Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

With millions of men and women worldwide anxiously awaiting a hair loss cure, the first to market with a viable solution will no doubt reap huge rewards. Today, the greatest hope for such a cure may lie in stem cell research. Virtually unheard of only a few years ago outside of the medical field, stem cells have now become a household term. Promising to do everything from regrowing limbs to curing disease, stems cells may also provide the key to hair multiplication (HM).

With an eye toward developing such revolutionary treatments, Histogen Inc. opened its doors in 2007. Histogen is a regenerative medicine company that has been developing a series of products based on proprietary bioreactors (systems that support a biologically active environment) that mimic the embryonic environment but do not contain embryonic stem cells or animal components of any kind. This is good news because it avoids the controversy surrounding embryonic stem cell research that has caused periodic disruptions in government funding.

While there are a number of products in development at Histogen, the one that is of most interest to hair loss sufferers is their Hair Stimulating Complex (HSC). Currently being developed and evaluated as an injectable for hair growth, a single injection applied to one area of the balding scalp is reported to produce a 20% increase in terminal hairs that are expected to then grow for a period of time equal the duration of the patient’s original hair. In other words, if the patient lost his original hair after 30 years, the newly formed hair follicles should also last for 30 years.

This question was  answered by Dr. Michael Beehner of Saratoga Springs, NY.  Dr. Beehner is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians. His professional answer is below.

I am planning to have a hair transplant in November this year.  Unfortunately, I can only take a week off of work post-surgery. In fact, my surgery is on a Tuesday and I return to work the following Monday. Roughly, how long does it take for the recipient area to heal and assume its natural look? By a natural look I mean one can go safely about doing his work without anyone having the slightest clue about the HT. The nature of my work does not allow me to wear a hat to the office. Any pointers on that would be great

There’s a big difference between how a patient looks one or two days after a hair transplant versus how he looks at 7-9 days. However, there are a number of factors to consider when deciding if one week is enough time before returning to work and having every person you bump into stare at your head and start asking questions about what happened.

Most follicular unit scabs have fallen off within the first week but there can be persistent, short stubby hairs just sitting in place. As has been already mentioned, there may also be a slight “pinkness” to both the recipient and donor sites. The issue of recipient sites looking pink is a very individual thing and varies from one patient to another. I find that the vast majority of men don’t have this after a couple of weeks but some of the fair-skinned men do keep it for a few months before it eventually fades.

This question comes from a member of our Hair Restoration Social Community and Discussion Forums:

I’m looking to undergo a smaller follicular unit transplantation (FUT) procedure with minimal scarring. Specifically, I’d like to eliminate the risk of scarring on the sides of the universal donor region by taking a smaller, wider strip strictly from the back of my scalp. Will a smaller, wider follicular unit hair transplant allow for a decent number of grafts while also reducing potential scarring?

Technically, as long as the strip incision is made within the universal safe extraction zone, follicles can be effectively removed from the area. However, it’s very likely that a shorter, wider strip (which would still result in a significant number of follicular units when compared to a longer, thinner strip) would actually create more scarring in general.

In theory, if a hair transplant surgeon is trying to extract and implant a certain number of grafts, he/she can do so by either taking a shorter, wider strip or a longer, thinner strip. If the hair restoration surgeon took the shorter, thicker strip, you would save any potential scarring from the sides of the head, but the closure would involve more tension (because the width of the strip is wider and harder to properly close) than compared to a longer strip that is much thinner. Tension is the enemy of the hair transplant scarring process, and you’re going to experience more tension closing a short, wide wound when compared to a long, thin wound.

In our continuing effort to better serve the members of our community, the Hair Transplant Network is proud to announce several new improvements to our enhanced Hair Restoration Forum and Social Community that debuted in April of 2010.  Special thanks to several dedicated forum members for providing some of these suggestions.

Among the most significant improvements is that our most active members are now displayed prominently on the “Home”, “Profiles and Blogs” and “Search for Members” pages. In addition, members can now send private messages and add friends from within the hair loss forum. The instant messaging feature is now also conveniently accessible from the forum.

These are only a small sample of the many new improvements that our programmers have been developing over the past few weeks in order to deliver a satisfying user experience to every member of our community. We trust that these improvements will help you communicate more effectively with veteran hair transplant patients and expert hair replacement physicians in order to find the best hair restoration solution for you.  You are encouraged to provide us with your feedback regarding these recent upgrades and provide suggestions for further improvement. 

For a comprehensive list of all the latest improvements and to add your thoughts, please visit the following thread, Upcoming Enhancements to our Forum and Social Community

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David – aka TakingThePlunge
Assistant Publisher 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
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Today’s hair loss sufferers can choose from a variety of proven treatment methods both surgical and non-surgical. From medications like Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride) to hair replacement systems, concealers and, of course, hair transplant surgery.

For the average victim of hair loss, one or a combination of these treatments may be all they need to restore their confidence and put their fears about balding to bed. However, for a select few, unrealistic expectations, physiology or other factors may conspire to thwart their hairy hopes.

Does there eventually come a time when even the most tenacious follicular crusader should pack it in and learn to accept their hair loss?

