I have been doing hair transplants for 29 years and started off doing Follicular Unit Transplants (which I pioneered) with large sessions of follicular units rather than the old type of plugs as well as FUE which I started doing in the mid-1990s. I first published the idea that a Master Plan is critical for every person and it must take into account the limited hair in the donor area. I discussed looking at the donor area as a bank account, but rather than money, it is hair in that account. The unique thing about a donor area bank account is that there are never deposits, only withdrawals. So the doctor MUST ALWAYS document how much hair is in the ‘donor bank’ and with each withdrawal, he must plan to leave enough to satisfy the patients initial needs and his long term needs as more hair is ALWAYS lost over time. I have transplanted patients over the 29 years, keeping up with the progressive balding process to keep them hairy. I have always been honest if compromises are necessary. Today, too many doctors think short-term because it is better for them financially if they move a lot of ‘bank hair’ out earlier. Also, the patient frequently thinks short term, and doesn’t appreciate the problems he may run into in the future. But the doctors who want to get your money now are not the doctors you want. Always be sure that your doctor talks about your donor supply (bank) as he depletes it with FUE or FUT because you know what is going to happen WHEN you lose more hair in the future (a guarantee so read this: https://baldingblog.com/need-master-plan-think-hair-transplants-photos/). Here is an example of one of many of my patients who have stayed ‘hairy’ despite continued hair loss: https://baldingblog.com/norwood-class-7-pattern-patient-received-11000-grafts-plus-smp/
Hi Doctor, I am thinking about getting a SMP and have some apprehensions. I saw a few of your posts and you seem to be quite upfront and honest about the procedure. I would mean a lot to me if you could please verify some of the information I have been told. The clinic where I got my consultation told me the following: Trico SMP procedure does not yield as good of results as regular SMP and there can be possible discoloration and blue tint as it fades, so they recommended that I go for regular 3d looking SMP. Their permanent SMP tends to last 5-8 years, they seem to be suggesting that it will mostly fade away unless touch ups are done. I had the following questions: Initially the idea of Trico SMP really appealed to me, as I don’t mind going for this treatment again but the few samples of work the clinic showed me had inferior results as compared to regular SMP. Also there was a bit of blue tinge as the pigments started to fade, leading me to seriously consider regular SMP. Do you know if trico SMP can achieve the same results as permanent SMP? Will it look really awkward as it fades away if I don’t want to get a touch up done and just let it fade away? How does the regular SMP look as it fades away after 8-10 years? Will that look really bad if I decide to not get any touch ups in hopes of it fading away as well? Essentially the permanency of having a tattoo really concerns me. If these pigments just naturally get lighter and sort of do so in a way where it doesn’t look awkward then I am fine with it. I also wanted to consider getting FUE procedure done after my SMP to add some density around my scalp, for a more natural rougher buzz cut look if possible. I was also wondering if I should opt for FUE before hand, but I have quite thin donor area. If you could please provide some insight I would really appreciate it. The clinic and artist I am most likely to get my SMP done is quite reputable as well.
In regard to FUE, if you never had a hair transplant before, then most people have enough hair for FUE. The question is how big is the balding area that is going to be covered. I need to see pictures of you for that with the pictures in your worst light.
The Trico SMP sounds like a sales pitch. Temporary SMP is not good because it becomes an excuse for bad work that then assures the patients not to worry because it will go away in a year or two. Black pigments turn blue or green based on the trichomatic theory where the eye perceives blue or green against the background of your scalp color. Look at the veins in your hand, they are green but your blood is red (I think, yes?). People who use black pigments cause blue and green SMP. There is also the issue of the pigments that are used. Many people use pigments that contain toxic metals, we use only organic pigments.
Send me photos and set up a telephone consultation, its free. if you end up coming to Los Angeles, we subsidize travel as part of our service.
I am balding for the last few years. I am NW 4 now. Went to the dermatologist today, and the Doc suggested transplant in bald areas + PRP injection with dermroller for receding hair line. I insisted I wanted to start with medication and see how I progress. So the doc prescribed the following, Finasteride 1 mg every night before sleep Biotin every morning Minoxidil gel apply few hrs before sleep in balding areas Ciclopirox 1% shampoo 3 times a week. The prescription is for coming 3 months. Have to visit once a month to see the progress. Doc insisted that the medication must be taken religiously to see the results. What do you think of this prescription?
This is a reasonable plan. This should go a full year to see if there is the full benefits. Then a decision can be make for a next step.
Dying the hair can, when done improperly, cause permanent hair loss from chemical burns to the hair roots. That is what it sound like from what you are discussing. I would like to see some pictures (wrassman@newhair.com) and I will give you a free private and confidential consultation. Make sure the pictures are good and show the problem you have well. Don’t be afraid to show your face if the frontal hairline is involved.
Not only did he have hair transplants, but to make up the difference between what he needed from a donor area that would not support his hair transplant needs, we balanced it against Scalp Micropigmentation which, when combined with proper styling, gave him this look. He is a swimmer and would generally swim a mile or more each and every day. At one time, going in the water was a nightmare for him, because his balding showed. Now, he can be at the beach and freely swim whenever he wants. He just pulls his head back when he exits the water and his hair falls back just as shown in the first styling photo below
Wanted to share some insight with you, in light of all the Incel BS that has been going on in this sub. I will try to make it quick. DISCLAIMER: I know that hair is important and balding sucks and I’m not saying don’t worry about your hair at all, but you need to know one thing. I live in Manhattan, I’m 27. When I first moved to NYC I signed to a modeling agency and did some modeling part time to make some extra money. This is not to brag and I’m by no means even a successful model (I don’t even do it anymore). During my time modeling in NYC, I’ve been fortunate enough to be around some of the most beautiful women in the world, and even been able to date some models here and there.
