How To Hide Your Receding Hairline

If you are suffering from Male Pattern Baldness (MPB), you can rest assure you are not alone. This is a very common type of hair loss in men; roughly 1 in 3 men over the age of 35 will get it. MPB usually starts with a receding hairline at the front followed by diffuse thinning in the mid scalp.

Male Pattern Baldness does not look good on anyone, even Matthew McConaughey! So what can you do to look and feel better? That’s a million dollar question and often times feels impossible to answer. 

You should schedule a consultation with a hair restoration physician.  At your consultation you discuss your type of hair loss, treatment options, and what would work best for you. Keep in mind none of the treatments listed below will have an instantaneous effect.  Hair Restoration requires patience because it can be a long process. Patient options include medical and surgical treatments such as:

1. Medical Treatment- Finasteride and Minoxidil
2. Low Level Laser Therapy
3. Hair Restoration Surgery

Meanwhile, what can you do to look better with your present predicament? Here are 4 things you should avoid …

1. Avoid combing your hair straight back because this will expose the forehead even more. Although you may cover some bald spots, you will attract more attention to the receding hairline, which always make you look older.

2. Avoid using gel on your hair because gel clumps your hair together and reveals the scalp even more. More exposed scalp makes you look even “balder”, for a lack of a better word.

3. Avoid growing your hair longer at the back to try and make up for what’s missing on top. This strategy messes up your hairstyle and gives it an unbalanced look. Worse still, it draws even more attention to the scalp and the baldness.

4. Avoid the “comb over” or “cover up”. This is the typical look of men with MPB. The hair is grown longer on one side of the head and combed over the bald area to cover up any open spaces. Unfortunately, this style is vulnerable to even the slightest breeze and it’s just plain ugly.

Now for some Dos…

1. See a good hairdresser!!! There are three excellent hair styles to keep people from focusing on your hairline.

* The Ceaser Haircut- It has short, even hair on either side of the head and on the back of the head with bangs hanging down over the front. For a haircut with layers, bangs are necessary since they hide your hairline and will draw attention away from any hair loss.

Actor: George Clooney

* The Buzz- A buzz cut is one of the best haircuts for a receding hairline since it makes your hairline less noticeable. This is because a buzz cut is a smooth, even cut, extremely close to the scalp, so there is less of a disparity between your hair and bald spot. A burr cut is the best of the buzz cut styles, since it is the closest to your scalp. For a burr cut, the hair stylist will shear your hair to one-eighth inch away from your scalp, or closer.

Athlete: Freddie Ljungber

* The Shaved Head- If you are willing to completely part with your hair, and you feel confident in your head shape, a shaved head is one of the most attractive haircuts for a man with a receding hairline. A completely bald head leaves no sign of a receding hairline, so you’re left with a trendy, clean haircut that many women are attracted to. Shaved heads must be maintained like other sensitive skin areas, such as the face. Be sure to moisturize your head with soap and lotion, and put on sunscreen when the sun is out to prevent burning your scalp. Your head should be shaved twice or three times a week to keep up a perfectly smooth haircut.

Actor: Vin Diesel

2. Use mousse and conditioner to get more natural looking, fluffy hair. This will give your hair more “body” and a fuller look.

Finally, whatever it is you choose to do, be happy. A happy bald man definitely looks better than a grouchy one! 

LOCKS OF LOVE CHARITY EVENT

Our office is hosting a charity event benefiting Locks of Love.  Please come and join in the fun, food, festivities, and fundraising.  Lets give these kids all our love and support!!

Location:

15785 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 390    Irvine, CA. 92618

Date &Time:

Saturday, June 18, 2011        10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Bald Truth Radio Talks Robotic Hair Surgery

Spencer Kobren speaks with Dr. James Harris about the development of the ARTAS Robotic Hair Transplant System

May 23, 2011 by The Bald Truth

IAHRS accepted hair transplant surgeon, Dr. James Harris is known worldwide for his role in the development of innovative technology that has helped to advance FUE surgical hair restoration to where it is today. Dr. Harris’ S.A.F.E. System is described as a three-step process that uses both sharp and blunt instrumentation in order to rapidly and safely extract intact follicular units during the FUE process.

