Hey what's going on guys?? It's been awhile since I have posted. Actually I have been very busy at my new job, and I barely get any chance to hang around here. I hope all you guys are doing well.

I just uploaded my 8 month post-op HT2 pictures. So far so good, but I am little disappointed as I had higher expectations. My hair feels very lifeless, flat and thin.

I am still not very happy with my crown. Although I have already invested about 2200 grafts, I still feel the need to add more to fill in the crown. What's your take on that?

Also, I am thinking about making a switch from Propecia to Avodart. I know lot of you have started taking the Avodart in past few months, how's the experience? Is it working better/worse?

KG

Best of luck to you kg007. I'm ahead of you 5 days - I'm also having my 2nd HT with Dr. Wong, scheduled for Feb. 15th. We'll have to keep in touch and compare notes on progress! You've got a head start on me though, I'm about a NW 4 with not much on the crown. I'm going to start there and work forward depending on how plentiful the harvest is. I'm hoping to get some pre-op pics posted for comparison.

Hairbank

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Hairbank

1st HT 1-18-05 - 1200 FUT's
2nd HT 2-15-06 - 3886 FUT's Dr. Wong
3rd HT 4-24-08 - 2415 FUT's Dr. Wong

GRAND TOTAL: 7501 GRAFTS

current regimen: 1.25mg finasteride every other day

My Hair Loss Weblog

Disclaimer: I'm not a Doctor (and have never played one on TV ) and have no medical training. Any information I share here is in an effort to help those who don't like hair loss.

Hairbank -

Good to hear from you. I saw your profile and picures, you're definitely heading in right direction. I don't know about 5000 grafts, but I am sure Dr. Wong will be able to harvest 4000 grafts as long as you have been doing the scalp exercise. Anyway, I am really looking forward to see your progress. Keep in touch, and share some pictures after your procedure (maybe before I go for mine). Who did you have your first procedure with?

KG

Wow, with so many going up to H & W perhaps we should set up a topic for those wanting to car pool across the border :-)

KG, You have certainly done your due dillegence and been a very constructive and regular contributor to this forum (thanks). You deserve a great result and I expect you will get one. I like you and Dr. Wong's plan for how you intend to distribute the 3000 grafts. I think it is important that you do get your frontal third at a good density rather committing all 3000 grafts to the crown area.

Hairbank, I'd wish you luck too but with your choice you won't need it.

Congratulations to both of you in advance. I hope we all get to see your results on this forum and perhaps in a weblog.

Pat

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kg,

I had my first HT with Dr. Samuels in St. Louis, MO. I don't know of anyone on the site that's gone to him. He was only a 2 hour drive for me so I consulted, reviewed some before and after pics and signed up. I think his placement of grafts was okay, though probably more invasive that I'm sure Dr. Wong will be. All in all I'm please with results from the first, but would have gone for many more grafts if I knew then what I know now (if you know what I mean).

Hey, I'd be glad to send you some post-HT pics before you go. I'll be back home on Feb 16th and will try to post on HTN Feb 17th or so.

I just found out about the scalp exercises today and am starting to work on it.

Pat - thanks for the encouragement and all of the invaluable information you provide. I'll definitely be posting post-op pics and keep everyone updated.

Hairbank

__________________
Hairbank

1st HT 1-18-05 - 1200 FUT's
2nd HT 2-15-06 - 3886 FUT's Dr. Wong
3rd HT 4-24-08 - 2415 FUT's Dr. Wong

GRAND TOTAL: 7501 GRAFTS

current regimen: 1.25mg finasteride every other day

My Hair Loss Weblog

Disclaimer: I'm not a Doctor (and have never played one on TV ) and have no medical training. Any information I share here is in an effort to help those who don't like hair loss.

Pat - Thanks for the kind words. I and Dr. Wong have a plan, which is to put 1500 grafts in frontal 1/3 and another 1500 in top/crown area. But it's only tentative; things might be different once he sees me in person. I'll keep you guys updated with the my procedure and everything like I did when I went under my 1st procedure over a year ago.

Hairbank ??“ I too went under small procedure the first time. I wish I was more educated about HT back then, I would have gone for bigger procedure. Man you really missed out on the scalp exercise. It really helps loosen your scalp. It sucks you only have 2 more weeks before your procedure. If you had been doing it for past 3-4 months, it would have really helped you do a MEGA session. But anyway, 2 weeks will still help. I say do about half hour a day. I do 10 minutes back of the scalp (in the center), 10 minutes sides of the scalp (above ears), and 10 minutes in the middle (between the center and sides). That will definitely help you.

Hello Mahair -

I received your PM. If you don't mind I would reply to it here because others might have their own opinions to add.

"Mahair: I still think you have too much hair for another pass. Save your donor for emergencies."

I appreciate your concern. I have done lot of thinking about this concern over the past year. I have always been concerned with 'shock-loss'. But my hairloss has been very stable for past 5 years, thanks to Propecia. And I have been waiting for quite awhile to do something about thinning. See the thing is it doesn't matter if I get another HT now or wait for another few years to do something about my thinning on top, the shock loss concern is always going to be there as long as I have native hair on top. I have discussed this matter with lot of top HT surgeons who are frequently being talked about on this forum, and every one of them has claimed that I would not suffer permanent shock loss with new technology and blades being used. Dr. Wong even went on to say that shock loss should be the last thing on my mind to worry about when deciding for the 2nd procedure. I have faith in my doctor and I am going to go with whatever he recommends after seeing me in person. I think we have a good plan for now, 1500 in crown/top and 1500 in frontal 1/3.

As Mahair would say - have them put it in writing.

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2700 Total Grafts w/ Keene 9/28/05
663 one's = 663
1116 two's = 2232
721 three's = 2163
200 four's = 800
Hair Count = 5858

1000 Total Grafts w/Keene 2/08/07
Mostly combined FU's for 2600+ hairs

My Photo Album

See me at Dr. Keene's Gallery

Gorpy -

I know what you mean, but would any doc give me that in writing?
All we can do is, go by doc's past record of customer satisfaction, reputation and customer care. And the fact that almost all the docs I had consultation with claimed that I would not suffer from permanent shockloss has given me enough confidence to take the next step. And like I said before, I can wait another 5 years before I do anything about thinning on top, but shockloss concern will still be there. So why wait if I am going to have same risks now or 5 yrs later. And I don't like the whole idea of waiting for all your exisiting thinning hair to fall before getting a HT. I think that's just a plain dumb idea. Anyway thanks for your concern. I have thought about this for awhile, and I think I am making the right decision. Hopefully everything will go well.

KG

Yes, I completely understand Kg. Be prepared to look bad/worse for quite a while. Then hopefully everything will turn around and bloom. It's a long painful process. Good luck.

__________________
____________
2700 Total Grafts w/ Keene 9/28/05
663 one's = 663
1116 two's = 2232
721 three's = 2163
200 four's = 800
Hair Count = 5858

1000 Total Grafts w/Keene 2/08/07
Mostly combined FU's for 2600+ hairs

My Photo Album

See me at Dr. Keene's Gallery