Author Archive for Brandon Ross, MD

Dr. Brandon M. Ross is the president and cofounder of La Jolla’s Ross Medical Hair Restoration, Inc. He serves as the only physician in this practice, which ensures that his expertise will serve every patient who enters his door. Dr. Ross is a firm believer that great care and planning must go into every surgery he performs. Therefore, he performs only one procedure per day and he utilizes only the most innovative techniques the industry has to offer. Dr. Ross specializes exclusively in hair restoration for both males and females to ensure that his attention is undivided. It is with his tremendous focus and naturally gifted hands that Dr. Ross is recognized as one of the leading hair restoration physicians in the United States. Dr. Ross is a member of the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons and recommended by the American Hair Loss Association. Visit Dr. Ross's Website:www.rmhri.com

Concerned About My Hair Falling Out From a Hair Transplant Procedure

I have thinning hair on top of my head, not so bad, but bad enough to make me consider a hair transplant procedure.  If I were to get a hair transplant on top of my head, is it true that the hair (existing hair) surrounding the transplanted hair will fall out?  If so, does it grow back and how long does it take for it to regrow?
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The situation you are referring to is called “shock loss” of hair.  That is a side effect that can occur after a hair transplant, but by no means does it always occur.  When grafting into an area that already has hair, some of the existing hair can shed shortly after the procedure (usually for up to about a month).  The healing process after the surgery causes some degree of inflammation to the scalp.  This inflammatory process, in addition to actual damage directly to the existing follicles (known as transection), can result in the loss of some of the existing hair in the recipient area.

Whether or not someone will experience shock loss after their surgery can be difficult to predict.  In general, the more existing hair in the area to be grafted, the higher the likelihood of experiencing shock loss.  Also, the higher the concentration of miniaturized hairs in the recipient area, the higher the likelihood of shock loss will be.  Miniaturized hairs have miniaturized “roots,” and therefore they are weaker and more prone to shedding. Read more

Recent Skin Cancer Removal From The Scalp Left Behind a Bald Spot - Can a Hair Transplant Fix This?

I recently had some skin cancer removed from my scalp.  Much to my dismay, I was left with a sizeable bald spot.  Even further disappointing was to learn the hair probably won’t grow back there.  Can a hair transplant procedure make hair grow in this area again?
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I’m sorry to hear about your troubles, but rest-assured, you are not alone in having this problem.  With certain kinds of skin cancers, it is important to make sure you remove every speck of the cancer by cutting out a wide margin around the lesion.  This “better safe than sorry” approach is understandable when you consider the risk versus the reward in such cases.  Taking a smaller piece of tissue would certainly leave a smaller scar and, in this case, a smaller bald area.  The tradeoff for this improved cosmetic appearance, however, is that you run the risk of missing a little bit of the cancerous tissue.  Any tissue left behind could regain its size and possibly spread to other organs.  Read more

24 Years Old With Frontal Hair Loss Only, Is a Hair Transplant Right For Me?

I’m 24 years old and have been considering having a hair transplant for the past three years. I have made a few appointments to meet with doctors but I’m not sure who to believe. My first consultation was with Medical Hair Restoration. They told me that I was in fact a very good candidate for a hair transplant and that I would need 1200 grafts placed in my frontal hair line. Then I went to see Dr. Sword and he told me that I would need 800 grafts.

After doing a lot of research on the internet it seems that 800 to 1200 grafts won’t make much of an impact. Just to give you some information about myself, I was assessed as a Norwood II with above average donor hair. I have no thinning anywhere else but my hair line, and I have been taking Propecia since I was 21 with very good results. I just want to tighten up my hair line. I’ve also read that a person with my minimal amount of hair loss should not have a hair transplant since it could make me lose some of the hair that I have. If this is true why would Dr. Sword and the other person recommend that I have surgery. I guess I’m just a bit confused. Thank you for your help in this matter. Read more

Female Hair Transplant Advice

Hello, I am a 36 yr old female that has been dealing with thinning hair for a number of yrs. My hair loss is in my temporal region as well as at the top of my head. I am being treated for low iron (a current ferritin count of 46) and for sub-clinical hypothyroidism (current TSH level .098, before treatment; 2.9). My iron levels were much lower and have been stable for 1 ? yrs now so I am assuming that although it may have contributed to my overall thinning, it is not the only cause. My thyroid treatments have been going on for only 3 months so I have yet to see whether some regrowth may happen due to my new TSH levels.