During the development of the ARTAS system, Restoration Robotics turned to Dr. Harris and his breakthrough FUE technology to further improve their already cutting edge follicular unit extracting system. According to those who have used the ARTAS system in practice, the result of merging these technologies is an incredibly efficient robotic tool, that so far has proven to significantly lower graft transection rates while improving the overall consistency of FUE hair transplant surgery.

>>Listen to Spencer Kobren’s Interview With Dr. James Harris

Preparing For Your First Hair Restoration Consultation

Congratulations, you scheduled your first hair restoration consultation!  You are headed in the right direction for becoming well-educated on your condition, preventing further hair loss, and restoring your hair. There is something we must remind you of, your consultation time is valuable and limited. You need to do your homework and go into your consultation prepared. Here are some helpful tips to maximize your time and experience with your hair restoration physician:

• Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make your appointment, be sure to ask if there’s anything you need to do in advance. Some offices like patient to bring in past photographs or examples of your desirable aesthetic hairline.
• Write down any symptoms you’re experiencing, including any unrelated problems for which you scheduled the appointment.
• Write down key personal information, including lifestyle or major stressors, recent health changes, or family (mom and dad) history of hair loss.
• Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins, supplements, or over the counter medications that you’re taking.
• Take a family member or friend along. Sometimes it is difficult to soak up all the information provided to you during a consultation. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
• Write down questions to ask your hair restoration physician.

Preparing a list of questions before your appointment is essential to make of the most of your time with the hair restoration physician, it also ensures you won’t forget to ask something and return home disappointed. List your questions from most important to least important just in case time runs out. For hair loss, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
• Are there other possible causes for my symptoms or condition?
• What kinds of tests do I need before surgery?
• Is my condition temporary or chronic?
• What is the best course of action?
• What are the alternatives to the primary approach you’re suggesting?
• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Are there any restrictions I need to follow?
• Are there any brochures or other printed material I can take home ? What Web sites do you recommend?

THE SURGEONS PERSPECTIVE

“In my practice the initial consultation establishes the long held respected patient-physician relationship. This relationship is critical to creating trust and confidence. It is my personality to make sure patients feel their interests are first, rather than mine, ” says Dr. Ken Williams, an Irvine, California hair restoration surgeon specializing in automated FUE hair surgery.

“Because I am not a major hair restoration chain, from the initial consultation and preoperative evaluation, to the intra operative and post operative  surgical phase,  I personally hold my patients hand and walk them through the entire hair restoration process” adds Williams. “I had this procedure done four times and I know what it is like.”

In addition to the questions that you’ve prepared to ask your doctor, don’t hesitate to ask questions during your appointment if you don’t understand something.  Good luck and best wishes on your hair restoration journey.

Summer Hair Loss

Lets play a game of TRUE or FALSE.  Warm weather is coming and it’s time to answer your questions about hair loss in the summer.

Question #1: Does wearing a baseball cap or hat cause thinning hair or loss of hair?

Don’t worry guys this question is FALSE. No matter what your mother has told you, wearing a hat does not cause hair to thin or fall out.

Question #2: Does exposure to chlorine in swimming pools cause hair loss?

False. Chlorinated water can affect the hair shafts by drying them out and making them more brittle, but does not cause hair to thin or fall out. Be careful if you have bleached hair, it has been known to turn green with exposure to chlorine!

Question #3: Will applying sunscreen to the scalp cause hair to thin?

False. If you have thinning hair, it is very important to use sunscreen on your scalp to prevent a sunburn. In fact, one of the first signs that a person is losing their hair is a sunburned scalp.

Question #4: Does swimming in saltwater cause hair to dry out and fall out?

Don’t hesitate in grabbing your surfboard and heading to the beach, this question is False. Any saltwater activity, including swimming, does not affect your hair loss. Genetics are the cause for most hair loss.

