Matt-san

Respecting your right to your opinions, I simply do not think the dr. I went to see (Carlson) could be characterized as mediocre or his staff as poorly-trained, or the process as having been hurried. That is not the impresison at all I got and I do not think I am a casual or uninformed observer. Everyone at that office struck me as professional and well-trained. And I want to reiterate that I had ample opportunity to ask questions about expected results, etc., which I did, and got straight answers from both the dr. and the counsellor I spoke to.

I thought he was referring to the Class 5 ( http://www.bosley.com/men/photos.htm ). Or is that what he's referring to with "NW5"? Well if I am not a 5 I am a 4.

Oh yeah, I am an NW5, yes.

Thanks JCW. Yeah, I'm a cheap bastard. I really ought to get a digi cam anyway, since after all I spare the expense of developing. Only thing worse than an old skinflint is a young one. OK, I got over 2,000 grafts but originally was set for 1,800. I had such thick hair they got over 2,000 grafts from the donor site. And no, they didn't charge me extra for doing the extra grafts for me either. Cost came in at around $11,000.

... as requested. Please see: http://hair-restoration-info.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=5696015661&f=2566060861&m=9746065815&r=3356065815 for piccies of my lovely head.

And again.

As promised.

Please see http://hair-restoration-info.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=5696015661&f=5466060861&m=3986005505 for the discussion that inspired this posting. OK, all, here are a couple photos I made of my head with my web cam (why didn't I think of this before?), saving me thus the cost of a new digital camera [yes, I'll spend almost $12k on a hair job but open up for a $300 digital camera? NEVER! ]. The pic attachment to this post is the only recent digitized pic of me I have. It shows my face front-on but not the crown (as I didn't take it for before-after purposes for my hair-job). But rest assured, the balding on my crown was pretty bad. I am here at +8 days after my operation. The next two photos in this thread will be my front and crown. Note that the amt. of hair you are seeing is a bit misleading; that hair is combed forward from the back of my head due to the hands-off kind of shampooing I have to do for the next week. I expect as told to see X-planted hair stems at 1 month fall out and see them re-grow at or by 3. The dr. says that by six mos. you pretty much know how it went for you. At +1 months I'll (try to remember to) post again, then at 3 months, then at six months (at least, maybe more often if I think it would be useful). OK, lads, here goes:

Please see http://hair-restoration-info.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=5696015661&f=5466060861&m=3986005505 for the discussion that inspired this posting. OK, all, here are a couple photos I made of my head with my web cam (why didn't I think of this before?), saving me thus the cost of a new digital camera [yes, I'll spend almost $12k on a hair job but open up for a $300 digital camera? NEVER! ]. The pic attachment to this post is the only recent digitized pic of me I have. It shows my face front-on but not the crown (as I didn't take it for before-after purposes for my hair-job). But rest assured, the balding on my crown was pretty bad. I am here at +8 days after my operation. The next two photos in this thread will be my front and crown. Note that the amt. of hair you are seeing is a bit misleading; that hair is combed forward from the back of my head due to the hands-off kind of shampooing I have to do for the next week. I expect as told to see X-planted hair stems at 1 month fall out and see them re-grow at or by 3. The dr. says that by six mos. you pretty much know how it went for you. At +1 months I'll (try to remember to) post again, then at 3 months, then at six months (at least, maybe more often if I think it would be useful). OK, lads, here goes:

Point taken!

Yeah, I know... just that I would want to take the pic and not wait until the whole roll was shot before developing it; otherwise no one would get to see my lovely head until next June! There are a number of cheap digital cameras out there and I really do need to get with the times anyway as far as this goes. So I will be seekingone out soon. Thanks for the feedback, though.

arfy and Paul, Thanks for your comments re the loop v. glasses, etc., as well as your observations. Perhaps Santa (or me) will find a way to get a digital camera into my hands so I can update you guys on my hair-progress. Matt

Hi Paul, I'll be happy to answer your questions as best I can below. I looked into his employment background and checked into his lawsuits, if any, in PA. Did I hire a P.I. to find out his shirt size? No. But I did due diligence. I also went looking for specific complaints about him on the web and in hair X-plant boards, such as this one, and found none. [see the post I originally made asking for feedback re him-- URL is in my first post of this topic.] As to FUT being exclusive, I am guessing so; you could call his office I am sure and ask. As to the dissection magnification devices, I believe the surgical assistants were using magnifying devices not unlike large eyeglasses, though I am not entirely sure. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> 2000 grafts seems a low number for front, middle and back. How much coverage do you expect to have per sq cm? I ask because I had over 2300 grafts just in front (see photos)? Did Dr. C discuss the need for additional surgery in the future. No, he didn't discuss the idea of me doing more (ie, he didn't say "You'll have to come back and...") but mentioned, only once and in passing, that if I wanted more fullness later, I could pursue it because I had a lot of donor hair. But let me make it clear: I got no sales pitch or pressure or suggestions of scheduling-another-appointment-now or any of that stuff from anyone there. As to to sq. cm coverage, I don't have an idea about that; though I can tell from the incision marks that the transplanted hair has been grouped rather naturally and not over- or under-grouped in any particular area. That of course is a layman's opinion. As to your own dr's estimate of how much hair you will need/want to have for your purposes, I suppose it has something to do with what you expect to have - do you want really thick bushy hair in front? I suppose you would reasonably expect to have a lot of grafting done there. My goal is to restore my hairline so that I have hair represented on my scalp where it ought to be (ie, without the continued effects of balding). Do I expect to look 21 again? No. Do I expect to look like one of the Thompson Twins? [OK, so, I'm 35, so what?? ] No. I do not expect to become Mr. Universe in 6 months. I expect to get my hairline back is all. If I were to decide that I wanted more hair in a certain area, then I would expect to pay to get it. That is my decision however based on what I want to do. If I am unhappy with the results 6 months from now, I will probably not get more hair grafts. Why so? Because I would have spent as much on hair X-plantation as I would feel like spending and not get results. If I am very happy with my results, and want to spend more $$ on my "vain self", then I would. But if I didn't think it worked for me the first time, I wouldn't try it again-- too expensive. Basically, I decide how much of my money I spend on this or anything else. I can't blame another person for how much or how little I want to spend to get my hairline restored, on a car, on a house, or whatever. And I don't think anyone can, absent coercion or the telling of patent falsehoods. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Finally, will you be posting any pictures pre-op and post-op. This would very helpful. Good idea. I will see if I can scout out someone with a digital camera soon. I have a number of photos of myself that can serve as pre-operatory. As to post-op, give me a few months. But if the interest remains to see my hairline a month, 3, 6 from now, sure I'll post. Matt

