Dewayne

In a way your mom is right. Dr's are very quick to put you on drugs for the rest of your life when diet and exercise can fix the problem. As far as then not getting kickbacks well do a little research. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/business/09anemia.html?_r=1&oref=slogin http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120114138064112219.html http://www.mcgowanhood.com/CM/HotTopics/Doctors-paid-to...lify-to-children.asp http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=880399 You know, speaking of just regular family practice docs; some time ago we had a discussion about M.D. vs. D.O. and it seems a D.O. might be a great option for ones family doc as they tend to take a more holistic approach. I agree with you about that, as my doc will give me a prescription for anything if I ask him. I don't think they are all like that though. And I'm sure he doesn't get a kickback for it. I don't have time to read the articles right now, but with the NYT's history I wouldn't believe them if they said Jimmy Hoffa once committed a crime. But, thanks for the link and i'll come back.

I'm having a walk-in clinic remove my stitches tomorrow; will this hurt badly? I've got some pain pills left over, should I take one before? Will a regular doc have any trouble with this tricho(howeveryouspellit) closure? Any recommendations?

I'm having a walk-in clinic remove my stitches tomorrow; will this hurt badly? I've got some pain pills left over, should I take one before? Will a regular doc have any trouble with this tricho(howeveryouspellit) closure? Any recommendations?

Dakota, It wasn't a mom joke. I was cutting up because my mom, who is 72 and in perfect health, sounds exactly the same as an earlier post about the docs getting kickbacks. She gets on my dad for taking the cholestrol drugs and says the drs. are in cahoots w/ the drug companies because everytime she goes to him he's wanting to give her a script. It was more of a "my" mom joke, than anyone else's. Unfortunately, at this time she can out cardio me so I shouldn't be making fun at her expense on here. A couple of your post sound like her, though. Trust me, though, I don't mean that as a bad thing because she also happens to be one of the greatest people to ever walk on this earth, so that's more of a compliment than a joke. But yeah, I got me a script for Proscar b/c it's much cheaper. You have to get a pill cutter though and take it M-W-F. I think you have to tell them to double the number on your PSA test as well.

Dang, if you think of it that way; can you believe we pay up to $2 per hair? When you put it in that perspective, doesn't that sound outrageous?

Seriously, is that you mom? I know my dad's bald, but after 52 years of marriage surely she's not lurking on here to get him a transplant. I think people misjudge the pharmaceutical company's and assume they are all about the profits. True, just like any business they are trying to improve the value for their stakeholders, but without them we'd still be taking an aspirin for every problem and dying off at 58 years old, imo. I'm sure that most people working at the pharma companies are honest, hardworking people who go to work every day with the idea they are helping people control their cholesterol, pain, a couple conceive a child, or a young man grow his hair back. If I worked at one, I'd be proud of it too. To paint them with that brush isn't fair as I think many of these companies have contributed to a far greater standard of life that we now enjoy. The insurance company? I hear you, but it goes both ways. A lot of people abuse the system, and it seems we all end up paying for it. You can't blame an insurance company for trying to give their customers the best care value for the lowest cost. Sometimes it gets off and isn't perfect, but it's still better than anywhere else.

Influencer, Glad you found this forum. Like Spex said, take your time and, if you keep your appt with Bosley today, take it with a grain of salt and DON'T make a decision until you've invested at least another month researching. In just one month, I can't tell you how much more educated I've become. Not only read the forum posts, but check out the Weblogs, topics of interest, choosing a surgeon, etc. There's a lot of information on here. As for Bosley, there is just too many cases of real live posters here who've had bad or subpar experiences with them. I'm sure they've got their good cases too, but it's just too much of a risk. I just had about 50 + of the old style plugs of the 90's removed from my head so I know what it's like to have a noticeable ht. And, a common complaint with Bosley ht's is the hair doesn't grow. Maybe they don't keep the strip in proper conditions after taking it out so their yields are very low. Anyway, if you will find a camera and takes some pics, tell us where you are, etc. I'm sure you'll get some great advice. To answer your earlier question to me in another thread; Dr. Cooley is in Charlotte, NC and I'm a little north of Atlanta. I drove the 300 miles, but I almost flew to Boca Raton or Arizona because I liked those docs too, so don't get overly concerned with geography. An extra $300 for a plane ticket is nothing.

Dewayne wrote: "I know they get wined and dined a little, but I don't buy the argument they'll get monetary gains for this." Thanks Doc, but I'm on your side AND you left off an important word in my quote.... I administer a 401k for a local family practice here and they get sandwiches catered in by reps. I certainly don't think a doc makes recommendations based on a half roast beef sandwich and chips, and can't understand why some (like my own mother) think they would. Human nature I suppose.

I know. I have a digital camera but I think the flash is automatic indoors. At the one month I'm going to make them outside. The pics don't do the job justice, as it's virtually undetectable except for the 'mini' grafts he took out. I had it done on Thursday and was back at work Monday at 11 a.m. No hat, suit and tie, and meeting with clients.

Good interview, Bill. Those guys seemed to be silly in the beginning but they got better at about the half-way point to the end. And a good point on the finances you made; most people will spend $30k every 5 years on a new car. I was glad those guys agreed this was a better investment.

I'll add this about the plastic surgeon (e,n&t doc) that I know, as I go to his clinic, which is mostly a spa specializing in facials, etc. along with some plastic surgery now; for him to laser a small tattoo I have on my ankle from college. The young ladies working there look at all have let him do their tits when he got back, so maybe he practiced on them. But, my point is he went and trained for a year and came back ready to do it. While he is a good doctor, with a good rep., I'd say my choice would be the top guy. My wife is getting her eyes fixed and she's going to the best one around. I suppose for 25% less she could go to this doctor. I'm not saying he wouldn't do excellent, but still he hasn't been doing it long.

