I would travel to see someone, if someone thought she/he were really, really knowledgeable and could guide me to the best treatment for my Alopecia Areata or FPHL (or hormonal hair loss? I really don't know). Or maybe no doctor really knows?? Thanks for any recommendations!
I’ve wanted to see Dr. Donovan in Canada so bad! He’s a dermatologist who specializes in hair loss. Doesn’t take insurance though. I’ve seen a few women here say they went to see him. Not sure what the general consensus is, but he seems very knowledgeable. I want to see him very badly but I’m already traveling to Florida to see Dr. Greco for the PRP. It all starts to add up. But I do feel seeing Dr. Donovan might be beneficial... ?
Hi Jtilly. what's Dr.Donovan's full name. I'm looking for a good doctor as well. Please let me know. Thank you.
I looked him up (just googled 'Donovan Hair Canada'); he's so outrageously expensive, I don't know how he lives with himself!! I don't doubt he knows his stuff, but when we have a condition in which nobody *really* knows what will work...I don't know. Crazy. Something like $800 for an appointment! And then $600 for a follow-up, or something like that.
Yes, he is expensive. He doesn’t take insurance because he wants to be able to spend more time with his patients than just the standard 15 minutes most providers give you, because insurance companies dictate how much time providers spend with patients and they are required to see a certain number of patients per day. He’s a dermatologist that takes special interest in hair loss, which not all dermatologists do. I have not seen him because I can’t afford to. But I would like to see him if I could. Who knows...
I can’t personally vouch for him because I have never seen him. So you should perhaps call his office to ask questions. All of his receptionists are very friendly and helpful. He does not take insurance because he wants to spend more time with his patients than the mandatory 15 minutes that insurance companies dictate. So be prepared for a high price tag. He seems to be very knowledgeable and takes a special interest in hair loss. He also seems very honest and transparent. But this is just my opinion based on following him online and such.
Jtilly, thanks for recommending him. I didn't mean to sound harsh; just surprised he charges that much, when I've seen endocrinologists in Denver who charge about $400, out of pocket, much less than him. I just wonder what he'd recommend that hasn't been recommended...But maybe I need to contact him, or look at the thread again! Would be wonderful if he could provide personalized information, for sure.
I don't know that I would *highly* recommend my trichologist, but she is decent, knowledgeable, is very responsive to emails, and has helped me. My only complaint about her is that she's a bit cold re: the anxiety and fear that goes with hair loss (but I suppose thats what therapists are for). Not sure if you're in the area or willing to travel, but her name is Dr. Carolyn Goh, and shes part of the UCLA health network.
Oh no, I didn’t take it as harsh. I feel the same way. I think he’s probably good at what he does, but really what can he offer that I don’t already know? That’s a long expensive trip to make just to be told what I already know. What I do like about him is that he uses a dermascope of some type when doing the exam. I’ve seen 4, 5 or 6 derms... I’ve lost track honestly! But not one of them used a dermascope. Dr. Donovan has said that he often has 2 patients come in with the same diagnosis but leave with 2 different treatment plans. I feel like my dermatologist was kind of a pill mill.. She was super quick and even quicker to prescribe me Spironolactone, told me to get on Yaz and Rogaine. All without even so much as looking at any lab work or ordering any lab work. Meanwhile I actually have ultra low testosterone levels and DHT. Dr. Donovan indicated that my levels are so low he’s not sure it’s a good idea for me to be on that. But of course he couldn’t comment further without reviewing my labs and an in person exam of scalp. I so wish I could afford to go see him. I would in a heartbeat! Even if it was a waste of time, it would be worth it for peace of mind I did everything I could. I have been so depressed lately. My heart hurts so much that exactly this time last year I had so much hair my stylist was thinning it out! And it was still gorgeous and thick!! Now I have strings hanging off my head! Things had stabilized for about 2 months, and felt like it might be recovering. Then I made the dumb decision to take a crap load of vitamins prescribed by a nutritional therapist. Something in those multitude of vitamins pissed off my body royally! A week into them I started to shed little by little, more and more each day, up to 300 to 400 hairs a day now consistently. If I had to guess the culprit, I think it was the Evening Primrose Oil. Although I know it helps most women, as it is touted as helping with hair growth, I think it has estrogenic properties. Because I also started having really bas side effects, the same ones I had when I was on bio identical estradiol. I know they say to look back 2 or 3 months, that whatever happened back then is causing the shed. But I call BS. Might be true for some people or certain circumstances, but I’ve seen many women say they have had hair fall within a week or 2 of a trigger. And I’ve even seen some doctors say it can vary person to person. That some do react quickly to a trigger. So yeah... I’ve been struggling to say the least and could just kick myself for taking those vitamins! I’m so mad at myself. My hair was way better 2 weeks ago. It actually started to feel thicker again. Now it’s worse than it’s ever been. I’m praying so hard it will stop shedding quickly! I’ve never lost so much hair. I am not kidding, it’s like I just had chemo. I went from 2 weeks ago losing 0-5 in the shower, combing out about 12 after the shower, to now losing 40 in the shower alone, combing 40 to 80 out after, AND losing tons all day. One day I gently shook my hair and 71 fell!! Anytime I barley touch my hair I pull out at least 7 stands effortlessly. I wake up covered in hair every morning. 2 weeks ago my hair had a heaviness that had finally slowly been coming back. Now it’s barely there, just wisps of hair. I can’t take this anymore. So god willing, this stops soon or I have no choice but to shave. Sorry for the long sob story... I just can’t believe this is happening. I have been working to keep the stress down but the EPO caused anxiety so that’s not helping my cause.
i I hope you get better soon! my hair completely thinned a lot in 3-4 months. Before my hair was perfectly normal, now my scalp shows a lot. It's hard for me as well. I believe it's Hard for every woman going through this. Hang in there!
Are there any specialists in the U.S. that anyone would *highly* recommend? Someone knowledgeable about women's hormone process, perimenopause, thyroid, ALL available medications for hair growth, etc (I guess, ideally, an endocrinologist or dermatologist (which is better??) who knows hair)? I feel like I need to start something, but I'm not sure what to use, and I'd love to see someone whose opinion I really value.
I am planning to see him although it is very far for me to travel, but hoping he can clarify what I have received thus far, differing opinions and no clear path to treatment, one doctor says one thing, another says another. If anyone has anything negative to say about their appointment with him, pls let me know.
