Hair Surgery Blog Archives - Dr. U Hair & Skin Clinic | FUE Hair Restoration, Dermatology and Laser Surgery | Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach | Dr Sanusi Umar MD

Video: Lichen Planopilaris: When a Hairdresser Notices First

Jason Thompson — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 23:03:55 +0000

A change in the scalp can first be noticed by someone else. In this Baldcast conversation about lichen planopilaris, a physician describes how her hairdresser spotted something unusual before she herself recognized any change. The observation seemed small at the time, but she now remembers it differently.

The First Observation Came From Her Hairdresser

Speaking with Dr. Sanusi Umar, the guest explains that she had always had very full hair. She grew up in a large family with many sisters, each with slightly different hair. That familiar fullness was part of why a small change did not immediately stand out to her.

Her hairdresser, however, noticed something different. The guest remembers a casual comment about a spot that “just wasn’t quite right.” She did not treat the remark as urgent. As she puts it, “I didn’t pay that much attention to it because life’s busy.”

The Baldcast guest reflects on the hairdresser who first noticed a change in her hair.

Why a Change at the Back Can Be Missed

The guest explains that the area was toward the back of her scalp, where she could not easily see it herself. With her hair remaining full, she did not notice what her hairdresser had observed. Her account illustrates a simple difficulty: people do not always have a clear view of every part of their own scalp.

Dr. Umar responds with a light remark about hairstylists and barbers being the ones to deliver unwelcome news. She pushes back affectionately, calling her own hairdresser brilliant and acknowledging that she was the one who noticed the difference.

A Conversation She Wishes Had Gone Further

Looking back, the guest does not criticize her hairdresser for noticing the spot. Instead, she wishes the observation had led to a more direct conversation. “I wish she had felt empowered enough to speak more,” she says, referring to what her hairdresser saw.

That distinction matters to the story. The hairdresser was not being asked to diagnose a scalp disease or decide on hair restoration. She had simply noticed something unfamiliar in an area the guest rarely examined. The guest now sees value in having those observations voiced clearly.

Dr. Sanusi Umar examines a woman’s scalp in footage accompanying the Baldcast discussion.

The Value of Speaking Up

This chapter focuses on the moment before the guest fully understood the change: a brief comment, a busy life, and a spot she could not readily see. It does not establish when her lichen planopilaris began or what treatment followed. Instead, it captures her retrospective wish that the first observation had prompted more discussion.

The Baldcast conversation continues beyond this early moment in her story, with Dr. Umar guiding the discussion of her experience.

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This article is for educational purposes only and describes one person’s experience. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for individualized medical advice.

Video: Mia’s Father on Alopecia: Keep Looking for Answers

Jason Thompson — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 18:13:09 +0000

When a child experiences alopecia, parents may find themselves searching for answers and weighing different forms of care. In this chapter of The Baldcast, Mia’s father reflects on his family’s experience with alopecia totalis and shares a message for other fathers facing a similar situation.

A Message to Other Parents

Asked what he would tell other fathers watching their children go through hair loss, Mia’s father urges them to look for more options. His answer centers on continuing the search rather than feeling limited to a single approach.

He makes his central point plainly: “Not everything is medication.” The statement is a personal reflection on his family’s experience, not a claim that medical treatment should be avoided or replaced.

Mia’s father speaks about looking for results as family images appear in the chapter.

The Importance of Finding the Right Person

Mia’s father also speaks about the outcome he sees in his daughter and the importance of their search for help. He says, “We search and find the right person,” and describes the work as excellent. His comments express his assessment of the care his family received, without identifying a specific treatment or establishing that the same result can be expected for others.

The conversation takes place within The Baldcast, where Dr. Sanusi Umar gives families a platform to discuss the realities of scalp and hair conditions. In this chapter, the father’s perspective is the focus: asking questions, considering appropriate care, and finding a professional whose approach fits the child’s needs.

Mia’s father reflects on his family’s search for help during the Baldcast conversation.

Beyond a Single Treatment Option

For families exploring hair regrowth treatment or searching for hair loss treatments that work, this chapter offers a parent’s perspective rather than a treatment comparison. The video does not specify which interventions Mia received, how they worked, or what results another child might experience.

What remains clear is the father’s encouragement to other parents: do not stop asking questions. His family’s story is an invitation to continue seeking informed, individualized medical guidance.

