Health & Fitness | Nutrition-supplements

To date, finasteride is the only proven hair loss treatment that can stop the progression of male pattern baldness in its tracks by blocking DHT, the hormone responsible for genetic hair loss.  Though finasteride can be purchased on the internet, patients run the risk of dealing with pharmacies selling illegitimate medication.

To learn the best ways to treat your hair loss and purchase Propecia, visit this discussion thread.  Feel free to offer your experience with treating baldness.

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Do you have any idea as to what the average surface area is for level 5, 6, and 7 on the Norwood scale of hair loss?  I was measuring my scalp and found that even if I progress to a Norwood scale level 7, I will only have about 175 cm2 of bald area. That would only take 7,000 grafts to fill in the entire area with 40cm2, a density that I believe is more than adequate to give an illusion of fullness and hair density. I realize there are variables such as color, hair shaft diameter, texture, etc. that come into play, but shouldn’t any hair restoration physician that transplants 1,000 grafts per Norwood level fill in the entire area with good density?

This hair loss question was answered on our hair restoration forum by Dr. Paul Shapiro of Bloomington, MN who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.  His professional answer is below.

In my experience, the average patient’s head can be divided into two areas. 

The frontal 2/3 of the scalp on average measures 100 sq.cm. On average the crown loss is 80 to 100 sq.cm. The area of the crown will vary by how low and wide the crown loss is. On average I would say that to cover the total bald area in most men who are type 6 or 7 on the Norwood scale, I cover an area of 200 sq. cm. But there are men with very large balding scalps in which the area is more like 250 to 300 sq.cm and men with smaller areas. A total area of 170sq.cm.is in the realm of a normal area to cover.

Since the area of scalp I am transplanting is not a box, it is hard to get a measurement by measuring just the length and width of the area of hair loss. So your measurements may not accurately estimate the area balding in your scalp.

The way I measure the recipient area is as follows. I went to Kinko’s and had them copy some one sq.cm. graph paper onto clear plastic overhead sheets. To measure the recipient site area I place this clear plastic sheet on the scalp and draw the recipient site with wax pencil. Then I count the number of intersections inside this drawing on the square cm. grid. The number of intersections counted should closely approximate the area inside the tracing. This method is mentioned in some of the textbooks on hair transplant surgery. Try this method and see what area you get for your recipient area.

I hope you find this is helpful.

Paul Shapiro, MD

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Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

I am very bald. The crown of my head almost completely bald as is the top of my head. The crazy thing is that I am only 20 years old!

I have looked online and read a few things and have yet to find someone who has had issues with balding that are as worse than or even equal to mine. I was maybe in my second year of highschool when I noticed it. I told people that I thought I was starting to experience hair loss and everyone told me I was crazy. By the time I graduated these same people were telling me that there are solutions to hair loss. Two years later people told me to shave it all the way off. I was good looking in highschool, played on the basketball team, had many girlfriends, great confidence and I felt like I was on top of the world. Since I noticed myself balding all of these things slowly went out the window, my confidence, the cute girls, and my over all happiness.

My balding is the worst case that I myself and everyone else I have talked to had ever seen at such a young age. It kills me everyday to look into the mirror and see how it looks. It kills me even more how noone truly knows how I feel because I do a pretty good job of making it seem that it’s ok. The truth is I can’t take it anymore and I want to do something about it. I’ve even thought about writing to a few places who advertise on T.V. to see if I could get free treatment for appearing on there commercial because it’s that bad. What can I do at such a young age that will be affective, but will also not require me to take out a loan? I am in college and work part time making about $12.00 and hour. Is there anything out there for me, and why at such a young age would I have gone so bald so quick?  It would mean a lot if you would get back to me . Thank you!

Hair loss, especially at such a young age, can be tough. But please don’t let it hijack your life. I’ve seen too many people chose to place too much importance in what’s on their head then in it.

With that being said, I think getting on generic Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine 5% (minoxidil) are your best bets. You can also supplement this regimen with nizoral shampoo and other complimentary hair loss treatments. Give it a year and then re-evaluate where you’re at.

If it still troubles you, seriously consider going with the shaved head look, grow to love it and leave the anguish and expenses behind.

I hope you move forward in life and don’t let hair have more importance then it deserves. It’s only as important as you choose to make it. Confidence comes from within not from the top of our scalps.

Be well and Live Large, with or without sprouts,

Patrick Hennessey
Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Discussion Forum

Recently, we sought the advice of our online patient hair loss forum community regarding the potential Coalition membership of two impressive doctors recommended on the Hair Transplant Network for the last year. These physicians are Dr. Timothy Carman of La Jolla, California and Dr. Brandon Ross of La Jolla, California. To learn how we recommend hair transplant surgeons, click here.

View the Potential Coalition Membership for Dr. Timothy Carman

View the Potential Coalition Membership for Dr. Brandon Ross

In addition to garnering feedback from our patient community and highly respected hair restoration physicians, surgeons considered for Coalition membership are often visited and observed in live surgery by Patrick Hennessey, publisher of the Hair Transplant Network. Highlights of each visit along with surgical photos are prominently featured in the “Visits to Leading Hair Transplant Clinics” forum. To view the highlights of Pat’s visit to Dr. Ross’ clinic, click here. To view the highlights of Pat’s visit to Dr. Carman’s clinic, click here.

After extensive research and seeking input from our patient community and other leading surgeons, both Dr. Carman and Dr. Ross have been approved to join the ranks of the elite Coalition. Feel free to congratulate them by clicking on their featured potential Coalition membership threads above.

We encourage those local to these cities considering surgical hair restoration to consult with these excellent physicians to develop a long term hair restoration plan.

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Does saw palmetto really reduce hair loss? If not, then what is the best treatment for stopping hair loss?

Saw palmetto is conjectured to block DHT (dihydrotestosterone) and thus has been used as a natural supplement to treat an enlarged prostate (BPH). And though some believe saw palmetto can successfully stop hair loss as effectively as Propecia (finasteride), I have yet to see any clinical evidence to prove this. Not too long ago, we decided to do some research on saw palmetto and sited our findings on the Hair Loss Learning Center. To learn more about saw palmetto and whether or not it can be a successful treatment for baldness, visit “Saw Palmetto for Hair Loss”.

To date, Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) are the most effective treatments for thinning hair and baldness.

Best wishes in restoring your hair,

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor