Synopsis: Dr. Bernstein’s newly revised chapter, Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation, in “Surgery of the Skin: Procedural Dermatology,” a core surgical textbook for dermatologic training programs, covers a wide range of standard topics including; patient evaluation, surgical planning, operating techniques and aesthetic considerations in hair transplant design. New topics include: follicular unit extraction, eyebrow and eyelash transplantation, long-hair transplants, trichophytic closures, automation and hair cloning.
Q: If you transplant grafts in between the thinned out areas, is there a risk of cutting previously normal roots, even if one is cautious? — J.S., Upper Saddle River, N.J.
A: Healthy hair can be temporarily shocked from a hair transplant and then shed (the process is called telogen effluvium) but it will not be permanently damaged.
Any healthy hair that is lost in this shedding process should re-grow.
O, The Oprah Magazine has a feature on hair loss in women in their March 2010 issue. Dr. Bernstein was consulted for the article and discussed female hair transplantation.
“Since female hair loss is often diffuse, only about 20 percent of female patients with thinning hair are candidates, says Robert Bernstein, MD, a New York City dermatologist who specializes in these surgeries.”
Asylum.com reporter Brett Smiley interviewed Dr. Bernstein to get his take on hair loss and the balding pattern known as a “power alley”:
“Power alley is an accurate term for that type of balding,” says Dr. Robert M. Bernstein, a clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia University and world-renowned hair-transplant surgeon. “It’s Norwood Class III balding, which is the most common type.”
Q: At what level of thinning should the hair transplant be done? — V.K., London, UK
A: A hair transplant should be considered in an area of thinning when:
- The area has not responded to medical therapy (finasteride 1mg a day orally and minoxidil 5% topically for one year).
- The thinning is significant enough that it can’t be disguised with simple grooming (i.e. is a cosmetic problem even when the hair is combed well).
Other factors that are important include:
- the age of the patient
- the donor supply
- whether the thinning is in the front of the scalp or in the crown
Q: I have been using Rogaine and Propecia, but recently purchased a bottle of Nioxin Cleanser/Shampoo. However, I am reluctant to apply it because I have noticed that the Nioxin website recommends against mixing Nioxin products with Rogaine products. Do you think that it is safe or advisable to use the Nixon shampoo? Is there any indication that this product is even effective? Any advice?
A: Nioxin has no active ingredients that can grow hair. There is an increased incidence of scalp irritation when used with Rogaine – i.e., the likely reason for their warning. I would stick with the medications that are proven to work, i.e. finasteride and minoxidil.
Dr. Robert M. Bernstein was interviewed for a segment on The Today Show on the subject of eyelash enhancement and use of the eyelash medication Latisse. Dr. Bernstein first appears about two minutes into the clip. View the complete video.
Bizymoms.com, the premier work-at-home community on the Internet with more than 5 million visitors per year, has interviewed Dr. Robert M. Bernstein in order to answer readers’ common questions about hair restoration and hair loss.
Dr. Robert M. Bernstein was interviewed by The Today Show on eyelash enhancement and the eyelash medication.
Q: What is your take on hair tattoos?
A: I don’t think that it is a good idea since, as the pigment is absorbed deeper into the skin, the tattoos tend to change color over time, developing a bluish hue. This gives a distinctly unnatural appearance. However, techniques are improving and there is increasing demand for Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) procedures.