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This article shares one family’s experience for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or a recommendation to stop or replace prescribed treatment. Treatment decisions should be made with a qualified healthcare professional.

Video: Lichen Planopilaris: When a Hair Surgeon Becomes the Patient

Jason Thompson — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 20:10:21 +0000

Dr. Eleojo Achimugu knows hair care from the physician’s side of the consultation. But when she developed lichen planopilaris, a form of scarring alopecia, she also experienced the uncertainty of being a patient whose condition was not responding to the treatments she tried. In this Baldcast introduction, Dr. Sanusi Umar presents her story in her own right, not as a promise of results for anyone else.

A Physician Facing Her Own Diagnosis

Dr. Umar introduces Dr. Achimugu as a practicing pediatric surgeon, hair specialist, and hair transplant surgeon based on Harley Street in London. Her medical background is central to the conversation, but the chapter turns the focus toward her personal experience of hair loss and a difficult diagnosis.

Her condition, lichen planopilaris, is identified in the video as LPP and as a scarring alopecia. Rather than describing an abstract clinical case, Dr. Umar opens the episode by recognizing the person behind the diagnosis and the treatments she had already attempted.

Dr. Eleojo Achimugu appears as the featured guest in The Baldcast.

When Familiar Treatments Did Not Help

According to Dr. Umar’s introduction, the usual treatments had not produced the response Dr. Achimugu needed. He specifically mentions steroids and doxycycline, as well as other treatments that she will discuss during the longer conversation. This chapter does not detail the full treatment history, and it does not establish that those treatments are ineffective for other people.

For a specialist accustomed to treating patients, becoming the person searching for an answer brings a different perspective. The introduction sets up that contrast without claiming to know everything she felt or what she experienced beyond the details shared.

Why She Considered Another Approach

Dr. Umar says Dr. Achimugu subsequently tried a botanical formula he developed. He introduces what followed as something that surprised her, but this short chapter does not describe a specific outcome or provide evidence of effectiveness. That distinction matters: an individual account can be worth hearing without serving as proof that a product treats lichen planopilaris.

Dr. Sanusi Umar introduces the guest’s and emphasizes that it is her personal story.

The Story Behind the Diagnosis

“This is her personal story,” Dr. Umar says, immediately adding that it is “not a medical claim.” His introduction frames the upcoming discussion around the experience of a fellow physician, the conventional treatments she tried, and her decision to explore something different.

The chapter leaves the details of what happened next for the full conversation. For now, it asks viewers to hear Dr. Achimugu’s account with both curiosity and appropriate caution, recognizing the difference between one person’s experience and a treatment recommendation.

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Medical Disclaimer

This article describes one person’s experience and is not medical advice or evidence that a particular approach will work for others. Gashee products are not FDA approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about diagnosis and treatment decisions.

Video: Hair Transplant Training Advances With Skin-Responsive FUE Technology

Jason Thompson — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 18:25:39 +0000

From Buenos Aires to Manhattan Beach, experienced surgeons joined Dr. Sanusi Umar for hands-on training focused on new skin-responsive, all-purpose FUE technology and its use across a range of hair restoration scenarios.

A Hands-On Exchange in Hair Transplant Practice

The visit brought accomplished hair transplant surgeons from Argentina to Manhattan Beach for practical training with Dr. Sanusi Umar. The visiting physicians already brought extensive surgical experience and leadership within an established clinic network across Latin America and Spain. The purpose of the session was not introductory education. It was an exchange among experienced clinicians centered on hands-on use of a newer FUE technology.

The training combined direct practice with advanced technical discussion. According to the approved video context, the session was designed to work across the full range of FUE scenarios, giving the visiting surgeons an opportunity to engage with the technology in a practical setting while exchanging expertise with Dr. Umar.

Dr. Sanusi Umar leads a hands-on training discussion with visiting physicians during their Manhattan Beach visit.

Learning a Skin-Responsive, All-Purpose FUE Technology

The short video centers on the physicians working with UGraft and reflecting on the technology after hands-on exposure. One visiting physician describes the device as “very intuitive” and says he believes it can help move forward the quality of what a surgeon can offer.

Another perspective in the video comes from more than 30 years of hair transplantation experience. After working with Dr. Umar’s device, the physician calls it “excellent” and says he believes UGraft can make it possible to reach more types of complex cases. Those comments reflect the visiting surgeons’ own impressions during this training session and are not presented as a guarantee of clinical outcomes.