I am adopted but I believe I may have a genetic disposition to thinning as a half-sister is apparently also dealing with this issue. I met with a dermatologist who specializes in hair transplantation and he said I have nothing to worry about in terms of balding but suggested I try Minoxidil if I was concerned. I have not yet started using the product as I am concerned with the initial shedding that can happen and fear that I will lose more without any regrowth. I know the density of hair I had in my 20’s and I know that I am definitely thinner (much) than in my younger years. I am very concerned with this and am interested in learning more of the drugs propecia, nizoral etc. I would welcome any correspondence and advice you could offer. Given my situation would I be a candidate for a hair transplant? I am finding this to be a very scary and upsetting– help!
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Hi there, and thanks for the question. Both iron deficiency and thyroid abnormalities can contribute to hair loss. It sounds as though you have wisely corrected your iron deficiency for an adequate length of time to see any effects on your hair growth. However, the 3 months time period during which your thyroid deficiency has been corrected is not nearly enough time to see a reversal of hair loss caused by this problem. Read more

What Is Your Opinion of Laser Comb Treatments?

I noticed the Hairmax Lasercomb has received FDA approval to treat hair loss. However when I try to find any information on the effectiveness of this treatment can not find information.

Do you have any opinions on Laser Comb treatments?

Thanks.
Michael

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The reason that you are having a difficult time gathering information about the laser comb for hair restoration is because it is not very good. Studies are few and far between, and reliable information is lacking.  In practice, I have not heard many good things about laser comb therapy. Based on what I have read and seen, I do not feel that the laser comb is a product worth buying.

If the laser comb therapy actually worked well, it would have already spread like wild fires.  In reality, the technology behind the comb has been around for decades.  This is why the device has FDA approval. Since the laser technology pre-dates when the FDA began its supervisory role, the technology was “grandfathered” into an FDA approval..  Therefore, this device did not have to pass through today’s stringent FDA approval process.

Conflicting Hair Transplant Advice

I had a hair transplant consultation with Medical Hair Restoration in New York. The salesperson told me that they would be able to fill in my bald spot in one shot and that I would never need to have another surgery. I decided to have another consult with a dermatologist in New Jersey and he told me that he would not transplant my crown because I am too young and still have lots of hair. Which advice is best?

Without seeing you or even knowing your age, it is impossible for me to tell you what is your best option. However, I can tell you that the first guy’s advice is ridiculous. While they may be able to fill in your current bald spot “in one shot,” the salesperson is flat out wrong to tell you that you would never need to have another surgery. You have stated that you are young, and there is simply no way to accurately predict what amount of hair loss you will have in the future. If you lost all of your natural hair and only the transplanted hairs remained on your crown, you would still be able to visualize your scalp through your hair. This salesman is making you a promise that he just cannot keep. Read more

Can Dandruff Cause Hair Loss?

Hello, can dandruff cause hair loss? I have been dealing with dandruff and scalp irritation for several years and I seem to be losing more and more hair. Please let me know what I should do.

Dandruff does not directly cause hair loss. However, dandruff can cause the scalp to become itchy and irritated. If your response to this itchiness is to excessively rub and scratch your scalp, this could be causing you to lose hair. Most dandruff is formed as a result of an increase in production of dead skin cells which clump together to form the whitish flakes. While still debatable, most researchers believe this increased cell turnover on the scalp is caused by a fungal colonization. Therefore, it stands to reason that a good shampoo with anti-fungal properties will help alleviate the problem. I usually recommend Nizoral, a shampoo containing ketoconazole. Read more