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ask for people do donatea dollar or 2 or 3 to you on your site and that will go to your legal fund. I'll donate some to you. I'll be your first doantion.

I'm 3 months out and i am seeing the hardened follicle (or what it appears to be the hardened follicle) attached to the ends of some hairs that fall out. others have stayed in from the time of surgery and are growing full cycle. weird, but if it works, I don't give a shite! good luck to you all!

Hey man, I went up to MN from Chicago to see Dr. Charles for mine, it was back in November, I was 31, am 32 now, it was my first HT also, and it went flawlessly. It was well worth the trip up there and agood decision to go with them, after reading this board and others. I can see many hairs growing, a lot of the TP have fallen out as expected, but a bunch have stayed and are growing fully, when the new ones grow and my shock ones come back, I'll have a FULL frontal region again. i was thinning in from the sides and wanted that fixed. i can't wait to be a proud person in the wind! not worried if my hairline is too high on the sides whena good gust in the city blows on my way into a Blackhawks game or on the way to the club, I don't have to run into the bathroom anymore and make sure that some hair from the sides isn't sticking way up! Though it wasn't bad by any respects, it was bad enough for me. my experience is posted here: http://www.hair-restoration-info.com/groupee/forums?a=tpc&s=5696015661&f=7466060861&m=4246072961

if I am understanding you correctly, you are saying that you lost some hair on the side then it is now growing back? If so, then you experienced whata lot of people do, some good hairs go into shock then dormant phase, they then start to grow back months down the road.

I, too, had hairs come out, and was initially worried just a little bit, but then i figured that it was no big deal because it appeared that there was no folicle attached to it, just the scab. Just recently have I started to get dry skin up top and once in a while, it looks like a hardened folicle comes out attached to a hair, it's no a soft folicle, like it's still alive, it's very hard, almost like dried skin, but you can see it looks like a folicle. has anyone experienced that? Should I be worried? Anyone have any answers or similar experiences?

well, it has now been 2 months and one week since I had my HT done at Shapiro medical w/ Dr. Charles. As it sits, I have lost very little hair from shock fallout and most of the hairs that were transplanted have fallen out as supposed to. While some of the hairs have taken root and started to grow, I can tell because the hair in the back of my head is a bit darker, and I can see the little tiny darker parts on top of a 1/2 inch thinner hair. It's good to see that the hair is acting the wway it was supposed to and some are actully still there and growing. I was worried that I would be the one out of a million that had something go drastically wrong. But all seems to be well so far. Will update next month as well, see how progress is. later folks.

OK, but for me, still, the bottom line is that I would much rather see someone post from the absolute very beginning to end, and do it in a joyous way. There's nothing better than seeing someone start off ecstatic and end the same way, or would you rather people NOT say anything to begin with then all of a sudden come out of the woodwork with a whole story that has had a chance to deteriorate over ttime? For myself, and i amsure for many others, these sorts of posts helped us in our decision-making process a whole hell of a lot more. Especially for those who have had bad HT's done in the past, and eben those who have NEVER had one done and do not REALLY know much about it or what to expect. That's just me though. But then I won't knock anyone else for posting whatever they please.

Arfy, I do understand your point, I don't know why you keep assuming that you think I do not. But whether someone actually outright recommends a doctor, and "good comments" will be taken by people as a form of promotion of said doctor. That's just a fact. It happens all the time. Me, being into advertising, demographics and graphic design, I KNOW that absolutely ANYTHING remotely positive is taken by over 97% of society as positive promotion and the same thing with negative words. I see it in the ads I create, the promotions I create and the design that I put out. And it's no different with mere words, in fact, it's all that much more effective. That does not mean that people shouldn't post their positive experiences (or negative ones for that matter), whether they are new to this or not. I hope that makes sense. That's just how I feel. And I am sure that MOST people on here do their research and weed through these posts going way back and look for the outcomes of other HT people, they don't just look at one post, go to the bank and then out to the HT shop and get it done that day. And if they do, thenthey are the ones who would be suckered by the likes of Bosley or NuHart no matter what information that they had available to them. Know what I mean? I would greatly appreciate it if you would stop saying and assuming that I do not understand your point, I have since your first post, but the fact that I respectfully disagreed on some of your points, in no way what-so-ever, means that I do not or did not understand you. thanks.

hey Arfy... I read the post, I know what you mean, but I think the excitement of new people posting and seing how they recommend their doctors is a good thing. That's just me though. Like I said, I'm not trying to step on toes here, know what I mean?

