Please feel free to ask Dr Chan a question.
to ask a question, simply scroll down to the bottom of the page.
to ask a question, simply scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Melbourne: North Western Dermatology 117 Pascoe Vale Rd Moonee Ponds, VIC 3039
Sydney: Suite 8, 47 Neridah Street Chatswood Village Chatswood, NSW 2067
Copyright © 2014 Australasian Hair Transplant Institute
English
porter says:
how much time off work do i need to take after the procedure?
December 20th, 2012 at 3:12 am
drchan says:
Hi Porter, physically you should be able to return work the next day. But the surgical site could be obvious for 1 to 2 weeks depending on the size and site of the surgery.
December 20th, 2012 at 8:16 am
Lucy says:
When can I go swimming at beach/in a pool after the procedure?
December 20th, 2012 at 3:37 am
drchan says:
Hi Lucy, you can go back to swim after one week but if at the beach, must apply sunscreen over the recipient area. Also try to wash off with clean water ASAP.
December 20th, 2012 at 8:14 am
Danny says:
i’m a personal trainer and do a lot of physical activity. how long before i can go back to work? will physical activity damage the hair?
December 27th, 2012 at 12:35 am
drchan says:
Hi Danny, for regular exercise, you can resume at 1 week. But for heavy weight lifting I recommend wait for 2 weeks.
January 13th, 2013 at 11:35 pm
Samantha says:
I just want a fuller eyebrow, can eyebrow transplant make it possible? as of the moment i am sporting a very thin arched eyebrow. many thanks!
December 30th, 2012 at 12:34 am
drchan says:
Definitely Samantha, many of my patients (especially younger ones who like to keep up with the trend) have chosen this option.
January 13th, 2013 at 11:34 pm
steve says:
r there additional costs on top of da actual surgery fee? thxs steve.
January 3rd, 2013 at 1:45 am
drchan says:
Hi Steve, no, the price quoted at consult for the surgery includes all medications related to the surgery, doctors fee and follow up consult fees up to 1 year.
January 13th, 2013 at 11:32 pm
Sasha says:
I’m a smoker, will it affect the result of the procedure? Should I need to quit it?
January 14th, 2013 at 6:02 am
drchan says:
Hi Sasha, smoking does impair healing. Although it is not essential to quit, it would be beneficial.
January 14th, 2013 at 11:43 am
Alexandria says:
I have a full long hair and need to brush it everyday. I’m considering the FUE procedure for my receding hairline. will it be a problem to comb my hair just after the procedure? cheers
January 15th, 2013 at 5:38 am
drchan says:
Hi Alexandria, you would need to avoid any action that might rub the recipient site for one week. So when brushing, you would need to lift the brush so that it does not touch the scalp.
January 15th, 2013 at 9:14 am
talisse says:
Hi there. I’ve had an eyebrow tattoo done and was wondering if that would affect the procedure in some way? thank you. talisse.
January 20th, 2013 at 10:06 pm
drchan says:
Hi Talisse, in most cases the tatto will not affect the transplant unless the skin is scarred.
January 21st, 2013 at 9:51 am
Daniel says:
Is there any particular hairstyle for transplantation? Or any particular hair length thats required? thx!!
January 20th, 2013 at 10:31 pm
drchan says:
Hi Daniel, the hair follicles that need to be extracted need to be trimmed to number one or less. In most case, I would work out with the patient trying to leave the surrounding hairs long enough to cover the wounds.
January 21st, 2013 at 9:53 am
Daniel says:
thx for your prompt reply. may I ask one more thing? Can I just have my haircut before the procedure?
January 23rd, 2013 at 12:25 am
drchan says:
Hi Daniel, you can, but I would recommend to leave it for me on the day. Most of the time, I could try to trim only what is necessary and leave the surrounding hair to cover the wounds. This way, you could resume normal social activities almost the next day!
January 26th, 2013 at 10:13 am
talisse says:
what do you mean by skin is scarred?
January 24th, 2013 at 11:48 pm
drchan says:
Hi Talisse, very rarely significant damage could result after tattoo and this can lead to scarring of the skin. In most case, it’s not a problem.
January 26th, 2013 at 10:16 am
Wally says:
I have been meaning to have a consultation to have my hair check, as it is receeding. but i have no time during the week because of my work. do you offer weekend consultation? tnx!
January 25th, 2013 at 12:15 am
drchan says:
Hi Wally, I do consults the first Saturday of each month.
January 26th, 2013 at 10:16 am
David says:
Hi doctor, I’ve looked up your website and have a bit understanding of the FUE technique, but my situation is I dont have much hair left and the crown part is completely bald. Would you suggest me any other way to get more hair? or maybe PRP? thx!
January 31st, 2013 at 11:02 pm
drchan says:
Hi David, yes. PRP would be a potential option for you. Doctors around the world are starting to use PRP to stimulate hair cells and seems to be getting good results. But at this stage, we do not have any statistics on the success rate.
February 1st, 2013 at 1:12 am
delton says:
hi Doctor!i had a scar on my head about the size of a 50 cents.would it be possible to transplant hairs on it?and how much would it possibly cost me?thanks!
February 6th, 2013 at 9:28 am
drchan says:
Hi Delton, yes but survival rate in scar tissue is reduced as compared to healthy skin. For healthy skin, the survival rate is usually above 95%, but in scar tissue, it can range from 50 to 80% depending on the condition of the scar and it can be unpredictable. The cost is $14 per graft. The number of grafts required would be roughly 150 to 200 grafts.
February 6th, 2013 at 10:38 pm
Christian says:
Hi, Im a 30 years old male suffering with Alopecia Areata, I have a bald spot on the back of my head and 2 more tiny spots near by; could you do anything on it? Hair Transplant?
