Q: I have read that a lot of doctors today administer Midazolam (Versed) to sedate the patient. I have two questions in reference to this drug: 1) How does the doctor determine how much of a dose to administer to the patient and 2) is the drug administered all at once, or intermittently throughout the procedure?

A: Each doctor has a different protocol, so it is hard to generalize. At Bernstein Medical we usually use Versed 2 to 4 mg IM one time 10 minutes prior to giving the local anesthesia. The dose is not repeated.

We also use Valium 5-15mg by mouth. I determine the dose of each based on body weight and history of sensitivity to sedatives.

Q: I am currently 28. I have been taking Propecia for 6 years and recently began to grow sparse chest hair for the first time in my life. Is the Propecia causing these effects?

A: DHT causes male pattern baldness and stimulates the growth of body hair. The use of Finasteride, a DHT blocker, will permit scalp hair to grown and inhibit the growth of body hair, not stimulate it.

However, the effects on body hair are quite small, so your natural tendency to grow chest hair over time is probably not being blocked by the treatment.

Q: Hey doc, you told me to cut up 5mg finasteride into four parts. Why not five, so that it will be equal to Propecia which is 1mg?

A: For severatl reasons; 1) you will lose some in the cutting process, 2) the generic dose can be slightly less than the brand, and 3) it is too difficult to cut into five parts – four is hard enough. Note that due to the fact that finasteride stays for a long-tiem in the hair follicle, the peices do not have to be in four equal parts.

Q: I have a friend who has been using Propecia 1mg a day for twelve months without having any regrowth. Is he likely to experience regrowth at this stage?

A: Your friend is unlikely to get any significant regrowth after one year, but that doesn’t mean that the medication is not working. He may have had even more hair loss without the medication.

WABC-TV Eyewitness News; channel 7 in New York, NY; featured Dr. Bernstein in a special report on hair loss and hair loss medications. In particular, the report, by ABC correspondent Kemberly Richardson, asked Dr. Bernstein about the effectiveness of Propecia/Finasteride and Rogaine/Minoxidil in the treatment of male pattern hair loss.

Watch the report by viewing the full post on the Hair Transplant Blog.