Posts Tagged: Female Pattern Hair Loss

What Type of Hair Loss in Women is Suitable for Hair Transplant?

August 10th, 2009

Q: What type of female hair loss is suitable for a hair transplant?

A: A smaller percent of women with genetic hair loss are good candidates for a hair transplant as compared to men. The reason is that hair loss in women tends to be diffuse (i.e. there is thinning all over). In this situation, there is no stable donor area to use for the hair restoration.

Women with hair loss localized to the front and/or top of their scalp and good hair on the back and sides, can be excellent candidates for hair restoration, but it is important for the doctor to determine this by measuring the hair density in the donor area. This can be performed in the office using an instrument called a video-densitometer.

Conditions other than genetic thinning can be treated with hair transplantation, such as traction alopeica and hair loss from surgical scars, but some conditions, such as alopecia areata, do not respond well. It is important to have a dermatologist make sure that the condition is treatable by surgery before considering a hair transplant.

Reminder: Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration will be holding a Women’s Hair Loss Open House at our facility in Midtown Manhattan, New York City on Wednesday, August 12th, 2009 (4-6pm). You can register to attend the open house by following this link. We look forward to seeing you there!

Topic: Women

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 9:38 am

Why is Hair Loss in Women Difficult to Diagnosis?

August 4th, 2009

Q: Why is hair loss in women difficult to diagnosis?

A: The majority of hair loss in women is diffuse. This means that the hair thins all over the scalp, rather than on the front and top characteristic of balding in men.

Diffuse hair loss can be caused by a number of things besides genetics; including medical problems such as anemia, thyroid disease, and polycystic ovaries; and medications such as birth control pills, blood pressure pills, seizure medications and blood thinners. Stress and pregnancy can also cause this type of diffuse hair loss.

The hallmark of genetic female pattern hair loss is miniaturization (change in hair shaft diameter).

Hair shedding is characteristic of many of the other conditions, but is less commonly seen in genetic hair loss.

For a complete discussion on hair loss in women, visit the pages for the diagnosis, causes, and classification of female hair loss. Or view photos of our female hair restoration patients for examples of Dr. Bernstein’s work on restoring hairlines, hair at the temples, and eyebrows.

Also, a reminder, Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration will be holding a Women’s Hair Loss Open House at our facility in Midtown Manhattan, New York City on Wednesday, August 12th, 2009 (4-6pm). You can register to attend the open house by following this link. We look forward to seeing you there!

Topic: Women

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 8:10 am

Is Latisse a Viable Hair Loss Treatment?

July 28th, 2009

Q: I read that Latisse, the medication recently approved to grow eyelashes, can be used to grow hair in other places. Is this true?

A: Yes. We are currently looking at the use of Latisse (Lumigan, Bimatoprost) to grow eyebrow hair and we suspect that it will be useful in stimulating the growth of scalp hair as well. However, there are additional issues when using it to treat male or female pattern hair loss. These include:

  1. The potential for side effects from systemic absorption, since androgenetic alopecia usually covers an area much larger than eyebrows or eyelashes.
  2. The cost of Latisse used in large quantities can be prohibitive.
  3. Long-term results (the ability of Lumigan to keep stimulating hair growth over time is not currently known).

For more on this topic, please visit the Latisse page on the Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration website.

Topic: Latisse

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 9:50 am

Hair Loss in Women: Is Female Pattern Hair Loss Common?

February 22nd, 2009

Q: How common is female pattern hair loss?

A: It is very common. It affects about 40% of women.

Topic: Women

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 4:48 am

Can Female be Candidate for Follicular Unit Hair Transplant?

February 1st, 2008

Q: I am female and thinning can I be a candidate for a Follicular Unit Hair Transplant?

A: If it turns out that you have female pattern hair loss, you may be a candidate a hair transplant, but would need to be evaluated by a doctor who specializes in surgical hair restoration.

In the evaluation, you should have your degree of hair loss assessed and donor supply measured, using an instrument called a densitometer, to be certain that you have enough permanent donor hair to meet your desired goals. For more information about hair loss in women, please see the Diagnosis of Hair Loss in Women page of the Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration website.

If you are thinking about your hair loss and would like to be evaluated, go to the physician evaluation page of the Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration website.

Topic: Women

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 7:22 am



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