Q: If I get transplants, do I still have to continue taking Propecia? — P.V., Chelsea, N.Y.
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?
— N.S., Winnetka, I.L.
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? — N.N., Dallas, TX
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.
What thoughts go through the head of your average hair loss sufferer before, during, and after a hair transplant?
The answer to that question may now be revealed. ABC News correspondent Cari Nierenberg and associate producer Ryan Stevenson take us directly into the mind and life of Bernstein Medical patient Adam Khoudja in a three-part video diary and feature on hair loss and hair restoration.
Q: Why did you write another book on hair loss? — K.L., Greenville NY
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? — P.P., Richmond, V.A.
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.
Q: I just started to lose my hair but it’s just in one spot, like a circle on the left side of my head. Do you ever do a hair transplant just into a bald spot and not the whole head? — D.F., Esher, U.K.
A: It is possible to have a hair restoration procedure into a single bald spot. However, it would be most beneficial to first determine the cause of the condition.
Bald spots caused by alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease) are best treated with injections of steroids into the scalp, rather than with a hair transplant. In fact, the transplanted hair can be rejected in patients with this condition.
Announcer: PRWebPodcast.com, visiting with newsmakers and industry experts.
Interviewer: I am here today with Dr. Robert M. Bernstein, Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Columbia University and founder of Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration in New York. Dr. Bernstein is the co-author of the highly anticipated Hair Loss & Replacement for Dummies book. Welcome, Dr. Bernstein.
Dr. Bernstein: Good morning, thank you for having me.
Interviewer: Dr. Bernstein, why don’t you tell us a little bit about the book?
Dr. Bernstein: Sure. We wrote Hair Loss & Replacement for Dummies for anyone who wants to learn more about hair loss and its treatment. In the book, Dr. Rassman and I not only discuss common balding, but we cover a host of other conditions that can all lead to the loss of one’s hair. In the book, we give readers a basic understanding of hair and offer tips for taking better care of both the hair and scalp. Most importantly, the book describes the most up-to-date treatments for both male and female pattern hair loss.
Interviewer: This sounds interesting, why did you and Dr. Rassman decide to write the book?
Dr. Bernstein: Well, hair loss affects so many men and women. There is lots of information available on the web, but much of it is unreliable and the medical literature is often a bit too technical for the average reader. We wanted to provide a resource that was factual and comprehensive but, at the same time, very easy to understand. Hopefully, this book will allow those experiencing hair loss to be able to get straightforward, honest information and be able to make informed decisions if they require treatment.
Renowned hair restoration surgeons Robert M. Bernstein, M.D., F.A.A.D., and Dr. William Rassman, have co-authored the first authoritative, but user-friendly guide, to help both men and women understand hair loss, its prevention, and their medical and hair transplant options. The book, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., is set for a December 3 publication date. Titled Hair Loss & Replacement for Dummies, the book follows in the tradition of the other informative books in the popular For Dummies series.
Dr. Bernstein is the author of numerous medical publications on hair restoration, which can be found at www.bernsteinmedical.com.
Those who follow the current trends in hair restoration and hair transplant procedures know Dr. Bernstein for his pioneering work in the development of the Follicular Unit Transplantation procedure which has revolutionized the treatment of hair loss. Recently awarded a certificate of achievement from Columbia University, he has been named one of New York Magazine’s “The Best Doctors in New York” for the ninth consecutive year.
Hair Loss & Replacement for Dummies is filled with important information for men and women of virtually all ages anxious to preserve their full head of hair, put the brakes on balding, or explore the safest and most reliable hair replacement techniques currently available. The book offers readers not only the full gamut of modern-day hair-care options but crucial tips on how to avoid unscrupulous hair transplant doctors and potentially harmful products as well.
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