Could FUE Give Me a Hairline Like Morrissey?

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

Hello Doctors

My question is about FUE & FUE2. Would it be realistic expectation for a male patient who is a Norwood IV and benefiting from Propeciea in the crown to achieve a good density in a conservative and mature frontal hair line? I get the impression from your previous entries that it may be expecting too much . I do also understand from the all the great articles you have provided that FUE seems to best used for smaller amounts of grafts needed in patients.

If i could get a outcome to resemble something like this mans hair i would be happy: Morrissey photo

I think that’s a great look. Thanks for your time and all the great info.

MorrisseyThe density has nothing to do with the harvesting method used, just the number of hairs per square mm that the grafts are placed in. Generally, depending upon hair/skin color and hair texture, the amount of hair needed to look full will reflect somewhere between 25-50% of your original density. One reason follicular unit extraction (FUE) might be best used for smaller cases has more to do with costs involved, since it is the more expensive procedure.

Could you look like Morrissey, the musician shown in the photo you linked to? I suppose that depends on what you start with. It is a great look, and if you have similar hair type and the grafts available, I don’t see why it isn’t possible. Take a look at our photo gallery and see hundreds of patient results. Or better yet, come to an Open House and meet some of our patients in person.

Tags: hairline, hair loss, hairloss, hair transplant, fue, singer, morrissey

Some Men Look Just Fine Bald

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

i don’t think that every body looks bad bald. i think that everyone looks better with a full head of hair, but men who are taller than 5’10, have masculine facial features, are muscular e.g bushy eyebrows, chiseled jaw, large cheek bones, big intimidating eyes can actually pull off looking okay bald.

The funny thing is I think that when Kelly Slater and Kurt Angle both had full heads of hair, Kelly looked way better, now that they are both bald, Kurt looks better. Both men looked better with full heads of hair and I’m not trying to tell you that being bald doesn’t reduce your looks, it does, but some people have the facial features and head shape to carry the bald look well. let me emphasize this, Kurt Angle DID NOT HAVE MODEL LOOKS WITH HAIR AND HE DOESN’T NOW EITHER

Here is an example of Kurt Angle. The photo is good, but not superb and he is BALD AS A CUE BALL, NO HAIRLINE.

Kurt AngleI guess your point is that some men can pull off the bald look just fine, and I agree with that. You just need to have the right head for it (I’m sure we’ve all seen someone with a weird head shape that could probably be improved with hair).

Many readers might not know who pro surfer Kelly Slater or pro wrestler Kurt Angle are, but the bald look can work for a variety of men. For action stars like Vin Diesel or athletes like Michael Jordan and Kurt Angle, it can even provide a more intimidating “tough guy” look. Kurt Angle was losing his frontal hairline in a classic example of male pattern baldness, so just shaving the head provided a quick fix of sorts to that aging look with the deeply receding hairline.

Hair restoration surgery isn’t for everyone, and the reason some celebs (actors, athletes, politicians, etc) decide to just shave their head could come down to personal preference. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. For others though, hair transplant surgery can restore the hair and confidence that many men want… and again, there’s nothing wrong with that either.

Tags: kurt angle, wrestling, wrestler, hairloss, hair loss, shaved head, celebrity, athlete, bald

I’m 18 Years Old and I Wonder If My Hairline is Maturing

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

Dear DR,
I’m a 18 year old Caucasian male. A few months ago I noticed that my hairline looks like its receding although I’m not totally sure if its just a maturing hairline or balding hairline. I have always had quite a high hairline and my right side is slightly higher than the left side. My father has class 6 balding at 45 but didn’t start balding until around 30, my uncle on my mothers side is 65 and he has little or no balding at all.

I have a included a image of my hairline with several measurements on the image. I also give permission for the image to be shown on the site. Thanks

 

Thank you for allowing me to publish your photos. Just based on the photographs alone, it does not look like you are balding. What the photos show to me is a maturing hairline.

You should get a miniaturization study to see how your hairs look under a microscope at your front and behind your hairline. There is no guarantee and no one can predict your future, but a miniaturization study is your next best thing along with an examination by an expert.

