What If I Got SMP and Let My Hair Go Gray?

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

Doc.. I have mostly gray hair that I dye. If I was to consider SMP to use as a concealer with my existing hair (like dermatch) What would happen if one day I decided to let my hair go gray? I’d be left with dark SMP and gray hair. What then?

Also actor Joey Lawrence looks to me like he has had SMP. What do you think?

Joey LawrenceThe color for Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) can be made gray, which would probably solve your issue if you decided to stop coloring your hair before you had it done. Most SMP procedures can turn some shade of gray over time, and that can be easily targeted.

As for Joey Lawrence (at right), he does have what looks like a closely cropped hair style, but I don’t know if he had pigmentation done or if it’s just a short haircut. It’s certainly the kind of look the SMP technique can achieve.

Tags: scalp micro-pigmentation, pigment, smp, hairloss, hair loss

Can I Have Darker Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP)?

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

I have seen the results of scalp pigmentation for people with what I presume to be naturally fair hair, and it seems that the pigmentation, although successfully creating a full look, is very faint and almost invisible in some lighting. Can a patient opt for a darker pigment, and have their real hair ever so slightly longer? Or if not, would a dark blonde/ olive hair colour allow for a darker pigment in the first place?

It is important for you to keep a few things in mind:

  1. This procedure is absolutely permanent, so too dark may be your destiny if it does not lighten
  2. There it a good chance that there will be some color change, as the first session often gets lighter when the pigment is absorbed by your body — but then again, there is the chance that it may not change color
  3. The risk of color change from dark to a tint of blue or green is one that will be accentuated by a darker application. These variations are what create the art of what we do for Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) and we try not to go too light or too dark.

This is why you want a doctor with experience to do the SMP process. The final color will be decided between you and your doctor.

Tags: scalp micro-pigmentation, pigment, smp, hairloss, hair loss

My Doctor Said SMP Alone Would be a Mistake For My Norwood 6 Pattern

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

Hey Dr Rassman. I hope your doing well.

I had a consultation with my hair doctor. At which i brought up the proposition of a combined SMP and hair transplant procedure. His response was the 2 would compliment each other well but just SMP alone would be a mistake. What are your thoughts does SMP look more natural when done in conjunction with hair transplantation?

And lastly i recall reading about a young man who won the American Dream contest a few years back. You performed surgery on him as my balding pattern would be close to his (ill prolly wind up developing into a class 6)and our ages are close or were im 23 now(i have been on finasreide since 20) i am interested to see his results. Thank you.

Each person is a separate case. I can not tell you that Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) plus hair transplants is better than either alone. I make each judgment when I understand the patient, when I see how fast the hair loss process is, and when I can then build a Master Plan. Generally, the hair transplant is the way I start, adding SMP on only a minority of patients.

As for the winner of the American Dream Vote television show (see here if you don’t remember the single episode that aired before it was canceled), the last update photos we had to publish were from 2009 and can be found here.

Tags: pigment, smp, hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss

SMP and Scarring Alopecia

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

I have lost alot of the hair on the sides of my head due to a form of scarring alopecia. Would it be possible to have micropigmentation done just on the sides as haircuts that are buzzed on the sides and a bit lengthy on top are very common and in style?

Generally, scarring alopecia with balding from it does well with Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP). We have done a few severe cases which I could show you if you visited my office. One particular patient who had very extensive scarring and balding would rather not have his photos online.

Tags: scarring alopecia, smp, pigment, scalp micro-pigmentation, hairloss, hair loss

Can I Still Have Transplants After Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP)?

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

I’m a 29 year old male who’s been dealing with hair loss since I was 19. I’m very interested in the SMP procedure because I use a ton of hair loss concealers that are costly and messy. I wear my hair pretty long (4 to 5 inches) and was wondering if SMP is a good option. If so, will I still be able to have hair transplants in the future?

Thanks for everything you guys do!

Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) may be a good option, but only for certain hair colors and people with specific goals that can be met with this solution. Everyone is different and the goals for some people who will accept the SMP solution may not satisfy others.

You must always consider the progressive nature of hair loss if you elect to have SMP. As you bald, you will probably have to follow the SMP process back to keep up with your balding. Hair transplantation may also be an option… and YES, you can still have a hair transplant after SMP, but you must make sure that the person doing the pigmentation process understands the balding process and develops a Master Plan for you over the years to come.

