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Bill - Seemiller

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Blog Entries posted by Bill - Seemiller

  1. Bill - Seemiller
    So today is July 6, 2018. I thought I would post some photos of my hair the way it looks now and then as my hair grows longer share some additional pictures. Perhaps members can provide their input and let me know what they think they like better in terms of length.  I guess that sounds strange but after all, this is a hair restoration forum :-)






  2. Bill - Seemiller
    The photos I've attached to this blog demonstrate my hair before any surgery and then 4 hair transplants later. What the above doesn't show is that all of the natural hair I had left in the "before" photos is also gone. Thus, without hair restoration surgery, I'd be completely bald on top and most likely a full Norwood 6.

    Below is my story.

    At age 27, I decided to start doing some actual research about hair loss and one of the first sites I found was the Hair Transplant Network. It was Pat Hennessey himself who inspired me by reading through his blog to get a hair transplant.



    After some research, I chose to have my first transplant with Dr. Katz in Philadelphia, PA. I chose him firstly because he was recommended on this site AND he was local. Whereas today I always advise people not to let location determine which surgeon one decides on, it WAS one of my decisions back then. I admit that I was not heavily researched when I went in for my first hair transplant - though I believe Dr. Katz set me on a good track as far as expectations. Here are the statistics:



    Hair Transplant 1 - September 2004, I was a NW5A (Dr. Katz of Philadelphia, PA)



    I received 1600 grafts (800 in the front half and 800 in the crown area). I unfortunately do not have hair counts.



    For the small number of grafts on a NW5A, this gave me a surprisingly natural (though very thin) result.

    Hair Transplant 2 - July 2005, I was a NW5A borderline NW6 (That is, if I never had surgery) - (Dr. True of NY, NY)



    I received 2249 grafts mostly in the frontal half of the scalp, with some going back to the crown - though not completely back. I do not have hair count breakdowns at this time.



    My hairline was reshaped a bit and gave me some more density in the frontal 2/3rds of my scalp which really helped improve my appearance.

    Hair Transplant 3 - October 2006 - I lost enough native hair at this point to be considered a NW6 - (Dr. Hasson, Vancouver, BC, Canada)



    I received 3701 grafts all over the scalp to add density in all the areas of my scalp. I do not have detailed hair counts available at this time.



    Overall density and appearance improved significantly.

    Hair Transplant 4 - April 1, 2009 - After restoring a large portion of my hair, I decided to go back for more density - (Dr. Hasson, Vancouver, BC, Canada)



    Grand Total of Surgeries: 9618 Grafts



    Considering I'd be a full NW6 without surgery, I have come a LONG way. It is typical to multiple one's NW level by 1000 (on the conservative side) or 1500 (on the liberal side) to determine approximately how many grafts one needs to create an illusion of density. I'm somewhere in between.



    Future Plans:



    I have no immediate plans for future work. However, I'll never say never :-)


  3. Bill - Seemiller
    Hereditary hair loss is the most common type of hair loss for men and women. It is genetically linked to either side, mother's or father's and men and women. While rapid hair shedding in certain areas may be an indication of genetic hair loss, it's typically more gradual and follows a particular pattern like the Norwood scale or Ludwig scale . Diffuse pattern baldness (hair loss all over the top of the scalp) can also be caused by genes.



    Genetic hair loss can be treated with Propecia (finasteride) for men only and Rogaine (minoxidil) for men and women. However, to date there is no hair loss cure and reasonable expectations must be developed. Though Rogaine typically works better for the crown, it is possible that it might have some benefit for the hairline. Hair transplantation is also a viable option for select candidates . Education, research, and choosing the right hair restoration physician is vital to ensure a successful and natural looking hair transplant. Nizoral or Revita shampoo which contain the active ingredient ketoconazole has also been proving to inhibit a small amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) - the hormone responsible for hereditary baldness. Thus in my opinion, Nizoral or other ketoconazole based shampoos may be worth consdering as an adjunct hair loss treatment.



    There are other non-genetic causes of hair loss like Diffuse Alopecia or telogen effluvium (characterized by hair loss all over the entire scalp). Typical causes of telogen effluvium include:



    • Hormonal changes in the body (thyroid disorders)

    • Pregnancy or shortly thereafter

    • Certain medications (anticoagulants - blood thinning drugs)

    • Scalp dermatitis or other inflammation of the scalp

    • Severe infections such as pneumonia

    • Traumatic Stress (physical or emotional)

    • Iron deficiency



    Typically treating the condition causing the hair loss will reverse this hair loss process. In most cases, the majority of lost hair returns.



    Other non-genetic hair loss conditions include traction alopecia (hair loss in a targeted areas most commonly in the frontal zone caused by accidental hair pulling and stress on the scalp), Alopecia Areata (bald spots in random areas of the scalp caused by an auto-immunity disorder), etc. To learn more about non-genetic causes of thinning hair, click here.



    Determining the cause of your hair loss condition is vital in order to determine the proper hair loss treatment. Consulting with a dermatologist / trichologist is a good first step in determining the cause of hair loss and the best ways to treat it.



    Bill Seemiller (Falceros)

    Managing Publisher of this Community
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