Hair Growth After Transplanting Hair Into Scar Tissue

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /, ,

Dr. Rassman I want to first thank you for maintaining such a top notch site. I have a question for you regarding transplanting hair into scarred tissue. I recently (4 months ago) had hair transplanted into a 1 and 1/2 inch long scar running front to back. I am seeing very little growth…if any. What seems to be present are a few graft which never fell out and have continued to grow. I am aware that growth in scar tissue may take a little longer than if it was to be transplanted into virgin scalp, however, to put my mind at ease I was wondering in your expert opinion, what is a reasonable timeline to expect growth in the scar? Thank you very much in advance for your reply.

It’s only been 4 months, so seeing a little growth is completely normal. I tell all patients to wait for a full 8 months before judging the hair transplant results. You just have to be patient.

Tags: scar, scarring, hairtransplant, hair transplant

Country Singer Keith Urban’s Hair

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

Hey Doctor Rassman.

I notice you get quite a few celebrity hairline questions so i figured I would add one more to it!

I was wondering if you could tell me from the pictures provided what kind of hairline does country artist Keith Urban have? I ask because my hairline looks very similar….as i’m sure u can see he has a very large forehead (as do I) and it looks like he has receded on the sides (Mine isnt receded past the sides like his but it is mature, always has been) but it looks very clear that he isn’t balding because he still has alot of hair! and those short hair pics are from almost ten years ago!

Just thought it to be an interesting question, and I hope to get your opinion.

Here are the links: photos and side view photo

Keith UrbanI’m not a country music fan, but I knew he looked familiar. Someone on my staff reminded me that Keith Urban is married to actress Nicole Kidman, so chances are I’ve seen his face on the cover of People Magazine in the lobby of my office. The reason that’s important to note is that even though he’s a musician, he doesn’t seem to be the type to tour in a van. He’s married to an A-list actress, so chances are pretty good that he has a personal stylist.

At any rate, his hairline looks fine to me, but you never really know how much of it is the illusion created by his stylists. It could just be that his current look is hiding the high corners with big strands of hair falling in front or he could’ve had work done (though I doubt that). I’d say he has an early Norwood Class 3 that appears to be very stable with a persistent forelock. His long hair makes it very difficult to really draw any conclusions.

Tags: keith urban, nicole kidman, celebrity, country, musician, hairloss, hair loss, hairline

Why No Photos of Hair Transplants 3-4 Years After Surgery?

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

hi doctor,
in most of the hair transplant sites one mostly see the after photos of 6 months or 1 year after the procedure. my question is what happens thereafter ? could you provide some 3-4 years after photos so to see the longetivity of results of transplant.

The hair transplants are permanent. At the 1 year mark, the results will be fully visible. I’m not sure the benefits of seeing 2-3 years later, as the transplants will be the same as after 1 year. I have seen patients transplanted in the 1960s and 70’s with the terrible old plugs, and other than turning gray, they still have those same terrible old plugs. I have seen many patients 10 years out and they are happy and their hair is about the same as it was in their 1 year picture, so I just make a note on the chart saying “no change” and do not take routine photographs. If you are implying that some terrible disaster happens to the new hair and that is a concern for you, don’t worry about that one.

Tags: hair transplant, hairtransplant

In the News – 10 Year Old Gets Hair Transplant

/by William Rassman, M.D./1 /,

From the article:

Jacob Vara, of Corona [California], loves playing baseball and wears his Yankees cap everywhere.

He has worn it ever since he was 10 months of age when he tugged on a wire attached to an electric grill and spilled searing hot cooking oil on himself. He suffered second- and third-degree burns in an accident that left him with a softball-sized bald spot on the front of his head.

Read the full story — Corona boy undergoes rare hair transplant

Although the article states that they transplanted 1500 follicles from the back of his neck, I assume that means the doctors got 1500 grafts from the donor area (above the neck). The author of the article likely doesn’t fully understand what he was writing about, so errors like that can and do occur. Obviously, transplanting a child is not a usual procedure, but this is a case of a large bald spot due to a burn. I hope this young man has an excellent result that will give him confidence that he deserves.