Vince, I am from Chicago, and I have posted a subject here Dr. Charles @ Shapiro Medical on Nov. 8, 2002 I had an absolutely flawless experience and though I am only 1 month post-op right now, but I think that HarryLemon's and my posts may help you a bit. Good luck mate!

Arfy, I agree completely, as a HT is a lifelong process, and you do state facts pertaining to doctors. BUT where I respectfully disagree with you is here... If a HT is a lifelong process or has lifelong effects upon any person, it should be a better help that each person post their experience from the beginning even all the way through full maturity of their graft sites. I would much rather, in my investigation of such an important procedure, know the FULL and ENTIRE experience. I want to know if someone felt completely comfortable or just somewhat comfortable during the procedure, and I do want to know why. I want to know the comments that are made during the procedure, after the procedure and during follow-up visits. One of the greatest things I heard was when I went to the doctor (a different one in my hometown) to get the sutures removed and the doctor stated that it was an absolutely flawless suture job. Yes, we're all excited that we had such a pleasurable experience, it adds to the excitement, you don't buy a car from a mundane or non-vocal salesman, do you? Nope, and in this case, when spending in upwards of $5000 - $12,000 and even more for some people, and with what's on the line here, I would hope that others want to hear it ALL as well, from beginning to end. Most claim to be distraught or feel like less of a man or woman because they are losing their hair, and that's a pretty important thing to gain back. This site is a valuable resource, and it's because people cover the entire spectrum of their experience that it is such a valuable resource. For me, I believe that I made the 100% correct decision based upon reading those facts, all of them, maybe someone else will not feel the same, but let those of us who feel this way, stay feeling this way and post as we see fit. And please, allow others who are new here, to posibly gain the same insights as we did. Remember, results are always subjective, you may think mine are terrible while I may think that they are absolutely great, and so on... But the basic fact that remains is that not EVERYONE comes here with a pleasurable experience, and everyone experience is different, otherwise nobody would post. I hope that makes sense, thanks for understanding. And everyone, good luck with your results, I'm still waiting upon mine, I am one month post-op, so I will keep people informed.

