Adding Density to My Existing Hair
Dr. Rassman, I have a question regarding a statement you made on your Q/A blog. You said: “I wouldn’t allow any doctor to transplant into an area that has not fallen out under the excuse that there’s anticipated hair loss (behind the leading edge of your loss), as this will only accelerate the thinning. Some doctors do this, and it isn’t in your best interest, only serving to put your money in his pocket.”
I have had in-person consults with Dr. Pak in the San Jose previously. During the consult when discussing what I’d like done and the procedure itself, Dr. Pak has mentioned that he has to consider my future hairloss when he’s doing a procedure. He said he would work within my current frontal hair to add density to what I have.
So when considering what you stated in the above quote, how does that comport?
Thanks
Almost everyone we transplant has a zone between the bald area and the balding area. We allow the transplant to ‘spill’ into the balding area just in the areas that are evidently in the balding process. We never go back behind it into the area where the hair is normal and not miniaturized.
What I see often is someone with an early Norwood class 3 balding pattern who has some minimal miniaturization behind it (let’s say 25% miniaturized hairs). I might transplant hair about 1/2 – 1 cm behind the posterior bald edge, but not far into the area where there is 25% miniaturization.
Unfortunately, many doctors will transplant 1-3 inches or more behind the bald area, suggesting that it would be to prevent future balding, and it is that process that I warn about. I have recently seen a patient who needed about 800 grafts for corner balding in the frontal area, but his doctor put in 3500 grafts to prevent the balding from spreading. Not only did that cost the patient a bundle of money, but it also almost certainly damaged hair in the normal areas that got the grafts and did not need them.
This is what I don’t understand. If a doctor tells me I need 3500 grafts, when I only actually need 800, how would I know I need less grafts, because I am going with what the doctor is saying and I am trusting his expertise and knowledge.
How would you prevent a doctor from putting in more hair then what the patient actually needs when you don’t know you need less?
baldingblog team:
Just wondering if you guys will post my comment, cause I would like to know. Thinking about getting a transplant but worried because it seems like a lot of doctors are out only to make a quick buck
My question was, If I were to go in for a transplant and the doctor tells me that I need 3500 grafts when in fact I only need 800, how would I know, as the patient, that my doctor is giving me to many grafts. If I hear that I need 3500 grafts I would be really happy because in my mind that would mean the more grafts, the more balding area will be covered.
A person like me, who is not familiar with the transplant industry, I would obviously listen to my doctor and take his word for it because I am putting my trust in his expertise and judgement.
The easiest way is to get several opinions.
unfortunately, we are not exactly over flowing with hair transplant doctors where I live. The one or two we do have here are not the “well known” ones you hear about on the internet or in different forums.
Traveling around the country just to find the best doctor is very expensive.
It’s worth the travel to find a good doctor. Also, please keep in mind that many doctors reimburse for travel expenses.
Just being a doctor isn’t famous doesn’t mean that they aren’t good, though. Look up the doctors that live near you on the website of the ISHRS. See how long they have been a member for, and most importantly, see how dedicated they are to their specialty by seeing how many meetings that they’ve attended.
What part of the country do you live in, by the way?
Oops! I meant to say, just BECAUSE a doctor isn’t famous doesn’t mean that they aren’t good, though.
And I forgot to mention one other item. You can do a search on the ISHRS website for surgeons in your area by state. There might be more in your area than you realized.