Tags: hairline, hair loss, hairloss, mature hairline

My Hair Was Transplanted with Micrografts Lower than My Juvenile Hairline!

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

Hello Dr. Rassman,

I had a couple of HT procedures in the late 90’s that placed several hundred “micrografts” and “minigrafts” into my hairline. While the result is not as bad as some of the super-pluggy transplants I’ve seen, I now know that an FUE procedure could produce much better results. The issue is that the surgeon placed my hairline too low – it was lower than my juvenile hairline, but still along the forehead muscle. Due to this, I have no room to have a “transition zone” transplanted in front of it.

Would it be possible to have my hairline taken back a centimeter or so over a few sessions by individual graft excision and then have some refinement with FUE? I have spoken to one doctor who wants to bring my hairline down further, but I am completely opposed to this (I would like it to be a little higher at the end of any repairs).

Without examining you, I wouldn’t be able to define your options (particularly based on your unique case, which might be very difficult to correct). Generally, a brow lift may essentially bring the hairline up to a level that can be worked with, but it’s really not a sure thing. There will always be some risk of scarring when you take out old grafts in the front, but with a brow lift and a surgery to bring up the hairline you might be able to have follicular unit extraction (FUE) to thin it out some. People have entertained using laser hair removal which may expose the micrograft scarring (I personally have not seen a successful one yet) and even with FUE there are issues of scarring and a risk of an unnatural appearance.

You need to find a surgeon that will work with you, and assess the risks and benefits. You have limited options, but you need an expert to analyze your problem.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, hair transplant, hairline, hair restoration, repair

What’s Up with the Thin Hairs at the Temples?

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

I just have a question. Why is it normal and why do everyone has whispy hairs in the corner or temple area???, even women have this whispy hairs which make their hairlines look thin. My mother also has thinner temples and has a great head of hair

What you’re referring to are vellus hairs, which are faint and like peach fuzz. As to why it is there… well, that is just the way we are. Most women have thin vellus hairs around their front hairline corners where the rounding appears to shape it in a concave manner. This is what we sometimes refer to as a female hairline. Some men have it too and this can give the appearance of youth or a feminine face. Most children (boys and girls) have them as well.

Tags: hairline, temple hair, vellus hair

Juvenile Norwood 3 Hairline?

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

Dear Docs,

Please look at the pictures in this thread at BaldingForum. I’d like to get a hair transplant shortly.

How often do you come across a juvenile Norwood 3 hairline? How soon can you schedule a procedure and i’m interested to consult on proposed hairlines.

I was born with a weak hairline and in my 30’s, i’d like something I NEVER had in my teens and twenties; A hairline that won’t be the butt of jokes. Luckily my hair is coarse and wavy with thickness.

I originally met Dr. Bernstein in 2000 at a seminar in Boston. For background information, my grandfathers’ on both sides had hair. My father and his brother are both bald. My older brother 3 years older has a full and thick head of hair with zero recession.

The photos you showed go from being a baby to being in your 20s, and its common for a baby’s hair to be sparse and grow in, so that photo doesn’t really tell me anything. I need to see photos of your hairline before puberty, because if you’re telling me that you had a Norwood 3 at 12 years old… well, I have never seen a 12 year old with a hairline like that (Norwood 3 for a juvenile hairline).

As far as scheduling procedures, I’d want to meet with you or at the very least have a telephone consultation prior to setting up a surgery. If you’d like to setup a consultation, please call my office at 800-NEW-HAIR (or 310-553-9113) and have someone on my staff fill you in on available times/dates.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, hair transplant, hairline

Singer John Mayer’s Hairline?

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

John MayerWhat kind of hairline does John Mayer have. He’s 33, but I seem to have almost the same hairline as him and I’m 21.

Photo

Based on the photo you linked to and other photos I’ve seen of singer John Mayer, I’d have to say that this is a normal, non-balding male hairline that he likely had when he was 12 years old. Appears to be a great head of hair!

Tags: john mayer, celebrity, singer, hairline

Reader Reports Propecia Stopped His Hairline from Receding

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

I been taking Propecia for frontal hair loss for almost 2 years & it stopped it completely from receding. I did catch it early so everything is there except some mild thinning on the corners and in the middle too bad that didn’t thicken up as I hoped. DHT causes MPB so Propecia can stop and thicken hair loss anywhere on the scalp not just the crown.