I was only busting chops about the "PREFER" "PROFFER" thing. No offense meant. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>You are right, while I can't say who the "best" surgeon is in NY, I certainly DO know who the worst are. You all know who this is as well, so there is no need to repeat it. Actually there is, when people ar looking to spend thousands of dollars in hopes of becoming a "complete" man again, and are spoon-fed buckets of BS from the media, then yes, you can't repeat enough times who is the best, better, good or bad. it took me over a year of research before I decided who I would go to, and all I needed was some frontal hairline work, I can't imagine how I would have researched it if I needed my whole head done. I scrutinized every last word and post on this board, and trust me, I work in the print design and web industry, I have for over 8 years, I know all the resources, places to visit, etc... for information, and if I were to have followed search engines, I would have gone to a place like BOSLEY or NUHART. Thank God I put time and energy into this one. i didn't even have to ask a question here, I just read through the thousands of posts and all my questions were answered, and the fwe that I had left, were answered by Matt Zupan at Shapiro Medical. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I have been on this site for months and I have not seen an example of bad work performed using FUs. All the stories I've read about FUs have been positive. Don't confuse stories involving mingrafting and plugs with newer techniques. You're right, I haven't seen a bad one on this board either, thank God. But there are those on here who have posted that they had bad results. And that helps too. And I'm not confusing anything here. I have done my research VERY thoroughly. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>If you can make a formula that quantifies the criteria of: subjective results, price, number of grafts, number of surgeries, etc and make it apply to the whole of humanity (or the average HT patient demographic) I would like to see it. I developed a sort-of Pythagorean Theorem-like equation for this. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Your comparison of Bosley to Shapiro is too extreme and supports my statement that too many viewers and posters see HT doctors as either Angels or Devils. On the contrary, it is a VERY VALID comparison. There IS NO middle of the road on this. There is either good or bad results. The proof of that is that MEDIOCRE results are = to bad results. Therefore there are only GOOD or BAD results adn hence one can say that it is in the HT Docs hands as to which results a patient may get, assuming said patient takes care of the recipient site the way he/she should. And, since the mainstream only plays commecials by Bosley or NuHart, and ACCREDITED doctors seem to not want to place TV ads so as not to seem like a "MILL" for HT's, then, people are victim to that which they are only allowed to see or hear or become aware of. Keep in mind, not everybody has the internet or knows how to find resources like this. As ridiculous as it may seem, it is so true. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Re-read the thread before you "question my motives". I clearly wrote that the doctors in the NEW YORK catagory of THIS SITE are empathetic toward their patients and passionate about their work. Actually, that's not true, being a rather educated person, and coming from a rather prestigiuos school and having a major in the Liberal Arts, I can say that your claim does not ring true. Your exact quote was : <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>who is the "best surgeon" in New York and can promise you that ALL of the surgeons listed on this website will not leave you with a regret. And ALL of the surgeons (yes I've met them all) Now, you emphasized the word "all" as "ALL of the surgeons on this site", NOT "all of the surgeons on this site from New York" I'm not nit-picking, but you have to agree that if someone who was distraught about losing their hair read that line and trusted your word, then they would, in essence, be taking your word as "gospel", but yet you defamed the board earlier by saying "Until now I beleived websites like this one were beneficial to patients and doctors alike. Now I'm not so sure." See, I'm looking at it from a "users" view, not a doctor's view. Either way, ALL is a pretty strong word, nobody can ever claim that they know ALL or have met ALL or ALL of anything. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Dr. Bosley is not on this site is he? No, I never said it was, but it's everywhere else on the web and on TV and the radio as well, and THOSE are the most available resources to the common person. As you, as an educated man, can tell, there are THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of people who have been "butchered" by them, do you think those people all came to this board and did their research here? Hell No! They got suckered by the mainstream ads and media. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>The comparison to the Unibomber is a bit much don't you think? It was a joke, hence the but it did have validity, you can not claim quality of work based upon someone's mind. That's just a fact. No offense meant. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I participate on this site because I enjoy sharing the information I've acquired over the years with those who are interested. If I wanted to "knock" this board I would simply not view or post on it. i respect that and honor it, but when somebody posts a reply that has obvious holes in it, I have to plug them. As you said, you're dealing with people who are distraught about losing hair, they are delicate, and they take doctors word as "gospel". So it's best to be open before posting that the board is not useful to patients or doctors. This board is the BEST resource out there for REAL and ACCURATE information. That's just a FACT. Ask anyone here, they will agree.

