Customer Reviews

Hair Loss and Replacement For Dummies

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Apart from the textbooks, written for professional, there have been many books on hair loss and replacement written for members of the public. I have read at least a dozen of these over the past 30 years and they are all quite informative and, for their time of publication, reasonably accurate and helpful.

Hair Loss & Replacement is no exception in this but it is a considerable cut above the rest. Firstly it is very up-to-date and contains a vast amount of information all exceedingly well organized in 7 sections containing 18 chapter,
I- Getting to Know your Hair,
II- The Root of Hair Loss,
III- Creative Techniques for Concealing Hair Loss
IV- Phamaceutical, Laser and Topical Therapies
V- Advanced Hair Loss Solutions (60 pages about hair transplantation)
VI- The Part of Tens (10 myths about hair loss, pros and cons for wigs, hair treatments and transplants)
VII- Appendices- this include a Glossary of scientific terms used in the book. In addition the reader is provided with the addresses of all the well known hair-loss websites and support organizations and many more. There is also an outstanding Index running to16 pages.

Throughout the book important points to remember are clearly marked with an icon in the margin, as are tips and warnings. The reader is even alerted by another icon to technical paragraphs that he can safely skip without losing the thread of the chapter.

Now a warning. Although this book is designed for those with little prior knowledge about hair, it is certainly not recommended for "dummies". It is a very well written and technical book, authored by two of the acknowledged "gurus" of our field, Bill Rassman and Bob Bernstein, The previous scientific writings of these two men are already at the top of any reading list on hair replacement surgery. Far from being a text for the "everyman" the book would be an ideal primer for any doctor wanting to know more about hair loss and its replacement, before committing many months to a specialized training course in hair replacement surgery.

Every aspect of hair growth, hair loss and hair replacement is covered concisely in this book in reasonably simple language and I could find few faults within the text. Perhaps even then, they were just minor differences of opinion between experts, rather than faults.

There is no attempt to "talk down" to the lay reader and in fact the only concession to the layman is that each of the 18 chapters is fairly well self-contained and if he only wants to know about, diseases that cause hair loss, hair transplantation or hairpieces, then he can be well informed in a self-contained section.

Summary. This is a really outstanding book for the beginner who has a considerable degree of education but no place for a true "dummy" to be browsing. Perhaps someone will do a 50-page comic-book version for these individuals who, judging by popular book sales and TV ratings, make up a considerable proportion of our population.

Dr Richard C.Shiell, Melbourne, Australia

As far as hair loss and treatments are concerned, this book was one of the most helpful and comprehensive guides I have read. It is NOT a sales pitch for hair transplants. It is an all-in-one source of knowledge for those either worried about their hair loss or for those who are thinking about a hair transplant. If you have little to no knowledge on the subject or are just starting to see what is available, this book is a GREAT starting point.

It really dispels a lot of the myths about hair loss that are so commonly found on the internet. The book is organized well and is easy to read. Each chapter is pretty much self-contained, so if you don't care about a particular topic (like Wigs for example), then you will not miss a beat if you decide to skip that chapter. I am very glad I received a copy of this book.

I would also like to add that I visited Dr. Rassman's and Dr. Pak's office and I was treated with the utmost courtesy and respect. In addition to the guidebook they gave me, I was also given a great deal of useful information during my visit. They saved me time, money and a lot of heartache. I am very, very glad that I decided to visit their offices and that I read this book.

What can I say? Well, I am a 52 year old newly divorced woman living in Los Angeles, the vanity capital of the world, and I understand there are some makeovers I can do for myself, and some I cannot. Now I am in the 50+ dating scene, and I have to admit it but I could use some help. I'm not just talking about a oil change and lube job, I think I need a complete overhaul.

So I'm browsing online the other day I find Hair Loss and Replacement for Dummies by Dr. William Rassman. Needless to say, my biggest area of makeover concern is my thin hair. Actually, until I read the reviews of this book, and then bought it and read it, did I find out I have options. Until now I didn't know I had options. Being divorced at this age is difficult, but then I have to deal with hair loss which has been devastating for me for years. Never mind that fact I need a few things tightened, and Dr. Rassman gave me referrals to a reputable and well-known plastic surgeon.

