Mark H

As of yesterday, I'm ballcap free. No, 1 month after surgery I haven't suddenly sprung a mop of hair on top of my head, and I do _not_ use a system. I look balder than hell. Why now then? Because the HT line has finally faded to the point where I'm just another bald guy, and with millions of them around, who's going to notice me? I don't think I would do it differently at work, not at this point anyway. After a day or two of people pointing and saying, "holy crap!" it would all be over and the office would be off to the next thing, whatever that is. So I'm not saying this is easy, but the plain fact is, the world doesn't much care what I look like, and as long as I don't look like a freak, I intend to take advantage of that. Later when I've got some hair I'll be able to notice who notices. Meanwhile I will live by the words of jane austen: "for what do we live but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?" mark h

I'm trying to keep an open mind, but I'm not sold on the Nizoral stuff. Isn't its effect largely theoretical. Has anyone done a study showing Nizoral slowing hair loss? Every article I read speaks of Propecia, and Minoxidil, and occasionally together, but I only hear about Nizoral on sites like this. mark h

I've noticed since I came to this forum that almost nobody answers their private messages. I believe this is because there is no notification that a PM has been received. Near the top of the screen the "New PM!" tab does its little glowy thing whether you have a message or not. Therefore, I'd like to ask Pat to see if there's a fix for that so that notifications can be sent in some fashion, and barring that this message can at least hilight....for those who read it...that they may accidentally have a private message, and might want to check to see periodically. cheers, mark h

I've noticed since I came to this forum that almost nobody answers their private messages. I believe this is because there is no notification that a PM has been received. Near the top of the screen the "New PM!" tab does its little glowy thing whether you have a message or not. Therefore, I'd like to ask Pat to see if there's a fix for that so that notifications can be sent in some fashion, and barring that this message can at least hilight....for those who read it...that they may accidentally have a private message, and might want to check to see periodically. cheers, mark h

You know that's a very good question. Some of it can be answered on the home page of this site where there is a tutorial about baldness, and level of transplantation is necessary to achieve the allusion of a full head of hair. By recollection only, my understanding is that baldness becomes apparent when density, usually somewhere between 80-100cm2 falls below half of that. Of course thinness plays a part too, because one of the symptoms of hairloss is thinning of hair as it prepares to die. Consequently, a density of roughly half of your normal density will usually give you a pretty full look, and allow you to make best use of bald resistant hair, of which you have a limited supply. One of the reasons Propecia is popular is that it can not only retard and occasionally reverse the balding process, but can allow thinning hair to thicken, and so I suppose to some extent what people view as more hair may in part be thicker healthier hair...and at that point who really cares, eh? However, I digress. Others may have more detailed and scientific answers for you. I will finish with this thought: Information is great, but your choice of doctor is going to be your ONLY important decision.

Okay Troy, your last post teared me up, so I'm back in the game: I have a friend who is very bald, and it started in his early 20's. I always was better looking than him, but even with thinning hair he ALWAYS did better than me with the babes. It was a question of confidence and experience. He had both, and I didn't. Always a late bloomer I reached a similar point in my 30's. I was more experienced and confident, and okay, the babes were hornier and more desperate. Now as I'm in my 50's I don't need to look older than I am...certainly not older than I need to. So yes, an HT is a confidence builder for me, of the type my friend never needed, but that I seem to. Of course, Troy and I could have spent our money on a shrink learning to adjust to being balder. Then we'd be poor AND bald. And there'd be no chicks in _that_ shower for sure.

I went into the first HT assuming that I would finish with a second. Now I'm not so sure. It will depend upon thickness, particularly in the hairline. I'm ambivilent about my hairline, but I suspect that if its thick and long enough that I'll be quite happy with it. It looks too high to me, but if I examine where my hairline was pre HT its way lower now...or will be. At this point I don't trust my own judgement, and must rely on the doctor's. That's why I'm glad I have Dr. Cooley whom I have high regard for.

