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    Can You Harvest 5000 Grafts At Once? I Just Want One Surgery. Mega Session.

    Jul 25, 2015/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /Hair Loss Causes

    Can You Harvest 5000 Grafts At Once?  I Just Want One Surgery.  I don’t want to come back for another surgery.

    If you are familiar with New Hair Institute and Dr. Rassman’s (founder) work, he is the doctor who started the “Mega-Session” 3000+ grafts hair transplants back in in 1995

    See Link:  https://baldingblog.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/mp-1995-megasessions.pdf
    Being able to provide a 5000 graft surgery has TWO factors.
    1) Man power and the expertise to coordinate such a surgery.  * We have this and we have been doing it since 1995
    2) Patient’s donor area and scalp laxity has to have the supply.  If YOU don’t have (A) high donor density with (B) good scalp laxity no surgeon can harvest 5000 grafts
        You must also understand that a high number of graft harvest just means more scalp that needs to be “cut out”.  There is no secret magic surgical technique about this fact.
        A 5000 graft surgical scar will be FIVE times LONGER than a 1000 graft surgical scar.  This means you will have an ear to ear surgical scar. A scar over and past your ears.
        As a reference, a typical 2500 graft surgical scar is mostly behind the ear.
        Unless your scalp is loose as a Shar Pei Dog, a 5000 graft scar will be past over your ears.
    dog
    It is my hope you can appreciate the technical aspect of a hair transplant surgery. If you can understand this, you will be a better informed patient to participate in your own surgical planning.
    Our philosophy has always been having a MASTER PLAN before you undertake the hair restoration journey.  https://newhair.com/procedures/fut/master-plan/

    Short Anagen Syndrome

    Jul 25, 2015/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /Hair Loss Causes

    My granddaughter is 13 years old and will be going into the 7th grade. This hair condition she has has become a huge problem with her self esteem and confidence as she is constantly made fun of and bullied. After researching this condition it seems there is absolutely nothing we can do to help her. Is there such a thing as a hair transplant or products to use that would help her? Her hair is so thin and the length is above her ears and very uneven. She has never had her hair cut. The cases I have read about involve much younger children, not any older than six. Can you give me any advice on what we can do ?

    If you believe your grand daughter has Short Anagen syndrome you should have her examined by a doctor to confirm the diagnosis.   While the Internet is a great source of information, there is no substitute for seeing a doctor in person.

    According to National Institutes of Health, Short Anagen Syndrome is a benign disease of the hair growth cycle that prevents the hair from growing long. Treatment is not necessary as this condition tends to improve after puberty, however improvement with minoxidil and cyclosporine has been reported.  For more information see the link below:

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3746230/

     

    Which Hair Transplant Surgery Should I Get? Isn’t FUE Better? FUE vs FUSS Strip vs ARTAS Hair Transplant

    Jul 24, 2015/by William Rassman, M.D./1 /Hair Loss Causes

    What is the difference between FUE and FUSS – strip surgery?  Which is better?  I am confused.  Doctor tells me that the strip surgery is not done anymore and it’s an old fashion surgery.  That the future is the ARTAS.  How is the ARTAS different than the FUE?  There are so many choices it is confusing to decide how to choose a hair transplant surgery method.

    Dr. Pak was an engineer working with me (Dr. Rassman) in the mid 1990s before he went off to medical school to be a doctor .  We worked to invent a system or robot which would use cameras and special optical sighting system to target a hair follicle to automatically take out a follicle using the FUE technique. This work became U.S. Patent 6572625 that we licensed to Restoration Robotics, the company that sells the ARTAS robot.  Dr. Pak and I since worked on many U.S. Patents used in the ARTAS as well as other hair harvesting and implanting devices.

    Follicular Unit Extraction FUE robot concept 1998 by Jae Pak - before ARTAS results

    Dr. Pak performs FUE at the New Hair Institute with a special FUE instrument he designed.  He has at his disposal the ARTAS, or even NeoGraft.  Even with all the technology (ARTAS, etc), his manual technique with his instrument is faster and just as precise (if not better).

    He is just as fast and precise at the FUSS – strip technique.  He can harvest a donor strip and close the wound and clean the area all under 5 minutes.  There is a video of this on the Internet.  Speed does not necessarily make you a better surgeon, but he has the experience and accuracy.  Our experienced techs can dissect each FUSS strip into exact precision perfect grafts.

    My point is that you should choose the type of surgery based on the merits of the doctor (not technology).   Dr. Pak and I are very familiar with the FUE, ARTAS, NeoGraft, and all forms of harvesting hair follicles.  We also offer all method of harvest.  In terms of graft quality between FUE (ARTAS, Neograft) versus FUSS strip, the FUSS strip harvested grafts are generally better (which means better results).  The exceptions are the doctors with unskilled staff.  Then the ARTAS grafts will be better (or rather up to par or standard).

