Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

Hair transplant patients are attracted to today’s surgical hair restoration because not only is it proven to grow hair in completely bald areas, but in the right surgical hands it can be so natural that even hairstylists can’t detect the result. Hair transplantation has come a long way since the days of old plugs, but just how natural are they? Can today’s hair transplants be spotted or do they blend naturally with the rest of a patient’s remaining hair?

In this hair loss discussion thread, members of our community share their own personal hair loss stories and how surgical hair restoration has changed their lives. You are encouraged to read others and share your own experience with hair replacement surgery.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: Hair transplant, hair restoration, grow hair, bald, Hair transplantation, hair transplants, hair loss, hair replacement

Can I get body hair transplanted to my scalp?  How effective is this solution?

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

There are other hair transplant doctors who have done a lot more body hair transplants than me. I have performed body to body hair transplantation in rare situations but do not usually recommend transplanting body hair to the scalp for the following reasons:

• Body hair is not the same quality of hair as scalp hair and does not look as good or as natural.
• The life cycle of body hair is different than for scalp hair so it takes longer for the transplanted hair to grow.  Also transplanted body hair will spend less time in the hair growth phase and more time in the resting phase than transplanted scalp hair.  See the normal scalp hair growth cycle for more information.
• Body hair transplantation is still quite new in medical terms, so there is not a lot of data about results or survival of the transplanted hair.  FUE for body hair is usually technically more difficult than for scalp hair.
• So far, I have been disappointed by the few results that I have seen of other surgeon’s body hair transplants.
• Most men still have scalp hair available for transplantation.

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 insightful article was written by a Dr. Michael Beehner of Saratoga Springs, NY who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians.

Over the past few years Bill Seemiller (Falceros) and Pat Hennessey have asked me to share with the reading audience my rationale for using multi follicular unit grafts (MFU) grafts (multi-follicular grafts, 4-6 hairs each) in the hair transplant planning for some patients. I will try to do so here.

First of all, in order to get our terminology straight, the difference between a “minigraft” and a MFU Graft, is that the minigraft is cut with less magnification, usually with “loupes” and are “cut to size” and often have a little transection in the cutting process. A MFU graft is cut, at least in our practice, under a 10x stereoscopic microscope and the nurse in our practice who specializes in cutting them each case that we use them, under high magnification dissects out a graft that encompasses two (or sometimes three) follicular units (FUs) that are in close proximity to each other. Incidentally, MFU grafts can be placed into either a small slit (usually made in what we call a “parallel” orientation) or into a small, round hole (usually 1-1.3mm in diameter; about the size of pencil lead)

ADVANTAGES:

1) In most research studies performed on hair growth / survival in follicles within MFU grafts, the survival has been 100%. It is presumed that this is because of the fact that they are buffered and protected by the surrounding tissue around and thus are less susceptible to trauma and drying. Also, hidden “telogen” stage (hibernation) hairs are often present and grow out later, which with FU dissection might be stripped away.

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

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 just had surgical hair restoration and my hair is starting to fall out.  Is this normal?

For almost all hair transplant patients, the transplanted hair falls out gradually from two to four weeks following transplantation.

During this short period of time, some of the hairs actually grow before falling out. Sometimes the hairs come out when the crusts/scabs fall off the skin (attached to the crust) or they may remain to fall out later. Rarely, some of the hairs may not fall out and will continue to grow without interruption. (This is not a problem – you can cut the hairs if you want)

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Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair restoration, hair transplant, transplanted hair

This hair loss article was written by Dr. Ron Shapiro of Bloomington, MN who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians. 

When Hair Restoration Surgery (HRS) was first popularized by Orentreich, the primary graft used was the “standard” 4 mm round punch graft.  However, over the past 10 years we have seen the introduction of much more diversity with respect to the size and shape of grafts. Grafts used today vary significantly and can be described with respect to a number of different variables including:

• Number of hairs
• Number of follicular units (FU’s) per graft
• Graft shape (linear, rectangular, round, chubby, skinny)  
• Size and type of the recipient site used (i.e. slit, slot or punch incisions).  Although technically this last variable refers to the recipient site and not the graft, in clinical practice, grafts are often described in this manner. 
• Process of graft production (i.e. cut “to size” vs. deliberately cut to contain a specific “number of hairs (or FU’s)”.

The reality of the situation was that for a long time a great deal of inconsistency and lack of specificity existed  when grafts were  described in the literature or at conferences.   Often in the past all that was stated was  that “Micrografts” or “Minigrafts” were  used.  This lack of specificity contributed to much of the confusion that existed when trying to compare different techniques that have developed over the years. 

Non-surgical hair loss treatments like Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil)  are typically pretty good at helping men slow down, stop, or even reverse hair loss. However, in order to receive optimal benefits, proper application is important.

For men and women using Rogaine twice daily as recommended, knowing when to apply it can be difficult between showering and applying hair styling products. To learn how other members apply minoxidil, what’s optimal for maximum benefit, and to join in the discussion, view this hair loss forum thread.

Bill Seemiller - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: hair loss treatments, Propecia, finasteride, Rogaine, minoxidil, hair loss, hair styling

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!

I’ve been taking finasteride for about 6 months.  For the first few months, I was taking 1/4 tablet of Proscar daily however, due to severe dryness of the skin on my face after taking finasteride for only a few months, I now take it every 3 days.  can you please let me know whether taking 1/4 tablet of Proscar every 3 days is still effective to stop hair loss?

According to the Propecia website, dry skin is not a reported side effect of finasteride.  However, you are the second person I’ve heard claim this in the last 2 months.

The recommended FDA approved dosage of finasteride is 1mg daily.  However, in the event side effects occur, many leading hair restoration physicians have suggested their hair loss patients try taking 1mg every other day.  In my opinion, consult with a qualified hair loss doctor and get their recommendation on an appropriate dosage for you.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Technorati Tags: finasteride, Proscar, hair loss, Propecia, hair restoration, hair loss doctor