Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

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

This hair loss question was answered by Dr. Robert True of New York, NY who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.  His professional answer is below.

I had a hair transplant 2 weeks ago and my scalp is still red.  Is this normal?

For hair loss patients with medium to darker complexions, pinkness or redness of the scalp following hair restoration suture removal is rarely an issue. However for fair complexion patients, a visible pinkness may persist for 3 to 6 weeks and for a small percentage of these patients, even 2 -4 months.

Hypoallergenic flesh toner concealer cosmetic can be used to safely hide the pinkness. The doctor may also prescribe a cortisone cream to speed resolution.

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Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair transplant, hair loss, hair restoration

When is it safe to color or dye my hair after a hair transplant?  Can I do this as early as 10 days post-op?

This question was posed by a hair loss sufferer seeking hair loss help on our hair restoration forum and answered by Dr. Steven Gabel of Hillsboro, OR who is an elite member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.  His professional answer is below.

There is no magical answer to when hair transplant patients can start dying their hair. The reason for this is that each patient heals at a different rate. I have some patients who come back 10 days after their hair replacement procedure and their incision and recipient sites look like they have healed.  I have others that need a little more time to heal.

The postoperative instructions I give patients are to wait until the transplanted hairs have gone through their initial shock period – usually four to six weeks.  By that time, I know that the grafts are firmly in place and exchanging their blood supply. The problem with hair coloring and the dying process is that different hair stylists will use several chemical compounds to dye the hair and I don’t want any risk of injury to the hair follicles with outside chemicals. My advice is always: be patient!

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.

This hair loss question was answered by Dr. Robert True of New York, NY who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.  His professional answer is below.

When can I start using hair care products after hair transplant surgery?

A few weeks after the hair restoration procedure, you can return to use of any of your preferred hair care products such as shampoos, conditioners, gels, mousses, etc.

We do believe that the Head and Shoulders and Neutrogena product lines are excellent for maintaining hair and scalp health, but you can use the products you know and like the best.

You can color your hair beginning one month after your treatment.  It is safe to use semi-permanent or permanent coloring agents. Try to avoid strong bleaching agents as these can be damaging to your hair whether transplanted or native.

You can also use alopecia (hair loss) masking cosmetics such as Toppik, Courve, Nanogen, or DermMatch.

You can use a laser comb if you like. We know this will not hurt anything. Although there are claims otherwise, we have not seen adequate scientific evidence that low level laser therapy prevents hair loss or restores lost hair. There is evidence that ongoing use promotes thickening of existing individual hair shafts. It is ok to use this if you want. We have no preference of models or manufacturers.

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Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair transplant, hair restoration, hair care products, alopecia, hair loss, Toppik, Courve, Nanogen, DermMatch, laser comb

Most hair loss sufferers who undergo hair transplant surgery are careful to keep a certain level of discretion about their procedure to prevent drawing attention to themselves. However, there may come a time and a place where you decide to share your experience with members of your family, friends, or other loved ones.

If you’re like most hair transplant patients, you fear how other people are going to react when you tell them you’ve had hair restoration surgery.  In this hair loss forum discussion thread, members of our community explain how others reacted when they shared their hair restoration experiences with people in their lives.  This is a must read for those concerned about how people in their lives will react to their hair transplant.

Bill Seemiller - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair transplant, hair restoration

Differentiating what really works to treat hair loss and alopecia from the hype isn’t easy. Thankfully, leading hair restoration physicians and veteran hair transplant patients regularly offer their experiences on what works to treat baldness.

Below you will find answers to 5 of this week’s top topic hair loss related questions provided by real balding men and women and physician experts. You can also ask your own questions and get answers on our hair restoration forum or privately by contacting us.

Do Split Ends Cause Male or Female Hair Loss?

Why Transplanted Hair Can Seem Wispy and Lifeless at First (Dr. Carman)

Properly Preparing for Hair Restoration

Alternative DHT Blockers to Propecia – Are They Effective?

Applying Rogaine over Topical Concealers like Dermmatch

Additionally, these questions and more are answered daily on our news and blog sites including the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, the Hair Transplant Network, and the Hair Loss Learning Center.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair loss, alopecia, hair restoration, hair transplant, treat baldness, balding

This hair loss question was answered by Dr. Robert True of New York, NY who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.  His professional answer is below.

How long does numbness last after hair replacement surgery?  Is this normal?

It is common to have temporary loss or change of sensation to the scalp during and after a hair transplant procedure. The most common area affected is the top of the head, or recipient area.

Occasionally, the area above the donor incision may also be affected. The tiny nerve endings located superficially throughout the skin are traumatized by the hair restoration procedure resulting in the sensation change. The sensation does return to normal, but commonly this can take from 2 to 6 months. Rarely, it may take longer and very rarely, there may be small areas in which the sensation does not fully normalize. There is nothing that can be done to speed this process.

Recovery of sensation is often associated with minor tingling, prickling, or itching sensations (signs of healing).

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Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair replacement, hair transplant, hair restoration

Hello, I’ve been considering a hair transplant for a few years now. I’ve had a high hairline my entire life and seem to have a stable hairline. But my hair (or lack thereof) is something that I am very self-conscious about. I’m set on getting a hair transplant. My concern is my age (22). I’ve had one physician tell me I’m too young for a procedure and that he’d only be willing to reconsider once I’m in my late twenties. This isn’t good enough.  What should I do?

This hair loss question was posted directly to Dr. Raymond Konior of Chicago, IL, who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.  See his professional answer below.

I agree that hair restoration should be approached with caution in young men since it is difficult to predict the final hair loss pattern in someone who may continue to undergo thinning for many more decades.  However, there are some young men who make very good candidates depending on their family history of hair loss and on their individual expectations.  First off, it is much better to have a family history with little evidence of advanced hair loss patterns.  Although the family history is never a guarantee of what one’s future holds, the evidence it provides certainly helps when attempting to make a long term prediction for a young man. 

With all the new hair loss products regularly marketed in the media, it’s vital to be able to differentiate what really works from the hype.

Our educational and supportive hair loss resource and community is interested in keeping you up to speed with the latest and greatest discoveries that can really help you deal with baldness and restore your hair.

Below you will find answers to 5 of this week’s top topic questions provided by educated patients and expert physicians. You can also ask your own questions and get answers on our hair restoration forum or do a free online consult with one of our physicians.

Increasing Hair Transplant Graft Survival and Postoperative Healing Time (Dr. Cooley)

Does Daily Protein Intake and Weight Loss Cause Hair Loss? (Dr. Ross)

How Much Hair Shedding is Normal on a Daily Basis? (Dr. Beehner)

Why Xandrox Might Cause Unwanted Body Hair Growth in Women

Is Treating Hair Loss with Laser Therapy worth $6000?

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair loss products, hair loss, baldness