Laser Hair Removal Central

Hair loss not only affects men and women physically but can often be a confidence killer, turning the outgoing into introverts. Whereas all men and women have their personal preferences and tastes, often times balding men and women feel ugly and as a result won’t take the plunge to proactively pursue someone they’re romantically interested in.  But is hair loss or a lack of self confidence the real culprit?

In this discussion, balding men wrestle with the emotional detriment alopecia has caused them and whether or not women could ever really find the bald man attractive. Share your own experience with losing hair and how it has or has not negatively impacted your social and dating life.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

I’m trying to determine if I’m balding due to genetics or an iron deficiency.  Can hair loss really be caused by a lack of iron in the body?

This question was posed by a hair loss sufferer seeking hair loss help on our hair restoration forum and answered by Dr. Steven Gabel of Hillsboro, OR who is an elite member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.  His professional answer is below.

Iron deficiency is a real cause of hair loss. I have seen several cases of iron deficiency as a causative factor for alopecia in women. When I see women for hair loss, one of the things I investigate, along with other blood tests, is their iron levels. For men, a blood work up is rare, however, if their history and examination are not consistent with androgenetic alopecia, then I will investigate further.

A while back, I went to a lecture about hair loss by an expert dermatologist who specializes in alopecia (she was one of the original physicians in the phase trials for Propecia before it went to market) and she reports that even low iron levels contributes to hair loss. Women do have a higher degree of iron loss because of their monthly cycles, but I think you may want to have your physician work this up.

Steven Gabel, M.D.

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Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

This hair loss question was answered by Dr. Robert True of New York, NY who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.  His professional answer is below.

I’m getting pimples on my scalp 2 months after hair transplant surgery.  Why is this happening?  Is this a sign of an infection?

As new hairs begin to emerge a few months after the hair restoration procedure, either in the area of the scalp that has been transplanted or adjacent to the donor incision, isolated pimples may occur.

These pimples are self resolving and should be left alone. However, if you experience many happening simultaneously, it is best to see the doctor for a follow-up evaluation. These pimples are surface irritation as the hair emerges and only rarely represent ingrown hairs. The areas fully resolve and do not effect hair growth of transplanted hair in the area.

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Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

This insightful information was posted on our hair restoration forum by Dr. Timothy Carman of La Jolla, CA, who is recommended on the Hair Transplant Network.

Have you heard of the Platelet rich plasma (PRP)? I read a post on our hair loss forum back in 2005 but there weren’t too many replies. I am scheduled for a hair transplant next month, and the doctor is recommending this.  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Basically, a small amount (50cc) of your blood is taken before surgery. The platelets, which are part of your blood and help with healing of wounds, are separated to form a solution called platelet rich plasma. The follicular unit grafts are bathed in this PRP before being implanted. The PRP is also injected in the scar and recipient sites.

The main advantages quoted from their website are:

1. to enhance donor site wound healing
2. to decrease the incidence of infection
3. to reduce donor scarring
4. to increase donor scar tensile strength
5. to enhance recipient site healing (which should increase growth)
6. to be utilized as an effective treatment protocol in severe cases of wound dehiscence or infection.

The only disadvantage apart from the pain from the needles is an extra cost between $500-$1000.

It seems that this procedure had been used for over a decade in plastic surgery. It just gradually started to get into the field of hair restoration.

The main use for these agents is in the area where hair flaps are created, which is generally not a feature of most of today’s hair restoration procedures. As from the article cited:

“The potential advantages of the use of such substances include prevention of hematoma, reduction in surgical time, elimination of the need for drains, reduction of tension on flaps, and shorter recovery times.  These 20 cosmetic surgery cases involving the creation of skin flaps demonstrate that autologous fibrin glue is effective in sealing capillary beds during the surgery and thereby easily controlling bleeding. The control of such bleeding improves the outcome of such surgery as it reduces the amount of postsurgical swelling. Additionally, there are cost benefits that can be achieved from the reduction or elimination in the use of drains and dressings, as well as decreased postoperative complications. The most common of these complications following cosmetic surgical procedures involving the creation of surgical flaps is hematoma formation, often requiring surgical re-exploration. Apart from the increased risk, inconvenience, and distress which it engenders to the patient, re-exploration is extremely costly to all parties involved. The use of autologous fibrin glue and platelet gel should reduce the incidence of this complication significantly, which in and of itself should lead to significant cost savings. Furthermore, the improvement in wound healing can help lead to shorter recovery with earlier discharge for patients undergoing procedures on an inpatient basis.”

Again, while these agents (PRP and fibrin glue) can control bleeding, this usually is not an issue in routine , appropriately carried out hair transplant procedures.  Without these agents, your surgeon should be able to meet all the “goals” you list above:

1. Donor site healing in a well approximated closure that is not under undue tension should not need “improving”.
2. Infection in hair transplant surgery is already a quite rare phenomena.
3. See #1
4. I doubt this one.
5. Recipient sites should normally heal well.
6. This is considered a post-op complication, not an intra-operative one necessitating the above agents.

Bottom line, my opinion: this is a lot of money for which there is little indication or gain in traditional state of the art hair restoration surgeries.

For more information, see the following article: http://www.drman.com/articles_details_11_the_use_of_autologous_platelet-rich_plasma.html

Dr. Timothy Carman

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Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

A hair transplant procedure is usually considered a success if it looks natural and all the transplanted hair grows. But a beautiful head of hair with an obvious scar is not very appealing to patients. Thankfully, with today’s state of the art surgical hair restoration donor closure technique, scars are usually easily concealed by the surrounding natural hair even when cut very short. But are there conditions when the donor scar may be more obvious? What about when your hair is wet coming out of the shower or from swimming?

Forum member “Eman” recently had a hair transplant procedure and claims his donor scar is still visible when he gets out of the shower. View this thread to learn why and to offer your input and experiences.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor