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Snippet from the article:

A new report highlights a novel way for doctors to replace thinning hairlines: transplanting leg hair.

The report, a study of two cases published in The Archives of Dermatology, describes a new procedure in which receding hairlines were restored by taking hair follicles from patients’ legs and grafting them to the head. Men’s leg hair had successfully been transplanted before to the back of the head, but these are believed to be the first documented cases of leg hair being used to restore the hairline.

Read the rest at the NY Times — A New Approach to Treating Hair Loss

The article is about Dr. Sanusi Umar’s amazing work as a pioneer in body hair transplants (BHT). He has privately reported procedures of 10,000 grafts in one sitting using body hair. These procedures are done through very long sessions at times, reported to run in the wee hours of the morning.

Body hair is not the same quality of head hair for use in hair transplants, so I don’t think that this technique will catch on. Although body hair seems to change and grow longer when placed into the head, its value is not equal to donor hair taken from the back and sides of the scalp.

I am from India. I am experiencing hair fall since 8 months. With doctors advice i started using finpecia and minoxidil 5% solution from the month of october. Initially there is a substantial reduction in hairfall. But minoxidil solution is creating itching and irritating sensation on my crown area. so i stopped using it in the month of january but continuing finpecia regularly. Since hairfall again started i started using minoxidil solution too.

I read in finpecia reviews that there will be a shedding phase after 3 or 4 months. now its the 5th month and it started shedding, Is it the so called ’shedding phase’ while using finpecia? When it will stop. Please tell me. I am 22 years old and i am tensed about loosing may hair before 30’s.

Generally, you do not have a shedding phase with finasteride 1mg (Propecia) use. Finpecia is a generic Propecia sold in India and manufactured by Cipla. I have been asked about finasteride shedding on occasion from readers, but I believe this is misinformation. The initial shedding is from topical minoxidil (Rogaine) and it is a well known phenomenon. The scalp irritation is also a well known issue for some who use minoxidil.

I cannot tell you when or if your hair loss will stop. I am not your doctor nor have I examined you to determine what your diagnosis or prognosis may be. You need to find a doctor who can examine you and recommend possible treatments. The drugs may give you few more years with hair or slow down the hair loss, but it never completely stops it (there is no cure).

After hairs go into the telogen phase and sheds 3 months later,does new hair start growing straight away or is there a delay between it falling out and a new hair taking it’s place?

It varies with each individual and possibly with each follicular unit. It may also be seasonal (something that we are now observing, contrary to what I previous stated -my apologies).

We really know very little about this area, and some of the comments by doctors that have been in the hair restoration business for years show that they are convinced there is a seasonal component found in hair cycling, like most hairy animals.

What’s going on with Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal’s hair?

It looked like a normal mature hairline all the way in to his late 30s. He is now 40 years old and while he doesn’t appear to frontal or vortex hair loss, the part on the right side of his head is getting pretty wide.

Photo

Maybe he was having a bad hair day. It could be that he is has a Norwood 3 hair loss pattern with a persistent forelock going on. There is nothing wrong or right about it.

I am 1 month post-op on my 3rd transplant. Just curious why I can’t see the tiny holes where the grafts were placed as compared to the first transplant. I recall this from my 2nd also. The scabs have healed. I look for the incisions but can’t see them. Is it because existing hairs make it hard to see or because the incisions have healed and the grafts are beneath the skin?

I can only guess. Maybe the surgeon used a smaller instrument making smaller holes, or maybe the holes are not there because there were no hairs transplanted on the area you are looking at. Could the holes have healed so that you can’t see them? That will depend on how long it has been since your surgery.

You should at least see some scabs, unless they were there and it have fallen out. It usually takes one to two weeks for scabs to heal and fall out. Then it takes another few weeks for the hairs to fall out, unless the transplanted hairs were shaved. The main point here is that I have no way to know for sure via email, and it is all a guessing game. The best person to ask is your surgeon.

Dear Doctor.
I am a 34 year old male with slightly receding temples and full hair on the rest of my head who has been taking 1mg Propecia daily for almost exactly 4 years with good results (no regrowth but no extra balding). Over the last year I had 2 blood tests that have shown an increased level of creatinine (not creatine). I mentioned to my GP this could be from propecia use. He suggested I quit the drug for 2 weeks and have another blood test to see if there are any changes. So I have two questions for you:

1: are you aware of any increase in creatinine in the blood from propecia use?

