Maddog1

I just wanted to take a moment in thanking this forum, and in particular Bill for saving me from making a big mistake, which could have ruined my life. Before I explain how they did this, I would like to give a little background on my life. I worried growing up that I would someday be bald, just like my dad, and when I was 25 I made the biggest mistake of my life. I worked with someone I always thought had great looking hair, and I found out through someone else that he wore a hairpiece. Well, I still had quite a bit of hair at this time, but I thought it would be a brilliant idea to do something before it was noticeable, so I went to Hairline Creations in Chicago and told them my story. Of course they agreed this was a great strategy, even though as I look back at pictures of me, I can hardly see any recession at all. I ended up spending $1,700 on a hairpiece that required them to shave my head to be able to attach to my head. They assured me that nobody would notice the difference, since I had so much hair already. I told nobody that I was going to do this, hoping I would never have to, because nobody would ever know the difference. What a fool I was. (Please don't anybody make that same mistake. Whatever decision you are looking to make with hair replacement-talk to someone else, so you can get an honest opinion on what they would recommend) Needless to say, I went through with this decision, and it ruined the next two years of my life. Everybody knew it was a hairpiece, and the wind was my worst enemy. I pretty much stopped my normal life for the next two years. Since they had shaved my head, it wasn't like I could just take it off, so I endured until I just couldn't take it anymore. That was the best decision of my life. Now here is where the Forum and Bill come in. I almost made a bigger mistake a couple of years ago, until I stumbled upon this forum. At this time, I was almost 50, and had lost some hair, and now I wanted to get a hair transplant, thinking this had been perfected enough that I could look the way that I wanted, and have lost all the hair that I was going to lose. I visited Dr. Kahn, in Chicago, (not a coalition member) and had a consultation about getting a transplant. Although I really wasn't impressed with her, she bragged about how she had the latest technology in hair transplants. Once again, being impulsive, I decided this is what I was going to do. Just prior to doing the transplant, I thought maybe I should google her name and just see what information I could find out about her patients, really expecting to see great things. Well I stumbled on a message from Bill talking about this Dr. and telling someone else to instead check in with Dr. Konier in Oakbrook. Although I really wanted to just get this done with right away, I thought, maybe I should check in with someone else just to be on the safe side. Well to this day, I wake up in a cold sweat, thinking about what I almost did. This would have been a permanent mistake. I realized after meeting with Dr. Konior that this was who I wanted to work with. I immediately trusted him, and realized that I would have looked like a freak for the rest of my life had I gone with my first decision. She drew on my forhead where my new hairline was going to be. (just above my eyebrows-If I had done that with the amount of hairs she suggested it would have most certainly looked like doll plugs with big gaps. Well, Dr. Konior wouldn't even let me decide that day whether to have this done, until I went home and thought about it. (This went against my very nature of making decisions as you can see above) I couldn't be happier with my decision. I would recommend him and his staff to anyone. I don't even think about my hair anymore, whereas before that was all I thought about, and hats were a must. This forum and Bill were so informative to me, and I just want to thank you so much. Sorry for the long post.

Thanks Bill.

I have been using Rogaine foam for some time now, using it twice a day. I have recently started using Dermmatch as well. I was wondering how the rest of you applied Rogaine in the evening? Do you shower off the Dermmatch or other concealer, before applying Rogaine? I called the 800 number for Rogaine, and spoke to someone about this, and they said that I should wash this out of my hair before applying. Sounds like a pain each night. Do you all do that? He also said that I should wait 15 minutes after applying Rogaine to put in any gel or concealer. What are your thoughts?

Thanks Bill. I will.

I had a HT a couple months ago, and every once is a while, I have a real sharp pain where my scar is. It is usually at the ends of the scar, and doesn't last long, but really gives me a jolt. I assume this is normal, but thought I would check, just in case. Thanks.

Ever since I have been in my mid 20's I have wondered what it would feel like to wake up one day and have a full head of hair. I think of Homer Simpson, who in one of the TV episodes wakes up one day and has a full head of hair, and everything is better. My question is, I am almost 7 weeks post HT, and would love to know what that feeling is like? Do you wake up one day, and see a bunch of sprouts, or is it something that you don't even realize has taken place, unless you see before and after pictures? I'm just so anxious, and I know hearing your stories will help me get ready for this great day.

Ever since I have been in my mid 20's I have wondered what it would feel like to wake up one day and have a full head of hair. I think of Homer Simpson, who in one of the TV episodes wakes up one day and has a full head of hair, and everything is better. My question is, I am almost 7 weeks post HT, and would love to know what that feeling is like? Do you wake up one day, and see a bunch of sprouts, or is it something that you don't even realize has taken place, unless you see before and after pictures? I'm just so anxious, and I know hearing your stories will help me get ready for this great day.

I have been applying rogaine after I shower, and then applying a hair gel afterwards. Does this diminish any of the benefits of rogaine, by adding a gel afterwards? After that many times I also apply Kerasome hair fibers. I just want to make sure that I am not taking away any of the benefits of Rogaine, by applying other products. Thanks.

I've seen Nizoral mentioned here as a good shampoo to use. My pharmacy only has the 1%, not the 2%Ketoconazole A, so I order the 2% on-line. Is there a big difference between the two, and also, it states using once every week, and it is for dandruff. Is this something that can be used everyday to thicken hair, and is there a big difference between 1% and 2%? Thanks.

I've seen Nizoral mentioned here as a good shampoo to use. My pharmacy only has the 1%, not the 2%Ketoconazole A, so I order the 2% on-line. Is there a big difference between the two, and also, it states using once every week, and it is for dandruff. Is this something that can be used everyday to thicken hair, and is there a big difference between 1% and 2%? Thanks.

I had staples.

Thanks so much. I will do that.

I am about 5 weeks post HT, and still have that funny feeling where my scar is. When I sit down, and put my head back on the couch, it almost feels like I have curlers in my hair. I always have to put a neck cushion behind my neck, so I don't have the back of my head touch. It's not like there is a lot of pain or anything-just an uncomfortable feeling. How long before this disappears? Thanks.

I am about 5 weeks post HT, and still have that funny feeling where my scar is. When I sit down, and put my head back on the couch, it almost feels like I have curlers in my hair. I always have to put a neck cushion behind my neck, so I don't have the back of my head touch. It's not like there is a lot of pain or anything-just an uncomfortable feeling. How long before this disappears? Thanks.

Is there any issue of going in a steam room or sauna, in the early post HT days (3 weeks)