Posted by Gary Heron, on July 18th, 2007, under HAIR TRANSPLANT SURGERY
Question: I have an unsightly scar on the side of my head approximately 6 inches long and 1/4 inch wide. Is there anyway of repairing this area with hair? I tend to wear my hair short and I am very conscious about it.
Answer: Scalp scarring can be very difficult to deal with. I assume that the scar you are talking about is not related to hair surgery. The management of scars is not well understood by many doctors because they generally do not look at the hair solutions that are, at times, critical in the final repair of the scars. Neurosurgery scars, accident scars, burn scars and the like require specialized knowledge of the scalp’s ability to heal in the area treated and the direction and location of the scar determine much of the outcome. Many scalp scars may have come with good medical care, so one has to think differently about scalp scars: what will make the next treatment better than the last one?
Email me a photo and be sure that the scar location is clearly shown. Your confidentiality will be assured. My email address is gary@thewestminsterpractice.com.
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Posted by Gary Heron, on July 17th, 2007, under HAIR LOSS SCIENCE
Question: Can doctors clone donor hairs so that the amount of available donor hairs is no longer an issue with transplant surgery?
Answer: Hair cloning as an issue keeps coming up because it seems to be promoted by some unscrupulous people who use the cloning ‘card’ as a way to elevate their own position of authority in this business. There is no cloning on the short-term horizon for hair, despite claims to the contrary. If and when the cloning problem for hair is solved from a research perspective that can be replicated ,it will take legislation to make that reality into a clinical tool. Hair was first cloned by Jahoda in Scotland in the late1980s. Since then, there is been a relatively long silence in the industry on repeating his work. His report stands alone as a successful cloning experiment. Attempts to do this in mice and other animals have produced many dead animals in at least one study I have been told about. Attempts to do this in humans have met with failure after failure. Fortunately, no deaths have occurred. I would urge anyone who sees this promoted as a reality to ignore these claims or check with the centre for any updates on hair cloning.
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Posted by Gary Heron, on July 17th, 2007, under TRICHOTALK
Question: I have a receding hairline. Now, I am getting a bald spot on the top of my head. What should be my first course of action to save my hair?
Answer: The first course of action should be to see one of our trichologists who understands the male pattern balding (MPB) process. He will examine the hair on different parts of your scalp and look for the amount of miniaturization that you are showing in various locations. The things he will identify will not be the level that you can see with the naked eye as balding occurs slowly and insidiously and can not be picked up without high powered examination of the hair. Based upon a proper examination, he should develop a master plan for you that will cover your worst case scenario and probably include the use of medications for MPB if that is your diagnosis.
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Posted by Gary Heron, on July 17th, 2007, under ALOPECIA AREATA
Question: I have Hashimoto’s Syndrome and diagnosed alopecia areata. The hair on the crown of my head is not diminishing as fast as that around the face and all around the back of my head. What options do I have? I feel I will shortly have to wear a wig permanently. Is there anything that can be done?
Answer: Hashimoto’s Syndrome and diagnosed alopecia areata are autoimmune diseases which are attacking the hair follicles in your situation. If the disease can not be controlled, then the hair will continue to fall out. Sometimes, these diseases are self limiting, but your doctor will be in a better position to judge this for you. But it is worth seeing one of our trichologists as the alopecia areata may still be treatable.
Go to: http://www.thewestminsterpractice.com/sub_category.asp?category=1&subCategory=2&condition=3
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Posted by Gary Heron, on July 17th, 2007, under TRICHOTALK
Question: I am a 41 year old woman currently on metoprolol 25 mg twice a day for high blood pressure and rapid heart beat and it is causing me to have severe hair loss. My doctor’s advice was to try to stop taking the metoprolol, which I was only able to do for a short period of time, until the rapid heart rate returned. Are there any beta-blockers that don’t cause hair loss, or a lesser degree of hair loss?
Answer: Hair loss is a rare side effect of these drugs. You need to check with your doctor for alternatives and see if substitutes have less of an impact on your hair. If you wish to monitor the hair loss and change between an alternative treatment theraphy then contact the Hair Centre for more advice.
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