What I liked best about Dr. Rassman's book is that it was easy to read. We are all aware of the Dummies books and the light-hearted manner in which serious topics are discussed.

This book covered psychological effects of hair loss and pharmaceutical and topical treatments, transplant surgery, and it talked about hair loss myths. It also talked about how to avoid being scammed. To me it objectively showed me the pros and cons of various treatments. While reading this book, I felt like I was in private consultation with Dr. Rassman.

Then I Goggled Dr. Rassman, found his New Hair Institute website, made an appointment for a consultation, and scheduled my procedure. During my personal consultation with Dr. Rassman he was very informal, caring and especially attentive to my concerns. He asked a lot of questions.

So my recommendation to any one suffering in the same manner I have suffered for years, because of hair loss, I suggest you get this book, digest it, and do what you have to do to take care of yourself. Until now I thought I had no choices, but now I have found a solution I look forward to to a new self-confidence and a renewed outlook on my life. The future is my friend!

I though I'd shared some information about Dr. Rassman, so here it is taken from his website. I hope he doesn't mind.


About The Book's Author

William R. Rassman, M.D.
Dr. William Rassman graduated from the Medical College of Virginia in 1966 where he received his Doctor of Medicine. He completed a surgical internship at the University of Minnesota and obtained a cardiovascular fellowship with Dr. C.W. Lillehei. Dr. Rassman completed a residency in general surgery at the Cornell Medical Center and Dartmouth Medical Center. He served in the U.S. Army, reaching the rank of Major. He was stationed as a surgeon in the Republic of Vietnam. The American Board of Surgery certified Dr. Rassman in 1976.

In 1991, Dr. Rassman founded the New Hair Institute (NHI), and quickly became a world leader in hair restoration surgery and in hair transplant technology. This technology enables NHI surgeons to perform hair transplants with large numbers of grafts in single surgeries. These high graft counts were previously thought possible only with four to ten surgeries. His many innovations in techniques and equipment have been presented at medical meetings around the world, and published in industry newsletters and prestigious medical journals as he pioneered these advances. He developed a strong stance on the ethics involved in hair transplantation as he condemned doctors who used salesmen to take advantage of naïve, panicky patients. He attacked the use of scalp reductions as an illogical and often damaging procedure that put the patient at risk, and he debated the issues related to scalp reduction procedures at medical meetings around the world. Because of persistent opposition from Dr Rassman and others, and the introduction of improved transplantation techniques, the procedure has been largely abandoned. Dr. Rassman pioneered the Megasession in 1992-4 (he was the first to do 2000 grafts, 3000 grafts and 4000 grafts in single sessions, reporting these advances in the Hair Transplant Forum), dense packing of grafts, and the Fast Track® method of hair transplantation whereby a patient's restoration can be completed in just one or two sessions. With Dr. Robert Bernstein, he developed techniques that have proven to be the gold standard for hair transplantation around the world: The Follicular Unit Transplantation. He and Dr. Bernstein published these results in a series of peer-reviewed articles in major medical journals.

As a professional inventor, who holds both U.S. and worldwide patents, Dr Rassman invented the Densitometer(tm) for the precise measurement of hair density and hair quality. Such precise measurements are now the standard, required of all ethical medical practitioners in diagnosis of the balding patient. Three other inventions in medical instrumentation have U.S. Patents, either granted or pending, in the hair transplantation arena. He holds multiple patents in an artificial heart device, other medical devices, computer software, and, more recently, in the biochip field (patent pending), an area where he has great interest.

Dr. Rassman has presented more than nineteen scientific papers before national and international societies, such as the: International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, International Society for Hair and Scalp Surgery, Annual Global Convocation of Hair Restoration Surgery, American Academy of Facial, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, European Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, and Merck Committee Meetings.
Dr. Rassman's dedication to the dissemination of knowledge is clear in the more than twenty articles on hair transplantation and related issues that he has published in highly regarded medical publications such as: Dermatologic Surgery, International Journal of Aesthetic and Restorative Surgery, Hair Transplant Forum International, and Journal of Dermatology, Surgery, and Oncology. In 2001, NHI published the sixth edition of The Patient's Guide to Hair Restoration. This book explains, in layman's language, what causes baldness, how baldness is diagnosed, the best medical and surgical options available today, the proper use of medication, and how to repair the poor results of older surgical procedures. The Patient's Guide's extensive photo section includes more than 100 color photographs of patients in various stages of hair restoration.