Tags: child, hair transplant, hairtransplant, young, burn, hairloss, hair loss

Propecia and Viagra

/by William Rassman, M.D./1 /

hi doctor i would be really grateful if you could answer a few questions for me.firstly i am thinking of taking propecia because i want to stop my hair loss and i already suffer with maintaining erections. my question is does propecia work if you take viagra and also what harm do both drugs have in starting a family with my wife. MALE AGE 27 PLEASE ANSWER AS I NEED TO KNOW. we lost our first child due to cot death and are now ready to start trying again

If you have erectile dysfunction (ED), you need to see a doctor. The use of Viagra may solve the problem for you, but let’s make sure that you do not have a medical cause for the ED like diabetes. You can safely take Propecia (finasteride) and when you are in need of Viagra, you can take that as well. Did the ED come about when you started to use Propecia? There is much I would want to know if I were your doctor.

Tags: viagra, propecia, erectile dysfunction, ed, finasteride, hair loss, hairloss

I Took HGH After a Hip Replacement, Now Seeing Female Hair Loss

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /,

I’m a resonably healthy 45 year old female. However, I recently had to have a hip replacement and took HGH for 4 months prior to the surgery hoping it would help the recovery process. I stopped taking it immediately after the surgery and I have noticed considerable hair loss. The texture of my hair is also much drier and generally terrible. Is this going to be permanent?
Is there something I can do to improve these problems – particularly the loss?

Thank you

Human growth hormone (HGH) does cause hair loss and changes in hair texture. Discuss this with your physician, but I’d probably stop it and wait 8 months or so to see if you return to your normal state. If any of the readers have any experience here, I would love to hear from you at Balding Forum.

Tags: hgh, hair loss, hairloss, hip replacement, female hair loss

Seeing Fuzz Growth After Using Follicare

/by William Rassman, M.D./1 /

Hi Dr, Rassman im 21 years old and have been using follicare for about 8 monthes or so and i think there has been some progress. There’s like peachfuzz growing but its been like this for awhile. How long would something like this take to start to grow thicker and with more color? and should i use a different product?

Follicare One of the ingredients in Follicare is minoxidil 5%, and this peach fuzz-like growth is what many will see get from minoxidil. You can stay on it or switch to the less expensive generic minoxidil (5% “extra strength”), available over the counter at any drug store.

Tags: minoxidil, follicare, rogaine, regaine, fuzz, hairloss, hair loss

Can Styling Chemicals Cause Disfigurement?

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

is it possible that the chemicals in perms and hair relaxing products misfigure or cause dents in ones scalp? and what cause dents in scalp besides direct head trauma externally?

I don’t believe that relaxing products and perms will cause physical deformities like dents in your scalp. They are known to cause hair loss and burns when associated to allergies or misuse.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, disfigure, dent, scalp, burn, chemical burn

Genetic Tests and Gene Therapy as Hair Loss Treatments?

/by William Rassman, M.D./2 /

Dear Dr. Rassman,

Recently there has been a lot of hype in the media regarding new genetic screening tests for androgenetic alopecia. Is the research behind this reliable and if so what are your thoughts on how gene therapy will affect how we treat hair loss in the future?

DNAThere indeed has been much hype of genetic screening for androgenic alopecia. First off, you do not need a screening test to be diagnosed with androgenic alopecia. If you have the gene, it does not mean that you will bald… and if you are already balding then you do not need the test. Genetic balding is relatively easy to assess, especially with a miniaturization study.