Question #5: Will overexposure to the sun cause hair to become brittle and fall out?

Once again, False. The main concern with overexposure to the sun is getting a sunburn on the scalp and solar damage to the skin leading to increase risk. Allowing more hair growth  and length longer is a natural approach. But  if you have advance miniaturization of your hair follicles you might consider a physician directed  medical treatment program, or  hair restoration surgery if you are a candidate.

Question #6: Will braiding your hair at an exotic beach stand cause your hair to fall out?

Step away from the exotic braid stand, this is True! Loose braiding is fine, however, there are certain hairstyles such tight cornrow braiding that can permanently destroy follicles and cause hair loss. This is a preventable condition called traction alopecia.

Question #7: Does blow drying wet hair after a day at the pool or beach cause hair to fall out?

False. There is no evidence that hair dryers cause thinning hair. However, too hot or too much drying may lead to brittle hair.

Question #8: Does smoking cigarettes cause hair loss?

True! Let’s face it, cigarette smoking is medically BAD for your body including your hair. Recent studies give sufficient evidence to the claim there is a significant link between smoking and hair loss. It’s still uncertain whether the connection is due to the effects of tobacco toxins, but it is probably because nicotine constricts blood vessel throughout the body, including those directly affecting individual hair follicles.

Hopefully you all learned that sunscreen is your best friend.  Apply sunscreen everywhere, even your scalp if you have thin hair, and apply it often.  Remember ladies to wear loose braids and ponytails to prevent hair loss.

Latisse Clinical Trials for Alopecia

Latisse was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration more than two years ago.  The initial safety concern of  physicians was in the application process where potentially the medication could come in contact with the eye while  applying the liquid substance to the eyelashes.Although it is uncommon, there has been some patients with lighter color eyes-blue or hazel- where their eyes actually became brown in color.  This precaution is overtly mentioned in the package warning labels to patients.

Outside of the initial concerns for patient safety, the response to Latisse in the hair restoration field brought a very warm reception with the notion that eventually it would be used to treat balding men and women.

Irvine Hair restoration surgeon, Dr. Ken Williams, commnents on the off label use, “Latisse’s hair growth potential has led to the ‘off-label’ use for eyebrow restoration and scalp baldness. I recommend it for eyebrow hair loss or Hypotrichosis of the eyebrow, but  it is too expensive for use on the scalp at this time.”

For patients treating baldness on their scalp there are two FDA approved remedies for hair restoration on the market, minoxidil and finasteride.  Also, there are a host of other OTC or nerbal non-proven products lacking scientific validity, but it would be nice to add a third.

Latisse has some side effects like eye irritation, skin redness, and the potential to alter the pigment of the eye. Latisse spokesman, actress Claire Danes, said on the Latisse website that she “initially had some skin irritation that went away after about a week.”

It’s not currently known whether these side effects, or different ones, would occur from rubbing Latisse into the scalp to stimulate new hair growth.

Allergan, maker of Latisse, is starting clinical trials in June to test Latisse for the treatment of baldness.  Allergan vice president Caroline Van Hove has stated “we cannot comment on its potential efficacy or safety…at this time.” The company, and every person suffering from hair loss, is hoping to have FDA approval by 2013.

Click herefor clinical trial details.

Careful Kirstie Alley… Rapid Weight Loss Can Cause Hair Loss!!

Congratulations to Kirstie Alley for surviving another week on “Dancing With The Stars” and continuing to shed all those pounds.  The actress is now down to a size 6!

Most people associate hair loss with aging; but people of any age can lose excessive amounts of hair when they aren’t getting the nutrition their body needs. In this crazy world of crash diets, diet pills, and liquid diets, we often set our bodies up for disaster caused by nutritional depletion. Before attempting to lose a significant amount of weight, or even a small amount very quickly, make sure you understand the needs of your hair.