Dr. Rassman continues to push the state of the art in hair transplantation forward. In the summer of 2001, he announced a breakthrough in the field: Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). In this technique, individual follicular units are extracted directly from the donor area without the traditional linear incision in the back of the scalp. An enabling technology, presently in a 'patent pending' status, has been developed to make this breakthrough more practical. The advantages of FUE are that these procedures can be performed on patients with very limited donor hair, and, healing is fast, without visible scarring in the donor area.

Dr. Rassman is motivated to make a difference in whatever he does. He strives to be the best and is never satisfied with the status quo. He is a visionary and has never allowed his goals to be limited by current thought on any subject.

HAIR LOSS & REPLACEMENT for DUMMIES
Authors; William R. Rassman MD and Robert M. Bernstein MD (with Jae Pak MD & Eric Schweiger MD).
Presentation; Paperback binding, 314 pages.

Apart from the textbooks, written for professional, there have been many books on hair loss and replacement written for members of the public. I have read at least a dozen of these over the past 30 years and they are all quite informative and, for their time of publication, reasonably accurate and helpful.

Hair Loss & Replacement is no exception in this but it is a considerable cut above the rest. Firstly it is very up-to-date and contains a vast amount of information all exceedingly well organized in 7 sections containing 18 chapter,
I- Getting to Know your Hair,
II- The Root of Hair Loss,
III- Creative Techniques for Concealing Hair Loss
IV- Phamaceutical, Laser and Topical Therapies
V- Advanced Hair Loss Solutions (60 pages about hair transplantation)
VI- The Part of Tens (10 myths about hair loss, pros and cons for wigs, hair treatments and transplants)
VII- Appendices- this include a Glossary of scientific terms used in the book. In addition the reader is provided with the addresses of all the well known hair-loss websites and support organizations and many more. There is also an outstanding Index running to16 pages.

Throughout the book important points to remember are clearly marked with an icon in the margin, as are tips and warnings. The reader is even alerted by another icon to technical paragraphs that he can safely skip without losing the thread of the chapter.

Now a warning. Although this book is designed for those with little prior knowledge about hair, it is certainly not recommended for "dummies". It is a very well written and technical book, authored by two of the acknowledged "gurus" of our field, Bill Rassman and Bob Bernstein, The previous scientific writings of these two men are already at the top of any reading list on hair replacement surgery. Far from being a text for the "everyman" the book would be an ideal primer for any doctor wanting to know more about hair loss and its replacement, before committing many months to a specialized training course in hair replacement surgery.

Every aspect of hair growth, hair loss and hair replacement is covered concisely in this book in reasonably simple language and I could find few faults within the text. Perhaps even then, they were just minor differences of opinion between experts, rather than faults.

There is no attempt to "talk down" to the lay reader and in fact the only concession to the layman is that each of the 18 chapters is fairly well self-contained and if he only wants to know about, diseases that cause hair loss, hair transplantation or hairpieces, then he can be well informed in a self-contained section.
Summary. This is a really outstanding book for the beginner who has a considerable degree of education but no place for a true "dummy" to be browsing. Perhaps someone will do a 50-page comic-book version for these individuals who, judging by popular book sales and TV ratings, make up a considerable proportion of our population.

Reviewer Dr Richard C. Shiell, M.B., B.S. Melbourne, Australia, February 2009

I found this book to be very thorough in its scope of information, yet approachable in writing style. I read almost the whole book in one evening. I've been researching hair loss for a couple years, but learned new things reading this book -- particularly about pre and post surgery details, and use of Propecia (that it can actually cause initial hair loss before it starts growing hair). The doctors who wrote this book don't gloss over any details, or make hair transplantation seem glamorous or simple. They outline both the risks and rewards in realistic terms. I highly recommend this book for anyone researching hair loss and hair restoration or transplant procedures.

There is alot of good information here, but I found alot of flaws in the book. It contradicts itself in a few places on the topic of blood flow with regard to the laser treatments. Also the book claims to specify which products are superior, but it does not, it simply mentions the products. Other than that, its pretty accurate. Im glad I bought it. Its worth checking out.