weren't you advised to use icepacks 3 times a day on your forehead (NOT THE GRAFT SITE) but only on your forehead?? I had only minor swelling and thatwas because I only iced 1-2 times a day, when I started to ice 3-5 times a day, the swelling went almost completely away. I would use a gel bag on my head in the morning, the afternoon and then at night when I went to bed. I took the Vicodin ONLY before I went to bed, that would ease ANY discomfort I had from the incision. I had the idea to sleep on my back with one pillow on each side of me so that I could not roll over at night and disturb the graft area. And it worked just fine, just like it did years ago when I had my leg injury that required me to stay on my back at night sleeping. I would let the ice-pack lay on my forehead and after taking the Vicodin I had absolutely no problems falling asleep that way. You should have been told to ice up. And not to fret, we all laid in our chairs for hours, mine was from about 10am - 8pm and I didn't have a LOT of work done by any means. But I am completely confident that the job was done correct, and I can't even make a complaint about laying in a chair for 8 hours as opposed to losing my hairline in the future. Hope your results are all that you expected and then some!! Post and let us know down the line.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>The problem is that what is written in these chat areas are not only taken as gospel Well, if we took the media's word as gospel, we'd all be going to the likes of Bosley or NuHart. You pick, television or this board. Personally, I know where my trust lies. But then, I'm not a doctor of HT surgery, thereofre I have no agenda other than to share raw facts of what I experienced = fact VS. a television ad with paid participants who would tell you that they had genital herpes for a few thousand bucks if asked to do so. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> This is ridiculous. I've been in the field for almost 9 years and I don't even know who the "best" surgeon is. Well, if you don't know who the "best surgeon is, then you DEFINITELY know who it isn't, right? Not to sound like a jerk, but the "best" surgeon is relative, but can you honestly say that a large group of people who have had better than excellent results from one such doctor doesn't put that doc in the running for "best" of what's out there at this partcular moment. I think it does. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I would not profer this to anyone, especially on a site like this where readers are already super sensitized by the pain of losing hair. Well, I wouldn't choose a doctor who spells the word PREFER with an "O" either. just kidding mate. Seriously though, that's where you are dead wrong, you don't find out about rape by asking a woman who has never been raped (harsh comparison, but yet so true). But then, I'm not one of those guys who criticizes gymnasts flipping 7 times in the air if they happen to land with their feet a little cock-eyed, because I sure as shite couldn't get anywhere near that. People losing their hair are EXACTLY the proper demographic that others should ask, because people losing their hair have gone through the procedures and know what it's all about. "super-sensitized" or not, at least they have experienced it and know their own personal results. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>How is "best" defined anyway? By virtue of results? Number of procedures required? Pain? Density? Price? What!!? All of the above combined. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>The truth is that it is impossible to rank surgeons who are experienced at FUs and really care about their work and their patients. No it's not, the stories here speak volumes in and of themselves. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>It is unfair to lead the public into thinking hair transplant doctors can only be catagorized as honest vs. evil, or super-doctor vs. negligent bungler, as I have seen time and time again. I firmly and respectfully disagree with this assessment. Compare Bosley to Shapiro, BOOM, I'm right. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>If you want proof of this, just look at the photographs on this site presented by the different doctors. Any doctor can choose the "cream of the crop" and use only those, plus, a photo is just that, only a photo. And being a designer, I could manipulate ANY photo ANY way I please. So that's just "bunk", no offense intended. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Most look the same!!! Not true. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>New York and can promise you that ALL of the surgeons listed on this website will not leave you with a regret. Wait, didn't you just state in the beginning that you don't think this site is beneficial?? Now you're telling people to trust it... we must be missing something here... <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>And ALL of the surgeons (yes I've met them all) are empathetic toward their patients and passionate about their work. Well, now I truly question your motives, because if you can honestly say that Dr. L Lee Bosley is truly passionate about his work, you aren't a very good judge of character. Exactly how many people do they have to butcher and churn out to qualify as being "passionate about their work" or "empathetic towards their patients"? How many times does their medical licence have to be put on probation or suspended before they qualify as a top doc? <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>It is now up to you to pick 2 or 3 and find which variation of method you like best, and with whom you are most comfortable. Simple as that. And this board is EXACTLY how they can do that. If you haven't noticed, the only true way to find most HT doctors out there is from the web, and any old cretin can make a site and claim to be a "god of HT surgery", but if it weren't for boards like this (the only one I have seen), nobody would know who to trust. <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>you also should see dr. feller. i have not seen his work, but i am impressed with is mind. Don't forget, many people were impressed with Theodore John Kaczynski's mind as well. Not to compare Dr. Feller with the unibomber, but gauging someone's mind over the quality, or lack thereof, of their work is a bad mistake. I mean, hey, I have a good mind and I am thinking of starting HT surgeries in my garage. Come on guys, I have a good mind, come see me for a consultation. Just a little sarcastic way to express a personal opinion, no harm intended and no offense meant by it. But seriously, this board is VERY helpful to many people, please don't knock it or the good that it does. It's because of this baord, and this one alone, that I am so personally pleased with the decision I made and I have absolutely no doubts that it was the right decision. Thanks.

