Hair Transplant Surgery Coupled With PRP Therapy - Is This The Next Generation of Hair Restoration?

Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP is blood plasma that has been concentrated to have about 5x the number of platelets found in circulating blood. These concentrated platelets found in PRP contain tremendous amounts of bioactive proteins, which include the growth factors PDGF and VEGF. These growth factors have been shown to initiate accelerated tissue repair, and, according to experts, have also been shown to have positive effects on hair growth.

Still in its experimental stages, PRP therapy for hair loss involves the injection of Platelet Rich Plasma, taken from the patient’s own blood, directly into the balding areas of the scalp. The results of these experiments appear to be the reversal of the miniaturization process in the areas where the PRP was applied. There is also some evidence pointing to accelerated growth of follicular unit grafts when bathed in a PRP solution before implantation during a hair transplant procedure. Read more

Would a Hair Transplant Be a Permanent Hair Loss Solution For My 26 Year Old Son?

My 26 year old son has been losing his hair since about the age of 18. Hair loss runs on my side of the family so I feel somewhat responsible for what he is going through. It breaks my heart to see him so unhappy and I would like to help him if I can. I’ve done a great deal of research and keep coming back to your organization as being the one to trust. Can you tell me if hair transplantation would be a permanent solution for my son and will he need follow up surgeries once he begins the process. Should he be taking medication like Propecia before thinking about surgery or do they work together?

Thanks you for your time,
Concerned Mom
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Thank you for your letter.  It certainly is difficult to watch one of your children, no matter what the age,  have a difficult time with a condition that can be emotionally devastating. You didn’t mention how severe his hair loss is, but the fact that he started losing it at an early age suggests that he has a fairly aggressive case of androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness.

The good news is that with medication the hair loss may be significantly slowed or stopped, and provide some chance that re-growth may occur. Read more

Xandrox - Has a Higher Dosage of Minoxidil Proven To Be More Effective?

I have a couple questions about minoxidil.  I know the common potencies are 2% and 5%.  Why not go higher?  I found a website called minoxidil.com that offers something called Xandrox with 15% minoxidil.  Is this legitimate or just a scam?  Has anything over 5% proven to make no more of a difference?  The website is run by a Doctor Richard Lee, have you ever heard of him? - John
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Dear John,

Thank you for taking the time to write.  I have not heard of Dr. Richard Lee, but it is easy to check a physician’s credentials if you know in what state they are licensed.  As for the minoxidil, all the science shows us is the efficacy for the 2% and the 5% formulations.  Going higher usually increases the risk of side effects, and it might not be more effective.  Remember that minoxidil was originally a medication for blood pressure that was taken orally (at much higher doses, incidentally).  Pfizer decided to investigate it as a hair loss drug when patients began reporting the strange side effect of unwanted hair growth!  So these drugs are not without effects on other body systems. Read more

Should I Get a Hair Transplant Now Or Wait For New Future Alternatives Such As Hair Cloning?

I am considering hair transplant surgery and I am aware of the high cost of this procedure. I recently saw a documentary that informed viewers that “new and more efficient” methods will be introduced within the next couple of years, these methods will be a more effective alternative to hair transplants, “or so they say.” Italian hair transplant surgeons are already cloning hair follicles. Can you give me any more information on what kind of “new methods” are going to be introduced. Should I wait? I do not want to spend all of my savings on a hair transplant if I can just wait for the more efficient and effective methods to be introduced. I have unsuccessfully researched for countless hours online to find out more information. Anything you can tell me would be helpful.
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Hello and thank you for your question.  Without going into detail about the status of research efforts directed toward hair loss worldwide, let me just summarize by saying that while there are many promising techniques currently in their infancy (stem cell research, cloning, gene therapy, new drugs, etc) none of them are likely to translate into concrete clinical applications for quite some time.  Read more

Searching For a Reputable Hair Transplant Surgeon

I am 24 years old and looking into options to maintain my thinning hair.  Hair transplant surgery is something I’m pondering, but I would like to fully inform myself with information from a credible doctor/surgeon. I’ve seen some non-biased studies and I’m intrigued, so the next step would be a consultation.  Herein lies my concern.

