I know, but you’ll forgive my scepticism. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people wax lyrical over a result, and then when I’ve looked at the result myself I can see several common issues with it.    I assume you thought the results you were seeing from the clinic that did you dirty the first time around were good, too. I’d hate for you to make the same error twice, and if you do roll the dice here I hope it works well for you.    With vert, personally I’d wait a little longer and use a surgeon that has been working with it and for whom there will be a more robust follow up and measurement protocol. Obviously there aren’t many options right now, but the landscape will surely have changed in that regard 12-18 months from now. 

When it comes to surgery and shaving/not shaving, I think anything that makes your surgeon’s job more difficult is not in your long term interests. Anything that makes your surgeon’s job easier can only be a positive for your long term results. 

@jjsraderI never came across someone who had too many FUT's , just out of curiosity and my knowledge -Can you share your journey of too many FUTs? -Why too many FUT's not FUE? Because they say too many FUT's not possible due to scalp laxity so how was it possible for you? -Can you share just scalp pics before SMP and after if you're okay? Curious to see how all those FUT's are gone and the work done by artist?

6 month update here. These photos were taken on the 1st of May which was 6 months or 26 weeks post-op. I would also like to point out that on April 16th I crossed over the 5 year mark since my first hair transplant with Dr. Arocha. I cut my hair about 3 weeks ago because it was very weighted down by all the length. I tried to leave it long enough to cover the crown which is still in the growing phase, however, it’s somewhat exposed so my solution is to put a little dermmatch in there to help disguise what’s going on. It helps enough because no one that I work with seems to have an idea. In fact, I was talking to a a couple of coworkers about George Clooney and how he often shaves his hairline for a role to give the look of a man with a receding hairline. At the end I tried to crack a joke about how it’s insulting to those of us who do actually suffer from male pattern baldness. My joke was met with silence. One of the guys in the group squinted their eyes at me and asked, in all seriousness, “do you suffer from male pattern baldness?” To which I replied, “bro, 70 to 80 percent of all men deal with MPB at some point in their lives. I am a 44 year old man who indeed does suffer with it”. His reply to that was completely indignant and it made me feel so good about my decision to move forward with hair transplants. He said, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess. Your hair is perfect.” The irony of what he said and how he said it made me so happy. They have no idea. Per usual, I tried to get photos in various lighting to showcase exactly what is going on with my hair. Unless I indicate there is no product or concealer in my hair. The first images are by a window where I work.   The next set of photos are in one of my bathrooms with harsher light. The body of my hair really seems to hold up under it.   The next set are in my bathroom where the lighting is friendlier. I would also like to point out that I have a window shade open and when it’s closed there is a big difference in the appearance of my hairline. I don’t have all the usual angles because I was taking some photos to share with a friend but I thought I would share here. These next are in the same bathroom but with the shade closed. I was playing with styling and I wanted to share. When the shade is closed the light is much harsher which exposes some gaps but I don’t think it looks unnatural at all. Take notice of the part. To me, it’s quite diffuse BUT…I can part it. That’s not really something I’ve been able to do before. Really, all I’ve been able to do is just brush/pull it back with the previous transplant which has, mostly, always been my style unless I was letting it grow out. And, if I’m being honest, me being critical of my part is really my being overly critical because it is not that bad. Like, at all. Next up is my crown. The first couple are at work next to the big window. I do have dermmatch in my crown in these pics. The next pics are in my bathroom without any concealer. Finally, I’ve got some pictures of my scar. These are from last month. I meant to post them then. Honestly, I haven’t paid much attention to my scar but this is what it looked like at 5 months. As usual they are upside down. Lol Thats about it for now. I’ve been pretty absent from the forum since about mid-February. I had gotten a promotion at work and I’ve been working to acclimate myself to the extra duties. Hopefully I can get on more often moving forward. If there any questions or comments I will be around. ✌🏻

Dr Mohammed Ditta did my first surgeries in Manchester, he is part of the HGC (Hair Growth Centre), big hair mill, Dr Ditta was great and made sure everything was explained well and a lot of checking on me etc, but I would not recommend them for anything that requires actual care and attention to how you want this to look on your head, HGC is more of a cheap in and out place, not a sit down and get a proper plan together type place But I also echo other people with the retrograde stuff, you might be trying to fight a battle thats already lost with you hair, and unless you would rather maybe go down big body hair sessions and be happy with that, then maybe shaving it down and forgetting it might be to easiest path ahead? Unless maybe you could get a strong hairline and a bit behind it and be happy with that?