February 12th, 2013 at 12:10 am
drchan says:
Hi Christian, hair transplant is not the treatment of choice for Alopecia Areata. The most suitable treatment would be intralesional steroid. Hair transplant is only considered if all other options failed and no improvement nor deterioration for over at least 3 years.
February 12th, 2013 at 10:52 am
Justin says:
I am really interested in getting hair transplant. i am going completely bald on the top and it seems to be going quicker now that i am over 21. i hate it and i want to see if i can get it fix. please can you help me? thx
February 19th, 2013 at 1:26 am
drchan says:
Hi Justin, hair transplant may not be the best option for potential severe hair loss at a young age. You should explore all possible treatment options including combinations of non surgical methods to restore as much hair back as possible. I recommend you to see a hair surgeon to explore the options with you. If the management is not planned properly, you could end up with a lot of unnatural scars or gaps from ongoing hair loss.
February 19th, 2013 at 10:12 am
Emilie says:
Hi doctor, Do you do PRP on scalp at the moment? I have thining hair on top of my head. if yes, how much for that? thx so much!!
February 19th, 2013 at 1:32 am
drchan says:
Hi Emillie, yes we do. PRP therapy is becoming more popular in the hair field all over the world. More and more promising results are emerging. It has been used for over one to two decades for other areas of medicine such as orthopedic, sports, dentistry, obestetric, cosmetic. Different prices between clinic for PRP due to different machines used to concentrate the PRP. The cost in our clinic is $1500.
February 19th, 2013 at 10:17 am
cc says:
is there anything i can do besides transplant? meds/alternative therapy??
February 19th, 2013 at 8:47 am
drchan says:
Hi CC, definitely. We should always explore nonsurgical options first. But certainly every case is different: degree of hair loss, patients goal, age and gender, all would influence the ultimate treatment plan. I always get better results: short term and long term, combining nonsurgical and surgical therapy. I cannot comment on alternative therapies as we do not have sufficient medical research on them and evidence is lacking in many on the market.
February 19th, 2013 at 10:22 am
Ira says:
I had a chicken pox about 8 years ago and i now have a scar in the arch of my eyebrow where the hair hasn’t grown back. Would your procedure fix this? Is it permanent eg hair won’t fall out over time? also do you have a clinic in perth or would i come to sydney in which case is the procedure done in 1 sitting?
February 19th, 2013 at 10:12 pm
drchan says:
Hi Ira, scarring over eyebrows can be quite obvious and hair transplantation is a good option in most cases. However, survival rate can be a bit unpredictable depending on the condition of the scars. Detailed examination of the scar and surrounding skin is required. Yes, the procedure should be complete within 2 to 3 hours, and patients from interstate usually fly in and fly out the same day to avoid accommodation. But you may need to fly in the night before since your flight is 4 to 5 hours.
February 24th, 2013 at 11:10 am
Emilie says:
thx for your reply. I was wondering is it any discomfort after PRP? Would I get the result immediately (few weeks later)? How long will it last?
February 21st, 2013 at 11:46 pm
drchan says:
Hi Emilie, improvement may start at 3 to 4 months and in most case, it last for 11 to 12 months.
February 24th, 2013 at 11:04 am
Nebben says:
i am a bit confuse about follicle unit, does it mean hair? please explain.
February 25th, 2013 at 12:39 am
drchan says:
Hi Nebben, this is a common question. One hair follicle produce one hair. Hair follicles exist in groups of one to even four or five sometimes. Commonly one to three. This group we call follicular unit.
February 26th, 2013 at 10:00 am
Nebben says:
thx for your reply. so that it means if i transplant 1000 follicle unit i will have more than 1000 hairs right? so roughly how many hair for 1000 FU??
February 27th, 2013 at 1:43 am
Lydia says:
Hi Dr Chan, im 34 now and was gradually losing hair during/after pregnancy(started 3 years ago). am i a suitable candidate for the procedure?
March 5th, 2013 at 6:32 am
drchan says:
Hi Lydia, hair loss after childbirth is common and usually self limiting. However if you do have other underlying health problems or genetic diseases that may result in hair loss, the hair loss could continue. Hair transplantation may be a good option but should consult a hair specialist first to find out the cause and treat accordingly.
March 5th, 2013 at 9:44 am
Michael says:
Hi doctor, your website is quite informative. there is one thing i want to know, I’m now over 55, is there any risk subject to the transplant? any particular preparation before the surgery?
March 14th, 2013 at 12:31 am
drchan says:
Hi Michael, hair transplantation using FUE technique is very minimally invasive. The risk is rare and includes local skin infection or temporary bleeding or bruising and allergy to local anesthetic. Individual variation is possible and I’ll assess you myself before the surgery and inform you of all potential risks involved and any particular preparation that may be necessary.
March 17th, 2013 at 7:55 am
Wayne says:
Hello
How much is each graft ?
Do you do beard and body as donor area.
Does the procedure hurt ?
Regards
March 21st, 2013 at 2:08 am
drchan says:
Hi Wayne, The number of graft can range from $14 to $6 per graft. Yes, I do sometimes use beard or body hair as donor. The procedure is under local anaesthetic so it’s just mild sting during the administration of anaesthetic. During the procedure it’s totally painless. Mild discomfort during recovery and usually one to two tablets of panadeine or nurofen is all you required.
March 22nd, 2013 at 4:18 am
Kelly says:
I’m really interested in having my eyebrow done. But I am worried about the down time. 1. How long will it be before I can resume my normal life, without gaving to hide my eyebows? 2. Will there be any help in grooming, as I understand that the hair needs to be trimmed regularly. 3. I know that some people get their donor hair from legs as well, what is the best donor hair to use?