I see you have an extensive list of experts listed on your site.  Do any of these hair transplant surgeons work for Bosley or Medical Hair Restoration?

If so, I could at least ask these questions in confidence.  If not, could you give me some contact info for a good surgeon that may not work for such a high profile practice?

Thank you,
Ryan

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Dear Ryan,

First and foremost, it is important to fully understand the hair transplant process and to assess whether or not you are even a candidate for the procedure. I’m glad you found the IAHRS since, in my opinion, the internet is an extremely dangerous place to attempt to find accurate and objective information on surgical hair restoration. Read more

What Is Your Opinion of Replacing Propecia With Avodart?

I was wondering what your opinion is on the idea of replacing Propecia (finasteride) with the newer drug Avodart (dutasteride). Both Finasteride and Dutasteride have originated as Prostate medications. Dutasteride reduces the two enzymes responsible for the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Finasteride only blocks one enzyme. By blocking both with Dutasteride, could the results be better?

Thanks for your input,
Stephen
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Avodart the brand name for dutasteride does lower the DHT by 90% whereas Propecia only lowers it by 65% so it would seem there is no argument as to which one is better for protecting the hair from DHT. I routinely prescribe Avodart for men who are in the 15% who do not respond well to Propecia as well as to young men such as the 20 year old who is showing signs of extensive baldness with a father with only a one inch fringe of hair. That young man wants to do everything possible now to prevent the balding genes from being expressed. Even with Avodart a young man of 20 and with an inherited Norwood type VII pattern can expect to get thin just as his sister might with the same inherited balding genes but with less Testosterone and therefore less DHT.

DHT is the bad guy. Dutasteride works better to lower the DHT and gives better results for protecting the hair and increasing density.

Peter Panagotacos, MD
Member, International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons
Member, American Hair Loss Association

Do you recommend having a hair transplant if the patient can not tolerate Propecia?

I have been on Propecia in an effort to stop my hair loss for the past 7 months but have been experiencing some sexual side effects. I would like to have a hair transplant, but I am concerned that undergoing the procedure without being on Propecia might not be a good idea. Do you recommend having a hair transplant if the patient can not tolerate Propecia?
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Propecia is a medical treatment designed to slow down male pattern hair loss and promote growth of new hair. It does not work for everyone and some can experience sexual side effects. In addition, there are some patients who do not want to take a medication for their hair loss and propecia is expensive. Read more

Do Hair Transplant Sugeons Endorse The LaserComb?

I am a 59 year old female with female pattern thinning, confined to the top, temples and areas of the crown that need comb overs. Mother has the same problem, so did maternal grandmother.

I had reactions to Minoxidil so I do not use it. My question concerns the use of the lasercomb. It appears to be endorsed by many hair replacement centers, however I never see any endorsements by hair transplant surgeons themselves.

I would like someone to comment on the use of laser hair combs. Thank You.
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I would LIKE to tell you that the reason you haven’t found any hair transplant doctors offering laser comb services is because such serious clinicians are averse to offering quack remedies and therefore shun “miracle machines”.

I would also like to tell you that all HT doctors are driven by reason and result, rather than misdirection and money.

But I can’t.

The truth is, there are plenty of HT docs offering magical laser treatments- and they really aren’t hard to find at all. 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.

Is Propecia Use Required If You Have a Hair Transplant?

I have been progressively losing my hair for about the past five years, but I am concerned about using propecia because of sexual side effects. I’ve been researching hair transplants but have read that if you have a hair transplant then you have to take propecia to maintain the new hair. This does not make sense to me. I was under the impression that the hair from a hair transplant will last a lifetime. Can you shed some light on this for me?

Your questions and are commonly expressed concerns. Unfortunately you have read incorrect information. Transplanted hair is not dependent on Propecia. The donor hair follicles are genetically different from the follicles that are effected by male pattern baldness. Donor follicles are not sensitive to normal levels of dehydroxytestosterone (DHT). Once transplanted to areas of balding scalp these follicles will continue to produce living hair. Propecia or finasteride lowers DHT levels reducing the effect on native (non-transplanted) follicles and by doing so helps to control progression of male pattern baldness.
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