Hey doc, there is a new hair laser on the market. What do you think?

This space age design and the small case “i” in-front of the name does not add value. The FDA clearance means that it is safe. I really do not understand the FDA as effectiveness has not been proven in the one example mentioned in the article. I have not seen any definitive clinical research that proves that these lasers have any value at regrowing hair. Even the recent article in the Dermatology journal stated “further study is needed”.

I am scared to death that I would have a hair transplant and everyone would know because it would be so obvious. What do people do to hide it? Do they live in a hat?

I could write a book about this subject. Many years ago when larger grafts were used, it was impossible to hide a hair transplant because the wounds were large (between 3 and 5 mm). Large wounds, are obvious and at the time that these were done (late 1980s and early 1990s) the typical patient had to use a hat (baseball hat most common). When I innovated the small 1mm grafts in the early 1990s (I started doing hair transplants in 1992), I focused on this problem. There are two parts to this problem. The first reflects the post surgical period of a few weeks. The small 1mm grafts healed rapidly and with good post-operative washing, the surgery could be undetectable within a few days. Swelling was also a problem immediately after a hair transplant, one we solved with the judicious use of corticosteroids which reduced the post-operative swelling plaguing our patients. In the early 1990s as the number of grafts in my practice rose into the thousands (2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000 grafts), careful focus on post-operative washing and the use of single large doses of steroids brought undetectability within a week or so. Most patients were able to go out into the public within a week, once we mastered the post-operative care.

The second concern was how did a man go from a completely bald look (Class 6 or 7 patient) to a hairy look. Here I have many stories and I will mention only a couple of them here. A Class 7 patient of Indian decent, let his beard grow out just before the hair transplant. To his and my surprise, his beard was white so everyone he knew laughed at his ‘Santa Clause’ appearance, but no one, observed his hair transplant or the change in his look from bald to hairy. He shaved off his beard and no longer paid attention to his hair. Like grass growing, you never see it grow. The second patient was a 55 year old male with a Class 5A pattern. His hair was prematurely white and his balding pattern was very obvious. His post operative care paid attention to his wounds and in a few days, his hair transplant was barely seen. He has rapid growth of the hair, an unusual rapid course. At Christmas, his daughter who knew her balding father, picked up the new hair on first meeting after a year of not seeing him. She said, dad, take off that silly wig. He told her that it was not a wig. Then she reached up to his hair and tried to pull off the wig. Of course, it did not come off because it was his own naturally growing hair. “Come-on Dad” she said, Yoy never had hair before. Where did it come from? He remained silent and then she said, Is that Rogaine that you used? He smile and acknowledged her comment. As a nurse, she followed, “that is the most amazing result of Rogaine I ever saw”. There was little else to say.

Even FUE procedure where you shave your head can be easily hidden in a few days

Immediately AFTER FUE surgery

5 DAYS After FUE surgery!

NHI Eyebrow Transplant Immediately after 300+ grafts

NHI Eyebrow Transplant 7 DAYS after 300+ grafts

NHI Eyebrow Transplant 7 DAYS after 300+ grafts

This is an Asian patient who wanted to enhance her eyebrows.
She was worried about how it may look after the surgery, especially going back to work!
She didn’t see many before after photos on-line of how it looked IMMEDIATELY AFTER SURGERY so she gave us permission to use her photos.
Hopefully it can help those considering an eyebrow hair transplant surgery.
We’ll keep you posted as the eyebrows start to grow out in the next coming months..

Do all twins with a balding gene lose hair at the same time? Is it possible for one twin to not have the balding gene? Or is it possible for one twin to bald at a different rate if they were at a different stress level ?

We have seen many identical twins (same genes) over our 23 years at NHI but they do not bald or lose hair at the same time. Maybe several months to years apart. This may suggest some outside influence. For example one set of twins twin used anabolic steroid and lost his hair fast while his twin did not. Another twin used a hair piece and developed traction alopecia from the tapes and glues. The twin with more hair, at one point, was a donor for his brother who needed the extra hair.

I have seen twins without hair loss, but have not followed one of a pair with hair loss. I would imagine that stress might cause one twin to have accelerated hair loss if they had the genes for balding.

About a year ago, I noticed a receding hairline. Hair would fall out during a shower, or even I would see some strands on my pillow. My dad and his dad started balding at my age, so it is most likely genetics. It is really embarrassing. I told my parents about it and they won’t take me anywhere. They feel like I am exaggerating. Plus, i do not think we have insurance, so that is also a reason why I haven’t seen any doctors. That is also the reason why I haven’t been to any doctor/dentist in well over 5 years. People are starting to notice a receding hairline and it is really stressing me out, thus more hair falls out, thus more stressing. Please help

The best help I can offer you is to go see your doctor. If not for the hair, but for a general check up. You are under 18 years old and a minor. You should have insurance through your parents or the state that provide free health insurance. The most common cause of hair loss in men after puberty is genetic male pattern balding (MPB) or androgenic alopecia. At your age there is a good option in medications. You can also see a hair transplant doctor but you will need a parent to accompany you to be able to address the situation if the examination confirms your suspicion.

Can I Swim After I Have SMP?

You have to wait about 3 days before you go swimming (ocean, lake); however, if there is chlorine in the water (typical swimming pool) you should wait at least 30 days to be sure there is no connection between the pigment and the water. When SMP is properly done, the pigment settles below the epidermis within 30 days, so the chlorine from the swimming pool can not reach the pigment. Chlorine can bleach the pigment and change its color. Ocean or lake water should be fine.

I am 21 years old and my hair is everything to me. I don’t want to lose it, even when I grow older. Is there a mature female hairline like the mature male hairlines you write about that I should worry about?

Unlike the male’s mature hairline which is V shaped, the female hairlines are usually rounded. The rounded hairline may move upward and in most women who are under 40, the upward movement does not change the rounded shape. If by chance you do not follow this rule of thumb, you can always have hair transplants to restore your rounded hairline. Check it out with a doctor who understands the female patterns of hair loss.