It definately is good stuff, and I'm glad to hear that its easy with longer hair. that will be key for me. mark

Okay Troy, this thread is getting to be too much. At first I was feeling paternal feelings that you were doing so well. That quickly degenerated into slavering envy. Now the shower scene is simply pushing me over the edge, and there's nothing I can do about it. I'm not separated yet, and I'm going to look like Capt. Picard for a few more months anyway. Older guys need girls to shower with too!

Very nice tip! I actually use one of those spray bottles with just water in it right now. I may try your method later on. Right now I'm more or less bald post surgery and the foam doesn't have the irritating ingredients that the liquid does, so i'll stay put. Later though I've been wondering if and how I might keep this up. Maybe this will be the way. cheers, mark h

hrthr, I'd sent you a private message. cheers, mark h

YOur hair is fairly short, and that would also make you a pretty good candidate for the Rogaine foam, which used in conjunction with Propecia may give superior results, particularly in areas where neither Propecia nor Rogaine would be very effective on their own. The entire above statement is opinion. No studies using both have been done to my knowledge, however, I know of at least one top doctor on this site that encourages both, and the actions of both treatments appear different but complimentary. mark h

Im afraid the only thing curable on that dork are his corn rows. sad but true, there are no personality transplants.

Hey congrats Kamin, I'm not even worth quite 2 million. Still its enough to retire on, although I'm only beer and pretzels rich. mark h

Why would temple points be different from anything else? Dr. Cooley added a bit to my temples, just enough to match my new hairline of course, but I've no reason to believe it will be anymore detectable than anything else. I went to Dr. Cooley in part because of the element of artistry along with skill and industry that goes into being one of these top docs, so my expectations...long term...are pretty high. mark h

Stuck with too much hair? Isn't that a little like being stuck with too much money? I'm sure there's a solution to both. mark h

Month three was an okay improvement, but in month 4 you're really starting to catch fire. Next, is it my imagination, or 3/4 months on, are you coloring your hair? In the pre photo you look pretty gray, and in the later photos you have a nice aubern look. I can tell you I use color. The gray makes me look 10 years older and at 52, who needs that? Bottom line you look great, but at 4 months I'm kind of wondering what a system is doing for you, I mean...you have hair now buckaroo.

I would, even though I'm far from sure it would be right for me, but still I'd give it a shot. You see, I had a high hairline from birth, and although hairloss sneaked up on me, once it got thin I had the double problem of high AND thin. I'm still struggling with my hairline, which isn't as low as I might have wanted, but will probably take me back 10 years. Just at the moment my new hairline has no hair to speak of, and so its little comfort to me...and my judgement may be suspect. Mind you, I think Brad is a bit of an empty headed twit, but he's definately getting some first rate company...sigh.

My mistake, I had not seen the oct. date on the far right pics. It looks thin to me for 6 months. One person on another thread referred to the 3 month wonders that often post when it may well take others or perhaps most longer. One additional comment though. The Oct. pics appear to have been taken with a flash, and that may be minimizing the appearance of new growth possibly? I'm fairly new at this myself, and I'd like to make sure that the pictures are adequately presently where you were and where you are. Pics often don't get it right. mark h

I don't understand why there appears to be a gap between the recipient area, and the crown of existing hair. Is that an illusion? mark

I make it a point not to read it, so I'll take your word for it. mark h

No, flash is what you don't need. the pic is fine. I've never heard of Dr. Lehr. He's recommended, which means he at least does FUT work, but he's not in the coalition, and so may not be doing Ultra Refined FUT. Other members may have more detailed comments. mark h

I already posted on your other thread. mark h

Okay now I see your second pic. It looks thin to me for 5000 grafts. did you take the picture with a flash? That can exagerate some characteristics. Of course at 6 mo you can expect more density, but 5000....thats a lot. Who's the doc, and when you say recommended, do you mean a coalition doc? mark h

Hi guy, the picture you uploaded is a before picture, and since there's no after picture there isn't much room for discussion as to your current results. Who is your doctor? My doctor would probably tell you 12 months before a second procedure, let alone a third.