Health & Fitness | Nutrition-supplements

This hair loss sufferer came to our hair restoration forum seeking hair loss help and posted the below hair loss question.  Many of our hair restoration forum members gave this seeking hair transplant patient some excellent information.

How much hair density do I need to achieve a natural looking hair transplant with no signs of hair thinning?

You have been given some excellent information from our hair restoration forum community members.

The illusion of hair density is determined by a number of factors including the number of follicular unit grafts per square centimeter, the number of hairs per follicular unit graft, and hair characteristics (hair shaft thickness, and hair color).

To create an adequate illusion of hair density with hair transplantation, typically 50% of the natural hair density must be achieved between natural hair and transplanted hair - though this will also depend on hair characteristics.

Other key factors in ensuring a natural hair transplant include, the artistic design of the hairline, the strategic placement of the transplanted hair grafts, and the direction and angle of the hair implants.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

In researching hair loss, I read that it’s possible for MSG, found in some foods, to cause hair loss?  Is there any truth in this?

When balding men and women journey to seek after an effective hair loss treatment, most hair loss sufferers would be eager to try everything they can to help with their hair loss issues. One might try medication, changes to one’s lifestyle, herbal hair loss treatments or anything else that claimed to help treat hair loss. Before any real time hair restoration solutions can be provided, one must first dispel some of the hair loss myths and learn about the actual causes of hair loss.

One such hair loss myth is that taking MSG causes hair loss.  MSG is a flavoring agent used in cooking to make dishes taste better. There is no scientific proof however, that shows MSG and hair loss are connected in any way. Like anything else however, use MSG in moderation as too much of it isn’t good for your overall health.

Learn more about the real cause of hair loss at the Hair Loss Learning Center.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

I am a 30 year old hair loss sufferer seeking hair loss help.  I’ve been an avid reader on this hair restoration forum community for the past 4 months.  I plan on getting a hair transplant procedure done within 1 to 2 years from now. After spending a lot of time researching different hair transplant doctors and viewing many hair transplant patient results, I have put Dr. Rahal as my number one choice at this point. This is mainly for his ability to create hair density and his creative ability for the hairline.I have created a hair loss weblog with photos and would like some feedback on whether you think the drawn hairline placement is attractive, too aggressive or about right.I also just started taking 1/4 pill of Proscar daily starting 2 months ago.  

Thank you for your inquiry.

Dr. Rahal is an excellent hair restoration physician who has a proven track record of providing state of the art hair transplantation.  This is also why he is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Surgeons who in order to be admitted into and maintain membershp, must meet our hair restoration forum community’s high level of membership standards. 

As it seems like you have discovered, hairlines should be custom taylored creatively and artisticly to each hair transplant patient.

The hairline should be decided on by both the hair transplant patient and the hair transplant surgeon performing hair restoration surgery. Obviously the lower and liberal the hairline placement, the less hair density that can be achieved behind it.  This is due to the fact that the donor hair supply is finite.

However, you appear to be in a good position as you don’t have a lot of baldness behind the hairline and you have just started Proscar (finasteride). You are also not in your early 20s like many seeking hair loss sufferers who want a liberal looking hairline.  The fact that you also are going to wait a year or two before undergoing hair transplant surgery to achieve the maximum benefit from the hair loss drugs and to continue your research is also a good idea.

Personally, I have found that a more staggered hairline is quite flattering and natural looking however, a straighter hairline with a slight “U” shape can certainly look quite nice as well - again, depending on the individual hair transplant patient.  As I’ve stated, a lot of it is personal preference. 

Good luck in your continued research.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog

A study presented at a recent American Heart Association Conference (www.americanheart.org) has found that candy in wrappers might help indulgers eat less as opposed to eating unwrapped candies.  Researchers found that people who ate candies and kept the wrappers in plain sight ate only about half as many as those who did not.

Lead author Brian Wansink (author of Mindless Eating, www.mindlesseating.org) says, “Having a visual reminder of how much [you eat], keeps you honest and eating less.  Your stomach can’t count, but your eyes can when they see the empty wrappers.”

It also helps to keep the candy in a less convenient location as opposed to a more convenient location, Wansink says.  So for instance, in the office, you wouldn’t want to keep the candy on your desk where it’s easy to get to.  Move it at least 5 or 10 feet away so that you have to get up and walk for your treats.

Not sleeping well can lead to problems, especially for older adults, research has found.  Depression, attention and memory problems, excessive daytime sleepiness and nighttime falls can all occur as a result of poor nighttime sleeping.  According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, some of the more common sleep disorders in older adults include:

• Insomnia, which affects almost half of adults 60 and older.
• Obstructive sleep apnea, which can elevate the risk for high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and cognitive problems.  Snoring, a symptom of OSA, is a very common condition affecting nearly 40 percent of adults, and is more common in older people.
• Restless legs syndrome, which can cause people to jerk and kick their legs every 20 to 40 seconds during sleep, is evident in almost 40 percent of older adults.

Follow these tips to get a better night’s sleep:

• Establish a routine sleep schedule.
• Avoid using the bed for anything other than sleep and intimacy.
• Avoid substances that disturb your sleep, like alcohol or caffeine.
• Avoid daytime naps.  If you must take a nap, limit the time to less than one hour and no later than 3 p.m.
• Stick to rituals that help you relax each night before going to bed.  This can include things like a warm bath, a light snack or a few minutes of reading.
• Don’t take your worries to bed.  Bedtime is a time to relax, not to hash out the stresses of the day.
• If you can’t fall asleep, leave your bedroom and engage in a quiet activity.  Return to bed only when you are tired.
• Keep your bedroom dark, quiet and a little on the cool side.