March 24th, 2013 at 11:50 am
drchan says:
Hi Kelly, 1. It would take one to two weeks usually. After one week, you could put some make up over the eyebrows and it is not obvious. 2. I do regular follow up. In Sydney and Melbourne, I can see you in person and help you with the grooming. However, they are very simple instructions and can easily be done within 30 sec. 3. In my opinion, the scalp hair is the best and almost everyone have matching hairs from the scalp to go in the eyebrows. Very rarely I would need to go to use the body hair as donor. The major advantage of scalp hair over body hair is it has better survival and longer growth phase.
March 25th, 2013 at 9:23 am
Jemma says:
I am so impressed with the eyebrow pictures, Dr Chan. I just wondered if I’m a suitable candidate.
I had an eye brow tattoo 3 years ago. I was really happy with it but now it is a dull bluish blur. Before I have another tattoo, I was wondering if I can have a transplant.
Some questions:
Will the tattoo need to be removed?
Is my skin too scarred for transplant? Roughly how much am I looking at?
(The tattoo costed me $450 3 years ago)
Does it need regular touch-ups like my tattoo or is the growth pretty much permanent?
March 24th, 2013 at 12:23 pm
drchan says:
Hi Jemma, many of my patients have tried tattoo sometime in their life and its not a problem to have hair transplant now. However, if the shape of the tattoo is not coverable with the new shape that you desire with hair transplant, you may consider to remove the tattoo with laser. However, in most case, I could work with you a shape that would suit your face without the need to remove it. In general, the more number of tattoo you had, the more scarred the skin would be and the survival of hair transplant may drop as well. The cost range from $5000 to $7000 for full eyebrows and less for partial eyebrows. The result is usually permanent, especially if the donor hair is from the back of your scalp.
March 25th, 2013 at 9:31 am
drchan says:
Hi Archie, certainly hair transplant can help. But the first step is for me to see what the cause is and is hair transplant suitable for the condition. The cost depends on how many graft it requires.
March 27th, 2013 at 8:45 am
Ehs says:
Dr Chan, I have recently been diagnosed with a scarring alopecia called lichen planopilaris.. Iam taking a topical steroid lotion which seems to be working – hair loss slowed/stopped… I do however have a few parts of hair loss (approx 1 cm in diameter) that have already scarred.. Have you dealt with transplants into this type of scar? What are my chances of the grafts working? I realise I have to wait until the disease causing the hair loss has subsided first
April 12th, 2013 at 11:20 am
drchan says:
Hi Ehs, hair transplant into stable Lichen planopilaris is not uncommonly done. The result is quite good depending on the extent of scarring and hair loss. The survival rate of each graft tends to drop 50-80% as compared to 95% in normal healthy skin. But still in most cases, it does improve the condition significantly. A proper assessment of the condition is required as every case is different.
April 15th, 2013 at 8:56 am
jm says:
Hi Dr Chan,
I had a scalp biopsy done and it’s left an obvious circular scar at the top of my head. The biopsy showed that I don’t have FPH. Is it possible to get FUE in a very small area that is causing me great distress? And how much might it cost?
May 11th, 2013 at 2:29 am
drchan says:
Hi JM, This is very commonly done and result will camouflage the scar very well. It’s similar to the scar repair for the young boy with eyebrow scar. You can see his photos on the gallery page. The cost depends on the size and condition of the scar and I can give you more information in a consultation.
May 13th, 2013 at 3:20 am
Penelope says:
Will i need to shave off my hair to have hair implants? I am female and the hair that i do have is very long but thinning up the top
May 17th, 2013 at 9:43 am
drchan says:
Hi Penelope, I only need to shave small sections and this will be easily covered by surrounding hair. Once fully recovered, you won’t be able to find where the hair were taken from.
May 19th, 2013 at 9:21 am
George says:
Hi Doc,
If it’s a small area, is it possible to do the procedure under just local anaesthetic. i.e. without sedation
Thanks for your help
May 17th, 2013 at 11:43 pm
drchan says:
Hi George, definitely. In fact it is uncommon to use sedation for small procedures.
May 19th, 2013 at 9:23 am
Syed says:
I have done two surgeries already with the strip method and it left a scar on back scalp. i have quite wide area to fill, can i still go through another surgery? Thx.
May 21st, 2013 at 6:41 am
drchan says:
Hi Syed, it should not be a problem. This is a common procedure in my clinic. As every case is different, I would need to see you and examine the scar to determine what can be done.
May 21st, 2013 at 9:08 am
chris says:
Hi Dr Chan,
I suffer alopecia, and have lost all my hair on my head and my eyebrows. Is there anything that could be done with my eyebrows?
May 21st, 2013 at 8:31 am
drchan says:
Hi Chris, this depends on the severity of your condition. I presume you mean Alopecia areata or totalis. The success rate is very dependent on the severity of your hair loss. In mild cases, restoration of the eyebrows has been achieved and it does restore the facial proportions and harmony. However, severe cases, it may not be suitable. You need to be assessed by a knowledgable hair surgeon or dermatologist. We can help you to work out the best approach.
May 21st, 2013 at 9:13 am
Yamen says:
Hi dr. I’m 26 years old I have a bold spot in the back and getting thinner in the middle. I was trying a spray for 6 month to help me stop losing my hair. What do u recommend for me a consultation or is there any other alternative? If there is can u please mention them. Thank u
May 28th, 2013 at 4:01 pm
drchan says:
Hi Yamen, a proper consultation with a doctor, preferably who specialize in hair, is required for proper diagnosis hence appropriate treatment accordingly. Proper treatment early is important before it gets worst.
May 29th, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Anita says:
Hi your PRP treatment Is it the same machine used as dr Rhett Bosnich at the Newin Clinic? Also what’s the success rate of this treatment for women? I have lost about 60% of my hair to female pattern baldness. How much would grow back? Thank u
May 29th, 2013 at 12:01 pm
drchan says:
Hi Anita, yes it is. dr Bosnich is a good friend of mine. He recommended this machine to me. This machine has been used by doctors in Amercia for a few years but no actual clinical studies for success rate yet. The fact that PRP has been used in many areas of medicine for over two decades, we do think its safe but its potential to regrowth dormant hair is relatively new. Result is possible and many patients around the world has benefited from this already but no guarantee.