It is easiest to understand why hair can be affected by rapid weight loss when you consider what a hair is made of. The hair shaft, the only part of the hair above the scalp, is made of keratinized protein. The shaft has three layers: the outer cuticle, the middle cortex, and the inner medulla; all of which are made of protein. While other vitamins and minerals are required for healthy hair growth, protein makes up 91% of the actual hair shaft.

It is natural to lose anywhere from 50 to 150 hairs a day from your hair growth cycle. A single hair will grow for 2 to 7 years, slowly detach from its dermal papilla, and begin to “rest” for a period of 2 to 4 months, and then fall out naturally or when another hair pushes it out of its follicle.

Hair loss surgeons Dr. Ken Williams of Irvine, California, agrees with nutrition playing a vital role in keeping the hair thick and healthy. “When the body isn’t obtaining the proper nutrients and vitamins, simple physiology dictates the growing hair is potentially compromised. We call  call it Telogen Effluvium. ” Williams adds, ” it may take approximately 2 months after the start of the diet to start losing hair.  Once the hair loss begins it is likely to fall out in excess amounts over a short period of time.”

Any diet that causes you to drop more than 2 pounds a week could potentially cause hair loss. The body simply cannot function maximally with so little sustenance. Losing weight too quickly can also weaken the immune system and increases the chances for infection. The fact of the matter is crash diets and rapid weight loss is an all-around bad idea.

Protein is absolutely the most important nutrient for hair growth. If you’re trying to lose weight, stay away from red meats like beef, which contain more fat, and instead opt for low-fat white meats such as fish, chicken, and ground turkey. If you’re trying to lose weight by not eating meat, be sure to get your daily protein requirements from foods like beans, lentils, or tofu.

Zinc, vitamin A, biotin, and vitamin B12 are also important for hair growth. If you suspect your diet may cause a deficiency of any of these nutrients you should consider a dietary supplement to keep hair healthy and strong.

Other “Dancing With The Stars” Transformations: Kelly Osbourne lost 20 pounds and Joey Fatone lost 40 pounds!

Scott Caan’s Genetic Hair Loss

Like father…. Like son…. Scott Caan not only inherited his dad’s, James Caan, acting talent, he also inherited his receding hairline. Scott needs to act fast if he wants to save his hairline.

If you’re over the age of 20 and your hair is starting to thin, the culprit is probably hidden in your family tree. Approximately 95% of men and 70% of women with thinning hair is caused by a hereditary condition called androgenetic alopecia, AGA for short.  AGA hair loss affects all ethnicities and is inherited from either the mother or father’s side of the family. Since AGA is determined by a number of genetic factors, it may or may not skip generations.  In the case of siblings, one brother could experience significant AGA hair loss in his late 20’s and the other brother could keep his hair for most of his adult life.

AGA is a progressive miniaturization of hair follicles caused by a shortening of the hair’s growth cycle. As the growth phase shortens, the hair becomes thinner and shorter until, eventually, there is no growth at all.

Both male and female AGA is very common and easily treated medically and surgically. For medical treatment,  minoxidil is recommended for both men and women to apply topically twice a day. For men, taking the oral medication finasteride, DHT blocker, is strongly recommended. Male and female AGA responds well to low-level laser therapy, and platelet rich plasma therapy is a therapy with a potential future as well.  For surgical treatment there is the older and more invasive linear strip method, or the latest FDA approved hair surgery called Automated FUE.

Since hereditary hair loss is gradual, the sooner treatment is started, the better the chances of results. Checking your family tree to see if you have a possible genetic predisposition to hair loss might help you recognize the symptoms early enough to slow the progression.

Ask the professional:

What would be your surgical recommendation for Scott Caan?

“From these pictures it’s clear that Scott is experiencing significant frontal temporal recession with diffuse thinning in the forelock region” Irvine hair restoration surgeon, Dr. Ken Williams of OC Hair Restoration Center, “Scott could decide to enhance or increase the density for this region for an age appropriate appearance.” Dr. Williams also reminds patients “Daily treatment is key.  The use of a DHT blocker, like Propecia, and topical application of minoxidil will stop further loss and maintain the current hair  density.”