One might argue that the utility of the genetic screening test for androgenic alopecia may be for someone who does NOT show any signs of balding, but would like to start some form of medical treatment (such as Propecia), but I am personally against starting any medication (no matter how safe it may be) if you do not have signs of balding. Answering thousands of questions over the years on this site has taught me that the general public is scared and preoccupied with the 1 to 2 percent of the potential side effects of Propecia. They are so scared that lots of men don’t even start Propecia despite the fact that they are balding. Now imagine telling a non-balding man to start a medication that may give them sexual side effects. I realize in the end it is all about the education process. However, as a general rule doctors do not like to put patients on medications if they do not need it.

With respect to gene therapy, that is entirely another ball game. We are barely understanding genetics of hair loss and are still years away from gene therapy to cure hair loss.

Tags: genetic, gene, hairloss, hair loss, therapy, propecia, medication, genetic test

Did the Growth Hormones I Took Cause Permanent Hair Loss?

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

I am 21 and used Growth Hormone for a little over 2 months i am starting to notice hair loss. Is this temporary or will it grow back once i stop? Or has the GH prematurely started my hair loss and will these lost hairs never grow back? I need to know if it is strictly short term and they will grow back i am very nervous. Thank you Dr

I have to apologize in advance for the strong opinions I have on the subject you introduced in your question. I always want to know why people your age would take growth hormones, and whether they were under the care of a physician or were just experimenting with them. You didn’t state why you were taking them, but growth hormones can be dangerous and I strongly recommend that you follow up with your doctor to make sure there were no other damages to your body.

With respect to hair loss, growth hormones can certainly precipitate genetic male pattern baldness. I cannot say if the hairs would grow back, but if it was hormone/genetic related, the hair that was lost will probably not grow back.

Tags: hormone, growth hormone, hgh, hairloss, hair loss, mpb

In the News – College Students Losing Hair Due to Pool Chlorine?

/by William Rassman, M.D./2 /

Some students at George Washington University in Washington, DC have been experiencing hair loss after swimming in the pool. From the article:

Chemical imbalances in the pool, which began on Oct. 21, were caused by “a glitch in the (chemical) monitoring system,” said Kirk Southworth, service coordinator for Winkler Pool Management, which monitors pool equipment for the University.

One swimmer said his teammates lost about 70 percent of their body hair. The athlete also said he “could hardly taste my breakfast” on Oct. 22 after feeling cotton-mouthed from the previous day’s practice.

GWURead the full article — Swimmers report hair loss, irritation

We’ve written here a few times that chlorine doesn’t cause hair loss, and I still stand by that. Even in the article, a professor at the school states that “hair loss is inconsistent with chlorine overexposure and high or low pH levels”. There’s obviously something in the water causing many people to lose hair.

Update: I’m open to any and all studies that show hair loss from chlorine are linked. I’ve not seen any, but seeing as how it is a chemical, I wouldn’t be shocked to learn there’s some link.

Tags: university, college, swimmer, swimming, pool, chlorine, hairloss, hair loss, athlete, gwu, washington

I Want to Remove All Transplanted Hairs by Laser

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

Hi,

I had transplants which were placed in an erratic fashion and running counter to one another. Now that my normal hair is disappearing this leaves a noticeable effect. These people were in my opinion very unprofessional.

I am resigned to baldness but I would like it to be normal and something I dont need to think about every day I see my hair in the mirror. I would be so eternally grateful to you if you could guide me to someone who can remove the transplanted hairs via laser while not disturbing the normal hair. I imagine this would require the use of some magnifying glass to distinguish exactly the transplants (easily noticeable once washed and blow dried) and a single hair laser remover.

This may take some time but I am willing to pay the appropriate charge and to travel. I would also like to have the scar from the back of my neck reduced to a fine line by excision and treatment.

I am going into baldness but I would like to do so with my dignity intact and not the way I am now. Whatever you can do to help me, I will forever be in your gratitude.

I have had a number of patients that just want to be bald. I couldn’t say what your personal options are, as every case is different. Electrolysis, for example, has a 50% failure rate per hair and the use of pinpoint lasers are generally not effective here either. Surgery works, but I would have to examine you to see just what has to be done. Extracting one follicle at a time may work, provided that you are not badly scarred in the transplanted area, but even then, fixing the scarring at the back of your head is something we do often.