May 29th, 2013 at 12:15 pm
Anita says:
Thank you Dr Chan. I understand there are no clinical studies for success rate as yet however from your patients that have had prp performed what is that success rate? Also how many treatments do you need and is it $1500 per treatment. Thank u kindly
May 29th, 2013 at 1:03 pm
drchan says:
Hi Anita, many of my patients who had purely PRP done is not due for follow up yet. I was only convinced this machine is beneficial and safe at the end of last year where other doctors from overseas has already been using this machine for 5 years. I think this is a safe option that worth a try. I have seen really good results and no results. But if it works, its a relatively cheaper option to surgery and it really get some smiles on my patients face!
At the moment, it is $1500, there is a potential later this year for the consumables to drop price and I’ll past this on fully to my patients. Usual practice is one treatment every 12 months.
May 30th, 2013 at 10:14 am
Lulu says:
Hi Doctor,
I am 23 years old and have a large forehead but do not particularly suffer from bald spots or hairloss. could a hair transplant be done to lower my hairline?
Also, what is an estimate of the price of this?
Thank you in advance
Lulu
June 1st, 2013 at 3:06 pm
drchan says:
Hi Lulu, it can certainly be done. The lady on my website “gallery” had similar situation. Initially she was a bit concerned. Now she really loved it.
June 3rd, 2013 at 3:42 am
sophie says:
Hi, my daughter just turned 11. She has Noonans syndrome and as a result she has Keratosis Pilaris. This has caused her to have very little growth of eyebrow hair through out her life. We currently use Sycilic Acid and Rogain on her face and eyebrows. But this is showing little results. She will be in high school soon and I worry about her being bullied. She also is starting to become depressed and to have a low self esteem due to this issue. We have tried everything and I feel hopeless that I can not help her. Can someone as young as her have the eyebrow transplant, and would the Keratosis prevent her from being consider for a transplant? Any help or advice would be great. Thank you.
June 2nd, 2013 at 4:27 pm
drchan says:
Hi Sophie, she would be a little bit young but it has been done before. I would have to see you and your daughter to discuss this in details.
June 3rd, 2013 at 3:43 am
sophie says:
Also if you could please let me know the ball park figure I would be looking at that would be very helpful. All of the research I have read on this states anywhere from $5000 to $7000, but no mention if the amount is less or more if it is a child that is the patient. I have to start fundraising to aquire the amount needed, as I would not be able to save that amount myself before she is in High school. So as soon as you can reply, that would be great. Thank you again.
June 2nd, 2013 at 11:47 pm
drchan says:
THe cost would be like a partial eyebrow transplant. It would be less than $3000. I would suggest a few options and show you some photos at the consultation.
June 3rd, 2013 at 3:45 am
sophie says:
She has been diagnosed as RAF1 exon17 Noonan syndrome with overlapping Leopard syndrome. If that is any help to you. She is a wonderful little girl who is starting to hate the way she looks, and is starting to struggle with the stares and comments of thoughtless children and sometimes adults. I really see a transplant as her only hope. I have spoken to her Doctors who have said that it is an option as they do not believe she will see much more of a long term result with the 30 minute routine morning and night everyday that we currently have to do. Sorry for the long posts, but I’m just desperate to help her and try to make her feel good about herself. Thankyou again.
June 3rd, 2013 at 1:22 am
drchan says:
Hi again Sophie, I do understand the stress this can sometimes cause to young children. In fact, according to child psychology, the stress they suffer is often underestimated by adults.
June 3rd, 2013 at 9:35 am
sophie says:
Thankyou for that we live in Melbourne so it may a short while before we could afford to come there for a consultation, but hopefully the fundraising that we are going to be starting will cover these sorts of cost. Thankyou again.
June 3rd, 2013 at 4:15 am
Gregory says:
I have an indented hairline (cowlick) that has never had hair growing there. Can hair be transplanted to an area that has never had hair with the same degree of success that occurs with transplants where hair had previously been? Although I have always had it, would I be right in saying it would make me look younger not to have such an exaggerated hairline?
June 3rd, 2013 at 7:29 am
drchan says:
Hi Gregory, yes, hair follicles can be transplanted to any where on the face. Success rate is still above 95% if the skin is healthy. To work out a hairline that will make a person appear more youthful is an art and require a face to face consultation.
June 3rd, 2013 at 9:33 am
John says:
Hello dr chan
I have very thick hair but i have a reseeding hair line one side more then the other I am 26yr old and started at 21yr old i don’t even like looking in the mirror or even going swimming I have lost heaps of confidence please can u advice the best treatment.
I have been to Ashley and Martin 2yrs ago and it didn’t.
June 5th, 2013 at 10:51 am
drchan says:
Hi John, I can help, but I need to see you in person to work out what is the best option for you as every case is different. Certainly early treatment and prevention of further loss is very important in your case.
June 11th, 2013 at 1:25 pm
David says:
Hi Dr. Chan I’m 23 years of age and suffer male pattern baldness causing thinning to my frontal hairline and receding to both recession lines more servere on one side.
I have used minoxidil 7% & retinoic acid 0.01% with LLLT and had great results as most of my hair grew back to normal undectable of suffering hairloss at all. Unfortunately I stopped treatment lost all the new growth and now I’m loosing strands at a faster rate then I used to.
Is transplant an option for me or should I return to topical treatment and finesteride again? I’d prefer transplant as I sadly have lost a fair amount of density.
