Since Senator Barack Obama announced his running mate, Senator Joe Biden, hair restoration surgery has been propelled to the forefront of American news. Biden infamously underwent hair “plug” surgery and was seen during the early stages of it on national television during the Anita Hill senate hearings. He is being scrutinized about his hair now that he is back in the spotlight.

I’ve observed the change in Biden’s hairline for years. During the 80s, his dark hair emphasized his large plugs, but now, with the whitening of his hair in combination with subsequent modern hair transplantation treatments, he has a slightly more natural look. However, the procedures he’s undergone are still evident to the naked eye.

After watching Biden speak at the Democratic National Convention last Wednesday night, I thought about how far we have come since the old transplant results. I hope, though, as I did back during the Anita Hill hearings many years ago, that the general public do NOT think Senator Biden’s results are what we do today. Today’s transplants are essentially undetectable–thank God!

In fact, today’s modern treatments could remedy Biden’s unnatural look. He would simply need to “backfill” the large thin and balding area behind his transplanted hairline. It is very important to fill in this area because others can see through the hairline to a vast bald area, making the results look unfinished.

The question now is whether or not Biden’s hair will play a role in the 2008 presidential election. Judging from the reaction of the media, who never fail to mention Biden’s unnatural-looking hair when speaking about him, we could hear a lot more about this as voters make their decisions.

Interestingly, on the other side of the election is John McCain, who sports a thinning comb-over and has been criticized for his age. We know that the one thing that most definitely affects how old one looks is hair. Age-for-age, a person who is balding always looks older than if he had hair. I hear this from my patients every day. The disconnect in people’s minds is that they feel so much younger than they look, and this feels terrible to them.

So who has the upper hand? The man with the unnatural-looking hair transplant or the man with less hair who appears older? Well, history tells us that Americans prefer political figures with hair. Our society views hair loss as a liability, and given a choice, Americans will pick the person with better hair. Will they also pick the person who appears less old? Perhaps the seemingly younger Obama-Biden ticket will have an edge over McCain-Palin. Only time will tell, and it will certainly be fascinating to see how it all pans out.

Enjoy the remainder of the summer! Contact me at any time.

-Doc

This month marks the American Academy of Dermatology’s 8^th annual Hair Loss Awareness Month. According to the ISHRS’s 2007 Practice Census Data, over 100,000 hair restoration procedures were performed in the US in 2006, with over $1.2 billion spent on hair restoration procedures worldwide. Despite these astounding figures, conversely, an unbelievable lack of awareness of the causes of hair loss and the proven treatments still exists.

Many new advances in hair loss treatments have been made in the past eight years, affording men and women more options than ever before. However, how many people are aware of these advances? I read many hair loss blogs, forums and articles and still find that thousands of people believe hair restoration surgery involves the plug technique! In fact, many folks still accept common hair loss myths as truths.  It’s clear that raising awareness about hair loss is important for men and women who are experiencing low self esteem and lack of confidence about their appearance-or simply for those who just don’t like looking older than they feel.

In my experience, I’ve seen how awareness and education can help a person endure the emotional effects of hair loss. Knowing the cause of their hair loss and, especially, learning about the many effective treatments available can empower someone to seek the treatment that will make them look and feel better.

Take the time to learn about hair loss for yourself or for someone you love. For more information about hair loss, available treatments and the latest innovations in the field, check out these past blog postings:

• The Latest in Hair Cloning
• Finally a Way to Predict Female Hair Loss
• Medical Treatments for Hair Loss Improve Over the Years
• The Scoop on Laser Hair Transplant Surgery
• The Hair Loss Product Market…What Works and What Doesn’t
• Beyond the Hairline

The best thing for anyone to do, though, is to come in for an examination. I welcome anyone seeking information to call me!

Cheers!

Doc

Happy summer! I just returned from a visit to my family on a somewhat remote island in Greece where the sun was shining and hot. I did a few seaside hair loss consultations–in Greek–when people learned that I was a hair restoration surgeon. I can never get away from work!

