FUE Into Temples and Nape of Neck So a Hairpiece Can Be Integrated?

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

Doctor,

Does your clinic do transplants to recreate temple points to be blended into a hair system? Though I am only twenty, the severity of my hair loss is such that I am not a transplant
candidate. Therefore I am considering doing FUE into the temples and at the nape of the neck, where a hairpiece can then be integrated. Have you heard of or done such a procedure before?

Yes, we can do what you are asking, but I would want to know much more about you and why you are looking to do this., particular at the age of 20. I am a doctor first and foremost, so I must make my own determination on what is in your best interests. We may not agree, yet we might!

Tags: fue, hairloss, hair loss, hair transplant, temples, hairtransplant, hairpiece, hair piece, hair system

Shock Loss Risks — FUE vs Strip Harvesting

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

I heard of the possibility of shock and its harm to cause loss of existing hair from hair transplantaion. How frequentlly does this happen and is the risk lower with follicular unit extracton?

Shock loss occurs in the recipient area, so the method of extracting the donor hair is not impacted. The best way to reduce the risks for shock loss is the use of Propecia (finasteride 1mg) to be taken orally prior to the surgery and for the subsequent 6-8 months.

Tags: fue, strip, hairloss, hair loss, shock loss, hairtransplant, hair transplant

Maximum Number of FUE Grafts

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

What is roughly the maximum number of grafts one could expect to get with FUE and still be able to shave the head completely afterwards without noticing any scarring?

The answer depends upon the size of the punch and the way you heal. The smaller the punch, the smaller the scar. On some people, I could not find any scars from FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction), but did notice the missing follicular units. I always wonder why (assuming you are not an actor) you would want to have a hair transplant if your styling choice is to shave your head.

Tags: fue, follicular unit extraction, hair transplant, hairtransplant

HairStemcell Transplantation (HST)

/by William Rassman, M.D./5 /,

I would like to know your opinion on this procedure: Hair Science Institute

The procedure is called “HairStemcell Transplantation” and promises near complete regrowth of the donor site. It seems way too good to be true but I want to have an expert opinion on it before I jump to any conclusions.

It seems what they are doing is Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), but they try to differentiate from FUE with what they call a Hair Stem Cell Transplantation. It is especially confusing when they show both side by side, yet they look the same. From the photograph they provide, they are using a standard dental drill head piece.

In short, stem cells are not readily identifiable even under a microscope. So to claim stem cell transplantation is likely a misnomer or sensationalism at its best to exploit the buzz word of “stem cell”.

Finally there are no doctors mentioned on this website that is associated with “research”. I find that highly suspect.

Tags: hairstemcell, hair stem cell, stemcell, hairtransplant, hair transplant, fue, hairloss, hair loss

Wondering If I Should’ve Had an FUE Procedure Instead of Strip

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

I am 26, type V norwood, 5 months ago I had 3500 grafts HT. Just found out about FUE and am very interested as I have a large scar – hair has grown thru as is tryco closure – but still visible on my No 3 cut due to pinkness and 2-3m width (will this improve?). I am happy with results overall but now wonder if I should have had a FUE? Im told I have 3000 left to harvest which I will need for future loss.. should I open up my original scar when needed or opt for FUE? Can i extract more than than the 3000 if I use FUE? Thanks for help!

The Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) procedure is ideal for patients who cut their hair very short, those who have a relatively small requirement for transplants (less than 1500 grafts), and for patients who absolutely do not want any visible scar on the back of their scalp. Patients who have already had a strip procedure will always have a linear scar, so an FUE procedure would not be of much benefit unless they want to have hair transplanted into the existing scar. While this is possible and routinely done, you must also consider that you will still have a visible scar if you shave your head or cut it too short (with a #1 or 2 cut setting for example).

Tags: fue, follicular unit extraction, hairtransplant, hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss, scar, strip

Wait Time In Between Hair Transplant Surgeries?

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

Hi Dr. Rassman:

I had a 4085 graft strip procedure in the front 2/3 or so of my scalp about a month ago. I want to have another procedure in the back third. I have some hair there but I want to thicken it. I was thinking of having a 500-1000 graft FUE procedure. How long after the first surgery do I have to wait?

Thanks

I don’t understand why you want to do an FUE if you already had a strip harvest. The scalp recovers in 2-3 months and then another surgery may be done if you are going to have it put into a completely separate area. I generally like to wait 6+ months between surgeries, because then you will be in a better position to determine where you want the new grafts and to find out if the goals of the earlier procedure were adequate to meet your needs.