June 10th, 2013 at 10:52 pm
drchan says:
Hi David, hair loss at a young age is distressing. Unfortunately it is very difficult to predict the severity of hair loss in young people and due to limited supply of hair follicles from your donor region, you should sit down with a hair surgeon to explore all the options before transplanting.
June 13th, 2013 at 11:24 am
Anita says:
Hi I have a consultation with you tomorrow and i just wanted to know how long the consultation takes and what usually happens at the consultation? Thank u
June 22nd, 2013 at 11:29 pm
drchan says:
Hi Anita, the consultation takes roughly 1 hr. Its just like going to any doctor. I’ll find out what is your concern and go over all the possible treatment options. I am very open and straight forward, so if you have any questions please feel free to ask. Even if you forget to ask during the consultation, you can continue to ask me through emails. I will make sure you understand what options are there and what are the pros and cons of each. See you tomorrow.
June 23rd, 2013 at 9:31 am
Ross says:
Hi Dr Chan, I am looking to make my moustache a bit fuller as well as my goatee. Do you perform hair transplants to moustache and beard areas using FUE method? And what is the typical recovery time and cost per graft? Thanks.
June 25th, 2013 at 11:32 am
drchan says:
Hi Ross, certainly. You could see this in the Gallery page. The recovery is roughly 2 weeks for the redness and scab to go away. The cost depends on how many grafts required in total which will be quoted at your consultation.
June 26th, 2013 at 10:22 am
maha says:
i`m maha from egypt i`m using minoxidile from about 5 years old it`s okay but my doctor advice me to use prp injection and i ask about it acenter in london they told me laser will be better cause prp injections conatins hormones that will harm my hair i need ur reply as soon as possible thanks from egypt
July 20th, 2013 at 7:36 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Maha, that’s interesting, as many surgeons around the world have started using PRP injection to treat hair loss and compliment hair transplant. More and more surgeon are also starting to do so. I have not yet come across any statistically reliable clinical papers showing that PRP is harmful to hair. However, PRP is still relatively new and best to consult a hair surgeon face to face.
July 22nd, 2013 at 11:17 am
Michelle says:
Hi Dr Chan, Have you heard of anyone, or are you doing any eyelash transplants successfully?
July 24th, 2013 at 2:17 am
Dr Chan says:
Hi Michelle, I personally believe Latisse for eyelash growth may be a safer option. I have seen too many complications with eyelash transplant. Eyelash is quite different to facial skin and scalp, risk is higher.
July 31st, 2013 at 4:53 am
James says:
Hi Doc
I have thinning hair on the top & I’m currently using minoxidil but no hair re growth , I find it just slows it down.
Is it worth trying PRP injection before considering a hair transplant.
Has anyone lost hair from PRP injections , I know its a hit & miss at the moment but anyone had negative results ?
Thanks
James
September 22nd, 2013 at 1:17 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi James, yes, PRP could be a good option to improve the thinning condition. Best result is to combine the treatments and hair transplantation can be with held until we see what the non surgical methods can do. Yet, I have not seen any negative or hair loss from PRP on the scalp provided it’s done properly.
September 25th, 2013 at 11:27 pm
Norbert says:
Hi,
I had chest hair to scalp FUE done a few years ago . White spots are still visible on my chest. What would you recommend to get rid of the spots? Thanks
September 28th, 2013 at 12:41 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi, It depends on the nature of the scars. Sometimes surgeon use a slightly larger instrument to extract the hair from body leaving behind more obvious scarring. Sometimes it could be due to the healing of the patient himself. You would need to see a hair surgeon to get a more definite advise.
September 30th, 2013 at 6:30 am
James says:
When doing research on the pros and cons of the strip vs FUE, I saw some photos of FUE donor site scars with big white round dots! Does this happen as a general rule or that was just a rare case? Now your website says FUE has no visible scars, so how is your FUE different?
November 18th, 2013 at 1:28 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi James, result varies significantly between surgeons. FUE is a very delicate procedure and with smaller instrument it will leave behind smaller wounds but much harder to extract the full follicle. This is possible with experienced surgeons. In my opinion, using instruments greater than 0.9mm punch potentially leave behind “moth-eaten” appearance. I use 0.7mm punches and the scars is hardly visible to the naked eye.
November 22nd, 2013 at 5:29 am
Suzanne says:
My son is 29 years old and rapidly losing his hair. I am not sure it is inherited (his paternal grandfather had hair loss) or is a result of medication for epilepsy. I live in the USA now and my son is in Sydney. I would love him to have a hair transplantation/FUE and wonder –
….if his medication or epilepsy precludes this.
….what is an estimated cost of a head of hair?
….A concern I have is that he may have (after transplant) the look that I have seen where the hairline is too high and it looks like a cat (or some animal) has been dropped down on to top of the head.
….If it IS the medication causing baldness, would it cause the transplants to fall out too?
….Is it important to get transplants done in one “hit”?
….My son shaves his head completely. Is it important that he comes to you with hair growth?
Thank you for your answers,
May 30th, 2014 at 5:01 pm
Dr Chan says:
Dear Suzanne, based on the information provided, your son’s hair loss is mostly likely due to genetic but proper face to face assessment is required for accurate diagnosis. Cost for hair transplant really depends on how big an area we need to treat and what is the desired density. This is highly variable between individual and I like to sit down with every patient to go thorough this designing / planning process in details so the outcome is realistic and safe. Genetic hair loss is an ongoing process. There are medications and possibly PRP or laser therapy that may help to slow down or stop further hair loss, but ongoing treatment is required. Although most people may think hair transplant is permanent and “once for all”, this is not exactly the case. The transplanted hair is from a region where hair is usually permanent so will grow as long as the “donor hair” continues to grow, but ongoing control is also very important in keeping the remaining hair in the “recipient” site where ongoing hair loss can happen. So hair transplant should be considered a part of a combination therapy and should only use the minimum amount of hair follicles to achieve the result within safe limit. I think answers to all your questions are beyond the scope of this Q and A, I would suggest to sit down together with your son in a hair transplant surgeon’s clinic to discuss the details.