What is your personal daily treatment program?

“I personally have an aggressive approach to a daily treatment program.  I had hair restoration surgery, and I don’t want to be bald ever again,” says Williams.  He adds,  “I use Rogaine 5% foam in the morning when I am in a hurry to get to work because it acts like a muse and holds the hair in place in the morning. For the evening dose,  I use the liquid Minoxidil from Costco because it is four ($4) dollars a bottle. I take propecia once a day, and I use the Laser Cap (low-level laser therapy) every other day.“

Don’t Lose Your Hair Like Nicolas Cage Did….

Nicolas Cage has starred in movies since the early 1980’s, and over the years we have watched his career blossom while his hairline fades away.  We all loved that crazy  young man in his early acting career with the long and wavy hair. Then as he aged he lost that “too cool hairdo” and macho youthful image.

But with the advances in science and technology for both surgical and non-surgical hair restoration, there is no need to watch your frontal hairline disappear. In the case of Cage’s decreasing frontal hairline, it still is not too late to restore his youthful appearance with his own hair.

Hair Loss Surgery Frustration

Many hair loss patients are confused about hair restoration surgery. That’s ok, you can go ahead and relax because you are not alone. The internet is a useful and often a helpful tool, but it can also be a source of confusion and frustration when you are getting several different answers to one question: Am I a good candidate for hair restoration surgery?

The first step one should take is to have a consultation for hair restoration surgery with a surgeon who performs the surgery.  You must be very careful when having a consultation for hair surgery! Make sure your consultation is with a hair restoration physician and surgeon, not a consultant.  A consultant is beneficial to physicians because they educate prospective patients about the procedure and other general hair loss information.  But consultants are not qualified to give a surgical recommendation.  The hair restoration physician who will be performing the surgery should be the only one making a surgical recommendation.

Once you have met the hair restoration physician it is important to discuss your expectations. It is very critical that both you and the hair restoration physician have a full understanding of what your concerns are and what look you are trying to achieve.  After your expectations are fully explored and understood, the hair restoration physician will begin to discuss surgical and/or non-surgical approaches to satisfy your desired appearance.

Hair loss is often a significant event in a man’s life, influencing how he sees himself in social/business environments, and how he believes others perceive him. For some men, the appearance of premature aging is the most disturbing effect of hair loss. Other men may come to believe that hair loss overshadows their personality and that when people look at him all they see is a “balding man” and not a distinct and interesting person.

You and the hair restoration physician must work together to plan the hair restoration surgery outcome that is appropriate and surgically and/or non-surgically achievable.

If the hair restoration physician feels you have unrealistic expectations (such as, to restore a 35-year-old man’s appearance to his appearance at age 20), it is the hair restoration physicians duty to set the expectation for outcome back within a realistic goal and long-term expectations.

Factors that strongly influences hair restoration planning, and eventual outcome:

* Age:

Androgenetic alopecia, male-pattern balding, is usually progressive. When a man is in his 20s or early 30s, it is difficult to predict accurately how much hair he will lose, and in what pattern, over the course of the next 10 to 30 years. Planning for hair restoration in a young man must take account of the likelihood of future hair loss. A “one-time” hair transplantation procedure in a young man can result in increasingly poor result if hair loss continues, and virtually assures the need for future surgery to correct the poor result.

 * Hair Loss to Date:

An important aspect of hair loss to date is an estimate of the amount of hair that is likely available for transplantation, and the amount of bald scalp that will need to be covered.

* Family History of Hair Loss:

While it is not entirely predictive of a patient’s eventual hair loss, a history of hair loss in the patient’s nearest male relatives provides some guidance as to the type and extent of hair loss to expect in the patient over his lifetime.

* Hair Characteristics:

Hair size/thickness, hair color, and hair curliness/frizziness are all important characteristics to consider in planning hair restoration surgery. They are essential esthetic considerations in planning for the appearance of “fullness” in transplanted areas of the scalp.

