Dr Lam's Hair Restoration Forum

[medstudent]

Hello Dr Lam,
I'm a 25 year old female from an Indian (asian)background. I started to have thinning of the hair around the crown area when i was in 12th grade , but in 2nd year of med school ( maybe due to stress im not sure ) my scalp could be seen . I have never used any hairsprays or heating tools on my hair. My mother's and father's hair ( late 50's)as well as my elder sister's hair ( 30 years old)is still very thick .My paternal aunt however has very thin hair.
I had gone to a trichologist 4 years ago and he had given me minoxidil topical. I used it for about over a year , but it didnt seem to help. I also tried homeopathic medicines.
I got a hormone level( thyroid and oes , prog), vitB, CBC check up. Everything was normal.
I recently went to a trichologist ( who does hair transplants) in my city. He said I was a good candidate for transplant ( 60 % thinning and shortening), but when he looked at my occipital hair ( donor area) he said its too thin for transplant,( so he gave me toppik hair fibres and thats it,)and said Id have to wait for my occipital hair to get thicker.I don't mean to disrespect his decision, but I really don't feel that my occipital hair is too thin for transplant.

Can you please answer my queries:
1.Is there anyway to make my occipital hair thicker( in order to get transplants)?
2.Was one year and few months enough a trial for minoxidil?
3.Are there any other investigations I must get done to rule out a cause?
4. Can any other person be the hair donor?

Please show me the way so I can make my next step.
Thank you

[dr. lam]

HI, THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST. HERE ARE YOUR ANSWERS:
1.Is there anyway to make my occipital hair thicker( in order to get transplants)?
NO, UNFORTUNATELY NOT. IF YOU REALLY HAVE POOR DONOR HAIR, THEN YOU CAN'T GET A TRANSPLANT. HOWEVER, I DO A TON OF FEMALE TRANSPLANTS AND I STRATEGIZE TO PLACE THE HAIR IN SUCH A WAY AS TO TRY TO GET MAXIMAL CAMOUFLAGE. FOR EXAMPLE AN L-SHAPED OR T-SHAPED FRONTAL PATTERN TO FOLLOW PART LINES AND FRONTAL FORELOCK LOSS. FOR THE OCCIPITAL REGION LIKE THE CROWN THAT MAKES THINGS HARDER BUT I TRY TO CONCENTRATE ON THE UPPER HALF WHERE HAIR SWEEPS BACK DOWN. ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, THE ONLY WAY I CAN TELL IS TO LOOK AT YOUR DONOR HAIR IN PERSON BUT A PHOTO COULD BE AN OK START. JUST CAN'T MAKE PROMISES.
2.Was one year and few months enough a trial for minoxidil?
MINOXIDIL IS JUST TO LIMIT SHEDDING BUT IT DOES NOT PROVIDE A LONG-TERM SOLUTION. I THINK IT IS ALWAYS A GREAT IDEA TO BE ON MINOXIDIL FOR AT LEAST 6 WEEKS BEFORE A TRANSPLANT BECAUSE WOMEN TEND TO SHED THEIR HAIR AFTER A TRANSPLANT AND MINOXIDIL CAN MINIMIZE IT.
3.Are there any other investigations I must get done to rule out a cause?
IF A DERMATOLOGIST LOOKED AT IT AND YOU HAVE HAD BLOOD WORK, THEN THAT ARE THE TWO BIG THINGS. ALSO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR HAIR LOSS IS STABILIZED SO THAT WE DON'T KEEP TRYING TO TRANSPLANT YOU IF YOU ARE IN A LOSING HAIR MODE.
4. Can any other person be the hair donor?
UNFORTUNATELY, NO. HAIR TRANSPLANTS CANNOT BE GIVEN TO SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE IT WILL BE REJECTED.
I WOULD REALLY PREFER AN IN PERSON CONSULTATION BUT IN LIEU OF THAT, YOU COULD SEND ME A PHOTO OF YOUR CROWN AND YOUR DONOR HAIR LIFTED UP SO THAT I CAN SEE THE INSERTION. YOU CAN SEND ME A PRIVATE MESSAGE ON HERE OR AN EMAIL TO DRLAM@LAMFACIALPLASTICS.COM.
best,
dr. sam lam