June 2nd, 2014 at 12:14 am
steven says:
How to treat lichen planopilaris? Have a litle area that is thin. Have had to fue but one area is bad because of the lichen planopilaris.do you have experience about this?
August 15th, 2014 at 8:43 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Steven, LP is not uncommon and I think most experienced hair surgeon would have experience in treating this condition. It is not possible to accurately predict the result because of the resulting scaring from this condition, but success is still achievable in most of my cases. Every case is different, I recommend to sit down face to face with experienced hair surgeons to discuss your case.
August 18th, 2014 at 5:25 am
Christian says:
Hi Dr Chan, how are you different from the hair harvesting robot? it has been advertised to cause less damage to hair follicles, is that true?
May 1st, 2015 at 2:36 am
Dr Chan says:
Hi Chris,to answer your question, I need to explain a bit more about FUE. Hair transplantation basically involves 2 stages; first extraction of hair follicles, then implantation into area of need. As years goes by, patient’s expectation of no scars from extraction site is higher and higher. Hence the development of the FUE technique where follicles are extracted one at a time leaving behind tiny wounds which if small enough can leave behind invisible scarring. This however varies between surgeon and the smaller the instrument to extract the follicles the smaller the wound but also much higher skills and experience is required from the surgeon. It is also very tiring for the surgeon. So around the world many companies tried to develop machine to replace surgeon’s hand hence reduce the fatigue problem. In my opinion, hair follicles are highly variable from one region to another and very delicate. So very high precision is required. This can only be achieved by experience hands.
May 4th, 2015 at 1:42 am
Edward says:
I’ve been losing hairs since my 20s. I’m now 28. I refuse to be pressured to sign ongoing treatment plans and I just want to most cost-effective method to get my hair back. Can you offer the best treatment for me without ongoing costs?
August 18th, 2015 at 12:47 am
Dr Chan says:
Early onset of hair loss require proper assessment of cause and need to work out a safe long term treatment plan. Genetic hair loss is not curable so ongoing treatment is required. The good news is it can be much cheaper than some of those offered in the market. The best way to explore your options is to see a hair transplant doctor to get a proper medical advise.
August 21st, 2015 at 3:25 am
Drew says:
Hi Dr. Chan
Thank you for seeing me on Monday regarding my hair loss situation. I feel a lot more reassured knowing I’m in your hands! However I did mention as I left that there was a few questions I probably forgot to ask.
I was actually very interested in PRP but got sidetracked with everything else.
Would you recommend it for me / my level of hair loss?
If so, would it be best to do it now instead of going on medication? – Do it now in conjunction with the medication? or to not do it and stick with the the plan of medication and laser and reassess in a year?
Once again, thank you for your time and take care.
Drew
November 12th, 2015 at 12:32 am
Dr Chan says:
Hi Drew, It’s up to you. I do think PRP can speed up the whole process because you are getting extra stimulation from your own growth factors. Cheers
November 12th, 2015 at 3:55 am
c says:
Hi Dr Chan,
I was reading your reply to PRP treatment enquiries and noticed you mentioned this treatment will last around 11-12months. Can you please explain? How many treatments do I need to do and how long will these treatments last? How often do I need to come back for treatment to maintain a desired hair level?
Kind regards
April 30th, 2016 at 1:30 am
Dr Chan says:
Hi, you would find the details of PRP therapy and answers to your questions on the PRP page
May 23rd, 2016 at 9:11 am
Chupacabra says:
What are the risks, benefits, and possible complications for this operation? Will my health history and the medications I am currently taking mean the risks, possible complications, and benefits will be different for me?
May 22nd, 2016 at 5:00 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi, yes individual health condition could affect the decision about risk and benefit and approach to hair transplantation. Best is like any surgery, see an experienced hair transplant surgeon and discuss the options suitable for you. If you like to make an appointment to see me, simply book on my website to arrange a consultation. regards Dr Chan
May 23rd, 2016 at 9:09 am
Dennis says:
Hi Dr Chan
Have you had much experience correcting over-harvested donor areas?
If so, what type of results can one expect?
May 30th, 2016 at 8:12 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Dennis, Yes. being a FUE specialist, I encounter many repair cases including many different types of over harvesting of donor site from different techniques. So result is very individual and depends on multiple factors. I would need to see you face to face and examine the donor area to determine what the outcome may be.
May 31st, 2016 at 8:39 am
Michael says:
Hi Dr Chan
I’m considering Fue as I want to wear my hair shortish (2 or 3) buzz cut and not have the linear scar. I have a good amount of hair however receading at my hair line and would want this restored. I have had a consultation in WA and they said i would required around 1200 grafts. There is not much on offer in Perth and found your website very informative. Just checking would 1200 grafts sound about rite and if I came over East for a procedure how long would I need to remain in Sydney to recover post op. Thanks
June 21st, 2016 at 1:27 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Michael, A few important points to clarify before considering hair transplant. First control hair loss because hair transplantation does not stop further loss. Second is which technique; standard FUE, Ultrafine FUE, machine/robot FUE, FUT or strip. They all have different result and cost. Regarding the number, it varies between individual significantly depending on multiple factors; age, facial features, degree of hair loss and budget etc. So it is hard to say 1200 is right for you without seeing you. Many of my patients are from interstate and overseas, they usually arrive the day before and leave the day after or for smaller procedure, even that evening.
June 24th, 2016 at 9:21 am
Nicholas Jeffries says:
Is there a minimum age for FUE? I estimate I’m a NW2/earlyNW3 24 years of age
June 21st, 2016 at 8:52 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Nicholas, no not really as long as short term and long term management plan is in place. Best is to sit down with an experienced doctor and work out the options. My advise is alway control and stabilise hair loss first before considering hair transplant.