Alright, I can agre with you guys on that subject, but don't you see the stupidity in the justification of this, I mean, don't ya hink he should have attacked the DOCTOR who performed the HT and not the hairstylist, since he (hairstylist) doesn't know how the actual procedure is performed or what makes good/bad results... I could understand justifying whacking the doctor, not the hairstylist. poor guy, gonna have to learn to cut hair with his feet for a while!

Hey Harry.. funny stuff... Yea, I have been planning on moving out there by the end of next summer, but since the woman and I are no longer together, maybe it will be a bit sooner than expected. I'll have to see on that one. I'm planning on the Studio City area, somewhre around there. That's where my best friend moved, and I have been there quite often and I really like it. It's valley-side, but not quite the valley, so you don't get the dirty air but you do get the warmer air than when you cross over the hills. Chicago is a beautiful city, but it's just so damn cold here in the winter. I just can't deal with it anymore, really! Plus, there's nothing left for me here anymore anyhow. Heck yea, if we're ever in each other's area again, we can get a time to grab a drink or 10, should be good to see the results from both sides! Are you going to fly back to Minnesota for the follow-up visit? Or are you going to pass on that one?

Hey, if you're worried about meeting with a consultant and not the doctor, go to Dr. Charles then. I drove up from Chicago to Minnesota for my HT and when I got there, I met with Matt Z. and also Dr. Charles was in there the entire time. While Matt went over everything with me, Dr. Charles added his input as well, anything surgically related was spoken from Dr. Charles and advice like taking Propecia was offered by Matt Z. and then Dr. Charles afterwards. Matt took the pre-op photos and Dr. Charles was even in the room for that as well. They both listened to my concerns about taking anything medicine related (as I keep in healthy shape and do not take meds for anythng) and even put em at ease about the little 1 mg of Finasteride (Propecia), they were both VERY common-sense about it all. In fact, I don't know if i was lucky or not, but Dr. Shapiro even made appearances every 30 minutes or so in my room during the procedure and checked over everything and said it was going beautifully. So, I can't argue with anyone else's experiences, but mine was absolutely fricking spectacular. And not to sound like a jackass, but how would I know what a bad experience was like, first off, I never had a HT done prior to this one, second from what I hear, I went to the best place possible. And after experiencing it, I can say that from what I see others saying about their procedures, then comparing my experience to theirs, they at Shapiro Medical are the best. Hell, the guy even gave up his sammich to me for lunch when the restaurant screwed up my order! He took down the fatty Chicken Salad Sammich and gave me the lean sammich!

