Table Of Content01_087879-ffirs.qxp 10/23/08 10:21 AM Page i
Hair Loss &
Replacement
FOR
DUMmIES
‰
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Hair Loss &
Replacement
FOR
DUMmIES
‰
by William R.Rassman,M.D.,
Jae P.Pak,M.D.,Eric Schweiger,M.D.,
and Robert M.Bernstein,M.D.
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Hair Loss & Replacement For Dummies®
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About the Authors
William R. Rassman, M.D.is a professional inventor with more than
two dozen issued or pending patents in a wide range of fields includ-
ing medical devices, computer software, and biotechnology instru-
mentation. He introduced the modern standards of care for hair
transplantation, pioneered follicular unit hair transplantation, follic-
ular unit extraction, and hair transplant repair, publishing these
techniques in prestigious medical journals with Dr. Bernstein. He
received the Golden Follicle Award for his contributions to the clini-
cal practice of hair restoration. Dr. Rassman has been featured on
TV media events such as ABC’s Extreme Makeoverand programs on
the Discovery Channel, the BBC, and many others. Throughout his
career, Dr. Rassman’s goal has been to make a difference, and among
his most notable accomplishments is his pioneering work develop-
ing and commercializing the intra-aortic pump, today’s standard of
care heart pump found in almost every cardiac care unit in the
world. Today Dr. Rassman’s focus is on his hair transplant practice
and the balding blog www.baldlingblog.com, now the largest hair
loss Web site in the world. You can find out more about his practice
at his Web site, www.newhair.com, and by calling 1-800-NewHair.
Jae P. Pak, M.D.graduated from the University of California, Irvine,
with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace and Mechanical
Engineering. He then took a brief detour with the U.S. Marine Corp
Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia, to pursue his love of
aviation. As an engineer, he designed fiber optic illuminators and
lighting systems that are used all over the world. Some of his engi-
neering work can be seen on the skyline of Las Vegas and stealth
ships operated by the U.S. Navy. Eventually Dr. Pak went on to com-
plete his medical training at the Medical College of Virginia.His inter-
est in medicine crossed paths with Dr. William Rassman’s interest in
engineering in 1997. Since then, the two have been pioneering hair
transplant methods, automation, and instrumentation from the initial
follicular unit extraction (FUE) techniques and tools to Hair Implanting
Pen devices that are routinely used in his practice. He has collabo-
rated on U.S. Patents with Dr. Rassman and has been intimately
involved with innovative hair transplant surgical techniques incor-
porating new technology. Dr. Pak is also an avid artist and painter,
which serves him well in the aesthetics of hair restoration. Dr. Pak
continues to develop new surgical techniques and invent surgical
instrumentation to further advance the field of hair transplant
surgery with Dr. Rassman at the New Hair Institute in Los Angeles.
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Eric Schweiger, M.D.is Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at the
Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. He practices cosmetic
and general dermatology with a particular focus on hair loss and its
treatment. Dr. Schweiger has served as the primary investigator in
clinical research studies involving lasers and light-based treatment,
and he has authored numerous articles in peer-reviewed medical
journals. Dr. Schweiger received his undergraduate degree from the
University of Michigan and his doctor of medicine from the Albert
Einstein College of Medicine in New York . He completed his intern-
ship in internal medicine at NYU Medical Center and his dermatol-
ogy residency at the University of Kansas. You can find out more
about his practice at www.bernsteinmedical.com.
Robert M. Bernstein, M.D.is Clinical Professor of Dermatology at
the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University in New
York. He’s recognized worldwide for his pioneering work in follicu-
lar unit hair transplantation, follicular unit extraction, and hair
transplant repair. Dr. Bernstein has been chosen as one of New York
Magazine’s “Best Doctors in New York” for eight consecutive years,
and he’s a recipient of the Platinum Follicle Award for his achieve-
ments in surgical hair restoration. Dr. Bernstein has been featured
on Good Morning America, theToday show, and the Discovery
Channel. He has appeared on The Early Show, CBS News,Fox News,
National Public Radio, and in GQ Magazine, Men’s Health,and
Vogue.Dr. Bernstein’s Center for Hair Restoration in Manhattan is
devoted to the treatment of hair loss using pioneering state-of-the-
art hair transplant techniques. You can find out more about his
practice at his Web site, www.bernsteinmedical.com, and by
calling 212-826-2400.
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Authors’ Acknowledgments
The authors have written numerous scientific articles and textbook
chapters for the medical field, but writing a succinct reference book
for a wide audience is a uniquely different challenge and in many
ways far more difficult. We could never have accomplished this task
without the help of our experienced editors Sharon Perkins and Tracy
Brown Collins (who are anything but Dummies). We’re very grateful
for their professionalism and hard work in bringing this book to press.