Tags: smp, scalp micro-pigmentation, micropigmentation, hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss

SMP to Disguise Scalp Reduction Scars?

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

I have had in the past scalp reduction and hair transplants which has left me severely scarred and with and unnatural look. It has also caused my hair to start falling out and thinning rapidly as I am now 51. My scalp is often irritable, hot and prickly.

My life is more than ruined as I am in a senior management role and frequently have to deal with people who are too embarrassed to look at me. I am at the point where I may have to leave a company that I helped build and find a job where I can wear a hat. My last chance would be to disguise the scars and create throughout my scalp and cut my hair shorter with perhaps your method of SMP?

Could you please be discreet when returning my email as this is my work computer, although nobody actually uses it, however you never know. I hope that you can restore some normality back to my life!!

In general terms, Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) is a great method to disguise scarring from previous surgeries on the scalp, but you would need to keep your hair shaved. Another option would be a hair transplant to disguise the scars.

A consultation would be best at this point so we can see what you’re dealing with and come up with some treatment options. If you would like a consultation please contact us at (800) NEW-HAIR or use our consult form.

Tags: hairloss, hair loss, smp, scalp reduction, scarring, scalp micro-pigmentation

Does Darker Skin Have More Natural Looking Results from SMP?

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

Hello Doctor,

I’m really interested in scalp micro-pigmentation, but browsing on the internet looking for before/after pictures I noticed something strange. The men with a brown skin color seem to have better (more natural) results than the caucasian men. Not only did the SMP ‘grafts’ look more the same as their own remaining hair, the transition between the pigmented area and the natural hair area looked more seamless.

Is this maybe because brown men tend to have coarser, thicker hair?

You may be correct, but shaved heads are more common in the African-American community so we are more accustomed to that look. Light skin and dark hair accentuate any balding pattern, but Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) does work well. The key is choosing the right shade of SMP, since every patient is different.

Tags: scalp micro-pigmentation, micropigmentation, pigment, smp, hairloss, hair loss

SMP for Pale Complexion?

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

Is SMP suitable for people with a pale complexion and blonde hair?

We do not have any experience with blonde hair so I would not recommend Scalp MicroPigmentation at this time for this combination of skin and hair color.

Tags: smp, scalp micro-pigmentation, micropigmentation, blonde

Can I Use SMP to Make a Norwood 4 to a Norwood 2?

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

what if a person has a norwood 3 hairline and you guys already know it is going to go worse (the hairloss). can you perform SMP and change the NW4 to a NW2 or are you going to wait till he is completely bald and his hairloss has halted?

Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) should not be used to convert a Norwood class 4 to a Norwood class 2… unless you made the decision to shave your head for life. Hair transplants would accomplish what you are suggesting, not SMP.

Tags: smp, hair transplant, scalp micro-pigmentation, tattoo, hairloss, hair loss

Could SMP Cause Shock Loss?

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

Hello, I was hoping you could answer these two questions:

1. With the advent of the Scalp Micro-Pigmentation, have you had any patients experience “shock loss” following the procedure?
I’m seriously considering the procedure but am a bit wary that the trauma to the scalp caused by the needle will cause shock loss.

2. Drawing on your years of experience, have you noticed a certain threshold (or range) for transplanted grafts where a patient is more prone to experience shock loss?

i.e. Is a patient who receives 1500+ grafts in one session more susceptible to shock loss than a patient who has two transplant surgerys of 750 grafts each session, say, three or four months apart?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Best

We haven’t experienced “shock loss” per se in patients that had Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP). One or two patients did report some hair loss initially, but it was not significant to be noticed. The risk is probably in the use of the anesthesia, rather than the SMP.

Dr. Pak’s mother had SMP done and did report hair loss the first few days, but it was insignificant. She had her procedure six months ago and other than the initial few days of hair loss, everything else stabilized.

Patients experience shock hair loss when their hair loss is ACTIVE and dramatic to begin with. In general, shock hair loss is more of a factor in men in their early 20’s (actively losing hair) and those who are not on Propecia. Your doctor should be able to better assess your risks of shock loss to the benefits of a procedure. The number of grafts you receive in a session is probably not related to the degree of shock loss.

Tags: smp, shock loss, hair transplant, hairloss, hair loss, scalp micro-pigmentation, micropigmentation

How Much is SMP?