Tags: hairtransplant, hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss, fue, surgery

How Many FUE Sessions Can Be Done Into a Scar?

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

i recently have had some fue into a scar in my hairline. It has been 6 months and approximately 60 % of the hair has grown back. I plan on doing another fue procedure in 6 months from now. My question is how many transplants can be done into a scar? I am not sure if the density of hair in the scar will ever match the density of my surrounding hair but i will try.

There is no specific limit to an FUE (follicular unit extraction) session, other than the supply of hair you have left (and the skills of the doctor / surgical staff). As long as there is enough supply and an area (such as your scar) that require more hair, you can have the FUE procedure. As a rule of thumb after only 6 months out, you may not have all the transplanted hairs grown out (some may still be dormant). I would wait at least 10 months before having another procedure in the same area.

Tags: fue, follicular unit extraction, hairtransplant, hair transplant, donor, scar

Strip Procedure Out-Yields FUE Procedure Every Time?

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

Hello doc,

over at the hairlossadvances.com I read the following lines from one of the most serious posters over there:

“The actual surival and yield percentages of the strip compared to the FUE will vary from patient to patient based on pysiological characteristics but, strip will out-yield fue every time”.

If this is true, how much weaker is the FUE?

It depends on what this poster means by “yield“.

If the question is strictly about the number of grafts (yield), then you’re correct — the strip procedure is far more efficient in the yield when compared to FUE. If you mean long term survival, then I would say that the answer is tied to the organization of the team of technicians and surgeon. If you mean the ability to come close to 100% hair by hair yield, I believe that strip harvesting yields 95%+ hair for hair yield, while FUE is often less than that. In other words, transection rates with strip harvesting are usually very low (under 5%), whereas FUE transection rates can run as high as 90% and as low as 5% (depending on the skill of the doctor and the collagen make-up of the patient).

Tags: yield, hairtransplant, hair transplant, fue, strip, hairloss, hair loss

No Results a Year After FUE to Fill In Dime-Sized Scar

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

Dr. Rassman,

I have a dime sized scar on the front of my head. I like to keep my hair buzzed with a number 1 or 2 and it is very visible. About a year ago I had a FUE procedure done in Detroit. Unfortunately there were no results. The scar is now pinker than before and impossible to hide. I was wonder if there are any other options? Would a scar revision reduce the amount of surface area not covered by hair? If so by how much? I am highly discouraged by the lack of success of the FUE procedure as I spent considerable money on it. Thank you very much for your advice.

FUE should have worked. Scar revisions can be a problem in the frontal area. I would have to see a picture of your scar (use a ruler next to it so I can get dimensions). Please send to the address on the Contact page and reference this post.

Tags: fue, scar, hairloss, hair loss, hair transplant, hairtransplant

Transplanting Hair to Chest?

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

I want to know if you have a method of transplant that will give me chest hair…I saw a program in NY while visiting that says there is a new way of doing this through transplant…

You can transplant head hair to the chest, but it will grow long, so it will have to be clipped. FUE or strip harvesting methods will work. We have done many pubic hair transplants in people who just did not have enough of it and it works very nicely.

Tags: hairtransplant, hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss, chest, pubic

False Statements About FUE Published on Doctor’s Website

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

Found this info on Sword site in reference to regenix regarding the FUE…any truth to this, especially in my case?

“The Follicular Unit Extraction Technique: The concept makes sense, and it sounds great! Instead of making an incision in the back of the head, simply remove each individual follicular unit with a punch blade then relocate it to the areas of thinning and loss… all in one step. The problem is, it isn’t quite that simple.

Hair follicles don’t grow straight up and down beneath the skin. They grow at angles, and each follicle can be at a dramatically different angle than the follicle next to it. It’s virtually impossible to know for sure. Clinical studies have shown that 25% to 40% of all follicular units being extracted during follicular unit extraction are destroyed. They are simply cut in half. And since we have a limited supply of donor hairs, we can’t afford to destroy even one unnecessarily. Additionally, the punch blade will leave multiple scars throughout the donor area. When follicular units are simply extracted from areas of the skin, the result is an overall thinning to the remaining hair. Follicular unit extraction procedures last, on average, 30% longer, cost more, result in less density and compromise the donor area.

Every surgeon has this procedure option at their disposal; the vast majority sees that it just isn’t in the patient’s best interest to utilize it.”