I know that summer can be an emotionally tough time for men and women experiencing hair loss. Warm weather, sunshine, visiting the beach, and outdoor activities all lead to concern that thinning hair is more noticeable. Some don’t want to go out in the sun, go to the beach, or even go to lunch, worried that people will notice their hair loss.

In fact, it is often during the summer months that a man or woman will first notice hair loss. Sunburn of the scalp can be the first sign of thinning hair. (That’s what happened to me on a beach vacation to Mexico more than a decade ago. I’ve been taking Propecia ever since…and have never again gotten a sunburn on my scalp.) However, there are ways to look and feel better about hair loss during these precious few months, so you can focus on a pleasurable summer.

-Protect yourself: Wear sunscreen on your head/scalp and wear a hat when in direct sunshine.

-Talk to your stylist: Discuss the ways to style your hair that are more wind, water, and element friendly.

-Restore your confidence: Look into hair loss treatment options, such as medical treatments, low level laser light therapy, and hair transplant surgery.

As for me, I’m focusing on mixing business with pleasure this summer. On my way home from Greece, I stopped to visit a colleague in Istanbul, Turkey. It is a very fascinating place with its significant diversity of religions, cultures, and history. If you ever have the opportunity to visit the Island of Lesvos, make sure you talk to me before you go–I can hook you up with lots of great things to see and do!

- Doc

A recent national study conducted by the makers of Rogaine shows just how far a man would go to avoid losing his hair. When asked what they would give up for their hair, 22% of the 4000 men surveyed said they would give up their vacations, 20% would give up television, 10% would give up sex, and 5% would give up their significant others.

As if this information wasn’t enough to tell us how highly a man regards a full head of hair, the study went a step further and asked what men would prefer to losing their hair. According to the survey results, 60% would rather experience a demoralizing event in the pursuit of keeping their hair, 50% would rather deliver a large public speech and 20% would rather get dumped!

Last year an International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) study revealed similar sentiments–more than half (57%) of the men suffering from hair loss surveyed said that they would be willing to give up their prized personal possessions for more hair.

The results of these studies clearly demonstrate the emotional effect hair loss can have on a man’s life. My advice? Avoid those “would you rather” scenarios and hold on to your possessions. Although male pattern baldness is a progressive and genetic condition, you can certainly do something about it. A new test, called HairDX, can predict a man’s genetic predisposition for hair loss. This allows men to make informed decisions and explore the many effective hair loss treatments available. The sooner you begin hair loss treatment, the sooner your hair, and your self confidence, will be restored.

-Doc

When Ashlee Simpson recently expressed concern about losing her hair during pregnancy, it brought to light an issue that affects 40 to 50 percent of women. Debra Messing, Cate Blanchette and Gwyneth Paltrow have all publicly experienced postpartum hair loss, but for everyday women without a team of hair stylists to mask the effects, it can be an upsetting situation.

While hair is at its best during pregnancy, the stress and delivery of a child and the tremendous hormone fluctuations associated with this process may cause significant hair loss. The rise in hormones during pregnancy keeps a woman from losing her hair, but after delivery the normal hair loss that was delayed during pregnancy occurs in a short period of time. Postpartum hair loss, called telogen effluvium, is a temporary condition that normally spans 3-4 months. Once hormones stabilize, new mothers can expect their hair to re-grow over another span of 3-4 months.

Telogen effluvium does not cause permanent hair loss. If, however, a woman has female pattern hair loss, I often observe that once the hair grows back after the telogen effluvium, the overall hair density is less than it was before the pregnancy.  Many women, in fact, report that they first noticed their hair becoming thin “after my first child was born.” I recommend laser therapy, Rogaine, and hair transplantation to effectively treat female pattern hair loss.

