Botox can end baldness True or False
Can Botox stop Hair Loss ?
June 2009
Local doctors have responded with a mix of scorn and fascination to the new claim that Botox can be a cure for baldness.
It’s not a claim that’s made by Botox-maker Allergan of Irvine. The announcement came from cosmetic surgeon Dr. Simon Ourian of Beverly Hills, who says injections in patients’ scalps have produced hair growth.
“It doesn’t make sense that Botox would cure baldness,” says Dr. Christopher Zachary, chairman of the UCI Department of Dermatology. “I have injected men numerous times high on the [forehead] and have never seen any hair growth.”
But dermatologist Dr. Dore Gilbert of Newport Beach is interested. “I hope it works. I will give it a try in selected patients,” he says. “The patients need to understand that this would be an ‘off label’ use of the drug.”
Others wondered whether the claim was less a scientific discovery than a marketing maneuver aimed at attracting patients by giving him prominent play in Internet search engines.
Plastic surgeon Dr. John Di Saia of San Clemente is interested, but skeptical. “It is possible, but unproven,” he says. “It might just be a PR grab for the good doctor.”
As noted in yesterday’s post, plastic surgeon Donald Altman of Irvine adds, “I haven’t any clinical experience or anecdotal notion that Botox causes any hair regrowth on the scalp.” But, as a bald guy, cosmetic-doctor Altman has an offer for this bald-guy blogger: “I will have to keep my eyes open to this finding and let you know if I learn anything. If true, it might prompt me to try injecting both of our scalps.”
The Botox claim also caught the attention of Tamra Barney, a “Real Housewife of Orange County.”
“Ya, that’s it. … I use Botox to keep the hair on my forehead! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!” she said.
On a more serious note, I’ve asked Dr. Ourian to provide data and photos from his use of Botox as a hair-growth treatment. I’ll post them on this blog when I receive them.
This post expands on previous posts:
New Hair Loss Treatment with BOTOX
Can Botox stop Hair Loss ?
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