I did not have total 5A hair loss. I have had substantial thinning ("minimizing") of my hair line from the front back to the crown of my head, but by no means not total or near-total baldness. Also, I have a "widow's peak" hairline, which matches my facial shape and general family background; other men have flatter, wider hairlines that probably require perhaps more hair to fill out. Do I think the HT will give me back that just-as-at-age-21 look? I don't expect it would and have never been led by anyone to believe it would, least of all myself. What I will think it will do is substantially restore my hairline so that I am no longer a "balding man", and with finesteride (aka Propecia) hope to keep it for a long time.

Please see my original inquiry re feedback re Dr. Eric Carlson ( http://www.bosleymedicalphiladelphia.com/bio.html ) of Phila., PA, at: http://www.hair-restoration-info.com/groupee/forums?a=tpc&s=5696015661&f=5466060861&m=3986005505 This past Saturday I had HT done at his office in Phila. My review is as follows: 1. Office staff showed up at 7:30 as scheduled despite really bad weather in Phila. this past Sat. 2. Met with Dr. Carlson and discussed my hair issues and needs (I have a 5A hair loss pattern). To cover front, middle, back, he said would be 1800 grafts. I was prepared to pay for as much as 2200, so this was good news. He struck me as having a good bedside manner and a very professional but friendly demeanor. 3. I met with the counsellor and we settled the business end of things. [And no, there were no surprise costs or last-minute shenanigans of any kind; in fact, he was very cordial, relaxed, and friendly.] 4. After signing a few forms, I went to the operatory and met the RN and some other staffers. They too were polite, professional, and focused. After changing into a surgical cover and picking out the movies I was to watch during the procedure, things went on as they had as explained to me they would. 5. The procedure was as described in many places: Dr. Carlson outlined the donor area and recipient areas with a surgical pen, then some shaving of the donor area occurred, followed by local anasthesia, and the surgery went forward. There were no fewer than 12 surgical assistants present in the office, and only myself and another patient was receiving HT that day. 6. After my donor skin had been removed by the doctor and then sectioned into grafts by a small army of surgical assistants (must have been at least 10), Dr. Carlson informed me that they had over 2,000 grafts to work from. [And no, they did not later try to charge me for these extra grafts.] 7. Dr. Carlson then made the necessary number of incisions in my scalp to set the implants. Two assistants kept track of the count in parallel with him as he made the cuts. 8. From then on, 1-to-4 assistants planted the grafts into my scalp. They worked quickly, remained focused and professional, and had good patient-care attitudes as well. Any time I needed something such as to go to the restroom or drink some water, they were responsive and stayed on task. The RN who administered the anasthesia was polite, friendly, professional, and responsive, never failing to address any comments I had about sensations or any pain I was feeling. 9. At the end of the procedure, I was squared away with follow-up instructions and post-operative medications, things explained to me a couple times, and my questions answered. Having started in the chair at about 8:45, we were done by 4:45. 10. Yesterday I got the promised follow-up call at my home in no. VA from Dr. Carlson to see how I was doing-- no problems. My experience at this office was, I would sum up as, very satisfying. Everyone I interacted with, without exception, was attentive, caring, polite, focused, and professional. At no time did I feel like they were lacking in attention to work, in staff numbers, or in ability to perform their tasks, nor did I feel at all like I was at a "hair mill". I feel I was in very good hands. So, that is my review. That Dr. Carlson was trained by Lee Bosley and his practice is affiliated with him will I am sure cause some people to scorn my review or worse yet, accuse me of some evil intentions or malfeasence. Well, I can't change anyone's prejudices but my own. I will say that this post I have written is made in all sincerity, that I have no personal, legal, or financial interest or relation of any kind with Dr. Carlson, any of his staff, or the Bosley practices in general or in any way, and I feel that I went to the right doctor for my needs. Advice I may give to anyone looking to get HT is simply this: do the research, make your choice of dr. based on the dr. *himself and his own background and record* (and not someone else's, purported or not), be sure you have decided what your needs are and how much you want to spend and be realistic about those expectations. Basically, it's like anything else. If anyone wants to e-mail me with any questions, I am at mcc99@hotmail.com, or feel free to post.