Welcome! Bernstein Medical - Center for Hair Restoration is proud to bring you the Hair Transplant Blog! This blog is devoted to answering your questions on surgical hair restoration and the treatment of hair loss in men and women. Stay tuned by bookmarking this page or subscribing to the RSS feed 
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Q: If I get transplants, do I still have to continue taking Propecia?
A: Yes, you should.
You do not need finasteride (Propecia) for the hair transplant to work, or the transplanted hair to continue to grow, but finasteride can decrease further hair loss.
Q: I have heard of body hair transplants as an option being considered by some patients. Do you think that could be an option for me as my donor area isn’t able to provide the hair that I need?
A: With body hair transplants, the hair quality is poor and there can be a significant amount of scarring where the hair is harvested, so we are not recommending it at this time.
Q: Do you think there is a difference in the efficacy between the 5% Rogaine foam or liquid formula?
A: In theory, the foam should be as effective as the original solution (liquid). However, an important part of the efficacy is getting the medication directly onto the scalp – rather than just on the hair.
For patients who are applying the medication to areas with a significant amount of hair, using the solution with a dropper applicator enables the medication to best reach the scalp. Because of this, I prefer that patients use the solution with a dropper applicator if they are using the medications in areas with a significant amount of hair.
If patients find the solution irritating to the scalp (or too messy) and the foam less so, then using the foam is better than nothing.
Q: Why did you write another book on hair loss?
A: Hair Loss and Replacement for Dummies is the first book that we have written that is specifically geared for the lay public. Besides hair restoration, it covers a wide range of topics including: the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions that can cause hair loss, tips on hair care, information on hair systems, and a number of other topics not stressed in our other books.
Our prior books, The Patient’s Guide to Hair Restoration and The Guide to Hair Restoration focused on medical treatments and surgical hair restoration. Although very easy to understand, they are most helpful for someone that already has a basic understanding of hair loss or that had a consultation.
Q: Is it more important to do scalp exercises before the first procedure or the second?
A: When the scalp is tight, it can be useful for either the first or the second hair transplant.
Keep in mind, however, that the scalp will naturally stretch between hair transplant procedures, so that if exercises were not needed for the first procedure, they will generally not be needed for the second.
In our practice, we generally wait one year between hair restoration sessions so that we can see the full cosmetic impact of the first procedure and give the scalp laxity a chance to return to normal on its own.
In addition, there is a risk that active massage after the first procedure may widen the donor scar. Therefore, before considering massage before a second hair transplant, make sure that enough time has elapsed between procedures so that stretching of the scar will not be a be a problem.
In general, since the scalp will normally continue to relax for up to a year after a procedure, it makes sense that when there is a tight scalp, one should wait at least a year before considering the next hair transplant session. If massage is contemplated, it should be started one year after the prior procedure. This will give the scalp a chance to loosen naturally and will ensure that the massage will not stretch the donor scar.
In my opinion, it is a mistake to plan hair restorations sessions too close together in patients where scalp laxity is a constraint.
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Disclaimer: The purpose of the Hair Transplant Blog is to provide the public with general information on hair restoration. Information provided on this site should not be used for medical diagnosis and/or treatment.
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