2 1/2 years after HT(choi in ATHENS)start losing transplanted hair. I have found dr.FELLER`S answer to someone that`s happen but dont know why. If that`s true why all surgeons claims that transplanted hair stay for life. Is there anyone with same problem?

What was Dr. Fellers answer? I really hope this isn't the norm. Could it be possible the doctor who did this procedure went outside of the "safe zone"?? I hope what I paid for stays for life...

Fortunately most HT hair does in fact stay for "life". However, there is a small percentage of the population that continues to lose hair in the donor area as they progress in age. It then stands to reason that such people will lose the hair when it's transplanted. Fortunately this is not common.

Another rare varient are patients who've had a successful HT procedure and enjoyed a couple of years of thick growth. Then seemingly out of no where the transplanted hair begins to thin. This has happened with at least 2 of my pateints in the past that I know of. In this case the best treatment is to implant more hair to make up for the volume difference.

One of my patients who posts on the forums by the name of Dai Vernon was an excellent example of this phenomenon. We did 2 procedures on him that looked excellent for almost 3 years. Then, the HT hair miniturized or thinned out. The way we treated it was by packing in more hair between the existing HT hairs. That did the trick and his final result was excellent. I'll dig up the links to his photos and post here later today.

Thanks for the reply doc, am a big fan of your work. Being how busy you are with your professional life, how do you stay so active in this online community, kudos?.?. One more thing you don't have to answer, in your patient with the loss of his HT hair, since its a rare phenomenon did you charge the pt for the additional surgeries? Sorry one more and does this phenomenon with the transplanted hair usually happen from the donor hair on the sides or does that not matter? Once again you don't have to answer the $ question but I was just curious.

Here is a link to another thread that shows Dai Vernon before and after:

http://hair-restoration-info.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/346...121019863#7121019863

Thanks for the kudos. It doesn't take much to be active on the forums. I tune in whenever I get a few minutes and keep up on what's going on. At first it's hard, but once you get into a routine it's no more of an effort than brushing your teeth-you just do it without thinking.

All variations of miniturization are possible throughout the donor area and that includes a signficiant differential between sides and back. No doubt about it.

Of course I will answer your question as to whether or not I would charge for more HT work should a patient fall into this catagory, and the answer is yes. I think any surgeon with a heart will offer somewhat of a discount, but I would certainly charge him.

Don't worry about this phenomenon too much, it's actually quite rare.

Dr. Feller

This is why it is important to wait till you know what your hairloss pattern will be. will you be a NW7, NW6, or a NW3? Will your donor area stay thick?

If you go in too soon for a HT and and your donor area you think is gonna be ok turns out to be in the non-safe zone 5 years down the road, your transplanted hairs might fall out too.

Not sure if this is related, but thought it was at least worth mentioning

I was told to take propecia/rogaine/both after getting the HT procedure done to prevent any further hair loss. This would probably cut the risk of the already rare occurance of the donor areas falling out and thus the transplated hair from falling out. If I'm wrong, correct me.

QUOTE;
This is why is important to wait till you know what your hairloss pattern will be.
................................................
When you said wait to see what your hairloss patern will be,I am confused a bit. When we will know what our hairloss pattern will be? In our 30`s, 40`s,50`s. I was 33 when I had my HT done.I didn`t want to wait to get in my 60`s or 70`s to get HT.

Bald Bull,

For the most part, you are correct. Propecia can help minimize the risk of future hair loss (including donor hair thinning). There have been a number of cases where men have strengthened their donor area as a result of taking Propecia.

johnny05,

It's not that you have to wait until you lose all your hair to consider hair transplantation, but very young patients who just started losing their hair have no established hair loss pattern yet, which make it more risky to proceed with surgery. That's why surgeons who work with younger patients if they are candidates at all, should be conservative to reserve donor hair for the good possibily of subsequent surgeries.

I hope this helps.

Falc

quote:

Originally posted by HairTodayGoneTmrw:
This is why it is important to wait till you know what your hairloss pattern will be. will you be a NW7, NW6, or a NW3? Will your donor area stay thick?

If you go in too soon for a HT and and your donor area you think is gonna be ok turns out to be in the non-safe zone 5 years down the road, your transplanted hairs might fall out too.

Not sure if this is related, but thought it was at least worth mentioning

People with mpb continue to have this for the rest of their life don't they? So how long do you wait before you determine what your hair loss will be? - eventually wont all mbp'ers end up being nw7?

mm76,

The simple answer is that hair loss continues to where the genes have programmed it to. Hormone levels of course, contribute to the liklihood of further loss which is why it can be slowed down or even stopped by using Propecia.

But no, not everyone will end up a norwood 7. Otherwise, everyone suffering from male pattern baldness would be completely bald.

Best wishes,

Falc

quote:

Originally posted by Falceros - Associate Publisher:
mm76,

The simple answer is that hair loss continues to where the genes have programmed it to.
Falc

Thanks for the reply. "where the genes have programmed it to" - we have no means of finding out what this is do we?

mm76,

Not that I know of my friend. There is a genetic hair loss test by HairDX, but I think that only tells you if you are susceptible to male pattern baldness - not how far it will progress.

Family history of hair loss can be used as a guide, but it's not absolute.

The mysteries of hair loss - frankly, I'm disappointed in the advancement of available non-surgical hair loss treatments. When I was young and before any hair loss, I swore that by the time I was old enough to lose my hair (of course, hoping I wouldn't), that there'd be a cure by now.

Falc

Yeah I kind of figured it would not be possible. It would be great, though, to know - it would really help in planning a HT.

Informative great thread. Once again thank ylu Dr. Feller you are one of the VERY few I would ever let to touch my scalp Bald bull love the pic brings back a lot of memories.

I am another transplant recipient who is experiencing loss of transplanted hair. Needless to say, it is very worrisome. I had two scalp reductions and a lot of work done by Dr. Dorman in the early 90's. I have had two " touchups" done by Dr. Hasson early this decade. The hair grew beautifully at first and I was thrilled with the results. About two years later I noticed the thinning. The most noticeable area where I am losing hair is the right forehead. This is solely transplanted hair and it is becoming increasingly difficult to conceal. This is the area that needed the "touch up". I discussed this with Dr. Hasson but he seemed to think I was imagining it. Well, the continuing loss indicates I must have a vivid imagination. I don't relish yet another transplant session that may last just a few years as well. Where do I turn?

I should add that I am 59 years old and I take Propecia. It does not seem to make any difference. I was over 40 when the original transplants were done. Much of my hair is not grey yet.