After a massive shed, forum member “Steelie17” ponders the notion of stopping non-surgical hair loss treatments and “Throwing in the towel,” Should balding men and women fight their hair loss to the bitter end or cut their losses and give in to nature? Follow the link to add your opinion.

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David – aka TakingThePlunge
Assistant Publisher 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
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: hair loss, Rogaine, minoxidil, Propecia, finasteride, hair replacement systems, hair transplant, balding

Let’s face it; a hair transplant procedure is a luxury item. For the average guy or gal working to make ends meet, raise a family and prepare for the unexpected curve balls life can deliver, setting aside a few thousand dollars for a cosmetic procedure may seem an unattainable goal. Often, balding men and women desiring to take control of their hair loss simply wait and watch the years pass by hoping for “the right time” to come. Well, the right time may not be as far off as you think.

Some people choose to view surgical hair restoration as not so much an expense but an investment in themselves. If that’s the case for you, then a little financial creativity may have you seriously considering hair transplant surgery sooner rather than later.

Recently, forum member “RCWest” started a thread asking members to share the methods they used to finance their hair restoration procedures. To learn how hair transplant patients faced the high cost of surgery, follow the link, How did you finance your procedure?

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David – aka TakingThePlunge
Assistant Publisher 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
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: hair transplant, balding, hair loss, hair restoration

The NeoGraft hair transplant machine, touting itself as “state-of-the-art” and “game-changing” has received a lot of press lately with promises to make follicular unit extraction (FUE), a complex and labor intensive procedure requiring a highly skilled surgeon and staff, simpler, faster and more effective. However, NeoGraft has failed to garner the support of many of the world’s expert FUE practitioners (of which there exists only a handful) due to several key concerns.

Consisting of an adjustable, slowly rotating, motorized punch and a pneumatic pressure suction device that allegedly allows each follicular unit to slide in and out smoothly and uniformly, the NeoGraft method of extraction theoretically exerts less force on the grafts than manual extraction. This spinning punch however, while facilitating graft removal, may subject the follicular unit grafts to unnecessary and detrimental torsional forces. In addition, due to the potential for grafts to be wider at one end, there is also a possibility for transection as they are forced through the rotating punch.

Once extracted, the grafts are then sucked through a series of tubes into a collection canister where they are misted to keep them moist while they await implantation. Leading FUE physicians have expressed concerns that the route that the grafts take as they are sucked through the punch and into the collection canister may expose them to further damage. Furthermore, there are concerns that the resulting air flow from the pneumatic pressure may result in rapid desiccation (dehydration) of the extracted follicles. Dehydration of the follicles during surgical hair restoration is one of the primary causes of poor hair growth.

Recent results published by a joint team of stem cell researchers from Sweden and Scotland may one day offer hope for those suffering from hair loss. The team, led by Professor Yann Barrandon, head of the stem cell lab at the University of Lausanne, had been searching for a way to help burn victims by growing viable skin when they unexpectedly changed one cell type into a completely different one. In the process, they ended up with skin cells complete with working hair follicles.

While testing how stem cells extracted from the thymus of lab rats would perform if transplanted into growing skin, the team discovered that the cells ceased behaving as they did in the thymus and began performing just like healthy skin cells. “These cells really change track, expressing different genes and becoming more potent,” said Prof. Barrandon.  Past attempts to grow skin cells resulted in tissue that lasted only three weeks. The tissue produced in this method has lasted up to one year and includes the precious hair follicles lacking in previous attempts.

It is important to note that these are preliminary results that have only been tested in rats. It is uncertain at this time how this process may work in humans and how it might be implemented in order to restore hair to a balding head. However, it does offer one more avenue of hope to those men and women who have been eagerly awaiting a baldness cure.

From the initial consultation to the final stages of hair growth, the typical hair transplant patient will endure a roller coaster ride of discomfort, elation, concern, and eventual satisfaction.

Like anything else, one patient’s experience cannot accurately predict another’s.  Thus, discomfort during and after surgery, growth timelines, and patients’ feelings and reactions will all vary.  However, one thing is for sure: the surgical hair restoration journey takes a lot of patience, a dash of humor and a fairly sizeable collection of baseball caps.

In his post, What part of the HT process did you find most difficult?, forum member “gmonasco” asks those who have already taken control of their balding through hair restoration surgery to share the most difficult aspect of their post-hair transplant journey. Follow the link to add your input.

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David – aka TakingThePlunge
Assistant Publisher 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
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: hair growth, hair transplant, hair restoration, balding

Mapping the scalp for miniaturization can help predict a patient’s future balding pattern thereby assisting the physician in creating a long term plan for hair restoration. It also provides a baseline for measuring the effectiveness of hair loss treatments like Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride). So what is miniaturization mapping? How is it performed? And, how can it benefit you?

In the thread entitled Miniaturization Analysis, Hair Restoration Forum members explore the importance of examining the scalp for miniaturization prior to hair transplant surgery.  You are encouraged to share your experiences and add your input to this critical topic.

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David – aka TakingThePlunge
Assistant Publisher 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
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: balding, hair restoration, hair loss, Rogaine, minoxidil, Propecia, finasteride, hair transplant