My biggest concern about SMP is that I'm afraid that people aren't recognizing it for what it really is. Scalp Micropigmentation is just a fancy name for a 2 dimensional tattoo on the scalp that looks like short hair.

While I don't want to be a naysayer nor sound like I'm rejecting innovation, if I had to make a prediction, I am concerned that there will be a lot of disappointed SMP consumers in the future that wish they didn't undergo this procedure.

That said, I'm willing to keep an open mind and will certainly admit to being wrong if SMP proves to be a viable "treatment" option for hair loss sufferers in several years. But at this point, it's in its infancy and experimental stages and only time will tell what hair loss sufferers can truly expect from SMP.

I too hope that TTDS and anyone else undergoing SMP will document their results with quality pictures and return to this forum several years later and present new pictures.

Best wishes,

Bill

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Managing Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog and the Hair Loss Forum and Social Community

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To learn about how I restored my hair, view my my hair loss website.

Remember, true beauty radiates from within, not from the skin.

I am not a medical professional and my words should not be taken as medical advice. All opinions and views shared are my own.

Bill,

I agree. Frankly, I do think SMP has its place, but is properly suited for a small number of specific patients. However, I do look forward to following its progress and reviewing the type of SMP results posted on the forums.

__________________
Blake (Future_HT_Doc)

Forum Co-Moderator and Editorial Assistant for the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum

All opinions are my own and my advice should not constitute as medical advice.

Cut to a mixture of .8mm (front and NW1-2 zones), 1mm (NW 3-4), and 3mm crown, and 2mm-3mm across back and scars (with 1mm in the scars themselves) my SMP + hair looks brilliant in the sense that it looks natural. I am still an ugly mother! (of course the strip scars aren't perfectly eliminated) But the SMP itself is undetectable and in no way odd, unless a picture is taken with a digital camera when sometimes the color of the pic looks ridiculously blue.

The caveat is WITH HAIR (even at low density) , and maybe lucky skin* .

The only problem I have now, is that my original hairline is too far back. Built as it was, naturally, before SMP.

The hairlines with no hair and just SMP look ridiculous. It is essential to have hair to mix with it. These guys in the SMP company won't tell you that of course. But for guys looking to combine FUE, short hair at back and sides, even with volume up top, or just buzz SMP is a revolution.

SMP means you should pay more attention to getting a lower and more desirable hairline first. (once you have established that your skin works with SMP and the particular tech, tools, ink work for you)

SMP accents your hairline, even if it is faded towards the front.

I don't mean get yourself an Armani type hairlines, but I definitely mean at least better than NW2.

One the temples are gone, they are gone. Don't be hoping for SMP to help there. MEds!

This is a SHIFT in thinking from the previous doctrine which is dictated by lack of available grafts.

There are limitations and a horror stage. For me, it is between between 3mm - 30-35mm where SMP and hair doesn't look good. At least to my eyes.

I add this as an edit too, I don't want to encourage people to plow their money and hopes into SMP. The companies will rip you off! You will be disfigured as easily as you can imagine! But with some prudent and pedantic research, and some restraint (I don't have much) you might be lucky like me.

I should add, once I realised I got away with it (SMP) I wasn't in the happy world I imagined. Now I am just another greying faceless middle-aged dude but I am sure relieved and now the real work begins.

hey everyone I need help..... I am desperate, please no gimmicks, no B.S. just the truth. I am 35 and everyone thinks I'm 45. I have had 4 H.T. and still, I'm not pleased. I hate the way my hair looks, I hate the way I look. Everyone makes fun of my hair. I'm almost in depression mode. I have to wear hats everywhere I go. Please if there is anyone out there that has had SMP done please contact me. I want to know if its worth it. Please no one from any of the companies that do SMP. I want an independent person that has got it done.

It seems to me alot of people on here work for the companies that do SMP. Which is sad for people like me that what real answers and that are desperate. SMP is not cheap and pictures on the web can be deceiving. I have talk to hishair, GLI, Newhair, hairsimulaiton. No one would put me in contact with a person that has got it done. Why?

I'm ugly ass f*#k, for some reason I got a beautiful trophy wife (12 younger and gorgeous) no I'm not rich, two beautiful kids. All I want is to feel good on the inside.

Anyway thanks to everyone for your help

closa9,

I'm very sorry to hear about your failed hair restoration journey. I encourage you to start a new discussion about your transplants and present photos so we can better understand your concerns.

As for SMP, I want to clear something up. None of our regular posters here work for any SMP providers. We recommend one and only one hair transplant surgeon that offers SMP at his clinic. That is Dr. William Rassman of NHI and he has offered his expert opinion here as well as displayed patient results.

Like you, we have been waiting for unbiased, patient documentation of SMP. Currently there are not many SMP recipients who have offered to publicly share their stories.

Best of luck!

__________________
David (TakingThePlunge)
Forum Co-Moderator and Editorial Assistant

I am not a medical professional. All opinions are my own and my advice should not constitute as medical advice.

View my Hair Loss Website

hairthere
Thank you for your response, finally someone that know where I'm coming from. I am not going to do SMP until I get an unbias review. Until then will I consider it. I have been talking to Good Looks Ink and Hair Simulation out of Atlanta about SMP.
It can get a little discourage on these forums sometimes. I just got tired of the B.S. on here. A lot of talk but no action. I started to lose my hair at 20 yrs old. and have been make of fun of that long and I'm tired of it. I want to do something new about my hair. It's not only that I also have acne scars to deal with. Like I said before I have a very beautiful wife. She said she doesn't care, she loves me for me. Honestly it like beauty and the beast.

If there is anyone that would like to help me out here I am.

thanks for everyones help

I just posted about SMP to say, don't bother trying to get temples with SMP, and then I did the very opposite.

I just got them.

I stuck to my principle with SMP, never, ever go beyond the existing hair territory, even if it is pissy little miniturized fuzz.

I used a lighter ink, about 20% lighter than the ink used up to to the prior boundary.I designed it myself and with the advice of the staff.

It looks pretty good, although the 50% fade will kick in soon enough and then I can say for sure. But the shape or contour is really impressive.

I drew zig zags gradually moving superiorly with curved tapers slightly pointing upwards.

I didn't cover the entire area of the remaining temple hair so there is still a buffet zone between ink and hairless skin, but the key point is that the prior vertical drop has been broken up and that you can improve your hairline shape by adding weak temples, after and ONLY after you have seen the initial job settle. Mine has been three months between first and last.

I think it might be a good strategy for SMP going forward. Build the basic stuff behind the hairline first. wait three months, and then and only then, add deft and soft touches to the outline where you are taking a bigger risk.

Hey TTDS, was wondering how your SMP went. Update us when you can.

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HT #1: Karamikian Unknown # of grafts Sept.2006

HT#2 Nov.23rd, 2007
Dr.Feller
Almost 3200 grafts via strip

HT#3 April 2010
Fue 200/side into temple points

HT#4 February 2011

My Hair Loss Website - Hair Transplant with Dr. Feller

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