    Many doctors push FUE or Neograft or ARTAS claiming “no scar” or “minimally invasive”.
    Many doctors dissuade patients from strip surgery asking “why would you want a big scar”.

    The focus should be on RESULTS. Not how a doctor takes out the grafts.  From a donor scarring perspective, if you are ever going to shave your head or cut your hair really short, you should probably get the FUE.  That is it!  Line scars are not an issue for most men and women with long hair (minimum #3 or #2 hair clipper).  Just remember a 4000 graft FUE scar is like having a collective open wound hole the size of a baseball on the back of the head. There is nothing minimally invasive about that. We end up performing Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) and fix horrible FUE scars routinely.  These is nothing “scarless” about FUE.   DR Pak has performed surgery on me and my family members using the strip technique.  The linear scar on me is a pencil thin line you probably will have a hard time finding.  It’s not that Dr. Pak is a better surgeon, it is because my body heals well.  The point is, a strip surgery scar is not as terrible as the Internet makes it out to be and there are also terrible FUE scars.

    Again, the focus should be on RESULTS.
    A bad hair transplant result from FUE or Strip is like Herpes.  You’ll carry it with you for life.

    Elderly Woman’s Hair Loss

    Jul 24, 2015/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /Hair Loss Causes

    I am 68 years old, very active & healthy. Approximately 2 years ago I went through a stressful time & started loosing my hair. The stressful time is way behind me & im balding from ear to ear ( located where a headband would be placed. My dermatologist recommended I see Dr. Vera Price immediately. I want to have all of my blood work done ahead if time. What blood tests should I have done?

    My initial reaction is to advise you to visit the doctor your dermatologist recommended.  Once you’ve been examined by Dr. Price, she should know which blood tests to order.  If you want to know ahead of time, call the office and simply ask.

    Scalp MicroPigmentation SMP Pigments and MRI

    Jul 24, 2015/by William Rassman, M.D./1 /Hair Loss Causes

    Hypothetical question: would it be safe for someone who had SMP done to undergo an MRI test? I thought most tattoo inks contain metal and thus, anyone with a tattoo could not get an MRI test. Just wondering if this also applies to SMP?

    SMP is a form of tattoo.  Tattoo pigment or SMP pigments may contain iron oxide.  Iron oxide can theoretically interfere with MRI tests.

    Question About Propecia Dosing

    Jul 23, 2015/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /Hair Loss Causes

    Just wanted to ask you a question about dosage. Most drugs become more effective when the dosage is increased. I assume that’s why doctors start their patients off at a small dose and increase it if the patient isn’t responding to treatment.

    However, I believe you’ve mentioned that increasing the dose of finisteride wouldn’t give better results. Wouldn’t that statement contradict the fact the as dose increases so does effectiveness? For example 5& minoxidil is more effective than 2%. So it would follow that a 5mg dose per day of finisteride would give better results than a 1mg dose.
    Please correct me if I’m wrong.

    Drugs are not always more effective with increase in dose.  So your presumption is wrong.  There may be a maximum effective dose and anything above that is a risk for unwanted side effects.

    Propecia is finasteride in 1mg strength.  It has been determined by studies that 1mg is just as effective as 5mg.  Taking more will not improve its efficacy on treating androgenic alopecia.  Increasing the dose will likely cause more side effects.

     

    Twelve Cancers High In Smokers

    Jul 20, 2015/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /Hair Loss Causes

     

    JAMA Internal Medicine study estimates that the number of deaths attributable to cigarette smoking for 12 smoking-related cancers and found that continued progress in reducing cancer mortality requires more comprehensive tobacco control (in other words, best if you stop smoking). These cancers include cancers of the: Lung, Esophagus, larynx, kidneys, liver and bile ducts, leukemia, mouth and pharynx, stomach, bladder, and uterine cervix.

    cancer

    Cell Multiplication With Stem Cells Almost Ready For Clinical Use By 2018?

    Jul 20, 2015/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /Hair Loss Causes

    “Japanese cosmetic company Shiseido expects to have baldness cure on the market by 2018“

    The use of this technique proposes the creation of stem cells and shows how it is done.

    A Patient Story That Touched My Heart

    Jul 18, 2015/by William Rassman, M.D./3 /Hair Loss Causes

    “The waiting is the hardest part.” – Tom Petty and…

    “The waiting is the hardest part.” – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

    If my chronicle of hair had a theme song, that 1985 hit would be it. But let’s go back in time and set the stage.

