LaserCap

Many doctors believe DHT is only needed at puberty as you have so eloquently put it. Beyond that stage is more of a nuisance that can lead to cancer. DHT is the result of the breakdown of testosterone. The more testosterone, the more DHT you have - (which leads to hair loss, by the way). I don't believe the conversion rate has anything to do with libido levels. As men age the testosterone levels come down about 10% per year. I hear this on the radio commercials every morning from an ED group here in the Pacific Northwest. When I first joined the industry the overall thought was less than 1% of patients could experience a side effect by taking Propecia. It is not believed this number is higher than that. The side effect being loss of interest when it came to sex. Somehow ED got into the equation and now many believe Propecia can cause ED. We'll have to see in years to come if this correct. There are many contributors I'm sure will jump in and give you their opinion.

It happens. It just means you're ahead of everyone else by 3-4 months. Enjoy it!

I've taken them all and never had issues either.

It's not as simple as that. I think Biotin does help the hair look healthy. Does it help with retention? NO. There are certain shampoos out there that contain vitamins. Does that count? No, they don't help with retention, but can make the hair look better, healthy, etc. And, during what phase are we talking? For bleeders there is vitamin K. Expensive but can help. I'm sure there are great examples out there.....

The age has nothing to do with anything. It is all about expectations. If your brother's goal is to have a full set of hair, I would NOT do anything. If his expectations are to have a class 6 hair loss pattern that will serve him well - then move forward. With regards to medication, I would be more inclined to try the meds first to confirm they work. A year later, if he is experiencing retention, then move forward with the transplant, concentrating most towards the front and blending grafts to the mid-scalp area. I would NOT consider grafts int he crown area.

I honestly don't believe the transection rate is the same. I do believe FUT follicles are far more robust. Most believe you should take advantage of whatever elasticity you have and maximize FUT. Once out, go to FUE. You could actually consider FUE grafts on the scar to camouflage at that point. I believe much of this will depend on a number of factors including medical therapy. This is an imperative component and it will play a direct role on the decision. I think the biggest sell for FUE was "no scar," which is not true. You'll have a scar but it is not linear. And, depending on the size of the punch, the scars will be virtually undetectable. High transection rates still happen today, particularly with robotic systems and/or with practitioners with little to no experience.

Stress is not the cause...but it can prompt the hair to go away sooner. Now let me ask you....why are you stressing? I know it's difficult not to...but, Think about what happened 3 months ago. Could you have done anything to prevent it? Unlikely. So don't worry about it, tomorrow is always a better day. Let me give you an example...My son was involved in an accident when he was 18. Called me right after and I realized he was shaken up.."Dad, I had an accident...the car...." "Are you alright?" I asked. "The car!" Forget the car. That can be fixed. And, can you do anything about it right now?" NO. OK then....and that was the end of that. Glad you are on meds. Continue taking them. If we stress over all that comes away, we all will be without hair in a short time.

This is what you tell your patients? Not to wash their hair so that it looks fuller? Is a week OK without washing? How about a month? With all that build-up?!....hmmmm. Man! I would have a full set of hair!

It is my understanding Rogaine is a visodilator. It is suggested it is stopped 3-7 days prior to procedure so you minimize the bleeding during a procedure. It is also recommended you refrain from using for a 7-10 days post op. Wasteyute - if you "saw" the medication work, I would assume you saw enhancement of the hair. This means you are 1 of only a small percentage of patients enjoying this benefit. I would encourage you to continue its use. The medication is intended to retain hair. Do not stop otherwise you'll lose all the benefit.

Why would you not wash your hair for days at a time, (or is this the first time you do this)? I am guessing you did not pull intentionally; rather, as you ran your fingers through your hair it just happened naturally. There are two types of loss, the one you see and the one you don't. The one you see, shedding, is normal. Most believe 100 hairs a day is the norm. The follicle gets tired of producing hair and it goes into a dormant stage. 3-4 months later the hair returns. This will happen randomly to all the hair in your head. (The hair you don't see, which is truly hair loss, is miniaturization of the strand. Eventually the hair will dissipate and disappear). Stress, while not the culprit, can prompt the loss of hair sooner. So stop stressing. It is likely you could not do anything about the issue anyway. Honestly, I would not worry about it...but would be more proactive in your hygiene.

I've often used the analogy of plants and the sun. Good observation.

30? Drop the money.....Until when are you going to wait?! A couple of concerns. The fact your hair is dark and have a light scalp is creating lots of contrast and this is not helping you. Toppik would help, by the way. Thus, if you decide to go the med route ONLY, that will buy you some time. But... You seem to be thinning in a 5A pattern. I agree the most loss is in the temporal areas. But you are thinning your entire front/top and back. Not only concentrate on the corners, have the doctor blend grafts throughout the entire front otherwise you'll be left with two horns worth of hair and nothing in between. Meds? Doubtful they'll do anything for the corners, but will likely help retain and enhance the top and back. I would also do PRP. This can help reverse miniaturization and help bring in results a lot sooner. Lastly, make sure to review lots of photos, particularly of cases similar to your own...transplant and med wise.

No restrictions after 7 days....You can do what you wish.........