New mothers experiencing postpartum hair loss suffer added psychological stress during an already stressful situation. Fortunately, the most effective treatments for telogen effluvium are time and emotional support. When it comes to pregnancy, it doesn’t matter whether the woman is a celebrity or not. Every new mom needs the support of loved ones to get through this period of adjustment!

-Doc

Having just returned from the hair restoration workshop I recently co-chaired in Rome, Italy, I am excited to share some information on one of the most widely discussed topics of the week - hair cloning. Though some thought they’d never see the day, the latest results of a clinical study show that in as few as eight years, hair restoration surgery using cloned hair follicle cells may be a viable option for those grappling with hair loss.

As I discussed with fellow leading hair replacement surgeons during a press conference in Rome, follicular cell implantation uses cloned hair follicle cells to create new hair on balding areas of the scalp. The process utilizes a patient’s own hair follicles harvested from a donor area on the back of the head. Cells from these follicles are then multiplied through a cloning process and injected back into the scalp, resulting in new hair follicles. A journalist who attended the conference covered our discussion in a London Times article.

While the clinical trials have shown early positive results in humans, surgeons cannot control the angulation or direction of the actual hair growth. This means that cloned hair will more likely be considered “filler hair” after a hair transplantation surgery. In addition, it is believed that these hair follicles may grow “first generation hair” only, which would fall out over time. Therefore, the follicular cell implantation process may require multiple sessions to maintain the appearance of a full, healthy head of hair.

Down the road we may see a second cell therapy that would create a more aesthetically pleasing result. This type of cloning would involve growing intact hair follicles from the cells in vitro, and then planting the entire follicle into the patient’s scalp. However, this process is in the very early stages and we are realistically 8-10 years away from human trials.

These and other innovations on the horizon offer additional hope for the millions of men and women suffering from hair loss. It is exciting to think about the possibilities, and I will continue to provide updates on this important field of research!

-Doc

Roma is called the caput mundi and the mother of civilization because new ideas sprouting from this beautiful city spread throughout the world and, yet, always somehow return to Roma.

Ciao a tutti! I am writing this blog from beautiful Rome, Italy, where I am co-chairing the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery’s “Made in Italy: Hair restoration live video surgery workshop.” The workshop is hosted by Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata and features live surgeries via video and for small groups.

As program Co-Director I am working in partnership with Dr. Ciro DeSio to provide a world class, top notch educational program for doctors and surgical assistants who may be new to this field as well as those who are very experienced in hair restoration surgery. It truly is an exciting time to be co-chairing the program, as this ISHRS Live Video Surgery Workshop is the first of its kind in Europe.

I’ll be performing a procedure on a young man to teach new surgeons just starting out in the field. As well as performing live surgical procedures, I will demonstrate actual hair loss consultations, teach about medical and laser therapy hair loss treatment options for men and women, and participate in panel discussions. I’ll also have the exciting opportunity to participate in an international press conference with more than 50 journalists from at least 4 continents to talk about the latest treatments in hair restoration surgery.  Since the beginning of the workshop, I’ve been quoted discussing surgical treatment of women and the use of laser therapy in hair loss treatment.

Coupled with the program’s social agenda of cultural, historical and especially delicious culinary events, I believe this workshop will prove that hospitality Italian-style is second to none!

-Doc

Since the beginning of my career I’ve noticed that men dominate the patient lists of many hair restoration practices, but in recent years women have become a larger part of the hair restoration patient base. I don’t believe that this shift demonstrates a growth in female hair loss sufferers, but rather a trend toward women actively and aggressively fighting the emotional devastation of losing their hair and empowering themselves to find a solution.

Female hair loss (known as Female Androgenetic Alopecia) is almost impossible to predict before it becomes clinically noticeable. One in every four women experiences female pattern hair loss and it can have a detrimental effect on a woman’s self esteem. In my opinion, this is because while men feel insecure about hair loss, women feel even more insecure, as the image perpetuated of the ideal woman for centuries has included a full, beautiful head of hair. But there is a new light on the horizon…

Earlier this year a simple genetic test, called HairDX, was found to play a critical role in predicting hair loss. At first only available for men, HairDX now offers a screening test for women, which detects the genetic markers that are associated with female hair loss. This new test enables women to be proactive in seeking early treatment options and prevent future hair loss-even before it may be aesthetically evident.

