Bosley Hair Loss Blog

Feeling Pent Up

2012-05-23T16:37:00-07:00

I woke up feeling a little bummed out today. Not only do I go back to work tomorrow (I must admit, the week off has been nice) but Sundays are a day I usually look forward to because I’m in a Sunday afternoon bowling league. Since I’m still healing from my procedure, it’s probably not a good idea to bowl today so I decided to skip it.

I’m starting to get a little stir crazy just sitting around the house— it’s time to get out and do something. Although I did meet some coworkers for lunch on Thursday, that hour and a half just wasn’t enough. There’s only so much TV a person can watch and seriously, daytime TV is not entertaining at all!

I’ve had a little swelling in my forehead the last couple of days, so I’ve been icing it off-and-on to reduce it. Looking back, I don’t think I did enough of that in the beginning. My scalp is beginning to itch a little, which is normal, but thankfully the spray solution helps calm the itch so I don’t feel like I need to scratch it all the time. All of this may sound kind of annoying, but I know it will be worth it in the end when I am completely healed and the hair is growing nicely.

- Michael

What's Snake Gourd? I Thought You'd Never Ask

2012-05-17T23:48:52-07:00

There have always been a lot of stories and speculation about different plants that help regrow hair or slow down hair loss. Now, a new one has been added to the mix — and it’s not an everyday item you might find at the local nursery.

The leaves of snake gourd, a plant found in rural Nigerian villages, is said to promote hair growth, according to recent studies. In fact, those who used snake gourd extract experienced results similar to the well-known hair growth treatment Minoxidil.

More research is needed, so don’t book your next Nigerian vacation just yet. But do keep an eye on this new treatment, and we’ll do the same here at Battle Against Bald.

FDA Orders Warning Label for Propecia

2012-05-13T22:42:44-07:00

We’ve written in the past about the hair loss drug finasteride (sold under the name Propecia), and its potential link to sexual dysfunction.

At the end of April, the FDA announced that finasteride must carry new labels warning users of potential sexual side effects, including decreased libido and orgasm disorders. While a definitive link between these side effects and the use of finasteride have not been established, the range of potential side effects is wider than previously thought, and therefore patients must be made aware of the risks. You can read the full press release for more information.

As anyone who has ever listened to a drug commercial on TV knows, the list of potential side effects for any medication can be long and daunting. So how seriously do you think these warnings should be taken? Does this change whether or not you’d consider using Propecia?

Feeling Cautious, But Good

2012-05-09T21:34:17-07:00

It’s been a few days since I had the surgery. I’m done with the medicated pads, but have been instructed to continue cleaning the stitches and applying the gel to them twice per day, and also use the spray on my scalp every hour. I’ll do both of those things until I run out of each product.

I’m still sleeping propped up on a pillow. According to the after-care instructions I can sleep lying down at this point, but I have a fear that I will toss and turn in the night and either pull out some of the transplanted follicles or pull the stitches in some way. I don’t want to mess anything up so I’m being extra cautious. It’s probably not necessary, but I’ll continue to sleep this way until I feel comfortable returning to a reclining position.

I’ve had a couple friends stop by to check on me and see how I am doing. They wanted to hear all about the surgery and see how I was healing. It’s been a nice couple of days considering all that’s happened.

- Michael

Scientists Regrow Hair… on a Mouse

2012-05-06T00:52:00-07:00

It may be just a small mouse, but it represents a big advancement in the field of hair loss. A group of scientists in Japan were able to regrow hair on a bald mouse, signifying a major leap in bioengineering technology. Not only did they successfully cultivate the follicles and transplant them on the mouse, they were also able to control the density and color of the hair. These transplanted follicles followed a normal hair growth cycle, and continued to regenerate.

This breakthrough could mean a second chance at a full head of hair for millions of men and women who suffer from hair loss. Stay tuned for more details, and in the meantime, check out how this mouse looks with his new hair!

Watch Michael's Second Hair Restoration

2012-05-01T10:00:33-07:00

Michael has been sharing his thoughts on his second hair restoration procedure. But now, you can see the surgery with your own eyes. Take a look at the video below to get Michael's first hand account of his trip to Dr. Winans' office in Seattle, and see for yourself how the hair follicles are removed from the donor patch and transplanted to enhance the hairline.

And as always, feel free to use the comment box to add your comments or questions.

Day Two and Feeling Good!

2012-04-30T21:44:37-07:00

Two days after the surgery and I’m feeling pretty good, all things considered. My neck is a little sore since I’ve been sleeping basically in a sitting up position. There’s a little bit of soreness on my scalp but thankfully the pain medication helps with that.

I find myself wondering if I should have gone through with a second surgery, only because I was really happy with the results of my first. Compared to the first restoration, I have more spots on my head this time where it continues to bleed just a little, though I’m sure this will stop soon. My list of instructions for today includes treating my scalp with medicated pads twice for 20-40 minutes each time and making sure the stitches are clean. I also have a medicated gel that I have to apply to the stitches that will help the donor area heal quickly and with minimal scarring. Finally, they told me to spray a medicated solution onto my scalp approximately every hour to help the transplanted follicles heal properly. All of these treatments have copper peptides in them that are intended for skin grafts/hair transplants. I’ll continue this tomorrow as well.

- Michael

Toupee, or Not Toupee

2012-04-29T20:59:06-07:00

The first time you notice your hair loss can be a memorable day. It may make you feel old. You may wonder how much hair you’ll lose, and how fast. And for this student from San Diego State University, it spurred one important question: will his friends and family tell him if he looks stupid in a toupee?

