Rick055

What actually makes a scar a scar? Or, perhaps more accurately asked, what makes the scar visible and detectable? Is it merely the fact that there is a linear area out of which no hair is growing? Or does the skin take on a different characteristic to make it stand out from the area around it? This has probably been discussed before, but with a really meticulous tricho closure after the "final" transplant, could one then transplant hair to the scar area? Also, with a good surgeon, at what level guard (#1, 2, 3, 4) could one shave one's head on the back and sides and not notice the scar, on average?

What actually makes a scar a scar? Or, perhaps more accurately asked, what makes the scar visible and detectable? Is it merely the fact that there is a linear area out of which no hair is growing? Or does the skin take on a different characteristic to make it stand out from the area around it? This has probably been discussed before, but with a really meticulous tricho closure after the "final" transplant, could one then transplant hair to the scar area? Also, with a good surgeon, at what level guard (#1, 2, 3, 4) could one shave one's head on the back and sides and not notice the scar, on average?

Hahahaha! Kind of like the food right? I know exactly what you mean. I am a huge fan of Chinese food for example. But no matter how much I eat, a few hours later, I want more! Bill Exactly

Two hours after the transplant you want more hair!!

ROFL.

These are the "worst possible" pics, BTW. Wet hair, combed back, natural light plus flash to show it for real. I currently use Revita, Rogaine 5% foam a.m., 2% spironolactone a.m., Xandrox 5% p.m., 5% spironolactone p.m. Have tried propecia a few times in the past (full dose and as low as .5 EOD) and get intermittent testicular pain. Skeeves me out. My thinking is this: I like a receeding hairline and believe that I have a strong donor supply (I'll find that out shortly). My shaft caliber is thick and has a slight wave to it. So, if I am correct in my thinking that I have lots of donor, I don't know if I want to try propecia again. With a conservative, receeding hairline and a good donor, I'm thinking I can get enough coverage in the crown not to sparse. So why take a drug that *can* have side effects if I've got enough hair to do what I want to do. I always wrestle with this question. Say I had 9,000 thick wavy donor grafts. Even if I went to a NW6, don't you think that's enough to acheive a conservative hairline with some in the crown?

"Ask and ye shall receive" I have sent pics to two coalition docs. I'm 38, do you really think propecia (if I'd take it in the first place) would do anything for me? Certainly, not taking propecia wouldn't prevent me from being a transplant candidate, would it?

I'm thinking NW6, eventually. Those little crash dummy head Norwood guys boggle the snot out of me!!

I'm thinking NW6, eventually. Those little crash dummy head Norwood guys boggle the snot out of me!!

With the Gold Card discount at GNC, I think Revita is something like $23.00. I truly feel it has helped my hair loss. Nothing more than anecdotal account, but I love the stuff. If nothing else, it allows me to use nizoral every day without sacrificing the quality of my hair.

Yes, you can check DHT with a blood test. Although from a prostate POV it may not correlate well, I think there is a direct correlation between serum DHT and hairloss.

This is the part that stymies me - I think all of those you mentioned STILL take finasteride!

NG2GB, I think that would be an effect of an altered adrogenic hormone balance. DHT is a highly andregenic metabolite of testosterone and is responsible, in part, for sex drive, etc... This is why some men need testosterone replacement to fix sex drive/ED issues. DHT is also naturally suppressive of estrogens in a male. By lowering it, you open the door to increased estrogen. This is (probably) why other side effects include gynecomastia, etc...

Is it pretty much just lowering DHT too much/relative to other hormones, like estradiol? I'm wondering if sides from propecia could be countered by arimidex. I.E., you lower DHT too much, E2 creeps up, so you whack that with a-dex. (arimidex basically does to E what fin does to DHT).

This is the part that really pisses me off. I look at all these guys getting HTs, and everybody's on propecia. I feel like you can't even get an HT without taking it. But what if you have intolerable sides? Should you forego the HT?!? I mean, what is a NW6 really going to accomplish by using fin? I am thinking about trying 1 pill EOD. My DHT is high, so I don't think fin will kill it all, and as I understand it, that's what causes sides.

And what were they? Lots of talk on other boards (propeciahelp.com) makes you wonder if the people are having a psychosomatic reaction or are really suffering because of propecia.

And what were they? Lots of talk on other boards (propeciahelp.com) makes you wonder if the people are having a psychosomatic reaction or are really suffering because of propecia.

Work looks great, stevo-o Were you a full NW6 before you started? I agree, the combed forward look will suit you well and make it more dense. Are you taking propecia or is their just no point?

KC - For the math challenged, what density do you think you will have as a finished result? Around 50/cm2?)

The work looks great and I wish you the best. I am wondering why you chose to start finasteride since you were virtually bald on top. Is it in the hopes of growing some hair in the crown? If it didn't grow hair in the crown would you continue?

Looks great london_lad. Are you using propecia or did you just say "screw it" I've got enough transplanted hair not to worry about saving the few endogenous hairs I've got left?

I have to imagine most of the pros are on a 5AR inhibitor ala finasteride or dutasteride. Very few of them are really balding and they are pounding juice, and things that are probably way more androgenic than test.

@Bill, thanks, will check there. @hairthere - I have relatives in upstate NY which I visit, so it is convenient. Which isn't to say that i couldn't make my way to NYC, but I'm usually only there for a week at a time.

I also have pretty thick hair with a slight wave to it. I am hoping that I have a large donor supply. It appears I do but I want a coalition doc to check, so I can begin planning. You had your work done by Dr. Epstein - is he the one in Florida? I was just looking at his site as I am in Georgia. Did you like his work?

Thanks, Chucky, I just found the feature. Didn't see it the first time.