    When I first met Dr. Rassman, I had $2500 saved up to populate the barren wasteland known as my forehead. “If I could just lower my hairline 3 inches, all would be right with the world,” I thought. I had everything in place prior to my first consultation with NHI. I knew the day of the week I’d want my procedure, what movie I’d watch during the procedure, and what lunch — an egg salad sandwich — I’d be enjoying during the procedure. The stage was set. And then…

    “I’m not going to do $2500 worth of work on you.”

    “I’m sorry, what?”

    “Your goals require approximately four times that much hair, and I’m not going to put you in a position where you MUST come back for more work. You must approach each procedure as a stand-alone procedure, not something that will leave you incomplete and dissatisfied.”

    “Dr. Rassman, the other three places I met with said I could move forward and have a procedure with $2500.”

    “If they can show you one patient, just one, who lowered his hairline that much with $2500 worth of work, then proceed with them. My experience tells me the math doesn’t add up.”

    I walked out of the NHI office that day thinking, “That’s the most interesting and somewhat irritating business model I’ve ever encountered. He won’t take my money?”

    So began my true follicular education. I read all the peer-reviewed journals published by NHI. I visited the office again to watch a procedure being done. I went to three NHI Open House events to meet as many patients as possible. They clearly had nothing to hide. It was then that I fully respected Dr. Rassman’s decision not to perform my surgery right away. He encouraged me to approach my hair restoration as a lifelong plan. After all, we’re not dealing with an infinite supply of donor hair here! Every graft is critical!

    The morning of my first surgery, Dr. Rassman, being acutely aware of my financial situation back then, took a moment to inquire as to how I saved up the money in such a short period of time.

    “That was easy, doc. I moved out of my apartment, put my belongings in storage, and slept in my car for a few months. That dedication is deserving of two egg salad sandwiches and a hot fudge sundae, right?”

    “You’re serious?”

    “Yep!”

    After three months of checking the mirror for any sign of hair growth, the first evidence was revealed! I was told to basically forget that I had surgery for the first few months since it typically takes that long for the new hair to begin growing. Yeah right. I was in front of the mirror every day without fail. The waiting definitely was the hardest part!

    Ten years, two surgeries and approximately 5500 grafts later, I’m happy to say that I no longer think about my hair loss. The hairline has been lowered and the temple regions have been moved forward, resulting in a completely natural looking frame to my face. The barren wasteland is now a thriving metropolis thanks to the New Hair Institute!

    NHI is family. They don’t sugar coat anything, and they ensure your expectations are realistic. For that I am forever grateful.

    My Transplanted Hairs Grew Out Kinky Like Pubic Hair

    Jul 10, 2015/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /Hair Loss Causes

    I had a hair transplant 8 months ago, and my hairs are coming out like pubic hairs.  It looks horrible.  What is going on?

    Sometimes transplanted hairs grow out kinky with a different texture.  This happens when the grafts were not handled well by skilled technicians or medical group.  It can happen with bad recipient sites (too big, too small, too tight, too shallow, etc) made by the doctor.  It can also happen to certain individuals despite highly skilled technicians and doctors.  If it happens to many patients from the same doctor on a consistent basis, then it’s probably a technical issue (not your fault).

    What Is The Difference Between The ARTAS and NeoGraft?

    Jul 9, 2015/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /Hair Loss Causes

    There are so many different options for hair transplants nowadays.  What are the difference in Artas and Neograft?  Why are they so popular?

    Think of the ARTAS as using an electric wrench held by a robot to tighten a loose nut. The Neograft is like using an electric wrench held by a human to tighten a loose nut. A human (doctor) can just as easily tighten the loose nut with a hand held socket wrench. The results are same. It is just more expensive to own a robot.

    Despite what you may think, hair transplant surgery is basically taking hair out and relocating to another area.
    The skill and expertise required to carry out this task is what sets doctors apart.

    There are two general methods in taking out (harvesting) the grafts: (1) FUE and (2) FUT – strip.
    The ARTAS and Neograft are just tools that harvest the grafts using the FUE method.

    The “options” you mention are pertaining to the TOOLS that doctors use to carry out surgery. The ARTAS system is just a tool that a doctor may use to harvest the hair grafts. The results from ARTAS should be the same as any other type of surgery in the same capable hands.