Thanks for the comment. Not many people write to report about good results to us (as I’ve said before, those with complaints are often the loudest). Propecia is generally used for thinning in the top/crown area, but rarely it does seem to work for the front as well.

Tags: propecia, finasteride, hairloss, hair loss, hairline

Can Propecia Keep Frontal Hair?

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

Hello Doctor.

I’m 18 and my hairline, while naturally high, has been receding, especially at the temples. It is thankfully not noticeable at the crown yet. I’m in my school show and am forced to have a combover which is slightly embarrassing because it clearly displays my receding temples (although they have always been high) plus my hair is wavy/curly, so that just makes it look worse. Fortunately i don’t normally do a combover and just have it all combed towards the front… but anyway, im seeing a dermatologist on Tuesday. I’ve read that if caught early enough MPB can be slowed or and even halted when DHT is blocked, and that Propecia can do this. I just had a question about it.

I know its not proven to regrow frontal hair, however can it help KEEP the hair that is still currently there? And perhaps thicken the amount still left so it looks healthier? Also, what should i be sure to discuss with the dermatologist on Tuesday? To make sure i receive the best benefit as possible (no surgery please!) Thank you for your time!

Propecia does not usually regrow frontal hair, as you know. It may slow the recession a bit, but in general Propecia is not known to work well in the front (especially the corners). That being said, if you have genetic balding (your dermatologist can determine whether it’s MPB or a maturing hairline), I’d still get a prescription for Propecia since it may help slow your balding process down.

Tags: hairline, hairloss, hair loss, teen, propecia

Richest Man in the World Has a Bad Hair Transplant?

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

Hey doctors! Love the site. Have you seen this article about how the richest man in the world Carlos Slim has a weird hair transplant? Thought you might enjoy it.

Bad hair transplants, number 3: Carlos Slim, richest man in the world

For those that haven’t heard of Carlos Slim, he is the world’s richest man and owns many telecommunications companies throughout Mexico. You can learn all about him here. As for the article about his hair, well, we have all seen bad hair transplants… but this doesn’t appear to be one. Why? Well, because I don’t believe it is a hair transplant at all. Take a look at the hairline close-up:

Carlos Slim hairline

Although the author of the article quoted an unnamed “expert” trichologist to give some added weight to his story, I think he’s wrong. What Carlos Slim is showing here looks like a natural pattern of hair loss, though if there was a transplant I certainly haven’t seen enough to make that claim.

Tags: carlos slim, mexico, billionaire, hairloss, hair loss, hair transplant

Transplanting a Norwood 6 to a Norwood 3 or 4?

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

Hi Doc, Great Blog

If a patient was norwood six on the scale with normal density how many grafts do you think it would take to create a hairstyle similar to that of Tom Ford With strong density. I believe a conservative hairline with more overall density produces a better appearance that that of a lower hairline. Here is a sample of the hairstyle: Photo

I know this is difficult to estimate so even an approximate figure would be interesting. Thanks in advance doc.

You should visit our hair transplant photo galleries, which showcases hundreds of different patients — before and after photos, their starting Norwood class, and the number of grafts it took to achieve their new look. So instead of me just giving you a number, you can see the many examples of hairlines yourself. It is not just about numbers of hairs that we transplant, as factors like hair color, style, texture, and distribution are very important in the overall cosmetic result.

With respect to lower vs higher hairline, that is more of a personal preference for each patient. Some patients choose a higher hairline. We (Drs. Rassman and Pak) do not dictate where a hairline should be. We give each patient a baseline to guide them, so we take a team approach to where the hairline should go.

Tags: norwood, hairloss, hair loss, hair transplant, hairline

Kanye West’s Norwood Class?

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

Kanye WestWhat is Kanye West on the norwood scale?

Here is a pic of him: photo. He wrinkled his brow there. His wrinkle doesn’t touch his whole hairline, but he doesn’t look NW2. What is he?

