Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

Recently, recommended hair restoration surgeon Dr. Carlos Wesley of New York published a manuscript in the peer-reviewed journal “Cosmetic Dermatology” entitled “Illusions and Reality in Modern Hair Restoration Surgery”.

In this manuscript, Dr. Wesley addresses the controversial trend of restoring juvenile hairlines in young men who are likely to experience further hair loss as they age. Thinning hair can be devastating for men and women of any age. However, it can be particularly difficult for those young men who see their formerly low and youthful hairlines quickly eroding to form one of the balding patterns described on the Norwood Scale. Many of these balding young men, given the opportunity, would readily choose to restore the hairline of their youth: but at what cost?

Successful hair transplant surgery over the long-term is a simple matter of supply and demand. A skilled, experienced and ethical hair restoration physician will work with a prospective patient to formulate a plan that works not only today but for years to come. Doing so currently requires a fair bit of educated guessing on the part of the physician but current research aims to quantify the average number of follicular unit donor grafts available to anyone over a lifetime.

According to Dr. Wesley:

This question, from a member of our hair restoration social community and discussion forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. Glenn Charles:

I’m booked to have a hair transplant at the end of this month and have been purchasing a few products for my post op care. I’ve seen on various hair loss forums that Emu Oil is recommended (as well as Aloe Vera) to be applied to the recipient site to reduce redness/irritation/scabbing and to the donor site to help the healing of the scar. Also talk that Emu Oil may stimulate early hair growth?

I’ve just bought a product called Blue Ease cream which contains Emu Oil, MSM, Aloe Vera, Vitamin C, E, nettle extract and witch hazel antiseptic. Sounds like a perfect combination to help the healing process! However, there are various other ingredients like alcohol and capsicum that I think may be too harsh on the newly transplanted grafts.

Ingredient list as follows:
Aloe Vera Gel, Emu Oil, 8D-Alcohol 40-B, Glucosamine Sulphate, Dimethyl Sulphone (M8M), Olearesia of Capalcum, Arnica Extract, Sortbital, Chondroitin Sulpate, Menthol, White Nettle Extract, Cerbomer, Witch Hazel, Coriander Oil, Willow Bark Extract, Propylene Glycal, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Diazolldinyl Urea, Chamamila, Marigold Extract, Triathanolamine, Ascorbyl Paimitate (Vitamin C), Tocopharol Acetata (Vitamin E), Fragrance, Color (Brilliant Blue).

I was wondering whether anyone had experienced this product. Would it be safe to use or should I play it safe with just Aloe Vera, or should I mix Aloe Vera and PURE Emu Oil?

This question, from a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums, was answered by a representative (“Orange Hair”) from Coalition hair transplant surgery clinic True & Dorin:

I’ve researched Body Hair Transplantation (BHT) for some time now, and I’m having difficultly determining whether it’s a legitimate technique. Is it used by trusted hair restoration physicians? When should it be utilized? What body regions are best for donor grafts? How much does it cost?

The BHT approach can actually be quite successful, particularly when using beard hair as a resource and the beard zone heals extremely well. However, the yield with body hair ( especially in the chest region) tends to be a bit more “hit or miss.”

Given the nature of body and beard hair, we tend to allocate these hairs for “fill in” and repair work, not hairline edge work. Nape hair beyond the traditional donor area if applicable may be the best of the “BHT” options for hairline.

Of course, BHT again is a secondary resource and should be used in selective cases, such as a revision patient whose head donor area is depleted. BHT is very laborious, detailed work and cost per graft is typically in line with standard follicular unit extraction (FUE).

- Orange Hair (Patient Services Director for True & Dorin Medical Group)

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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

Is your diet and exercise regimen causing thinning hair? Each year, millions of men and women across the globe begin fitness programs in pursuit of better health and a slimmer waistline. Some of them will also experience hair loss. Is this balding purely coincidence or is there a connection?

Men in particular often worry about the effects that consuming whey protein along with heavy weight lifting may have on testosterone production and ultimately DHT (the hormone responsible for androgenic alopecia). But if there is a link, why aren’t all professional athletes bald?

To learn more about the connection between diet, exercise and hair loss along with real solutions to help halt hair loss and regrow hair read the article:

Does Regular Exercise and Weight Lifting Cause Hair Loss?

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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

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Technorati Tags: exercise, thinning hair, hair loss, balding, whey protein, weight lifting, androgenic alopecia, bald, regrow hair

Occasionally, a new hair loss treatment arrives on the market and truly revolutionizes the way balding men and women treat thinning hair. However, for every drug or new surgical procedure that comes along and legitimately improves the treatment of hair loss, a dozen slated “miracle cures” confidently burst upon the scene but quickly fall tragically short of lofty expectations.

Recently, Caboki, a new topical hair loss treatment, debuted and confidently labeled itself as a true “hair loss breakthrough.” While these claims are both bold and intriguing, they leave one important question unanswered: is Caboki truly a hair loss breakthrough, or does it fall short of its audacious claims?

Whether it’s the oppositely charged microfibers, all natural ingredients, or ability to keep hair shafts volumized, but also light and erect, Caboki is making a splash with hair loss sufferers and hair transplant surgeons alike. While the product is still new and requires additional observation and testing before declaring it a “hair loss home run,” Caboki is making a name for itself as a solid topical treatment, potentially on par with trusted concealers like Toppik, DermMatch, and COUVre.