You've been given excellent advice, but here's one more: QUIT SMOKING!!! What are you spending on the smokes? $20 per week? Thats's $80 a month and if you will invest that monthly you'll not only add to your life, you'll probably find in 6 or 7 years you can afford a decent hair transplant.

Freudian slip, no doubt You guys are so vein! (lol) We should start a list of words often misspelled on forums; Firstly - is that a word? loosing - isn't it losing? vains - duh on me? Most of the time I'm typing very fast and when the wife comes through I tend to hit 'Post Now' instead of proofreading it like I should....

Maybe Bill can link the interview?

I get it now, the finasteride at 1 g was what was tested and approved, not the Propecia. I just figured it was renamed at a lower dose and tested and approved under that name. Even though it was the same.

I agree, as Dr. Cooley prescribed Proscar for me as well. But, nowhere will you see Proscar approved for growing hair. It's like using generic bleach in my swimming pool, instead of the chlorine chemicals the pool store sells that has been proven to kill algae. It's all Sodium Hypochlorite, whether it comes from a $2 bottle of bleach or a $20 tablet of "shock" they sell at the pool store. But, Clorox hasn't done the test (if they were even required) to prove their product could kill the algae.

Also, one might say "why doesn't Merck just split up the Proscar to make it cheaper, ....." Well, it's very expensive to do all the testing required to prove something will work, thus they are allowed a patent on that particular drug for some time to recoup their enormous cost. If this weren't the way it worked, there wouldn't be much in the way of testing imo. I've got a buddy who works for PPD in Wilmington, NC and that's all the company does - testing for large pharma companies. And they employ 1,000 people plus staffs of Ph.D's attorney's, etc. so it's an expensive business.

I think the drug Proscar hasn't been proven (or even tested) to grow hair, and Propecia has. Now, granted they are the same thing but since Propecia has the FDA approval for growing hair they can charge more for it. So, while Merck makes both, obviously Propecia has a much higher profit margin because of this FDA approval for this use. And I'm not so sure doctors get kickbacks from pharma companies. I know they get wined and dined a little, but I don't buy the argument they'll get monetary gains for this. Besides, there is more you have to do with the Proscar: break in into parts, take it 3x a week, have your PSA test doubled, etc. so it's not just exactly the same - even though it is the same. Owning some stock in Merck, I can tell you they aren't experts at making money anyway so I wouldn't even bet they're that smart...

I don't know. The reason we decided to pull out the old plugs is I'm more interested now in the most natural look; after a few years of looking somewhat odd up close. Not everyone noticed it I think, but I could tell a few people would notice. But, I'll probably get some greed but it'll be a couple of years anyway. Dr. Cooley said I have 3,000 remaining, so I might get 1500 into the crown and save some for 10 years from now.

Luckily I've got one of those already, too. Except she's from South Alabama! My loss has bothered me at about a 6 on a 1-10 scale; but I'm sure it's awful for some of the guys who are a 9 or 10 on that scale. My wife didn't notice my thinning until we'd been married about a year, but I'm sure she wouldn't be the type to care, but you know how it goes... Sounds like you are set, though.

Yes, a coalition doctor prescribed a mix of finasteride / minoxidil for me at a cost of about $37 per month. I've taken it for about two years. I can't say it works, though. My hair seemed to look healthier and a little darker but I'm not sure about any growth. I've had two other coalition doctors tell me that it doesn't work as a topical solution. I just stopped using it and will try the oral finasteride and topical Rogaine foam.

Sounds like a good deal, but I bet you lost your ass on the new car you financed? I think we agree on finances, but my point is financing is an option for guys who will make up the cost and the financing with more earning power - or a better wife? LOL.

I too think certain debt (you mentioned you financed the hot new car?) is very bad. School loans? There are other options there, too. ROTC? National Guard? Job? College is obviously a good investment but my point is why do you think it's ok to finance an education but not ok to finance a h.t.? Now granted, better to do both or either without debt; but both of those things are tremendous investments! The car? Probably not, but most guys will finance one of those without blinking an eye, as both you and I did. Go for the hair, imo. But, a mortgage in some cases could be considered good debt AND a hair transplant can certainly be considered good debt. An education is good debt as well. If you're already swimmning in debt don't do it, no don't finance anything. But, if you can trade a $500 car payment for a $500 payment for your 4000 grafts from Dr. Wong - - hell yea! My point is, most young men (or old men) buy so much bullshit that I think sometimes a complete transformation of your head is worth more than the other stuff. Of course, there is better bartering power anytime you've got cash, but it's hard to calculate the loss of $$ because of one's lack of self-esteem about balding. Who's to say you wouldn't have made 25% more per year in sales? Or been promoted a couple of times during that time if you would have got the transplant? I did finance my first one at 24, but paid for the one last week. But, being 41 you can come up with money much easier. Before I wore a hat everywhere and stayed inside, I'd forego financing the car, and some other stuff, and finance a h.t. It'd be 1st or 2nd on my list. This topic was response to the guy who said no way - no how get a ht unless you've got the cash. That's wrong, imo.

Dr. Cooley placed 2,750 grafts mostly in the front 2/3 8 days ago. He also removed a lot of the previous 'mini' grafts I'd had 17 years ago. They must have used a 5 mm punch back then. I don't know how to turn the flash off this camera.

Chucky, I don't know about ht doctors, but I have a client who was an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist but left and went to a one-year fellowship in plastic surgery and came back - and now will give you a face lift and boob job. He's got a partner but that one specializes in vains. Another internist client of mine did say that most plastic surgeons go through a much more thorough training program than this doc did. But, I think there is some flexability.