June 24th, 2016 at 9:26 am
Brent says:
Hi Dr Chan,
I’ve had a prominent widow’s peak and high hairline my entire life, but now i’ve noticed some gradual thinning and possible recession at 22 years of age. I would be looking to get the upper corners of my hairline filled in lowering the hairline about 2-3cm at the very corners, around 1cm at the centre of the hairline, and the sides brought slightly forwards. Would this be considered a major, large area requiring treatment, and also, very roughly what number of follicular units would be anticipated to be required to treat this area?
Thank you for your time
June 26th, 2016 at 6:24 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Brent,
I can understand your concern and what you like to achieve with hair transplant is a very common request. However, before considering hair transplant to restore the hairline, the first thing is to stabilise your hair loss first, especially at a young age (<25). You would need to have a face to face doctor consultation with an experienced hair transplant surgeon to work out a short and long term management plan.
July 5th, 2016 at 1:16 pm
tom says:
How are you.I would like to know if the FUE procedures take place at a private clinic or hospital and does someone have to accompany me home.
August 16th, 2016 at 1:05 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Tom, it’s in a private clinic, under local anaesthetic with no sedation required. So you can drive home yourself.
September 9th, 2016 at 11:43 am
Eloise says:
Hi Dr Chan,
Are you experienced in the restoration
of African hair?
Kind regards,
September 3rd, 2016 at 10:17 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Eloise, yes and the hair follicles varies significantly between individuals. Some are too curly for FUE technique.
September 9th, 2016 at 11:45 am
Christophe says:
I am 20yrs old with very fair blonde hair. My hair line is starting to recede and I’m very worried that it will progress very quickly. I want to have a hair transplant but my parents says I’m too young. Is there a age limit for hair transplant? And does the colour of hair affect the result? Thx
March 1st, 2017 at 7:57 am
Dr Chan says:
Hi Christophe, There is no definitely age limit for hair transplant. But I strongly recommend to have your hair loss diagnosed by a proper doctor first, preferably a dermatologist or hair transplant surgeon. It would be safer if you have the condition stabilised with medical therapies first then consider transplant later.
March 2nd, 2017 at 2:03 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Christophe, There is no definitely age limit for hair transplant. But I strongly recommend to have your hair loss diagnosed by a proper doctor first, preferably a dermatologist or hair transplant surgeon. It would be safer if you have the condition stabilised with medical therapies first then consider transplant later. Colour of hair do not affect the result very much but it will certainly be taken into consideration.
March 2nd, 2017 at 2:03 pm
Elizabeth says:
My eyebrows are only thinning from the middle but the ends are still quite thick. Where do you get the hairs from to transplant the eyebrows? Whats the price if I dont want full eyebrows done?
March 1st, 2017 at 7:58 am
Dr Chan says:
Hi Elizabeth, in my opinion, the best quality and most matching hair to transplant to the eyebrows is from the back of the scalp. The cost for full eyebrows depends on the width of desired design. Range from $4000 to $6000.
March 2nd, 2017 at 2:05 pm
sam says:
Why is it more expensive at your clinic for hair transplants? Whats a graft, I’ve been quoted per hair, is it the same?
March 1st, 2017 at 9:16 am
Dr Chan says:
Hi Sam, Hair transplant can be done in many ways. There are different extraction methods, some leave behind obvious scarring requiring hair above to be longer to cover it. I use the most time consuming and difficult method called Ultra Fine FUE, which I use a 0.7mm punch to extract hair follicles one by one. The advantage is the tiny wounds can heal without visible scarring. This allows patients who still wish to have very short hairstyles or even clip to zero in future. Of course this require a surgeon with many years of experience and much longer time for each surgery hence the higher cost. The second part of the surgery call implantation is also extremely important. Most clinic can charge less as the implantation are done by technicians allowing the doctor to do more cases per day. In my opinion, the hair follicles are precious and fragile, I prefer to handle the grafts myself and implant every single graft myself. With over 15000 hours of experience in FUE and implantation, implanting myself allow me to consistently give every patient the most natural looking result.
One graft refers to one follicular unit which naturally can contain one to four hair.
March 2nd, 2017 at 2:18 pm
Jenelle Lawrence says:
Hi there,
I have just been diagnosed with telogen effluvium and FPHL graded 2.5. I’m only 33 years old, very upset. I’ve been prescribed minoxidil and spirinolactone. If this treatment doesn’t work is a hair transplant an option for filling the top of my scalpt and crown? Also do you do consultantations in Melbourne?
April 9th, 2017 at 8:32 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Jenelle, every case is different and most of the time combining medical and surgical treatment would be best for FPHL. It would be required to see you face to face to determine what is the best course of action. I do consult in Melbourne but currently the waiting list in Sydney is getting very long so have to reduce visit to Melbourne. You could try other hair transplant surgeons in Melbourne or sometimes patient don’t mind traveling to Sydney.
April 27th, 2017 at 8:28 am
Crs says:
I am 23 years old. I have always had a high hairline, a fairly light front. In the last couple of years I have noticed the sides (I think it’s called the Temple region) thinning out. Has slowed down now because at one point was seemingly quick to thin – Would a consultation/Procedure still be possible even without consulting a doctor first? I am sure the area has stabilized degrading, just looking to have the sides touched up. Area isn’t very much.
Kind Regards,
April 25th, 2017 at 9:14 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Crs, no, you must see the doctor before he/she can offer you any procedure. Beside, every case is different and we need to explain to you what is the short and long term outcome and all potential risk involved.
