badger_01

NorCal11, Take a deep breath...you're going through the stage of feeling helpless just like we all did when we first started losing our hair! The good news is that there are several solutions, and not all of them involve getting a hair transplant. Take a few months to search for answers on this site...you'll find a wealth of information. At 19, you should consider getting on Propecia and Rogaine for atleast a year before considering going under the knife. Also consider using concealers like dermmatch and toppik. They work wonders and will give a boost of confidence while you're researching your options. The good news is that you're in the right place and your hairloss is not bad. By starting to take action now, you're ahead of the game! Good luck!

pjt, Congrats on your HT! Unfortunately the ugly duckling stage is something we must all endure and something i'm going through now (4.5 weeks) but the forum is great and offers a lot of support. Check out this post on shock loss.. shock loss post As for the graft, slight bleeding and oozing is pretty normal at 2 days, even without losing a graft. Not sure what would have made the graft jump ship..but don't think about it too much..there's plenty more that are happily hanging around

just curious...how short is your haircut and how are you covering the scar...did you have the recipient area shaved?

thats not the ideal situation, but at 14 days, you're grafts wont be going anywhere

Strangely enough..i had the same question when i first started doing my research. Yes, you can style your hair anyway you want. In fact, once you're grafts mature I'm sure you'll be trying all sorts of things in front of the mirror with your "new" hair

yeah..I'd say suck it up and drive back there. You've invested alot of time and money already...whats another 4 hour round trip . Like Dewayne said, it is important to let the doc examine your grafts and do "push backs" of any grafts that may have come loose. I know, I had some minimal bleeding/oozing the first night, and that made my scalp messy but the wash and treatment at the clinic made it look and feel 200% better.

I've seen the big debate on whether Jamie Foxx's tattoo is covering up a procedure, but I've never seen pics of a scar being covered by a tattoo..i've got black hair and would be really interested to see pics.

Abby, If you post in the hair restoration Q&A section, you'll get some replies pretty quick.

john, I was one of those, who started a regimen of propecia and rogaine after my HT. I'm now 1 month post-op, and did it since I was advised to, by Dr Gabel who performed my HT. Even though I'd be losing my hair for several years, I'd been scared away with posts on side-effects from propecia and had previously experienced severe itching from rogaine. After doing alot more research (and thanks in part to Dr Carman who always has great info), I started propecia with no sides and added rogaine foam with an anti-dandruff shampoo to control itch. Like everyone else pointed out, this it to maintain the hair I have. I'm 32 and I'm a NW3-4 with diffuse thinning. My dad is a NW6, and so i know i'll probably get there eventually. The key when you're in the earlier stages is to be conservative with your HT and keep as much natural hair post HT (the transplanted hair wont fall out). If I had to do it over, even though i don't know whether fines and minox are workin g for me yet, i'd have taken them for atleast a year prior to my first HT. Hope that helps..good luck.

Monza ....don't do it! Its not worth the risk. I looked at the pics on your blog and you should be able to cover it with some toppik. Also, if you've always been clean shaven ..grow a beard...that worked great for me. Like someone else pointed out, we are our worst critics...noone will notice especially if you've done something else to change your look, like growing a beard. Finally..even if someone notices...don't be embarrassed..its easier said than done..but i'm 3.5 weeks post-op and i've learned that there is always the occasional jerk who'll try to make you feel concious....dont lose sight of the big picture..in 6 months this will be a distant memory ..DON'T MESS WITH THE GRAFTS!

Good luck man! Its great that you're giving it another shot. You're in the right place. Do your research and everything will turn out great this time around.

Like everyone said, get on the drugs. But also consider using toppik and dermatch. These are concealers and work pretty well thinning hair. They'll give you a bit of confidence while you're doing your research and planning for your HT.

Volvic, Everyone who gets an HT wants a completely natural look. What looks natural to some, looks unnatural to others. Before you decide on a doc, meet some of his patients and take a look at their hairlines for yourself.

bllorayne, As many people on this forum have pointed out, you need to be conservative when you're younger because you dont know what you're future hairloss pattern will be and you need to keep enough donor hair for future surgeries you may need. Often, younger patients want the exact opposite. They're not used to be being bald and want their teenage hairline back.Having said that, if you work with an ethical surgeon, and have realistic expectations, you should be able to achieve your objective. Consult with a number of doctors before you make your decision.

I'm 3 weeks post-op from my first HT. My doctor recommended I start using rogaine foam on my crown. The last time I used rogaine was 7 yrs ago and it resulted in a very itchy scalp. I've heard that some anti-dandruff shampoos work well to alleviate the itch. Anyone with some first hand experience on what worked well?

Congrats and good luck! here's what the IAHRS recommends you ask http://hairloss.iahrs.org/hair-transplant/hair-transplant-surgeon-questions/

makes sense...i'll probably wait a couple of months to get back into the weight room then..any harm running before that?

I'm 18 days post-op, and was wondering how soon I can start working out again. I'll probably wait until a month post-op but I was wondering what you guys thought, and if there was anything I needed to avoid or watch out for when I do start running and lifting again.

I'm 18 days post-op, and was wondering how soon I can start working out again. I'll probably wait until a month post-op but I was wondering what you guys thought, and if there was anything I needed to avoid or watch out for when I do start running and lifting again.

Sounds like you have to figure out if a really need a hair transplant or not. It's not as glamorous and hassle free as the TV ads would have you believe. If you do decide you need one, then its a no-brainer to go with a doctor doing Follicular Unit grafting....thats the latest and nothing else comes close. Take your time..talk to a few doctors...meet a few patients and see there scars up close...and you'll have all your answers.

I've had really good success using dermatch and toppik for my crown. These are concealers and when used correctly, do a great job. Before you go out with them the first time, confide in someone you trust and get them to tell you if it looks natural or not.

thinman123, I had alot of crusting too. After talking to my doc and reading a few posts, I started to soak my head in a warm bath for about 20 min followed by a shower where I shampoo as described by Bill. I also apply 4 tablespoons of mineral oil to my scalp before I go to bed. Its greasy, but was recommended by my doc and has worked really w ell for me. A lot of the crusting has gone and most of the rest is on its way out.

Brian...I nominate your post to the Hair Transplant experience Hall of Fame . Just curious how you know what Victoria Beck's thong looks like

I've seen several people and docs argue about this. My doc gave me the option, but explained to me the pros and cons of shaving vs not shaving down.I really did not want to shave down either...but I did in the end. All I'll say is, don't base your decision on whether a doc shaves down or not. The ugly ducking stage is temporary... the final result is permanent! The good news for you is, with the docs you've chosen, you can't go wrong either way!

I recently wrote about my experience, in the HT experience forum http://hair-restoration-info.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/746...731033283#7731033283