I "Came Out" of the Closet: Kobren and Bauman

Posted by Sarah Sweetz Akhza On 3:31 PM
Below is a great (and short) video clip featuring Spencer Kobren (who's an author, national association leader, and host of "The Bald Truth") talking with my hair-transplant surgeon Dr. Alan Bauman (Bauman Medical in Boca Raton, Florida)... it was a live broadcast before yesterday's surgery, and they talked about my journey to break hair-treatment stigma.  I've been invited by Spencer as a guest on next Sunday's "Bald Truth" ( to discuss the treatment, and explore why hair treatment is still not "okay" enough for the 100s of celebrities who have been treated to come forward!

Join Spencer and me on "The Bald Truth" this Sunday, August 22 (2009) at 8 pm EST and call in!

It's odd and disappointing that caring about your hair and treating hair loss is still seen as taboo. It's no secret that balding is no sign of pride, and it's surprising that treating hair loss is viewed as vanity or insecurity. Pu-leeze. I am really excited to be a part of demystifying it, and Kobren and Bauman have made it their life calling.

One of the most exciting moments during our live broadcast of the surgery (see excerpt on Bauman's Stickam account) is when my friend and YouTube superstar Greg Benson called in, and "admitted" that he too had a transplant. 

I'm hoping Kobren (who has a great forum mentioned in this video) and Bauman (also on Twitter) can tap Benson for the cause. Benson talked about getting a transplant days before his commercial shoot (see his reel on his new daily vlog channel). Greg also has a really cute dog who reminds me of my new "Fred." 

Look... Hair loss isn't cancer, but male-pattern hair loss effects millions of people in far deeper ways than most realize. Women usually treat without reservation. But I've seen men distressed, depressed, paralyzed or in "avoidance" mode. Primary care doctors (and even dermatologists) are, as quantitative and qualitative research shows, largely disconnected from the impact on men. Some men learn not to care, or decide a shaved head's the way to go. I respect that a lot if it's genuine and not "gunny sacking." I also admire people that choose to treat when it bothers them enough. My heart goes out to the people that feel it's inevitable, and are just bummed out each time they look in the mirror.

Not everyone can afford a transplant, and there are medications that may delay or reduce the need for one. 

I can say two things about this experience:
1) I wish I had started taking Propecia when it launched. I just picked up a ProPak from Bauman's office this morning.
2) I can't believe I delayed getting a transplant. It was so much easier than I thought.



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