11.17.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:34 pm by Last
This question was posed by a female hair loss sufferer seeking hair loss help on our hair restoration forum and answered by Dr. Michael Beehner of Saratoga Springs, NY who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians. His professional answer is below.
I’m at 2 months after hair transplant surgery and have noticed shock loss directly above and below the scar line. I’m wondering if this is normal, or could it be a stretched scar? Also I’ve notice that my hair growth has basically stopped in the donor area. Is this normal?
Post hair restoration surgery telogen effluvium or “shock loss” above and below the donor scar should be a fairly rare occurrence. It doesn’t happen everyday - or at least shouldn’t.
It is well known that the cause of telogen hair loss around the donor scar is too tight of a closure, which usually is related to taking too wide a strip in that particular section of the head. This is most commonly a problem at the two “corners” behind the mastoid bone. Fortunately, in the great majority of cases, after a few months the hair starts to regrow again, but in severe cases it can be a permanent loss.
Bottom line: it shouldn’t happen.
Mike Beehner, M.D.
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Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog
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11.16.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:28 am by Last
Most men and women dont start considering hair loss treatment options until theyve already lost a great deal of hair. But what if you could catch it in its early stages, or even before balding starts?
Preventing the progression of baldness is far easier than trying to grow hair in completely bald areas. Below weve listed several tips that may just help you save the hair you have.
Regular Physician Checkups: A qualified hair restoration physician or dermatologist can analyze your scalp under magnification and look for signs of miniaturization and hair loss not yet visible to the naked eye. Regular checkups can help you plan for treatment if necessary before too much hair is lost.
Treating Your Hair Loss Early: If you find you are experiencing hair loss, starting medical treatment early may help you save your hair. Non-surgical hair loss treatments like Propecia (finasteride men only) and Rogaine (minoxidil) can be very effective in stopping the progression of male pattern baldness.
Important Health and Hair Care Tips: Though genetic baldness occurs in men and women with even the healthiest lifestyle and hair, keeping your body and hair healthy can minimize the chance of non-genetic hair loss. Minimize junk food and pollution intake such as smoking and alcohol. Shampoo and condition your hair daily. Dont color treat your hair or excessively pull or over-style it.
The above tips are not guaranteed to prevent hair loss however, applying them will significantly increase your chances of keeping the hair you have. Only hair transplant surgery is proven to grow hair in completely bald areas. But often times, non-surgical treatments can complement surgical hair restoration by preventing future hair loss.
Bill Seemiller - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog
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11.13.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 7:50 am by Last
Though true beauty is found on the inside, there is no doubt that people are judged by their appearance and treated accordingly. Balding men and women are quite astute to this which is why they will often do anything to conceal their hair loss.
But just as we dislike the lack of or negative attention we receive losing hair, those who have restored it are finding their confidence in being noticed again, almost as if it was for the first time.
View this thread on our hair loss forum to read one hair transplant patients testimony of how his new head of hair garnered flattery that we all desperately crave. You are encouraged to share your own experiences and input on this thread.
Bill Seemiller - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog
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11.12.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:04 pm by Last
This question was posed by a female hair loss sufferer seeking hair loss help on our hair restoration forum and answered by Dr. Michael Beehner of Saratoga Springs, NY who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians. His professional answer is below.
I am scheduled for hair transplant surgery in a few weeks and am concerned about hiding it from my co-workers, friends, and family. In some cases, I can wear a hat, but there are times where I can’t. I can only take 2 weeks off from work. What is the best way to conceal my hair restoration?
I think the most important key to your problem is whether you have already existing hair down to the area you want your new transplanted hairline to be or not. If your existing hairline now is way up high and it will be brought down an inch or so, then you will have a slightly noticeable situation, although in 8 of 10 patients, it is fairly unnoticeable two weeks after hair transplantation. The redness and scabbing will most certainly be gone in two weeks. The problem sometimes are the persistent hairs that stay at the transplanted length and just sit there, or the ones that actually do take off and start growing. They will appear somewhat different from your pre-transplant appearance. You could shave them as they grow. If you do have some hair, no matter how miniaturized or scant in the same area you want transplanted, then either Toppik or Dermmatch (or both) can do a nice job of camouflaging both the transplant and hair loss until the transplanted hair starts growing out.
Assuming the hairline or temple areas will have hair implants that you want no chance of someone noticing, then the temporary hair piece is an option; but I should warn you that it is very difficult to get one that matches your present look of thinning hair. You will need a very skilled salon to pull this off. Most will put something on you that looks considerably more than what you want and will be a give-away as a non-surgical hair loss solution. If you do get an alopecia wig, be sure and get a clip-on attachment, and, if you use if for more than a very few months, have the salon every few months change the location of the clips so that they are not pulling on the same clump of hairs, which can lead to little bald spots. One last suggestion, ask your hair transplant surgeon for a Graftcyte kit. I have seen several miraculous healings, even within a week with all follicular unit hair transplants, in which you can barely tell any surgery occurred.
Mike Beehner, M.D.
—
Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog
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11.11.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:57 pm by Last
Are there many people out there who just wait to their balding pattern is established? Assuming I had enough donor hair, wouldn’t it be best to continue getting hair transplants as hair loss progressed?. That way, I wouldn’t have to spend any time or money on non-surgical hair loss treatment medications like Propecia or Rogaine, nor would I have to worry. I understand that medication can slow down the process.
I’m 22 and think I’m just going to start shaving my head, wait a few years, and see what pattern takes shape. Ive been told i have good donor characteristics so I plan on getting another consultation in a few years when i would be more appropriate for a hair transplant megasession.
This hair loss question was answered by Dr. William Lindsey of McClean, VA who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians.
22 is pretty young. I would consider hair loss drugs and make sure you gave them time to work before you give up (1 year or more). 23 is still young for a hair transplant but at least you will have tried the alternative to surgery and maybe it will buy you a lot more time than just a year. Plus you can establish some relationship with a doctor and see if you and he are on the same wavelength.
I had a 20 year old come in this my clinic this morning and I spent about 40 minutes mainly educating him on all of the stuff bloggers on this site already know. I told him to come check it out. He was started on medication last week by a referring dermatologist and I told him he should not make any surgery decisions for at least a year, and hopefully longer.
A 20 or 22 year olds hair restoration goals are quite different that a 43 year olds, but the transplant will be there forever. So it is critical that the hair loss doctor and patient discuss all of this and have a long term plan, not just winging a procedure on a 20 year old with disposable income.
So don’t rush into anything at age 20 other than getting educated on your options.
William Lindsey, M.D.
—
Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog
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