Lasers have been around for a while. The laser comb was the first to get FDA approval. Once the approval is given - all devices manufactured to perform the same function after the first, get a clearance automatically. No checking, no testing...if it falls under the category, it gets a clearance. The first unit was too labor intensive....You had to place the unit in an area for 4 seconds, move it to the next area, about an inch - in any direction, and do the 4 seconds again. You would do this until the entire head was done. You would then need to criss-cross and do it again so to confirm all areas had been done. If you were doing less than 30 minutes, you were not doing it correctly. Then other units started coming out. Some units now look like bicycle helmets, others have MP players so you can hear music while doing the treatments, etc. The one I use is LaserCap. There are studies on the unit and carries a lifetime warranty. Additionally, the array of 224 diodes allows for maximum benefit. This unit fits under a cap and it's well concealed. Now there are knock-offs of this unit. There is also Knock-offs of Knock-offs. The problem with lasers, in my opinion, is people themselves. No patience, now knowledge, and a number of other issues. The first thing to understand about this modality as well as the other ones we typically discuss when dealing with this debilitating condition, (hair loss), is the fact that nothing out there regrows hair. Medical therapies exist to help with retention of the native hair. Laser works on the cellular level. It can help promote more blood to the area. Thus, more nutrients. This can help with retention and enhancement of the native hair. Here lies the second issue. So you have tons of hair and you notice strands starting to thin. You decide to get a laser. A few weeks later so see no change...You immediately want to return the unit because you SAW NOTHING except for continuous shedding. As I've been advocating all this time...Shedding is normal. You'll shed every hair in your scalp at intervals throughout your life. The follicle gets tired of producing hair and it takes a vacation. The hair then returns. So, if you see hair in the tub, sink or pillow, smile at yourself because you know the hair will come back. Hair loss is the hair you don't see. Go the the bathroom and turn on the light. Look at the hair in the temporal areas. You'll notice some strands are thick and robust while others are not as thick. We refer to this as miniaturization. That's hair loss. Eventually the hair does not grow any more, diminishes and eventually disappears. It is imperative for providers to scope. A scope is not expensive but it's a great tool to incorporate when using a laser. Scope an area and 6 months later scope the same area. Keep records. I am confident you'll see an improvement of the strands. Can people readily see this? NO! You have other hair that gets in the way!. Can't tell you how many patients I've helped and shown this to. It's always....."I had no idea it was working so well." Laser therapy works. I think it's a great adjunct to whatever you're doing or not doing. For those having issues with Propecia...now you have something you can use that is external and no side effects. If you have questions, ask away.....

Once the grafts are anchored.....hmmm. It took me a few seconds to figure out what you meant....Got it! But, did I truly get it? I am not too clear on what exactly you want to know....Here we go.... During the procedure the Doctor is working in and around the native hair. with magnification. Inadvertently he can cut the native hair, (like giving you a haircut), since the instrument he uses is very sharp. He makes the incisions and then the grafts go in. Sometimes the process can shock the native hair. This is typically temporary and, when it happens, the native hair returns along with the transplants. In very rare occasions the native hair does not return. This is hair you would have lost eventually as part of the hair loss process. The most critical time for grafts is the first three days. For the sake of conservatism most doctors will suggest you start washing normally 7-14 days post op. Generally there is a dormant period and hair then starts growing 3-4 months post op. Not all the hair comes in at one time....but most, if not all, will mature in the ensuing 18 months. Grafts typically are harvested from the donor area where there seems to be dominance. This is the strongest hair we all seem to have in common. It is "native hair." but it is considered to be permanent unlike the hair in the front and top which is more susceptible to the effects of DHT. So, by definition, grafts will be stronger than native hair. Hopefully this answers your question? Are you on medical therapy? (Propecia, Rogaine Laser)? What do you know about PRP?

I returned to work the next day Yes I did. You can wear a hat the day of the procedure, if you wish. My FUE procedures were rather small and no shaving of the donor was required. I am guessing you are having a good size procedure and the donor will be shaven. You''' be sore for a few days and would probably not enjoy having something rub the area. I would give it 4-7 days depending on how quickly you heal. I am guessing you're about to do a procedure. What I would do is - get a preppy haircut in advance. Just say you are trying something new. Have the procedure and just let the hair grow.

Wow, full and natural....What else could anyone want. Keep up the good work....

Oh, I forgot..... Are you doing any meds to help you with retention? Which? For how long? Who put you on them?

Please elaborate.....$16K for what? How many grafts? When was the procedure? Who was the doctor? What location? What did you receive back? Why is it bad? Have you returned to the clinic? What did they say?

After 9 days you can not harm anything. Sit tight and give it 6-12 months.

Better techniques/better results Stigma of hair loss at an early age Vanity/self conscious....Symptom of aging Cost Oh, that's 4. And while these are nothing new, I do think they carry a lot more weight now.

One of the big issues I find with laser use is the fact that most providers don't scope. Scopes are very inexpensive. Can't tell you how many times I would scope an area and again 6 months later....It's always..."I didn't realize it was working!" If hair thickened up anywhere - would you be able to detect it? I doubt it. That is costly? Of course. But the alternatives....keep purchasing this, keep purchasing that....and a transplant? $5K - $15K. Always keep in mind - when people say they have not had results...they honestly don't know what they're talking about. It is likely they retained but wished the hair would magically reappear.

Get back on Rogaine, 2 X per day. Put a cap full press down onto the scalp and massage. The medication is systemic. If you put it on the crown area, for example, it will be working your whole head. Laser, 3 times per week, for 30 minutes. You can contact Dr. Arocha or Dr. Alexander. They are providers of LaserCap. There are studies available and carries a lifetime warranty. With regards to Rogaine, seems it was working but when you stopped, there went the hair you would have lot had you not been on medication. You still have a significant amount of hair....get on the meds before you lose it.

Sean, Well said. Thanks for your service, I truly appreciate it. I'm sorry you had a bad experience. What part of the Country are you in?

Can you elaborate! Why were they amazing?