I’ve seen first hand how early treatment can help a woman bypass the emotional devastation of hair loss. That’s why I am so thankful for innovations like this in medical science that can help my female patients pre-empt this kind of devastation. Being able to offer them advances like those afforded by HairDX makes me proud to be a part of this specialized field of cosmetic surgery.

I am writing this blog entry from beautiful lake Como in northern Italy, where I am practicing the Italian I have been studying for the past six months.  I shall be putting it to further good use when I shall be the Co-director of the ISHRS Live Surgery workshop in Rome in a few weeks.  Como is a magnificent region with breathtaking views and stately villas along the coastline of the lake.  Earlier I passed the most-asked-about-villa.  The one belonging to one of the most eligible (and abundantly follicular) individuals in the whole world–George Clooney.  To provide for further privacy from prying eyes, he recently purchased the property adjacent to his original estate and will be making it available to anyone without a camera…LOL

Ciao a tutti!

-Doc

My patients are always surprised to find out that the active ingredient in Rogaine, minoxidil, was developed as a pill to reduce high blood pressure. One of its side effects was observed to be hair growth in some patients. A topical formulation was then created to treat male and female pattern hair loss, and it has become one of the most widely used and effective medical hair loss treatments out there. And it can be purchased without a doctor’s prescription.

It’s exciting to watch the evolution of a medical treatment that keeps improving over the years. I have been recommending Rogaine as an effective medication for my patients since 1988. In the beginning, this treatment was only available in a solution form, which some patients found a little messy and greasy. Today it’s available in a foam version, and unlike other medical hair loss treatments, it can be used by men and women. This is one of the reasons I routinely recommend that my female patients use this formulation even though Rogaine Foam is approved for use in only men. Women appreciate its consistency and ease of use, not to mention the results!

Rogaine Foam can stop hair loss and regrow hair on the front, the middle, and on the back (crown) of the head - not just on the crown!  I tell patients to apply Rogaine to the entire top of the scalp twice a day, every day, in order for it to be maximally effective.

Patience is very important when using this medication. It takes at least four months to notice less hair falling out and at least eight to twelve months to observe hair regrowth.  This is a long-term hair loss treatment that should not be stopped except during pregnancy and nursing.

-Doc

Propecia^® is one of the leading medical treatments for hair loss in men, but it becomes a hot topic in sports and Olympics news from time to time. Professional male athletes do their best on and off the field, and that includes looking their best (as we know from Tom Brady’s widely publicized visit with a hair loss specialist a few months ago). However, using Propecia^® can sometimes be an issue for competitive athletes.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) bans the use of Propecia^® because its active ingredient, Finasteride, is considered a “masking agent” for some performance-enhancing steroids. Though Finasteride is not a performance-enhancing drug itself, its presence in urine makes it hard to detect banned substances. This has posed a problem for a few male athletes, who were unaware of Propecia^® being banned in competitive sports by the WADA.

A member of the US skeleton team at the 2006 Winter Olympics, Zach Lund, was banned from the competition after Finasteride was detected in a drug test. Goalie Joes Theodore flunked a pre-Olympic screening when he was with the Montreal Canadiens, because of the presence of Finasteride in his urine, and player-coach of the Brazilian soccer team Vasco da Gama, legend Romario de Souza Faria, received a four-month suspension after using Propecia^®.

All three of these athletes had no intention of providing a faulty urine sample when they took Propecia^® as a hair loss treatment. It’s important to note that even though it gets some bad press in instances like these, Propecia^® is not dangerous, but is in fact a safe, effective treatment for men experiencing hair loss. In fact, at the time of their trouble with the WADA, all three athletes had healthy heads of hair.

-Doc