Yep, that was me, I remember peeking in on you while Dr. Shapiro was working on you, just checking things out and seeing how it was going with other people. The girl, ehh, we were on our way out anyhow I guess, I'm still a bit depressed about that, true love is hard to find, she's being stubborn a lot of family issues, heavy ones, but oh well, I guess I have to move on. It'll give me more of a reason to move out to the L.A. area that much sooner I guess. Well, for my movies I watched some Seinfeld episodes first, then Austin Powers 2 (I needed some laughs) then we listened to music for a while and I told them to put on whatever they wanted, since they were probably so used to the same movies over and over and over. Yea, Dr. Charles was a completely excellent guy. He is a hockey player, like me, so is Matt, which was nice, a little smattering of hockey talk puts ya at ease as well. Hehe, maybe they'll get a game going for all their hockey playing clients sometime!!! You know, you're right, I'm going to take the shock-loss the same way you are, how I would have looked had I not done anything. I started on Propecia, just in case, ya know, better safe than sorry I guess. That FNS stuff, I never heard of that, is it really supposed to work? I might think of picking some up if so. I'm wondering, is it just some gimmick product? How do we know? Have you heard anything?? if so, where from? I don't have any pinkness at all, basically that was gone within 3 days, all that was stil there was the little scabs from the implants, and those were all gone at 10 days, the scalp was just a bit dry, nothing terrible by any means, and it's clearing up more and more. I haven't started on Rogaine, not completely sure if I will, I might just want to let this go naturally. I bought the rogaine, but not sure if I will use it. Now hearing that your scalp is turning red, even for a brief time, I don't like the sound of that. Redness means irritation, and I don't want to irritate something that I just spent $7000 on, ya know what I mean? As far as having enough for doning if I need it, hell yea, I have a big head and a LOT of doning hair, luckily, if I ever need it. Knock on wood that I won't!! How about you? How many FU's did you wind up getting? I was shocked when Matt told me he would put me on the 1500 plan and anything more would be "on them" and anything less would be refunded. You can't lose on that one and I'l ltell you what, that right there is the topping on the cake for me promoting them as the premiere place to go for a HT procedure!! Well, keep me posted on your progress and I'll do the same! Hopefully soon, I will be able to go in and cut my hair short again and not feel like a dumbass because I'm embarrassed about my frontal hairline receeding in from the sides. I still feel bad because Dr. Shapiro gave up his sandwich to me because the restaurant messed up my order, Ceasar Chicken Salad to Chicken Salad Sandwich, I don't know how that one happens, but oh well!! hahaha Take care! Good to hear back from someone who "took the plunge" on the same day I did. Wasn't their staff just excellent!! They were such sweethearts! I know I'll probably catch hell for this, but that woman Pam, she was very nice, good sense of humor on her and she was attractive, tough combinations to find in one person. And Pam, if you ever read this, let me know when you get those photos, I'd like to see those, you have my card but the email address is wrong on there, the number is correct. Ciao, all!!!

Well, first and foremost, I do have to give a big fat thank you to this site (and I guess the operators name is Pat) for turning me to the Shapiro Medical Group and Dr. Charles. For a while, I was contemplating the Bosley Medical Group (thank God I did not go there). I was nervous as hell on my drive up from Chicago, and when I got to the Hilton I mellowed a bit, but still nervous. I arrived at the Shapiro Medical office early the next morning, feeling a bit like a freak, though I didn't need a LOT of work by any means. I was greeted so warmly that it immediately made me feel comfortable, like I was with a big group of friends. The people there were so nice to me that I did not feel out of place in any capacity. Into transplant time, I only felt a few little pin-pricks of pain in the beginning then I heard the cutting of the scalp (donor area) in which I was told that I was just getting a minor haircut. Then a I saw a spot of blood, I said I couldn't remember the last time that I bled from a haircut. It was funny and put me at ease a little bit more. I was down the hall from HarryLemon and I couldn't agree with his assessment more. Every aspect of my comfort was was paid exclusive attention to. Movies, music and a great sandwich from a nearby restaurant for lunch, bathroom breaks as necessary, comfortable talking going on in the room by everybody involved. Inclusive conversation, not simply what everyone was going to do over the weekend. As the procedure went on, Dr. Shapiro would make drop-by's every 30 minutes or so and inspect the work, which made me feel good as well, since I am a stickler for customer service. It was really a mark of their professionalism and attention to the customer that had the effect upon me. Since I am only 2 weeks post-op, I haven't seen any results, all I know is that I can still see the transplants, some have fallen out out some are still there, I have lost little of my existing hair due to shock from the procedure and I can't wait for months down the road until it all comes back in, I'm hoping that I am one of those cases where it grows in very very soon. But, back to Shapiro Medical Group... These guys were so professional and so accommodating it was ridiculous. I couldn't thank them enough for their excellent attitudes. If I ever have to go for another HT, I can guarantee you that it WILL be with Shapiro Medical Group!! And though I lost a girlfriend recently, I will be gaining my frontal hairline back, and that will make me feel more comfortable when searching for a new woman! Thanks Dr. Charles and staff and Dr. Shapiro as well.

