THE DOC REPLIES

IS hair transplant surgery safe? I’m 64 and would like to give it a try. How does it work?

This procedure is generally safe. It involves moving hair from one area to another. There are a variety of different techniques and private clinics available. It can be quite a long process before good results are seen and it is not always successful.

I’M 20 and have recently lost a large amount of weight. Unfortunately it has left a lot of fresh stretch marks. Is there a way to hide them?

Congratulations on losing so much weight, which I am sure will be beneficial to your health overall. Unfortunately, stretch marks can be a side effect of so much weight loss. They tend to fade over time but can take years to do so. It can be really frustrating for people who have made big lifestyle changes successfully. They can also occur during pregnancy and puberty.

Options for treatment involve camouflaging the marks. A variety of creams and lotions are available at pharmacies. However, their impact is likely to be pretty minimal on the stretch marks themselves.

Laser therapy is possible and, although it won’t completely remove stretch marks, it can make them less noticeable. In the most severe cases cosmetic surgery such as tummy tucks can be performed but such procedures aren’t normally available on the NHS.

I know it tends to be women who develop anorexia – but I’m worried about my grandson’s eating. He’s very thin. What are the signs to look out for?

Concerns about anorexia can be distressing for families. There are obviously a lot of other explanations for why a child might be thin. Signs of anorexia are generally of eating little food and the weight loss that comes with it. It is a complex illness and I recommend your grandson see his doctor.

RECENTLY I’ve noticed a pain developing in my left heel as the day goes on. Could it be plantar fasciitis?

There are a few other possibilities when you develop pain in the heel but plantar fasciitis is one of the most common complaints. It occurs when the supporting tissue of the foot becomes inflamed. It can take several months to be resolved. It helps to exercise and address any problems with the way the foot is structured. Your doctor will be able to advise you about the best course of action.

HOW many X-rays can you have over a lifetime? I’ve had five sets of X-rays in my life and wondered if I’d been exposed to too much radiation.

There is no limit to how many X-rays someone can have but doctors try to minimise them to ensure people are not exposed to too much radiation. The exact amount depends on the type of X-rays. For instance, five chest X-rays would be the equivalent of two months’ exposure to the natural background radiation that we are all exposed to every day – so the risks are very small.

I’VE developed a wart on the back of my hand. Is there a way to get rid of it at home?

There are different treatments available from your pharmacist which can treat warts on your hands. If these don’t solve the problem, a freezing treatment is available at many GP surgeries.

HOW does the Body Mass Index work? I’m 5ft 10in and 12st 7lb.

The BMI is a calculation that relates your height to your weight. You take your weight and divide it by your height squared. Your own calculation gives you a BMI of 25 – and this puts you just at the top end of the normal range.

WHAT is Graves disease?

It’s a problem affecting the thyroid gland. The body’s own immune system causes the thyroid to become overactive.