According to the clinic, the patient, a Norwood level 5 hair loss sufferer, underwent an estimated 15 hour procedure, during which a team of dedicated technicians implanted 9,168 grafts. A representative from the clinic shared the following:

Dr. Hasson and Dr. Wong are known world-wide for being true innovators in the field of hair restoration. Dense packing, the Lateral Slit Technique, donor closures, etc. They are also known for being able to safely harvest more hair in one procedure than any other clinic.

We were the first clinic to document and share, on the hair restoration forums, 4000 grafts in one procedure, 5000 then 6000 grafts. We then shared 7000 grafts and 8000 grafts in a single procedure. No other clinic has ever achieved this. I’m excited to share that Dr. Hasson has now broken the seemingly impossible barrier of 9,000 grafts in a single procedure. The exact number is actually 9168 grafts, again, in a single procedure. 

To review Dr. Hasson’s excellent work, feel free to visit the on going discussion thread at our hair loss forums or view the thumbnails below.

Congratulations to Hasson & Wong!

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Blake  – aka Future_HT_Doc