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For the past 10 years or so, low level laser light therapy (LLLT) has been promoted as a treatment for hair loss. The original HairMax comb was the first commercially available home use device. While claims of efficacy were great, the reality is that most patients with whom I have spoken have reported little if any results from laser combs.

For the past two years, my office has been offering LLLT in-office, using the Revage system. While it is one of several proprietary systems, the science behind the device seems to make sense- more laser diodes that rotate assuring diffuse scalp coverage, higher energy, and a large hood- and I have in fact observed definite advantages that I would describe as working in around 70% of all men and women with active shedding, helping to slow down or even stop the process. We have also seen, primarily in women, some restoring of density. This is a rather impressive result, and because of my confidence in LLLT, I have been recommending it to select patients.

This past year, the manufacturer of the Revage system came out with the iGrow, a home use LLLT device that uses the same technology as the office unit. The iGrow I describe looks like a skateboard helmet, and is applied to the scalp for 30 minutes three times a week. We are optimistic that the results with the iGrow will be close to as good as they are with the Revage. Once again, setting realistic patient expectations, and proper patient selection, is key.

There is always risk of shock hair loss- however, with my significant experience with procedures on women (typically performing 3 to 4 weekly), we are able to keep this risk to a surprising minimum, with very few patients having any degree of hair loss after the procedure. Some of this is due to the careful technique, but also due to the careful selection of patients so that they are good candidates.

Please feel free to email me some photos to evaluate.

A variety of treatments are available for you. These include Propecia, laser light therapy, optimal scalp and hair care, and Rogaine

A variety of treatments are available for you. These include Propecia, laser light therapy, optimal scalp and hair care, and Rogaine

Posted by Jeffrey Epstein, MD, FACS

Most likely you are having normal hair loss as transplanted hair, if it was taken from an area where the hair is genetically programmed to live your whole lifetime, would not be thinning. It does not matter if the hair was placed into an area where you had previous thinning, the transplanted hair lives a full lifetime.
 
What you have is your regular hair continuing its thinning process and you may want to have more hair transplanted into this area to help thicken and add density to the area, which can easily be done.

Posted by Richard Galitz, MD, FACS

No, in our practice we have a significant number of Afro-American males who have had hair transplants. The good thing is that on black or Afro-American individuals the hair transplant is slightly easier to disguise because you do not have very dark hair against very light skin. The design of the hair and transplant is very important and maintaining good health to the transplant hairs with an experienced staff is very important. We have many pictures of Afro-American males with very successful hair transplant work and it looks very natural. We would be very happy to show you those if you have an interest.

Posted by Richard Galitz, MD, FACS

Generally speaking, we try and do one-procedure cases as much as possible, both for the convenience of the patient and for the opportunity to get the result you would like in one sitting. There are, however, circumstances where it is sometimes better to do two sessions rather than one session depending upon the donor site and the hair and the response of the patient to the time involved in the particular surgery. It sounds like the degree of hair loss that you have and the fact that you may be able to get a good response from 2,500 grafts, I think that this all could be done in one sitting pretty easily.

Posted by Richard Galitz, MD, FACS

Laser hair removal for the upper lip is excellent; however, the recovery period will be approximately seven to ten days. There will be some pink discoloration in the area for about two to three days. In those who recover very quickly, it is very hard to tell that anything was done after five or six days. There are some individuals, however, who at seven to eight days may still have a little bit of redness in the area. Makeup can be used after four or five days without any concern to the area.

Posted by Richard Galitz, MD, FACS