* Psychological Status

The hair restoration physician may rarely meet a patient who appears psychologically unfit for surgical hair restoration.  For example, a patient whose hair loss is due to compulsive hair plucking (a condition called trichotillomania) would be considered unfit for hair restoration until the psychological problem is successfully treated.

* Previous Hair Restoration Surgery

If the patient has undergone a previous surgical hair restoration procedure, this must be discussed with the current hair restoration physician.  The current hair restoration physician must understand the patient’s feeling about the surgical outcome, and what the patient wants done to repair an unsuccessful outcome, or to merge the previous transplanted area in current planning.

REMEMBER, at your hair restoration surgery consultation have the physician performing the surgery make the surgical recommendation for your desired appearance. If there is something you are not sure about always ask, there is no such thing as being too informed when it comes to having a surgical procedure.  You are dealing with your physical appearance and there is no hiding your face, so make sure that you are 100 % comfortable with the hair restoration surgeon performing the surgery.

What can Nicolas Cage Do?

“While Cage’s frontal hairline is decreasing, it still is not too late for a surgical procedure to restore his youthful appearance with his own hair.” says Ken L. Williams, Irvine hair restoration physician and surgeon for OC Hair Restoration Center. He adds, “Given his current hair loss we can give him hope and assistance.

Terrence Howard loses his widow’s peak

Terrance Howard is a classic example of how men lose their widow’s peak in the frontal hairline.  As a young man and adolescent, Mr. Howard started with a strong V-Shaped widow’s peak in his frontal hairline. Over the years, however, he has personally experienced the progressive nature of hair loss. What the public is observing are the hair follicles in the widow’s peak region literally “burning out” as a straight frontal hairline is developing.

There is possibly no other physical change that shows an aging man than frontal hair loss. A receding hairline and temple hair loss suggests to the culture that a man’s youth, vitality and attractiveness to the opposite sex are slipping away from him.

Irvine hair loss specialist and surgeon, Dr. Ken Williams, knows the feeling personally.  In reflecting his story of hair loss he states, “Before my three (3) hair restoration surgeries with automated FUE using the NeoGraft device, my hair loss in the frontal hair line was very humbling. My family and close friends were always making fun of  me about my hair loss. This made me think, if my closest relationships were noticing and joking about my receding frontal hairline, what were those people who were not close to me thinking or saying.”

A Norwood Class Two, chart pictured above, is what most men will look like at some point in their lives whether it comes in their 20s, 30s, or even as late as their 40s. Hair loss is genetic about 95% of the time. Genetic hair loss is also known as “male pattern baldness,” or in strict medical terms, Androgenetic Alopecia.

Genetic hair loss is caused by a male hormone called dihydrotesterone, DHT for short. DHT attacks hair follicles and slowly shrinks them until they fall out and are never able to grow again. 95% of hair loss in men is caused by DHT. If that wasn’t bad enough, most men will lose up to 50% of their hair before they notice that the genetic hair loss is occurring. Hair loss is not caused by clogged pores, poor circulation, of lack of oxygen as many scam hair loss treatments claim.

Thankfully with today’s technology there are several medical and surgical treatment options for Frontal Hair Loss:

1. Hair Transplant Surgery: Linear Strip FUT and Automated FUE

2. Low Level Laser Therapy: Light to stimulate new hair follicle growth & increase in thickness

3. Propecia: Oral medication to block DHT from attacking hair follicles

4. Rogaine: Topical over the counter treatment to protect DHT from attacking hair follicles

“Mr. Howard would be a great candidate for hair restoration surgery to rebuild the widows peak,” says Dr. Williams from The Irvine Institute of Medicine and Cosmetic Surgery-Hair Restoration Center. He adds, “once we have him on a good medical treatment program,  he can have the simple outpatient surgical procedure and see the results immediately.”

As always, we wish Mr. Howard a successful career in Hollywood. He is a talented actor in Hollywood.