    How Should I Treat My Recipient Area Immediately After A Hair Transplant

    Jul 8, 2015/by William Rassman, M.D./1 /Hair Loss Causes

    Any hair transplant should be treated the same with regard to the recipient area, but if the donor area has open wounds (FUE), it requires daily washing with soap and water. Within 3 days of surgery, you can resume full activities, heavy exercises if you wish. The recipient area requires daily washes as well to keep the recipient area free of crusts. I generally recommend the use of a sponge and supply our patients with a surgical sponge to fill with soapy water (we supply the shampoo) and press on the recipient area daily in a rolling motion, never rubbing it. By repeating this daily, all crusts can be washed off without any fear of losing grafts from day one forward. If any crust are present, use a Q tip and dip it into soapy water or shampoo and roll it on the crusts and that will lift them off without dislodging them, but never rub them, just roll the Q tip on the recipient crust. I like to see no evidence of any crusting in the recipient area and the crusts from the donor area gone in the first day with daily washing and stay that way. Here is an example of the way is should look like in 12 days with before and after pictures:

    https://baldingblog.com/2007/12/14/12-days-after-hair-transplant-with-photos/

    The following is an example of one of the worst crusting I have seen in a picture:

    https://baldingblog.com/2015/06/04/fue-from-turkey-help/

    The problem with this type of crusting, the grafts get pulled out as the crusts come off. We wrote about this in a medical journal here:

    https://baldingblog.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/mp-2006-graft-anchoring.pdf

    The key is good washing starting from day one.

    What Is The Difference Between the ARTAS robot and the Neograft?

    Jul 8, 2015/by William Rassman, M.D./0 /Hair Loss Causes

    What Is The Difference Between the ARTAS robot and the Neograft?

    ARTAS is a robot that harvest the graft using computerized sighting and automation.  No surgical skill is needed for this.  Any doctor with a degree can buy the ARTAS and start harvesting grafts.  Transplanting them and having results is another story.

    Neograft is an instrument a human (doctor) uses to take out the graft using human skills.  Surgical skill and hand eye coordination is needed for this.

    These are just tools available to doctors and not the complete solution in hair transplant surgery.

    A good doctor can do the FUE without the ARTAS or Neograft.  It is just that these tools are well advertised on the Internet and it attracts patients with their technology.  Many great doctors perform FUE without the use of ARTAS or Neograft, but they may have them at their disposal as one of their many instruments.

    Hair Washing and Hair Loss

    Jul 6, 2015/by William Rassman, M.D./2 /Hair Loss Causes

    I’m a 36 year old male with no visible hair loss…..yet. For around 6-8 months now I’ve been following a very lax hair washing routine. I had a girlfriend who had adopted the wash less routine in an attempt to achieve healthier looking locks. Apparently her stylist told her it was the latest trend. She used dry shampoo powder and only washed once a week. At the time I thought it seemed perfectly logical so I too adopted the routine. After we broke up I carried on with the same hair hygiene but with less dry shampoo washing and more and more infrequent regular washing. For the last 4 months I’ve been going on average between 7 and 12 days without a shampoo. It gets greasy and a little itchy but I often wear a hat so aesthetically it doesn’t look bad. Recently my new girlfriend noticed that my head “stank“. When I told her that I was on this infrequent washing trend she told me that it was a terrible idea and that it was proven that non-washing leads to hair loss. Of course I was freaked out and started doing some research on in. The internet is awash in conflicting information but it seems that some doctors believe that sebum build-up can have a negative impact on hair growth and that it can even plug follicles and cause permanent hair loss. On top of that, non-washing is known to cause bacteria growth, inflammation and irritation, which in turn leads to hair loss. Oh, and there’s the old “wearing a hat” thing as well. Now I’m confused and becoming convinced I’m either showing signs of thinning or have done damage to my hair that will manifest itself in hair loss later down the road. As of now my only signs of negative impact are a dry flaky scalp, plus some itching and irritation. Your professional opinion on this whole infrequent hair washing thing would be greatly appreciated. Thank-you.

    stinky hair

    You do not need a professional opinion.

    If you want to keep your current girlfriend, consider maintaining clean hygiene and washing your “stinky” hair.

    The frequency of hair washing has nothing to do with genetic male pattern balding.
    Bacteria and fungal infection from poor hygiene can cause hair loss.

    Miniaturization of Hair and Balding

    Jul 3, 2015/by William Rassman, M.D./6 /Hair Loss Causes

    My question is about miniaturization of hair.

    Does everyone have some degree of miniaturization of their hair? Or if you are experiencing miniaturization of hair, you have male pattern baldness?

    Can you experience miniaturization even if you don’t “suffer” from mpb?

    Lets say one is examined by a doctor who specializes in hair loss and he tells you that you have _10% miniaturization, do one “suffer” from male pattern baldness with that said?

    (I apologize about my spelling and grammar, english is not my native language)

    telogen

    Everyone has some degree of miniaturization of hairs. It is just a normal part of the hair cycle as hairs transition from anagen to catagen to telogen phase. Not all hairs are miniaturized but some (at the end of their “life cycle”) will miniaturize and fall out. Men who carry the genes for Male Pattern Balding (MPB) or Androgenic Alopecia (AGA) will have more miniaturization.

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