Hands-on practice gives the visiting physicians direct experience with the FUE technology discussed during the training session.

Experienced Surgeons, Advanced Technical Discussion

The exchange highlights a specific kind of professional training: experienced hair restoration surgeons evaluating a new tool through practical use and discussion with the physician behind it. Dr. Umar’s role in the session is both technical and educational, guiding hands-on work with the technology while engaging colleagues who bring substantial experience of their own.

The video closes on that exchange of expertise rather than a patient outcome. More from the physicians’ visit is expected to follow, continuing the discussion around advanced FUE practice and technology.

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Medical Disclaimer

This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual evaluation and treatment should be personalized. No specific result is guaranteed.

Video: Mia’s Hair Loss and the Commitment of a Family That Kept Looking

Jason Thompson — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 17:36:13 +0000

For Mia’s family, hair loss became more than a medical concern. Her parents, Fernando and Blanca, kept traveling from Arizona as they looked for answers for their daughter. In this Baldcast chapter, Dr. Sanusi Umar reflects on what their persistence says about the effect a child’s hair loss can have on an entire family.

They Kept Making the Drive

Dr. Umar describes Fernando and Blanca as fighters because they did not limit their search to what was close to home. They repeatedly drove from Arizona as they continued looking for solutions for Mia.

“They didn’t give up,” Dr. Umar says. “They wanted the best for their daughter.”

Mia stands with her parents as Dr. Umar reflects on the family’s commitment to supporting her.

Commitment to Mia’s Happiness

The conversation also returns to a Disneyland experience that required another long drive from Arizona. Dr. Umar calls attention to the effort involved and to how committed Mia’s parents were to her happiness. He connects that persistence with the impact the hair loss had on the family.

The point is not that every family will follow the same path. It is that Mia’s parents continued asking questions and seeking help rather than simply accepting the first answer presented to them. Their actions became part of the story Dr. Umar wanted to recognize.

Dr. Umar discusses the persistence Mia’s family showed while continuing to seek answers for her.

When Things Turned for the Better

Near the end of the chapter, Dr. Umar notes that things had turned out better and reflects on how fulfilling that must feel after the family’s effort. The chapter does not turn that observation into a promise for anyone else. Mia’s story remains one patient’s experience, and evaluation and treatment should be individualized.

For parents concerned about a child’s hair loss, Mia’s story underscores the importance her family placed on continuing to seek an appropriate evaluation. Their persistence is the focus here, along with Dr. Umar’s recognition of the commitment behind it.

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Medical Disclaimer

This article describes one patient’s experience for educational purposes. Results can vary. Evaluation and treatment should be individualized. This content is not medical advice and does not replace consultation with a qualified medical professional.

Video: Lichen Planopilaris: The Pattern That Changed Eleojo’s View

Jason Thompson — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 23:49:46 +0000

Eleojo is a practicing pediatric surgeon, hair specialist, and hair transplant surgeon who also experienced lichen planopilaris, or LPP, as a patient. In this Baldcast chapter, she describes an early encounter with Dr. Sanusi Umar that began with skepticism and shifted when she noticed a pattern in her own symptoms.

From Physician to Patient With Lichen Planopilaris

Eleojo came to the conversation with extensive medical experience of her own. The chapter introduces her as a practicing pediatric surgeon from the United Kingdom, as well as a hair specialist and hair transplant surgeon. Yet her professional background did not remove the personal reality of being a patient with LPP.

Her first impression of Dr. U was direct: “Oh, what a cowboy.” The comment captures the skepticism she felt at the beginning. What followed, however, gave her a reason to look again at what she was experiencing.

Dr. Sanusi Umar examines Eleojo’s scalp during the Baldcast segment.

A Change She Could Track

Eleojo says that within 10 days, the itching she had been experiencing “just settled down.” She also says she did not believe it herself at first. When she stopped, the symptoms started again.

That sequence became important to her because it suggested a repeatable pattern in her own experience: the itching calmed down, then returned after she stopped. The chapter does not reveal the full treatment story or final outcome. Instead, it centers on the moment when her observation began to challenge her original impression.

Why the Pattern Mattered

For a physician who was also navigating her own hair loss diagnosis, noticing that pattern became a turning point in how she viewed the experience. Dr. U frames this as the beginning of a broader hair restoration story, saying that the journey is “about layering.” This chapter leaves that idea open for the next part of the conversation rather than moving ahead of the story.