Partial truths can be dangerous. In the right hands, under the right conditions, he is wrong about FUE. He is right that 50% or more of the follicular units can be destroyed if the doctor doing it does not know when to do the procedure and how to get out yields in the 90% range. I suspect that either the doctor who wrote this does not want to learn how to do it right, has not been trained in the procedure properly, is ignorant, or he is just incapable of doing it and does not want to admit it. I do not fault a doctor who does not want to perform FUE, but I would expect that doctor to learn what he is talking about and admit he does not know enough.

Tags: fue, follicular unit extraction, physician, doctor, hairloss, hair loss, hairtransplant, hair transplant

I Have Early Hair Loss at 19 Years Old — Should I Start Propecia Now?

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

I am 19 year old male, probably a Norwood 2-2.5 but not yet badly noticeable. If I start propecia now what are the chances that sometime in the future it will lose it’s effectiveness? I want to do somthing about my hair loss but I feel if I start propecia now, by the time I’m in my mid twenties it may lose it’s effectivness. Would it be wise to wait a few years before starting treatment due to my young age?

You need to see a doctor before starting any medication. I sympathize that hair loss can be emotional and stressful, but you will not know what you are treating without a good exam and a miniaturization study. I have an office in Newport Beach (where you indicated you’re from), so I’d suggest that you set up an appointment to see me or come to one of our free open house events and you will learn a great deal about the process and get examined. Assuming that you have the genetic hair loss gene(s), the earlier you start, the better. Propecia does not exactly lose its effectiveness, but what you see is that the progressive nature of hair loss just gets worse with age and even Propecia will eventually not stop the progression.

Tags: propecia, finasteride, hairloss, hair loss

6 Months After Repair Procedure (with Photos)

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

This patient had some of the old hair plugs in his hairline, which we removed with a FUE procedure (2,200 grafts) and then created camouflage to rebuild a new frontal hairline. In just 6 months (see after photos), the early results are very impressive indeed and I would expect that the fullness will double in the next 2-3 months. Click photos to enlarge.

Before:

 

After (6 months later):

 

Tags: hairtransplant, hair transplant, trichophytic, closure, donor, scar, repair, hairloss, hair loss

I Want a Hair Transplant, But I Don’t Want a Noticeable Scar Around My Head

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

How many years are we from a transplant without a noticeable scar (Donor Scar) around someone’s head? Im sure that a lot more people (especially people with shave fades or short hair) would get a transplant if there wasnt a large ugly permanant scar around their head.

The answer is NOW!

We have a follicular unit extraction (FUE) technique called the FOX Procedure that has been pioneered by me in the early 2000s, and was presented at the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) conference in 2002. In fact, a company in San Jose is currently working on a robotic system to accomplish this task. This technology was invented and patented by Dr. Pak and I back in 1998.

The FOX/FUE technique leaves virtually undetectable scars. It is important to understand that all surgical cuts will create a scar but the FOX/FUE technique involves extracting single hair follicles, one at a time, leaving a scar the size of a small dot. Since these dots are random and small, you would not notice the scar even if you buzz cut your hair. In other words, there will be no linear scar. If you look at this earlier posting, you will see a patient who had no detectable scar even with a shaved head.

Tags: fue, follicular unit extraction, hair transplant, hairtransplant, scar, donor, hairloss, hair loss

Donor Area Looks Like a Golf Ball a Week After My FUE Procedure

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

Hi,
I had FUE procedure done one week ago. It was for 2000 grafts, from a reputable Doctor with many years of experience. He came recommend. I’ve seen a few of his works in person, along with numerous photos from his website.

Anyways, my concern is that the donor site has many dimpled scabs; some have fallen out but most remain. The area resembles that of a golf ball. Is this natural and will my skin go back or remain like this?

Thank you.

The healing process of a wound goes into different phases. The length of the time it takes to heal reflects the size of the instruments used. Doctors use instruments that range in size from 1.5mm to 0.8mm. The best and fastest healing is in those with smaller wounds and the final appearance will reflect the size of the instrument used. See 1 Year Post-Op Photo of FUE Donor Area for an example.

The initial scabs should have come off in a week from the donor area. Full healing usually takes months and within 4-6 months the wound is probably close to its final stage. Healing of the FUE wounds is not an exception to this rule. Give it more time and the scabbing will go away in a week or two. The area may continue to be red for a while, but eventually will get back to its normal color.

If you are telling me that you have a golf ball size swelling in the donor area, you probably have an infected ingrown hair, which happens in FUEs when a graft is buried in the wound and did not come out after an attempt to extract it. Buried grafts can reflect your tissue type, your surgeons skills, the instrument used, etc… In this case, you may need your surgeon’s attention.

Tags: fue, follicular unit extraction, donor, scarring, scar, hairloss, hair loss, hairtransplant, hair transplant