2: will quitting for 2 weeks affect my hair loss/growth

Many thanks in advance.

Stopping Propecia for 2 weeks should not impact your hair loss/growth significantly, if at all.

In general, elevated levels of creatinine is a non-specific measurement of the state of your kidney function. It is VERY important that you follow up with your doctor for this. You may have other serious medical issues unrelated to Propecia, since Propecia is a drug that is metabolized primarily by your liver (not kidney). I would not expect Propecia to affect your kidney function or creatinine levels.

Hi,
i had a hair transplant done 3 months ago. now i am seeing some thin hairs on the transplanted area. but when i apply shampoo or oil, the hairs are falling out. is this a problem?

Perhaps what you are seeing is the old transplanted hair shafts that never fell out. Maybe you are seeing your existing native hair falling out. Or maybe you mistook your bottle of shampoo for a bottle of hair remover. It could be that there are other unknown issues going on. Make an appointment and see your doctor. Have an open line of communication with your surgeon and see him/her for a follow-up to see how your transplanted hairs are doing.

What is the solution to the comments made by persons with patchy hair problems on the neck? Is it vitamin deficiency?

Hair loss or patchy hair at the neck can be from a variety of issues. Without a good examination and medical history taking (otherwise known as seeing your doctor), your guess is as good as mine. Sorry.

Dear Dr,
Like many readers of your blog, I cannot thank you enough for your contribution and this blog. I stumbled across the site for HIS hair clinic.

Seems like they like to promote SMP as their invention (specifically noting promotion of HIS hair clinic over NHI). Any thoughts?

They did actually develop the technique and used it before we did. The biggest difference is that their work with clients does not have a medical focus. When they do the process, they can not use anesthesia and have little experience with treating hair problems since they are not doctors. As a medical group specializing in hair restoration, we do not focus on the “sale” of the process, but rather what is actually best for the patient. We have more than Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) in our arsenal for treating hair loss and we know the hair loss field far better than they do.

For the young man who has no medical problem or interest in a medical / hair evaluation, then HIS clinic works well if the client is in their area. It should be noted that they have licensed many individuals throughout the world, so quality control of the process may be an issue. Finally, the hairline creation and achieving a proper frame to the face is also something NHI has been doing for the last 21 years.

Hello Dr. Rassman,

First, I just want to state that I have been a follower of your blog for years. I am a fan of your work.

I have a question for you in regards to Propecia. Five years ago, I bought Propecia online. I started to take it once a day, and I suffered from enormous pains in my left testicle. After a few weeks, I stopped taking the drug. I bought this online without a prescription. Guys, do not buy your drugs online without a prescription!

This pain has lingered for a long time. I went to my family physician, and he prescribed me Proscar cut into quarters. I have been taking this for two years and it has halted my hair loss. I am very thin on my head, kind of like your SMP patients once they have completed the procedure. I clip my hair very short and it does not look bad.

However, I still have this pain in my left testicle. Now it hurts in my bladder area. I have taken 12 prescriptions, have been treated for epidydimitis, etc. I have done scrotal, rectal, kidney ultrasounds as well as a CT scan on that area. The specialists have found nothing wrong with me.

However, I still have pain, so here is my question: I know left testicle pain is a side effect of Propecia. Do you know what else I could do to track down this pain? I stopped the Propecia for two weeks and I still had the pain. So either way I have pain, I might as well keep taking it. I feel a throbbing pain in my left testicle and it burns.

If you could give me any advice I would appreciate it! Thanks.

You are reporting a urological problem, so finding a good urologist is critically important as your source of information. Although testicular pain has been reported with the use of finasteride, one should rule out (as you have done with your GP and the above tests) the presence of other conditions that cause testicular pain.

Of course you should discuss changes in your medication with your prescribing doctor… but in general, stopping the drug is a good first step. The stoppage should not cause catch-up hair loss for 2 months or so. So in another month you will know the relationship between your pain and the drug once it is stopped.