Eleojo and Dr. Sanusi Umar together as her Baldcast story introduces the experience that changed her first impression.

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This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual experiences and responses can vary. Consult a qualified healthcare professional for guidance about your own condition and treatment options.

Video: Kevin Gets Back on His Motorcycle After Dissecting Cellulitis Treatment

Jason Thompson — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 20:42:13 +0000

For Kevin, progress after treatment for dissecting cellulitis is connected to something he uses every day: his motorcycle helmet. During this Bumpinator follow-up, he tells Dr. Sanusi Umar that the helmet, jacket, and motorcycle boots are now the first things he grabs before heading to work.

A Daily Routine That Means More

Kevin arrives with what he calls a surprise. He explains that he works on his motorcycle throughout the day and uses the helmet Dr. Umar gave him every day. The helmet now protects his head as he goes about his routine.

“The first thing I grab is my helmet, my jacket, my motorcycle boots,” Kevin says as he describes getting ready for work.

Kevin wears his motorcycle helmet as Dr. Umar reflects on a goal Kevin had expressed when treatment began.

Dr. Umar Reviews Kevin’s Progress

Looking back at Kevin’s earlier pictures, Dr. Umar says he continues to be surprised by the improvement he sees. He then asks to take a closer look at Kevin’s scalp and hairline during the follow-up.

The chapter also returns to Kevin’s earlier treatment for painful scalp lumps and hair loss associated with dissecting cellulitis. The supplied caption notes that his care included surgical scalp intervention. In this follow-up, however, the focus is on what Kevin can do now and on the appearance of his tattooed hairline.

Earlier and later profile images of Kevin are shown as the chapter reflects on his progress after treatment.

Finding the Right Balance in a Tattooed Hairline

Dr. Umar explains that the challenge with a tattooed hairline is making it look natural rather than harsh. He says the goal is neither to overdo nor underdo the tattooing. After examining Kevin’s hairline, Dr. Umar says he is very happy with it, calling the balance “perfect.”

A Goal Kevin Wanted to Reach

Dr. Umar recalls that when treatment began, Kevin had identified things he wanted to be able to do again. One of them was wearing a helmet while riding his motorcycle. Now, Kevin says the helmet is part of his everyday work routine.

For this chapter, that return to routine is the central milestone. Kevin is able to wear his helmet and, as Dr. Umar puts it, “go about his life without too much concern.” The next chapter continues Kevin’s story.

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This article describes one patient’s experience. Results can vary, and evaluation and treatment should be individualized. This content is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

Video: Mia’s Alopecia Story: Her Mom’s Message to Parents

Jason Thompson — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 20:47:15 +0000

For Mia’s family, alopecia has brought questions that other parents may recognize when a child begins losing hair. In this Baldcast chapter, Dr. Sanusi Umar asks Mia’s mom what she would say to parents who may feel scared or alone, and her answer centers on continuing to look for possibilities and holding on to hope.

What Mia’s Mom Wants Other Parents to Hear

Dr. Umar frames the conversation around families facing hair loss in a child around Mia’s age. He asks what Mia’s mom would tell parents who are watching their child lose hair and may feel frightened or isolated by the experience.

Her advice is practical and direct: “Look for more results, more experiences, more options.” She repeats the importance of having options rather than stopping after a single perspective.

Mia’s mom reflects on what she would tell other parents whose child is losing hair.

“Don’t Give Up. There’s Still Hope.”

The conversation ends with the clearest part of her message. Mia’s mom tells parents, “Don’t give up,” and adds, “There’s still hope.” The chapter does not promise a particular result. Instead, it presents one family’s perspective for other parents who may be searching for answers and individualized care.

The accompanying caption places the discussion in the context of pediatric alopecia areata or alopecia totalis. It also emphasizes that this is one family’s experience and that results can vary.

Dr. Sanusi Umar asks what parents may need to hear when a child is experiencing hair loss.

Keep Looking for Answers

Mia’s mom does not tell families that there is one path they must follow. Her message is to keep looking at results, experiences, and options. For parents considering approaches such as non-surgical hair restoration or a hair growth treatment, the chapter’s emphasis remains on not giving up and seeking individualized evaluation rather than assuming one family’s experience will be the same as another’s.