April 27th, 2017 at 8:30 am
Rob says:
Hi Dr Chan, im intersted in FUE.. i understand the donor section of hair needs to be shaved down, but what about the recipient section? im wanting some grafts to my temples and crown but wear my hair about an inch or so long and prefer not to cut it real short as its a sensitive topic and dont want to raise any potentially embarrasing questions . is this possible?
August 3rd, 2017 at 9:26 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Rob, I only need to shave the donor area. Recipient site is usually not cut at all so the wounds can be disguised during recovery.
August 21st, 2017 at 8:17 am
Stella says:
Hi Dr Chan,
Will there be a lot of swelling after the procedure? Only redness and pain were mentioned on your website.
Thanks
August 18th, 2017 at 9:47 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Stella, swelling depends on a few factors; location of treatment area, size and density, individual skin variations. If swelling do happen usually subside after 1 week.
August 21st, 2017 at 8:19 am
Elaine says:
What are the side effects of PRP treatment?
How long will it take to settle the side effects before returning to work?
February 19th, 2018 at 1:40 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Elaine, PRP for hair loss will require injection into the scalp, redness and swelling will be covered by hair and usually patients return to work the next day. If PRP for face, the redness and swelling can be evident for a few days depending on individuals.
April 17th, 2018 at 7:58 am
Tun Min says:
I’m 62 years old. I’ve been using Minoxidil for almost 7 years and had taken Finasteride for 4 years. I stopped taking Finasteride 3 years ago. When I was taking Finasteride my hair density was growing. But I stopped it because I don’t want the side effects of long time usage. My hair density is degrading and the tickness also becomes thinner. So I’m thinking of having a hair transplant. Is it suitable for me to have FUE procedure?
Thanks and best regards
Tun Min
February 21st, 2018 at 8:32 pm
Dr Chan says:
Dear Tun, suitability varies between individuals. A number of factors needs to be assessed. Hair transplant is a surgical procedure and require consultation and examination by surgeon. Best is to book in for an initial consultation.
April 17th, 2018 at 8:01 am
Micki says:
Hi Doctor, I’m looking for a surgeon who can revise my temple scar. It is quite small (1cm by 5mm). The area itself has no hair on it and the scar tissue is quite raised and bumpy. I think it would be better to excise the scar, let it heal, and then do a transplant on the remaining area.
Is this something that you would feel comfortable performing? I am a little worried that a regular plastic surgeon excising the scar would lead to more hair loss. I would like someone who has lots of experience with trichophytic closure.
September 25th, 2018 at 4:45 am
Dr Chan says:
Hi Micki,
Yes, I routinely repair scars in scalp. Options are surgical excision with trichophytic closure to reduce size of scar if necessary then FUE hair transplantation to camouflage the residual scar. However, every case is different and a face to face consultation is required.
regards
Dr Chan
October 11th, 2018 at 6:23 am
Bradley Woo says:
Good evening Dr Chan, I’m currently 18 years of age and have a scar on the backside of my head, from the removal of a cyst 5 years ago. It is a slit that is probably around 5mm. I was just enquiring about the procedure to make it disappear as it annoys me.
November 11th, 2018 at 2:38 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Bradley, hair transplant is a treatment option to cover up some scarring in the scalp. However, a face to face consultation is required. I need to examine the scar to determine the suitability of hair transplant. Every case is different.
November 14th, 2018 at 3:54 pm
Yinan Guo says:
Dear Dr Chan, I had brow hair loss after a direct brow lift about three months ago, my brows look very thin and arched now. Once the scars settled in another three months, is it worth to give PRP treatments a try before having the brow hair transplant? Have you experienced with using body hair from legs to create a more natural looking brows?
January 12th, 2019 at 12:31 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Yinan, PRP works with thinning eyebrows but response vary between individuals. Also depends if any follicles are damaged.
I’ve many body hair transplant and they are not the best donor hair.
May 28th, 2019 at 7:52 am
Dr Chan says:
Hi Yinan, PRP works with thinning eyebrows but response vary between individuals. Also depends if any follicles are damaged.
I’ve done many body hair transplant and they are not the best donor hair.
May 28th, 2019 at 8:02 am
John says:
Is prp effective for hair loss due to hypothyroidism or the medication involved?
If so how many treatments would be required and how often would you need top ups.
February 19th, 2019 at 6:04 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi John, there is no strong evidence that hair loss from hypothyroidism or related medication will work with PRP therapy. My advise is have a face to face consultation with us to find out the best option for you.
May 28th, 2019 at 8:04 am
brayden says:
The outer half of my eyebrows are thinner than the middle half. How many FUE grafts are needed for this, and can you use hand/arm hair which matches colour and calibre of my eyebrows?
March 2nd, 2019 at 8:33 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Brayden, body hair is not the best donor hair. Size and shape of eyebrows vary from person to person. Unfortunately I can not estimate the number without seeing you in person or at least with photos. Also I need to examine your skin to determine if any underlying skin disease that may have caused the hair loss.
May 28th, 2019 at 8:06 am
Luke says:
Hi Dr , I am early 30’s and my hair is starting to thin. I am contemplating taking finasteride but my problem is when I was younger I used anabolic steroids and I developed a medical condition called a varicocele(enlargement of veins in scrotum). Sexually I have never been the same since the steroids and I have had two operations for the varicocele and I still have it, drs say that a varicocele can cause low sperm production, decrease quality of sperm and can possibly lead to infertility. So my question to you is what is your opinion of me taking finasteride with this condition? I have not taken any as yet
April 29th, 2019 at 7:16 pm
Dr Chan says:
Hi Luke, there has been a lot of concern and misbelieve of the side effects of finasteride. There has been a large number of studies on this topic and many are not clinically significant and result could very well be biased. Best is to speak to a hair surgeon or dermatologist who are experienced with hair loss and find out if this is suitable for you.
May 28th, 2019 at 8:11 am