Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

Every now and again, new alleged treatments for baldness surface and are worth discussing. Recently, the scalproller was mentioned and discussed on our hair restoration forum.

The scalproller is a microneedle roller designed to traumatize the scalp on the theory that it can stimulate hair regrowth. It’s often combined with other hair loss treatments such as Rogaine (minoxidil) and/or the experimental Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) procedure in order to enhance the effect or facilitate absorption of the treatment.

But is there any scientific data to support the theory that injury to the scalp can stop hair loss or enhance the benefits of other solutions? View this hair loss discussion thread to read more and offer your own input on the Scalproller and how it may or may not effectively treat baldness.

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: treatments for baldness, scalproller, hair regrowth, Rogaine, minoxidil, hair loss, treat baldness

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.

I went to a local hair transplant doctor for a consult and he mentioned that he uses a 2-3 bladed knife with the Haber spreader to insure that no transection occurs. He said that there is less transection with that than with the single bladed knife, when used properly. According to him, with the single blade, you must go down 2-3 times as deep to cut past the follicles, and if you are not right on target there will be some transection. Does this sound correct?  Does using a Haber spreader with a 2-3 bladed knife sound right?

The Haber spreader can be very useful and help to minimize transection of follicles during donor strip removal in surgical hair restoration. However, I think it works best when using a single blade to make the initial scoring incision followed by the Haber spreader. You do not have to go deeper just because a single blade is used. I see no advantage in using 2-3 blades. In fact, most view it only as a way to speed up the process which may not always be good for the patient.

Dr. Glenn Charles, D.O.

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Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair transplant, Haber spreader, hair restoration

How many follicular unit grafts on average are lost doing the trichophytic closure hair transplant donor closure technique?

This hair loss question was answered by Dr. Cam Simmons of Toronto, Canada, who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians.

The trichophytic part of the closure should not cause any loss of any grafts.

From the surface downward, the layers of the skin are the epidermis, the dermis, and the fat layer. We are only trimming off the epidermis or surface layer of the skin and the tips of the hairs. The trimmed hairs will keep growing.

We are not affecting the stem cells in the hair follicle bulge area in the dermis layer or the dermal papilla stem cells in the fat layer. The hair follicles will therefore be able to keep producing new hairs every 2 to 6 years for the rest of your life.

Avoiding tension is most important to keep donor scars narrow. First and foremost we have to avoid taking a wider strip than the scalp laxity allows. We can further reduce surface suture tension by using deep dissolving sutures or by undermining the skin edges.

Not doing a trichophytic closure allows me to make the donor strip 1 mm wider than if I do a trichophytic closure and that could yield another 250-300 grafts. Some patients prefer getting more grafts than having a trichophytic closure but most don’t.

When flipping through the channels on TV late at night, I sometimes get sucked into the Scalp Med infomercials promising a new thick head of hair.  It also claims to be FDA approved.  Is this the hair loss cure we’ve all been waiting for?

Scalp Med infomercials are very popular this time of year, especially as the holidays approach.  Sold as a treatment for female and male pattern baldness, Scalp Med boasts that the “results will provide you with thicker, cleaner, healthier, and more beautiful hair”.  The Scalp Med infomercial presents dozens of rich consumer testimonies praising Scalp Med and providing us wild dreams of restoring a full head of hair.  While one woman claims, “it was nothing short of a miracle for me”, another male consumer boasts, “there’s nothing better out there”.  Oh really? 

Scalp Med is Just Overpriced Minoxidil

While Scalp Med is technically a viable hair loss treatment, what they don’t readily tell you is that that the only “active” ingredient in both the men’s and women’s solution is minoxidil, and significantly overpriced at that. 

Because minoxidil has been FDA approved as a treatment for male and female hair loss, Scalp Med can make the same claims Rogaine can.  The extra cash you could be saving by purchasing Rogaine (minoxidil) most likely goes toward marketing and the ”inactive” ingredients that do nothing to stop genetic baldness or regrow hair. 

This question was posed by a hair loss sufferer seeking hair loss help on our hair restoration forum and answered by Dr. Michael Beehner of Saratoga Springs, NY.  Dr. Beehner is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians. His professional answer is below.

