Only physicians who meet our high standards and continue to produce excellent results are recommended on the Hair Transplant Network. There are times however, that surgeons must be suspended in order to keep our standards high and maintain the credibility of our recommendations.

After the publisher of the Hair Transplant Network Patrick visited with and observed Dr. Paul Straub’s surgical procedure at his clinic in Los Angeles, the Straub Medical Group, he had serious concerns about the safety of his surgical hair restoration procedure and ethics. As a result, Pat decided to suspend his recommendation.

To learn more about Dr. Straub’s suspension and discuss this controversy, visit our forum topic Lawsuit Against the Hair Transplant Network by Dr. Paul Straub.

Before deciding to remove Dr. Straub, Patrick consulted with several well respected hair transplant surgeons to garner their input about what he witnessed. Every physician agreed that Pat’s concerns were merited and justified. Some of these physicians also shared that they too had observed the same insufficiencies when observing Dr. Straub harvesting a donor strip during a medical conference.

Members of our hair loss discussion forum also had concerns about the mixed results reported by Dr. Straub’s patients.

Given what we learned about Dr. Paul Straub and his practice, we could no longer recommend Dr. Paul Straub in good conscious. As of the summer of 2007, his recommendation and that of the Straub Medical Group was suspended.

Since then Dr. Straub has threatened legal action multiple times against the Hair Transplant Network if his recommendation was not reinstated and the negative comments about him weren’t removed from our forum. Since we refused to compromise our high standards set for physicians recommendations, Dr. Straub filed a lawsuit against our patient based hair restoration community. Defending against such a nuance lawsuit can be costly and aggravating. However, we will continue to fight for free speech and keep our standards high on the Hair Transplant Network.

We trust that with the support of our patient based community and our quality physician sponsors that we will prevail against this coercive lawsuit by Dr. Paul Straub.

To read more about this issue also visit “Dr. Paul Straub Lawsuit against Hair Transplant Patient Community” in the Hair Transplant Network news.

Nizoral shampoo has become known as a potentially helpful adjunct hair loss treatment to FDA approved drugs like Propecia and Rogaine. Nizoral shampoo has been known to cause dry hair and scalp if it’s overused. However, a transplanted scalp, even with today’s latest techniques takes time to properly heal. Given Nizoral shampoo’s tendency to dry the scalp and hair, what precautions must one take in using it? Should hair transplant patients put using Nizoral on hold while the scalp heals? If so, for how long?

Showcase for Coalition member Dr. Feller 0f New York and patient member “Spex” shares his view on using Nizoral on our hair restoration forum immediately after a hair replacement surgery. You are encouraged to join in the discussion and offer your feedback.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Getting your hair loss questions answered quickly and accurately is what draws balding men and women to our site’s resources. Thankfully, our sites include plenty of information and a great multitude of knowledgeable patients and quality physicians regularly contributing their expertise to our Hair Loss Q & A Blog and hair loss discussion forum.

Below you will find answers to 5 of this week’s hot topic hair loss related questions provided by educated hair loss sufferers and physician experts. We encourage you to contribute your thoughts to any of these articles by adding comments to the blog articles. Some of this week’s hot topics include:

Real Solutions for Female Hair Loss Sufferers: The high esteemed Coalition member Dr. Keene gives advice to female hair loss sufferers and how to successfully combat baldness.

How Permanent is a Hair Transplant? Learn whether or not a hair transplant is really permanent and what, if anything you can do to contribute to its success.

Can Young Hair Loss Sufferers Get Hair Transplants? Learn why hair restoration surgery may be suitable for young patients in certain circumstances.

Warnings about Possible Side Effects with Rogaine (Minoxidil): Coalition member Dr. Paul Shapiro cautions patients on the possible side effects of Rogaine (minoxidil) and what to do if you experience them.

How Much Hair Can be Transplanted in a Single Session? Patients are often enamored with large hair transplant megasessions. Learn how many grafts can be realistically harvested and transplanted and the reasons and conditions why.

Bill Seemiller - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

Hair loss not only affects men and women physically but can often be a confidence killer, turning the outgoing into introverts. Whereas all men and women have their personal preferences and tastes, often times balding men and women feel ugly and as a result won’t take the plunge to proactively pursue someone they’re romantically interested in.  But is hair loss or a lack of self confidence the real culprit?

In this discussion, balding men wrestle with the emotional detriment alopecia has caused them and whether or not women could ever really find the bald man attractive. Share your own experience with losing hair and how it has or has not negatively impacted your social and dating life.

Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor

I’m trying to determine if I’m balding due to genetics or an iron deficiency.  Can hair loss really be caused by a lack of iron in the body?

This question was posed by a hair loss sufferer seeking hair loss help on our hair restoration forum and answered by Dr. Steven Gabel of Hillsboro, OR who is an elite member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.  His professional answer is below.

Iron deficiency is a real cause of hair loss. I have seen several cases of iron deficiency as a causative factor for alopecia in women. When I see women for hair loss, one of the things I investigate, along with other blood tests, is their iron levels. For men, a blood work up is rare, however, if their history and examination are not consistent with androgenetic alopecia, then I will investigate further.

A while back, I went to a lecture about hair loss by an expert dermatologist who specializes in alopecia (she was one of the original physicians in the phase trials for Propecia before it went to market) and she reports that even low iron levels contributes to hair loss. Women do have a higher degree of iron loss because of their monthly cycles, but I think you may want to have your physician work this up.

Steven Gabel, M.D.

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Bill - aka Falceros
Associate Publisher/Editor