MICHAEL L. REED, MD: Donor dominance refers to the phenomenon that if genetically blessed hair is going to live forever in the back of the head, or for a lifetime, it will decide it's own fate at the new site. That's the case in male pattern baldness, that's why we can transplant it. You could not transplant a hair into an area where, say, there was infection because the infection would destroy the hair. So the phenomenon of donor dominance must prevail. Since most men who get transplants have male pattern hair loss, that is a donor dominant condition and therefore they can be transplanted with long-term success.
DAVID R. MARKS, MD: Dr. Cattani, just describe what male pattern baldness is.
ROBERT V. CATTANI, MD: If I may just add to what Dr. Reed said first. Dr. Reed so wonderfully outlined the objective criteria of those who would be candidates. Let me add the subjective criteria which I think the audience would like to know. I think it is essential that someone be very bothered by their hair loss to make themselves a good candidate. If they're not bothered, if someone else in their family is bothered, or someone else induces them to secret consultation then they are not a good candidate.
But if they are severely bothered by hair loss and their expectations are realistic, then and only then can they become very good candidates for this. Those are very important factors, David.
DAVID R. MARKS, MD: So in other words, you're talking about someone doing it to please someone else.