I want to make one thing very clear. The majority of the models I have met (especially ones in the 24- 30+ range care WAY more about success, confidence and personality, than they do looks. Sure, for a hook up here and there, they may go for the hottest guy, but the overwhelming majority of these girls end up In actual relationships with: entrepreneurs, bankers, business owners, Managing directors I.E confident successful men, most of whom are very average looking and a lot of them with bad hair (I’ve seen this over and over again with my own eyes) Actual beautiful women who can get any guy they want, care way more about their future with a guy than their looks.
The take away here is, if you’re going to put all your time and energy into something, put it into bettering yourself and trying to be super successful and don’t let MPB be the end-all be of your life. I know a lot of you already know this, but a lot of you also really need to hear it.
I believe that a good woman will care more about what is in your head than what is on top of your head. I totally agree with this post but the problem many men have, is that because of their hair loss, they lose confidence in themselves. I remember a young actor on one of the morning daily soap TV shows, a long running show in which he played the young man that the married women wanted to seduce. He came to me at the age of 20 telling me because he was losing his juvenile hairline and was developing a maturing hairline, that he was going to be terminated the next season. So he asked me to reinforce his juvenile hairline so he could keep his job as a ‘sex icon’. After the hair grew in, they renewed his contact which was for over $1 million/year. Another actor, came to me for hair loss in the frontal area and I put hair there. In just one surgery he radically changed his look. He landed the big leading man roles. He told me that it was not just his hair, but his self-confidence that changed and the combination of the two is what made his career. Everyone knows him today and he is a well known leading man in some great films. Self-confidence is hard to come by when you are losing your hair and you are early in a career without accomplishments, so the boost of some hair make the world of difference for some men.
The supplement that caused my hair to go from gray back to my natural “dirty blonde” is benfotiamine (150 mg per day). Benfotiamine is a relatively new oil-based form of vitamin B-1. It is not degraded by caffeine, alcohol or sugar, as is regular water-based B-1.
It was not fast-acting. It took about 6 months or so before color began to slowly return around the edges in back and on my side burns. I didn’t really pay much attention, but the color gradually (over a few years) increased in area to where it is now.
I take benfotiamine for it’s health benefits, the hair color is just a pleasant side effect.
No, there is no such thing as a shampoo which blocks DHT
I was looking at your post: https://baldingblog.com/norwood-class-7-pattern-patient-received-11000-grafts-plus-smp/ (the man with the fantastic hair transplant) and I want to know how much real density is there that he is covering up?
I just showed his style but if you understand hair transplants, assuming that we moved 30,000 hairs to cover his balding Class 7 pattern, the normal density can never be achieved which in him was over 100,000 hairs. There is a reality that you should know about. If you took a normal full haired man with Black hair and very white skin (essentially like newspaper print) and removed half of the hairs on one side of his head, you could not tell which was the 50% of density side by looking at him. This was actually done by an obsessive compulsive doctor some years ago to prove that a full looking head of hair can be obtained with less than normal densities. The less the color/contrast between hair and scalp color, the less hair you need to look full headed. A blonde can look full headed with 75-85% of his hair gone with good styling. So, in conclusion, the look is tied to the art of the surgeon who understands there nuances.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4622412/
The paper is interesting. Many people pre test platelet counts and then do platelet counts on the PRP obtained after it is spun down. If one were to take an average of perhaps 130cc of blood and spin it down, they would wind up with usually 6 or so cc of PRP. Platelet counts are usually 4-8 times the original platelet count. Sometimes maybe as high 10x the platelet count. These numbers may not correlate. I would want to know how many cc of prp did they get and did they dilute that with each patient. It is not clear why they compared different platelet concentrations for hair growth from the data presented here as these conclusions are not statistically significant based upon the data collected. There are no controls used in this study which by itself, disclaims many of the validity of the claims. I still remain skeptical
1- $60 a month is robbery. Morr F is $13 or so.: ANSWER: The FDA is a real problem for this company so that put the following disclaimer on the site: “Information, statements and products on this listing have not been evaluated by the FDA as it is not a prescription medicine and are not intended to diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.”
The dose in More F is 25 less of a dose than the therapeutic dose required at a minimum and still there is no evidence that this finasteride in the More F solution is effective.
2- Can I dissolve my pills or crush them and then use them on my scalp: ANSWER: No you can’t because it will not get through the skin to where it needs to be
Dark hair against light skin (when the hair has a medium weight) can be hidden with good styling and 50% loss. Hair color also makes a difference, for example, blonde men can lose 85% of their hair before seeing it, or men with dark skin and dark skin are in a similar situation with low contrast between hair and skin color.
The website shows it is a prescription service for an entire hairloss kit for a fixed price (the shampaoo, finasteride, minoxidil and biotin). You don’t know if the products are trustworthy. You might be better off buying what you want and not pay the prescription service
And what are your patient’s experience with Finasteride regarding negative side effects?
For the young man who has a risk of shock loss after a hair transplant (a loss of native hair), finasteride can prevent this. Most men don’t have sexual side effect (risk for sexual side effects is under 4%)
“Another feel-good story: An elderly man in New Hampshire was bitten by a rabid bat that was hiding in his iPad case, but he got treatment in time to save his life, as reported by WMUR. The incident was newsworthy because of its peculiar circumstances, rather than any medical novelty, and so we passed on it.
That being said, only 1 to 3 cases of rabies in humans are reported annually in the United States. Half of all lethal cases over the past decade have resulted from contact with a bat. So while we won’t go as far as recommending that you throw your iPads out, we’re glad the man in question had the insight to seek medical attention.”