Kanye West’s hairline is slightly ‘V’ shaped and that reflects (in the photo) a mature hairline. I don’t see any loss, so classifying him on a hair loss scale doesn’t make sense. I don’t believe that Dr. Norwood classified the mature hairline. When looking at the shape of his particular hairline, I wonder if he is clipping the leading edge in some of the photos. I found more photos to review here and here.

Tags: kanye west, kanye, rapper, celebrity, hairline

Forehead Muscles and Hairlines

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

This is in reference to this response.

You mentioned needing to see the eyebrows and forehead lifted by an individual to see where exactly to construct a hairline. I read a lot of doctors ask the patient to lift their forehead to help construct a hairline as well. My understanding was it showed the extent to where the muscles of the forehead ended which would basically indicate the lowest possible position of one’s hairline. Anyhow, regardless if I was correct or wrong in my understanding, what about individuals such as myself who cannot move or lift their forehead through use of the muscles located there? I was told by my doctor that these muscles were “underdeveloped” or weak and I have never been one either to voluntarily or involuntarily move my forehead in which to show creases or wrinkles. How would a doctor determine where a proper hairline should be located in my case and others? Thank you!

We do not base a hairline on forehead muscle per se, but it does give a generalized reference point. It does not matter if you cannot lift your forehead to delineate a muscle. An anatomically correct hairline is made with the general proportions of a person’s face using the rule of thirds the way artists draw a face. Alternatives that we use are in equalizing the chin to nose distance with the distance from the glabella (groove between the eyes above the nose) and a similar distance upward.

Hairline position is not an exact science — it is an artistic design based on proportions and knowledge of human anatomy and form, and takes into account what the patient believes fits his facial proportions. We often find that this process becomes a negotiation to arrive at the ideal location.

Tags: hairline, muscle, forehead, hairloss, hair loss, hair transplant, artistic

Asymmetrical Hairline After Hair Transplant (with Photos)

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

Hi Doctor Rassman. I had a hair transplant a few years back by a very respectable doctor, and while I’m generally quite pleased with the results, my hairline is a bit asymmetrical. How normal is it for a natural hairline to be higher on one side?

Thanks!

In nature, the hairlines of non-balding males are usually symmetrical, but occasionally they are not. I do not have statistics on this. In the balding hairline that is receding, it is common for one side to recede higher and faster than the other side.

I have, even under the best of conditions, noticed the hairline slightly off balance after the transplant. I routinely draw the hairline and then have the patient (and if he’d like, his family and my surgical staff) provide input and between all of us, we usually hit it correctly. Just this week, I saw a patient who had the hairline higher by 1/8th inch on one side. Here’s his photos — click to enlarge:

Before (left) / After (right):

 

The after photo is 8 months since I did a single surgery of 2328 grafts. Upon seeing the slight unevenness, I offered to fix it the following day at no charge. He was visiting California from across the country and I wanted to address it before he went home. It took 249 grafts on the one side to balance it out. I won’t have photos of the final hairline for a while since the procedure was just done, but here is the area I’m talking about:

 

Tags: hair transplant, hairline, asymmetrical, hairloss, hair loss, symmetrical, photos

Do I Have a Funny Hairline or Am I Going Bald?

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

Hey so I’ve always noticed that the right side of my hairline goes up a little farther than my left side. I’ve also noticed that the temple “triangle” has been shaped differently. As long as I can remember (and looking back at photos from when I was in HS), my hairline has never been straight. My maternal grandfather had a full thick head of hair, but my grandmother’s father was bald (on my moms side).

Is it possible that I have just a funny hairline and that I’m not going bald? All around my head the hair seems to have a uniform thickness and I really only see some hair in my towel after I shower. How can I tell if my hairline is pushing back?

TowelYou’d have to take measurements and compare them over time to see if the hairline is receding, but having an asymmetrical hairline isn’t unusual and doesn’t necessarily mean you’re losing your hair.

As for seeing hair on the towel — that can be normal. We lose 100-150 hairs a day normally as new hairs grow in. With styling product in your hair, sometimes those hairs can get trapped on the scalp and a hot shower will break up the gel or whatever you might use and release those hairs… and the towel or the drain is usually where you’ll find them.

Photo source: Flickr

Tags: hairline, hair loss, hairloss, asymmetrical