The story continues in the next chapter of Mia’s Baldcast experience.

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Video: UGraft Zeus: Adaptive FUE Across Different Hair and Skin Types

Jason Thompson — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 21:00:45 +0000

For a dermatologist hair loss specialist, FUE is not one uniform procedure. Hair angle, follicle direction, skin thickness, skin firmness, donor location, and whether the hair is shaved can change the technical challenge of graft extraction. I developed UGraft Zeus around a simple premise: when hair and skin characteristics change, the technology should be designed to respond.

Why I Developed UGraft Zeus

The difficult frontiers of FUE were not theoretical to me. They emerged from problems patients brought into my practice. Some patients with severe baldness needed donor supply beyond the traditional scalp, making efficient use of beard and body hair important. Some repair patients had already depleted conventional donor resources and also needed alternative donor areas. Tightly curled hair and tougher skin created another demanding FUE scenario. High-profile patients and others seeking minimal downtime also wanted options that did not require shaving the head.

Those different needs pushed me toward a platform that could work across regular shaved FUE, Afro-textured or tightly curled hair FUE, long-hair FUE, and body-hair FUE. The goal was not a separate answer for every donor scenario, but a more adaptable system.

UGraft Zeus was developed by Dr. Sanusi Umar as an adaptable FUE platform for varied donor scenarios.

A Skin-Responsive Approach to FUE

UGraft Zeus uses an Intelligent Punch and a skin-responsive driver designed to navigate differences in hair angle, follicle direction, skin thickness, and skin firmness during extraction. The short video demonstrates a simple donor-region selection, after which the system calibrates for the selected donor area.

That adaptability is intended to extend across traditional scalp FUE, tightly curled hair, long-hair procedures, and body-hair FUE. My work also led to a donor assessment and classification approach intended to help physicians anticipate FUE difficulty rather than discover it only after surgery has begun.

The UGraft concept was developed to respond to changing follicle direction and skin characteristics during FUE graft extraction.

One Platform for Different Donor Scenarios

The video presents UGraft Zeus as a patented FUE technology designed for multiple donor scenarios and describes it as the most multicenter-studied FUE device. The broader purpose of the development was to simplify a technology created for difficult cases so that other physicians could use the same platform across a wider range of patients.

FUE planning remains individual. A hair transplant before and after comparison cannot determine whether the same approach is appropriate for another person. Donor supply, hair characteristics, skin characteristics, and the planned procedure all require medical evaluation. Technology can be designed to adapt, but treatment planning still begins with the individual patient.

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This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Suitability for FUE and treatment planning require an individual medical evaluation. Individual results vary.

Video: Mia’s Growing Confidence With Alopecia

Jason Thompson — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 18:43:43 +0000

Mia’s hair was growing, but in this chapter of The Baldcast, her family describes a change that reached beyond appearance. As her alopecia story continued, they noticed her becoming more outgoing, making more friends, and approaching other children with greater confidence.

A Change Her Family Could See

Dr. Sanusi Umar begins by noting the visible difference in Mia’s hair since he had seen her roughly two months earlier. He describes the change as “night and day” and says her hair was “really growing back with a vengeance.” The conversation then turns from hair growth to what Mia’s family had noticed in the way she was showing up in everyday life.

Dr. Sanusi Umar discusses Mia’s hair progress during the Baldcast conversation.

More Outgoing, More Comfortable

Dr. Umar asks what has changed for Mia in terms of happiness, eye contact, and how she presents herself to the world. Her family’s answer is direct: “She’s outgoing a lot more.” They also say she is making more friends and feels more confident when she goes to playgrounds and parks.

That confidence shows up in a specific way. Her family says Mia is now more comfortable walking up to other children and asking them to play with her. They also describe a change in the way she approaches other children, saying she no longer seems as worried when she does it.

Mia’s family reflects on how her confidence and social interactions have changed as her hair has grown.

When Progress Means More Than Hair

The chapter connects Mia’s visible hair progress with the changes her family is seeing in her social confidence. Their comments focus on everyday moments: making friends, going to the park, approaching other children, and asking them to play. For her family, those changes have become an important part of the story alongside hair restoration and hair growth treatment.

Dr. Umar responds, “That’s really great to hear.” The chapter closes on that encouraging note while leaving Mia’s continued progress for the next part of her story.

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This is one patient’s experience. Individual results vary. This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.