What’s the deal with scalp reductions? I’ve seen that many recommended physicians on the Hair Transplant Network no longer perform them, and I’ve seen elsewhere that they are frowned upon, but why? It makes sense that if you can reduce the bald area that needs to be covered, you can have a better overall result when you/if you decide to have a transplant.  

I performed my last scalp reduction 10 years ago, but did many of them my first 10 years before that. The one writer is correct.  You felt like a miracle man when you held that “before” Polaroid next to the “after” one and proudly gave the patient copies. But a few months later they always stretched back to some extent. Nine years ago I did a study on 11 consecutive scalp reduction patients and found that the stretchback percentage was around 40%. For example, if you removed a 5cm wide area of bald scalp, a few months later the side-to-side measurement would be as if you only removed 3cm instead of 5cm.

There are several other negatives also. While 80% of them had wonderful scars that were virtually impossible to see later on, the other 20% could shine in the night almost and were devilish to camouflage with grafts.

Remember the days when you used to wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and see your once stylishly groomed hair sticking up all over the place and every direction possible? Now imagine if your newly transplanted hair looked like that all the time.

Simply transplanting massive quantities of hair into balding areas isn’t enough to create a natural and cosmetically pleasing hair transplant result. A qualified hair transplant surgeon will carefully control the direction of your new hair by making tiny incisions at a precise angle that replicates the direction of your natural hair. This, in combination with a number of other state of the art techniques, promotes a natural and healthy looking head of hair.

To discuss how surgeons control the direction of your new hair and promote natural looking hair growth, view this discussion. You are encouraged to offer your experience, input, and acquired expertise.

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: transplanted hair, balding, hair transplant, hair transplant surgeon, natural hair, hair growth

There’s no doubt that men and women with hair loss considering surgical hair restoration are concerned about cost. After all, hair transplant surgery is an expensive investment and should be considered carefully before jumping in, especially if multiple procedures are needed to meet your long term hair restoration goals.

Hair transplant costs will vary depending upon the number of grafts needed, the type of procedure requested (follicular unit hair transplantation – FUT or follicular unit extraction – FUE), and the amount a clinic charges. However, since clinics often charge different amounts, patients often ask, “is cost is an indication of the quality of work they do?” In other words, does the expression “you get what you pay for” apply to hair replacement surgery?

Hair loss forum member “gryphon” recently started a topic comparing prices from several leading hair restoration clinics and offered his opinion. To view his and other opinions or to share your own, click here.

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair restoration, hair transplant, hair restoration, Hair transplant costs, hair replacement, Hair loss forum, hair restoration clinics

Hair loss impacts us all differently. While some accept going bald as a natural part of growing older, others experience high levels of anxiety and even depression.

Though nobody likes going bald, it’s ultimately what radiates from within, not from your skin that really matters. In order to touch and be touched by others, one must dive beneath the surface and exert confidence in who we are, not what we look like.

While Patrick Hennessey, publisher of the Hair Transplant Network has been blessed with state of the art hair transplant results, he firmly believes that true value and happiness radiates from within. As you look into the mirror this Thanksgiving, you are encouraged to look at the beauty within rather than just your hairline and contemplate all you have to be thankful for. To view more on this topic and offer your input, visit “It’s What Radiates From Within, Not From Your Skin That Really Matters”.

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: Hair loss, bald, hair transplant

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

The ultimate gift of our hair loss forum community is the present of being present for each other. Thank you for sharing your gifts on our forum community.

This Thanksgiving, while you consider various hair loss solutions, we encourage you to focus on what you have rather than what you might be losing. When you look in the mirror do you focus solely on your hair loss? Or can you see the unique qualities that make you a beautiful human being? While nobody likes going bald, it’s far too easy to become fixated on what we are loosing rather than what we have. Working to improve our appearance is great. But it’s ultimately what radiates from within, not from your skin that really matters.

Best wishes for counting your many blessings this Thanksgiving,

Patrick Hennessey and Bill Seemiller – Publishers of the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q&A Blog

Technorati Tags: hair loss solutions, hair loss, bald