Tags: laser removal, hair loss, hairloss, hair transplant, repair

Does Eating Chicken Grow Body Hair?

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

Hi,

I have been eating a lot of chicken lately in order to intake more protein to supplement by weight training. I have some body hair, and would eating too much chicken cause my body hair grow even more?

I am 25 years of age and always eat chicken properly cooked with spices.

ChickenWhere did you get the idea that eating chicken can cause hair growth on your body? At your age, good nutrition will ensure that your genetics will be properly expressed. Just maybe, you have arrived at that age which will grow that body hair you have been incubating. So to answer your question — no, eating a lot of chicken doesn’t cause body hair growth. Not even with the spices.

Tags: chicken, protein, hair growth, body hair, poultry

My Chest Hair Pattern is Similar to Males in My Family — Will I Have Their Hairlines?

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /,

Hello, im a 25 year old male, about 5 years ago I became concerned about losing my hair. My father, in his mid 50’s still has good hair for his age, the males on my mothers side have not had so much luck, though none of them are, or went, in the case of my late grandfather, completely bald. However, what I first became concerned about was that my right side was slightly higher than my left. 5 years on and with only my memory as a reference, I would say that the left side of my hairline remains as it did 5 years ago, though the its the right side that im still concerned about, the hair there seems slightly thinner than the the left, and when I hold my hair back with one hand, then brush gently forward with the other I can definatley see a difference with more thinner shorter hair on the right side coming forward. Its hard to say if its changed significantly since I was 20, because when I look now its in a different mirror with a stronger light. My question is, if this is a sign of genetic male hairloss, would I have, after 5 years, noticed the left side receding, trying to catch up as ive read in other posts, or does it sound like im just neurotic!

Its worth mentioning that my grandfather at around age 30 from photos ive seen, looked to have a high, somewhat receded hairline. My mother says my hair type is definately different to her family’s, as ive always had very thick hair, and my grandfather supposedly had very fine, thin hair. I do have a similar chest hair pattern to males on my mothers side though, is this linked to losing hair?

The patterns of chest hair and head hair have different genes, so one may follow the pattern of chest hair from their father’s or mother’s side of the family, and yet not the head hair. Having more thinning on one side of the head than the other is a sign of male pattern baldness (MPB) and you should get your hair mapped out for miniaturization to find out if you are expressing genetic balding.

Tags: hair loss, hairloss, chest hair, hairline

My Daughter and I Diet Together and Lose Hair Together!

/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /

January 2008 my daughter and I went on a diet. By June 2008, I lost 40 lbs and she lost 30 Lbs. We went off our diets for the summer. Enjoyed the sun and baseball games, but both got minor sun burns on our heads. By July we noticed too much hair coming out in our brushes. Our heads are itchy and dry and it is now October and our hair continues to come out too fast. In the shower and on our combs and brushes we get balls of hair. We had blood work done, we are fine. We are going to see a dermatologist but they are booked up untill the spring. By that time, we could be bald. We were using pantene shampoe, and recently we are trying Infusium shampoe. I am 42 and she is 15. My husband and 12 year old son are fine. They also aren’t itchy and dry. We tried extra virgin olive oil more in our diet. We are taking salmon oil pills. We rubbed aloe vera on our heads and wash our hair every two days. I dont know what else to do. What could this be and what can we do, why are our heads dry and itchy and what can we use. We dont have dandruff or any other problems. Anything you can tell me would be really appreciated. Thank You.

Diet can cause hair loss and if you lost too much weight too fast, then that could be a problem. Caloric restriction in conjunction with a balanced diet is the way to losing weight and not losing your hair (assuming that you have this connection). Without examining you in detail, I can not offer you other advice here.

Tags: diet, hairloss, hair loss, weight loss, weight, female hair loss