Well, first and foremost, I do have to give a big fat thank you to this site (and I guess the operators name is Pat) for turning me to the Shapiro Medical Group and Dr. Charles. For a while, I was contemplating the Bosley Medical Group (thank God I did not go there). I was nervous as hell on my drive up from Chicago, and when I got to the Hilton I mellowed a bit, but still nervous. I arrived at the Shapiro Medical office early the next morning, feeling a bit like a freak, though I didn't need a LOT of work by any means. I was greeted so warmly that it immediately made me feel comfortable, like I was with a big group of friends. The people there were so nice to me that I did not feel out of place in any capacity. Into transplant time, I only felt a few little pin-pricks of pain in the beginning then I heard the cutting of the scalp (donor area) in which I was told that I was just getting a minor haircut. Then a I saw a spot of blood, I said I couldn't remember the last time that I bled from a haircut. It was funny and put me at ease a little bit more. I was down the hall from HarryLemon and I couldn't agree with his assessment more. Every aspect of my comfort was was paid exclusive attention to. Movies, music and a great sandwich from a nearby restaurant for lunch, bathroom breaks as necessary, comfortable talking going on in the room by everybody involved. Inclusive conversation, not simply what everyone was going to do over the weekend. As the procedure went on, Dr. Shapiro would make drop-by's every 30 minutes or so and inspect the work, which made me feel good as well, since I am a stickler for customer service. It was really a mark of their professionalism and attention to the customer that had the effect upon me. Since I am only 2 weeks post-op, I haven't seen any results, all I know is that I can still see the transplants, some have fallen out out some are still there, I have lost little of my existing hair due to shock from the procedure and I can't wait for months down the road until it all comes back in, I'm hoping that I am one of those cases where it grows in very very soon. But, back to Shapiro Medical Group... These guys were so professional and so accommodating it was ridiculous. I couldn't thank them enough for their excellent attitudes. If I ever have to go for another HT, I can guarantee you that it WILL be with Shapiro Medical Group!! And though I lost a girlfriend recently, I will be gaining my frontal hairline back, and that will make me feel more comfortable when searching for a new woman! Thanks Dr. Charles and staff and Dr. Shapiro as well.

Well, I had my transplant with Dr. Charles done on Nov. 8th, 2002 and I can honestly say that he and the Shapiro Medical staff made me feel 1000% comfortable. They were so polite and friendly that it made me not feel embarrassed anymore. Even though I needed basically a reshaping of my frontal hairline, not a complete hair transplant, they went out of their way to make me feel like I wasn't a reject. I told them to go ahead and do as many as they could while I was there anyhow, they put me on a 1500 package to be safe and said if it went over, it was on them! That was very nice of them! As for hair falling out, it's been 2 weeks for me and I am not losing any more hair from the shock of the procedure, I lost some but not that much. I don't know if more will come out or not, but they all seem to be pretty solid at this point. it looks as if some of the transplants have come out already, and I'm not sure if that's supposed to happen or not before they start to grow again. I'm still a little nervous as to how many months it will take for the hair to start growing in completely. All my surgical implants (1947 I believe) healed within 10 days, no scabs left or anything, and when I had my doctor take out the sutures, they commented upon how nicely the stitches were put in. In fact, the exact comment was, "This is a beautifully done suture job." So, I know the result time varies for people, and I can't wait to see how long it takes my results to show! I'm just hoping that my strong hair that fell out from shock comes back, that makes me a bit nervous, it's not good to see it go! Know what I mean!! But, anyhow, if I ever needed another procedure, you bet your ass I would go back to Dr. Charles in a heartbeat. And I was impressed that Dr. Shapiro would keep coming in and checking up on me every 20 minutes or so, that level of customer attention is a definite mark of the professionalism and skills of the Shapiro Medical Group!