As hair transplant surgeons, writing about the technical elements of
the surgical process was easier than tackling some of the other sub-
jects that fell outside our area of expertise. We want to thank Douglas
Hong, who had the insight to point us in the direction to write this
book; Dr. Norman Estrin, for his help in explaining issues related to
the FDA as well as hair care; and Bret Katz and David Ahdoot of DD
Chemco, for giving us very important insights into the fine nuances of
the chemicals and ingredients found in various commercial products.
Although there are many people we can acknowledge who helped
educate us in the fields of hair and hair restoration, Dr. Richard
Shiell stands out because he freely gave us insights from his
decades of experience working through the various hair technolo-
gies. Also, there are many staff members who have worked tire-
lessly with us in surgery as part of our teams, hour after hour and
day after day, and we wish to acknowledge them as a group.
We want to thank our patients for the faith they put in us as physi-
cians and surgeons. As we were at the forefront of a new hair trans-
plant paradigm, we were fortunate that many of our patients were
able to understand this vision and share in its development. We
became partners in their surgical care and in the evolution of this
exciting new field of hair restoration.
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Publisher’s Acknowledgments
We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our Dummies online regis-
tration form located at www.dummies.com/register/.
Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:
Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Composition Services
Development
Project Coordinator: Patrick Redmond
Project Editor: Tracy Brown Collins Layout and Graphics: Reuben W. Davis,
Acquisitions Editor: Mike Lewis Melissa K. Jester, Christine Williams
Senior Copy Editor: Elizabeth Rea Art Coordinator:Alicia B. South
Technical Editor: Dr. Ronald Shapiro Special Art: Kathryn Born
Senior Editorial Manager: Jennifer Ehrlich Proofreader: Evelyn C. Gibson
Editorial Supervisor and Reprint Editor: Indexer: Potomac Indexing, LLC
Carmen Krikorian
Editorial Assistants:Joe Niesen,
David Lutton, Jennette ElNaggar
Cover Photo:© BananaStock
Cartoons: Rich Tennant
(www.the5thwave.com)
Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies
Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies
Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director, Consumer Dummies
Kristin Ferguson-Wagstaffe, Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies
Ensley Eikenburg,Associate Publisher, Travel
Kelly Regan,Editorial Director, Travel
Publishing for Technology Dummies
Andy Cummings,Vice President and Publisher, Dummies Technology/General User
Composition Services
Gerry Fahey,Vice President of Production Services
Debbie Stailey,Director of Composition Services
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Contents at a Glance
Introduction.......................................................1
Part I: Getting to Know Your Hair .......................7
Chapter 1:All About Hair and Hair Loss.................................................9
Chapter 2:Splitting Hairs: Growth, Loss, and Change over Time......19
Chapter 3:Taking Better Care of Your Hair...........................................29
Part II: The Root of Hair Loss:
How and Why It Happens.................................53
Chapter 4:Types of Hair Loss and Pattern Thinning
in Men and Women............................................................................55
Chapter 5:Diseasesthat Cause Hair Loss.............................................79
Part III: Creative Techniques
for Concealing Hair Loss...................................95
Chapter 6:Toupee or not Toupee?.........................................................97
Chapter 7:Shopping for Hair Replacement Systems.........................119
Chapter 8:Concealing Hair Loss with Fibers, Sprays, and More.....135
Part IV: Pharmaceutical, Laser,
and Topical Therapies.....................................147
Chapter 9:Turning to Prescription Medications
for Hair Loss.....................................................................................149
Chapter 10:Supplementing Your Diet to Help Slow Hair Loss.........163
Chapter 11:Low-Level Laser Therapy.................................................179
Part V: Advanced Hair Loss Solutions..............187
Chapter 12:Hair Restoration Options: Past and Present..................189
Chapter 13: Hair Transplant Surgery..................................................209
Chapter 14:Caring for Your Hair after Surgery..................................239
Part VI: The Part of Tens.................................249
Chapter 15:Ten (or so) Myths about Hair Loss.................................251
Chapter 16:Ten Pros and Cons of Non-Surgical
Hair Replacement.............................................................................257
Chapter 17:Ten Reasons to Consider a Hair Transplant..................263
Chapter 18:Ten Facts about the FDA and Hair Products..................271
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Part VII: Appendixes ......................................279
Appendix A:Online Organizations and Resources............................281
Appendix B:A Psychological Study of Hair Loss...............................289
Appendix C:Glossary............................................................................293
Index.............................................................299