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

Hello Dr!

Could you give us a ballpark figure on the costs of SMP? I think it’s a very cool procedure .

Thanks and as always your blog extremely helpful and I very much appreciate the efforts you and your colleagues put into it .

The cost of Scalp MicroPigmentation varies, but in general it ranges from $2000 to $6000 depending on each case. This includes all touch-ups and follow ups, plus anesthesia for a pain free experience.

Tags: scalp micropigmentation, scalp micro-pigmentation, smp, tattoo, pigment, hairloss, hair loss

Can You Prevent SMP From Turning Into a Blurry Mess?

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


Dr. Rassman,

The SMP procedure looks very promising and I’m sure you are getting tons of questions regarding it. Here is another one. On the HTN forums, a representative for Dr. Rahal said he had been impressed with SMP but did in fact see a patient whose pigment turned into a blurry grey mass. He didn’t know which clinic did the pigmentation. I was wondering if you have come across this at all and what NHI does to prevent this kind of outcome.

Much thanks!

The key to preventing the blending of the pigment dots into a blurry mess relates to:

  1. The depth the pigment is placed
  2. The size of the pigment dots
  3. The angle used in the placement of the pigment
  4. The instrument used

I hope that NHI has all of this well controlled, as we recognized this early in beginning the business.

Tags: smp, scalp micro-pigmentation, micropigmentation

Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) and Color Options

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

I had a few procedures to the front and temple areas. I wear my hair about 1″ 1/2 – 2″ long. Do you do S.M.P.in areas between hairs to give an illusion of more density. If the answer is yes with dark brown hair would you use different color inks.

We would have to evaluate you to determine the best approach to your desire to thicken your hair… but yes, we have used Scalp MicroPigmentation in between existing hairs to create a denser look.

Varying shades of brown can be achieved, though your candidacy is an individualized decision between you and us. We have very successfully used SMP in patients who wanted more fullness and in those who had previous hair transplants.

Tags: smp, scalp micro-pigmentation, micropigmentation

Can SMP Be Recolored?

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

Hi,
In regards to SMP, can this be re-done or re-coloured in the future? If someone was to get black or brown SMP then as they aged their hair turned grey/white, can the original SMP work be ‘re-coloured’ or is it a one off, permanent solution?

For all realistic purposes, Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) is permanent. You can’t change the color of it, but you can have a touch up to enhance areas which may fade over the years. If your hair turns grey/white, SMP color will remain the same… but if you shave your hair or dye your hair after a SMP procedure is done, this should not make a difference.

Tags: smp, scalp micro-pigmentation, tattoo, hairloss, hair loss, color

Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) vs Similar Services

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

As I researched the field of scalp pigmentation, I found a few other places that offer a similar service. How do I determine which place is the best? Its all quite neat to me but I’ve seen some really bad work from people that claim to be experts.

We are the first doctors in the United States offering scalp micropigmentation (SMP). The creation of the hairline is fundamental to what we have been doing over the past 20 years, so incorporating this skill is critical to providing a quality service with a natural looking hairline. We are also the pioneers for today’s ”standard of care” in hair transplantation worldwide, as we published almost every breakthrough in the field of hair transplantation over the past two decades. When this hair transplant experience is combined with scalp pigmentation — something no one else to my knowledge is doing — we can get the best out of both worlds.

Although this process is relatively new to us, having started in the fall of 2010, we have introduced the use of local anesthesia to minimize any pain (common in tattoo procedures, especially on the scalp). Patients who have had hair transplants and want more fullness can add scalp micropigmentation to the areas that still look thin (examples here and here).

Transplanting stubble hair with FUE in the pigmented bald scalp just enhances the illusion that the pigmented scalp is just a short or shaved haircut. The use of SMP in the pluggy patient with transplants from the 1980-1990s can be nicely treated by special applications of the pigment dyes. I just performed a SMP procedure on a patient with massive scars on his head that looked like he had shotgun wounds all over his scalp, and in one session, he walked out without the need for a baseball hat.

Each day is more exciting than the previous one as we explore the uses of SMP in various scenarios presented by interested people. The happiness of our patients is almost immediate.

Tags: smp, scalp micro-pigmentation, pigment, tattoo, hairloss, hair loss, hair transplant