Author Archive for Bernard Nusbaum, MD

Dr. Nusbaum has been widely published in the fields of dermatology and hair transplantation and has been extremely active in research and professional societies. He is in demand as a lecturer and has presented dozens of programs, research findings, and clinical reports at medical conferences. He graduated from the University of Colorado in 1974, then received his doctor of medicine degree from he University of Miami School of Medicine in 1979. Dr. Nusbaum interned in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach from 1979 to 1980. He did his residency in dermatology at Mount Sinai from 1980 to 1983, serving as chief resident in dermatology from 1981 to 1983. He has been a clinical assistant professor lecturing in dermatology in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Miami School of Medicine and has also been a clinical instructor at the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Dr. Nusbaum has been treating patients suffering with hair loss for 23 years. In 1980 he began experimenting with hair transplants and started performing Follicular Unit Transplantation in 1996, a technique he demonstrated on the Discovery Channel. Dr. Nusbaum is a member of the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons and recommended by the American Hair Loss Association. Visit Dr. Nusbaum's Website: www.miamihair.com

What Would Disqualify a Man For a Hair Transplant Procedure?

I’ve noticed that there are a plethora of reasons why a woman would not qualify for a hair transplant, and I am interested in learning what would disqualify a man to receive this procedure?
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There are several factors that must be considered in determining a man’s eligibility for a hair restoration procedure:

1) Age: This is not a “disqualifying” factor but one which may determine delaying the transplant in the young patient. In the early 20s, a man may just be beginning to develop his hair loss pattern. Transplanting permanently growing hairs in a setting where the surrounding hair is being progressively lost can lead to an unnatural appearance, as the donor supply is always finite. This consideration underscores the importance of medical therapy (Propecia/Minoxidil) to stabilize male pattern baldness in the young patient. Determining eligibility all the basis of age is a decision that is made individually for each patient, depending on psychological maturity, understanding short term and long term consequences of the procedure, family history of baldness, present hair loss pattern, etc. Read more

Hair Loss Treatment Dilemma, Considering a Hair Transplant

I’m a 23 year old male who seems to be thinning towards a norwood 5ish pattern. I have taken propecia in both 1mg and .5 mg, but have experienced side effects both times. I use Rogaine 5% foam 2x daily. I’m wondering what my next plan of action should be. Should I keep trying propecia? Is it possible to have hair transplant work done if you are not on propecia? Thanks.
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First of all, studies on Propecia showed that approximately 2% of patients who take the medication will experience a decrease in libido, or sex drive. Interestingly, in half of the patients who experienced this side effect, it resolved despite continuing to take the medication; the other half had to discontinue treatment for this side effect to subside. The question in your particular situation is, then, how long you have taken the drug. If it is only for a short time frame, for example, a couple of months, then I would advise you to continue it to see if your body adapts to the medication and the side effects subside. Other options are to change the time of day in which you take the drug. That is if you usually take it in the morning, try taking it at bedtime , or vice versa, and see if that makes a difference . You might also try taking it every other day. Obviously if you have taken it for longer term and attempted to make these changes in dosing schedule and, the side effects persist, you will have to make the decision to discontinue the medication. Read more

Megasessions vs. Smaller Sessions - Which Is Better?

I’ve been reading a lot about megasessions on the internet. Some clinics are offering 5000 or more grafts in one sitting. I’d love to have my hair transplant finished in one shot, but I also read that this can be dangerous since many of the grafts will not survive. Do you think it’s better to do a couple of smaller sessions or can these megasessions really be performed with today’s technology?

Although there are no scientific studies to assess graft survival with “ultra” mega sessions consisting of 5000 or more grafts, a few clinics seem to have the capability to achieve these large sessions with apparently, good results. Without question, as the number of grafts per session increases, the need for strict, impeccable quality control within the clinic staff becomes essential and there are clear-cut reasons for this. Read more

Update on Dutasteride

Finasteride, which is the generic name for Propecia, has been approved for the treatment of Male Pattern Hair Loss since 1998. Finasteride works by inhibiting the enzyme ,5 alpha reductase type II, that forms DHT. There has been a lot of interest by both patients and physicians in dutasteride, which is a drug that inhibits both type I and type II 5 alpha reductase enzyme. Read more