Are there any “downsides” to Caboki? Is it truly equivalent to other topical treatments? Should hair loss sufferers further investigate Caboki? To find the answers to these questions, and more, please feel free to review the new Caboki article at our Hair Loss Learning Center:

Caboki Reviews Hair Loss Breakthrough. 
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Blake – aka Future_HT_Doc

This below question was asked by a member of our Hair Loss Social Community and Discussion Forums and answered by Janna, the lead medical technician for Coalition hair restoration surgeons Dr. Ron Shapiro and Dr. Paul Shapiro.

I would really like to know the real deal about FUT scarring. We’ve all seen the videos/photos from various hair loss clinics including many reputable ones that show patients with almost imperceptible scar lines in the back of their heads. Having researched and read many threads and comments, it seems hair transplant scars look their best 4-6 months post operation (which I’m assuming is when a lot of these photos are taken) but have the tendency to stretch-out/widen as time continues on.

Are we being misled by hair restoration physicians a bit regarding what we can truly expect in terms of scarring? I understand individual physiology, contributing factors by the patient (not complying with post-op instructions), doctor’s skill in closing wounds, etc. all can play a role but, generally speaking, what can one expect from a typical follicular unit transplant (FUT) procedure with a trichophytic suture?

I’ve never heard this before where the scar looks the best at 4-6 months post op. We generally don’t take pics or think about the donor scar because the patients care mainly about the result on the top of their head and they normally say their scar is great; that it’s a non-issue. It’s difficult for patients and clinics to take pics of the donor scar as the hair is too long to see the scar most of the time. Of course, if the scar has stretched, then it’s addressed.

Bill Seemiller, managing publisher of the Hair Transplant Network was recently asked to share his insights and experience with hair loss and hair transplant surgery in an interview with Manly Curls hair blog. Bill is a veteran of 4 follicular unit hair restoration procedures totaling more than 9600 grafts as well as a respected hair restoration mentor and patient advocate. You can view Bill’s Hair Restoration Website by clicking here.

In the three-part interview, Bill discusses his personal struggle with androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness) and his long but fulfilling hair restoration journey. He also offers valuable advice to balding men and women seeking clinically proven and effective solutions for thinning hair.

To read about how Bill restored his hair and his confidence through hair transplantation and learn about credible hair loss treatments that really work, follow the links to his recent interview below.

Hair Transplant & Hair Loss Interview with an Expert

Hair Transplant & Hair Loss Interview with an Expert – Part 2

Hair Transplant & Hair Loss Interview with an Expert – Part 3

Contribute your thoughts, comments and suggestions by visiting the discussion thread, Managing Publisher Bill Seemiller Hair Loss Interview by Manly Curls Blog on our popular hair loss forum.

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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

Propecia Hair Loss Treatment: Is it Safe?

Is Propecia (finasteride) still a safe drug to treat hair loss? Recently, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is requiring changes to the labels of drugs containing the active ingredient finasteride to include an expanded list of disorders and the risk of permanent sexual side effects. This ruling affects both the hair loss treatment Propecia (1mg finasteride) and the benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treatment Proscar (5mg finasteride).

Since receiving FDA approval for the treatment of male pattern baldness (MPB) in 1997, Merck & Co’s Propecia has enjoyed a reputation as the most effective non-surgical drug for treating the effects of thinning hair due to hereditary causes, followed closely by Rogaine (minoxidil). At the same time, persistent rumors of permanent sexual side effects associated with finasteride spurred heated debates among Propecia users and caused some men to avoid the popular hair growth drug altogether.

It’s long been known that taking finasteride may result in a variety of sexual side effects However, based on the original clinical trials, Merck had previously maintained that these conditions were temporary and would resolve themselves upon discontinuation of the drug.

In 2011 the warning label was first updated to include the possibility of persistent erectile dysfunction while the latest revisions have expanded the list of potential complications to include ongoing libido concerns, ejaculation problems, and orgasm disorders after discontinuation of the drug and male infertility and/or poor semen quality that normalized or improved after drug discontinuation.

Will follicular unit extraction (FUE) into a pencil-thin scar allow you to buzz your hair short? I have seen a couple of posts where people say they can now go down to a grade 2 (1/4″) but I haven’t seen a definitive consensus on people who have pencil-thin scars to start with. If they FUE into the scar would the scar not be noticeable if you shaved your head?

It all depends on your physiology, your scar and your hair thickness. If you have nice thick donor hair to put into a scar that is not too bad then yes, you can “cure” the problem. However, that is often not the case. Hair transplant donor scars are often hard and the donor hair more likely will give a 50% improvement or so.

I saw two guys today that were all worked up about scars they had from other hair restoration clinics but they both had long hairstyles and I had no idea why they were at my place until they pulled up the hair in back.

I felt both needed a scar excision and, a year later, FUE into the scar (probably around 10k worth of work) and frankly I told them that, while I would be glad to take their money, there were probably better ways to spend their money than dealing with a hidden scar.

This question, from a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. Glenn Charles: 

I recently underwent hair restoration surgery and now have small “pimples” or bumps in my donor region. I know these are often common in the recipient region (post-operatively), but is it normal to have pimples in the donor area after hair transplant surgery?

Pimples in the donor area usually occur when hairs are caught within the donor incision. It is also more common when a trichophytic closure is used.

The trichophytic closure was designed to allow hairs to grow through the follicular unit transplantation scar, but sometimes the hairs are blocked or become trapped when growing through. Although they will eventually “break through,” the hairs will create a “pimple” – like blemish in the meantime.

However, if they become persistant with a lot of redness and tenderness, I would recommend you have an experienced hair restoration physician take a look at it.

-Dr. Glenn Charles

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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Technorati Tags: hair loss, hair transplant, hair restoration surgery, hair transplant surgery, follicular unit transplantation