Bernstein Medical Blog

This page contains all posts in our News, Answers, Video, and Research sections.

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Can Hair Loss Camouflage Products Damage My Hair?

July 10th, 2006

Q: I have a question about one of the products referenced under the Camouflage section of your website. As you suggested, I have begun to use DermMatch as an alternative to a hair transplant as I have diffuse thinning and been told that hair restoration is not an option right now. I have been very impressed with the results of DermMatch. However, I am concerned that the product might be damaging my existing hair or impeding future growth. Should I have any concerns about this product?

A: None of the well-known cosmetic camouflage products will damage hair or inhibit its growth.

What is the Benefit of Staples in Closing Hair Transplant Donor Incision?

July 7th, 2006

Q: I have heard that staples are uncomfortable after the hair transplant, why do doctors use them? — B.E., Great Falls, V.A.

A: Staples are used for two main reasons.

The first is that being made of stainless steel; they don’t react with the skin and, therefore, cause little inflammation.

The second is that, unlike sutures which are used with a continuous spiral stitch, each staple is separate and this causes minimal interruption to the blood supply.

Am I Too Old for Hair Transplant Surgery?

July 6th, 2006

Q: Is there ever an age where you are too old for a hair transplant? — L.K., Norwalk, C.T.

A: One can be too young for surgical hair restoration, but not too old (as long as one is in good health medically).

Older people generally make excellent candidates for hair transplantation since their expectations are generally more realistic and the future extent of their hair loss more predictable than in those who are younger.

We have successfully treated a number of people in their 80s. In spite of the fact that their spouses and friends asked them, “What do you need a hair transplant for at your age,” the patients were uniformly happy that they did the surgery.

Can I Have a Hair Transplant if My Scalp is Tight from Prior Surgery?

July 5th, 2006

Q: What can be done if I want to have a hair transplant and my scalp is very tight from prior surgeries? — R.R., Long Island, N.Y.

A: Follicular Unit Extraction is ideal in very tight scalps, provided that there is enough hair to extract without leaving the donor area too thin and provided that the follicles are not too distorted from the scarring.

With strip harvesting, undermining techniques may be helpful to close the wound edges once the strip is removed.

How Do You Determine Size of Hair Transplant Donor Strip?

July 3rd, 2006

Q: I am interested in FUT. How do you figure out how large a strip to use for the hair restoration when transplanting all follicular units? — P.K., New York City, N.Y.

A: The length of the donor strip incision is determined by the number of follicular unit grafts required for the hair restoration.

There are slightly less than 100 follicular units/cm2, so if a 1cm wide strip is used, a hair restoration procedure requiring 1800 grafts would need a strip that measured slightly more than 18cm in length.

After an FUE Hair Transplant Can I Shave My Head?

June 29th, 2006

Q: I am trying to have my donor scar repaired after a 1000 graft hair transplant. I was told the FUE’s placed into the scar would conceal it enough to shave my head? I would like to shave my head completely bald with a razor. — N.R., Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

A: In general, after a scar correction with follicular unit extraction you can clip your hair very short, but not shave your head. If you shaved your hair completely bald, you would generally see a vague outline of the linear scar as well as the small scars from FUE.

What Causes Poor Hair Growth After Hair Transplant?

June 28th, 2006

Q I had a hair transplant 15 months ago at a well known clinic in Manhattan. There were about 1000 grafts transplanted in the front hair line. At this point I am upset with my results. My guess is that only about 50 new hairs have grown. My question is what would cause this to happen? It seems to me that the hair transplant took longer than expected and my grafts died before they were placed! Please help! — B.E., Ithaca, N.Y.

A There are many factors that can contribute to poor growth during the hair restoration process including grafts that are left out of the holding solution too long or kept under the microscope for a prolonged period of time where they dry out.

Grafts can be injured in the dissection process or can be traumatized during the placing – if they are grasped too tightly or manipulated too much.

Is Propecia Necessary for Hair Transplant?

June 26th, 2006

Q I am 35 years old and have been using Propecia for the last 3 years, waiting to save enough money for a hair transplant. I no longer feel comfortable using it due to side effects. Can hair transplantation still be effective even without continuing to take this drug afterwards? — Y.C., Matinecock, New York

A Many people choose not to take Propecia or choose not to take it due to side effects and the surgical hair restoration is just as effective. The only difference is that medications can prevent further hair loss whereas surgery cannot.

Medications are not needed for the hair transplant to be successful or the transplanted hair to grow and be permanent.

Where is Optimal Donor Incision for FUT Hair Transplant?

June 23rd, 2006

Q: I have heard that the hair for a hair transplant is taken from the back and sides of the scalp. Where exactly is the best place to remove the hair from? — L.L., Rivington, C.T.

A: You are correct. The best place to put the donor incision is in the mid-part of the permanent zone located in the back of the scalp. As more hair is needed the incision is extended towards the sides.

Why is Strip Harvesting in Hair Transplant Procedure Still Popular?

June 21st, 2006

Q: Why are strips used so much in a hair transplant when there is now Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)? — E.N., Long Island, N.Y.

A: Strip harvesting is used in the majority of hair transplant procedures because it allows the surgeon the ability to perform hair transplant sessions using large numbers of grafts while minimizing injury to the patient’s hair follicles.

This is possible because once a strip is removed from the back of the scalp, the tissue can be placed under a stereomicroscope where dissection is accomplished using direct visualization of the follicular units. This allows the grafts to be dissected with minimal trauma.

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