To read more about his plunge into toupees, goatees and other attempts to minimize the effects of his impending baldness, check out his blog.

Michael's Post-Op Checkup

2012-04-25T22:45:27-07:00

The day after the procedure, I woke up feeling pretty good, all things considered. I slept with 3 or 4 pillows propping me up and then one of those u-shaped travel pillows around my neck for support and to keep my head elevated. The elevation is supposed to reduce swelling and prevent bleeding, as well as minimize the possibility of damaging any of the newly transplanted follicles. Luckily, Bosley sent me home with some good pain pills and a sleep aid for the first few nights.

I was pretty excited to go in for the post-op checkup. I was really looking forward to have my hair shampooed! For the first week, I can’t massage my scalp anywhere that there are new implants, but I need to gently massage the area with the stitches to keep it clean. During the post-op appointment, they said everything looked good and would heal up nicely. After the shampoo and a rundown of the instructions for the next 10 days, I was on my way home. I am taking the entire week off of work— I figured it was a good excuse to relax and not worry about every day stresses!

Hair Loss as a Symptom, Not a Disease

2012-04-21T22:03:00-07:00

We often think of balding as an affliction in and of itself. In this Fox News segment, an expert from the Cleveland Clinic discusses hair loss and how it can be a sign of other more serious illnesses. From autoimmune diseases to stress to nutritional deficiencies, Dr. Kyei, talks about common causes of hair loss and what treatment plans may be recommended based on the diagnosis. Watch the video to learn more.

The Surgery is Over!

2012-04-19T21:51:18-07:00

I arrived at the Bosley clinic just before 7 a.m. today, had my final consultation and quickly went into the procedure. I’m feeling pretty good considering that I had 2,107 hair follicles relocated from the back of my head. While talking with Dr. Winans during the consultation, we decided that the hairline he created for me two-and-a-half years ago looks great, so the plan for round two would be for him to add fullness in the front and crown areas. To achieve this, he wanted to get around 1,500 implants towards the front, and around 500 on the crown. As it turns out, my donor area had more follicles than originally estimated, so the extra 107 follicles that were harvested went in the crown area as well.

Let’s back up a little. After the pre-surgery consultation, the nurses began prepping me with mild sedatives and local anesthesia so I wouldn’t feel anything during the procedure. The first couple hours seemed to just fly by, thanks to the sedatives. I think I dozed off a couple of times but the doctor or nurses would speak to me and I’d immediately wake up and answer them. Before I knew it, it was lunchtime. Just like before, they brought a sandwich from a sub shop. The day was very similar to my first procedure, and I wondered why I had been so nervous the day before.

At the end of the day, as Dr. Winans was finishing up and getting me on my way, he seemed very pleased with the work that was done and mentioned that I should have a lot more fullness in the front and crown of my head.

I’ll go back for a post-op check-up tomorrow morning, where they will wash my hair and make sure all sutures and implants look good. For now, I’ll ice my forehead for the evening, 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off. This will reduce any possibility of swelling.

I’ll keep you posted as things progress. But so far, so good!

- Michael

Vitamin E Gets an “A”

2012-04-15T20:13:40-07:00

A few weeks ago, we posted about a company that takes a look at hair growth vitamins and analyzes how they affect overall hair health.

Currently, no vitamin is touted as the answer to hair loss, but recent research on Vitamin E may put it at the head of the class. Tests were performed on a series of patients, and over 50% of participants experienced a 10-15% increase in hair growth when taking vitamin E supplements. Some participants saw as much as a 50% increase in growth.

More research is needed to prove the worth of vitamin E as a hair growth treatment. But in the meantime, vitamin E in general is good for your body and skin, so what’s stopping you from trying it?

Ready for Round 2!

2012-04-10T21:03:09-07:00

The last few weeks, since scheduling my second Bosley procedure, have been kind of an emotional roller coaster. I’ve wanted to do this for a while and of course am looking forward to it. My first procedure went so smoothly, with minimal pain or down time, and I’m hopeful that the next one will be just as easy.

I’ll be travelling to Seattle in just a couple of hours — my bag is packed and I’m ready to drive north. I won’t lie; I am a bit nervous. It’s been two and half years since I had the first hair restoration and I keep thinking to myself, was it more difficult than I remember? At 7 am tomorrow, when I am sitting in the clinic and getting ready, will I be ok? I mean sure, it’s a relatively minor procedure, but with any surgical procedure there can be risks.

I’m ready to face the fear and take the risk. Wish me luck!

- Michael

Lose Your Hair, But Find Yourself

2012-04-07T21:15:00-07:00

If you’re losing your hair, you’re acutely aware of how that can affect your self-confidence. But hair loss doesn’t have to mean a loss of self-esteem. The truth is our hair is only one small part of what makes us all who we are. We found a video on the hairloss.com website that talks about the different things we can all do to feel good about ourselves. Take a look, and let us know what other ways, besides hair, you’ve found to express your individualism.

Protein Inhibitor That Causes Hair Loss Identified

2012-04-04T06:24:35-07:00

An abnormally high level of a protein called Prostaglandin D2 has been found in the scalps of men with male pattern baldness — a discovery that could directly impact new treatments for hair loss in men. This protein, known as PGD2 has been determined to inhibit hair growth, paving the way for a series of new remedies designed to target the protein and counteract its effects. Read this article to find out more about this breakthrough discovery.